The Art of Romance

Everything, Everything

obsessed? no.

not yet. 

I originally came across this movie months and months ago stalking Nick Robinson on IMDb. (For all those who aren't aware, I have more than a slight crush on this Nick Robinson guy.)  The trailer wasn't out yet, I didn't know much about the story besides the very very basic concept, but I thought "yup I'm gonna see that."

My dedication to Nick is really incredible.

About a month ago my friend said "watch this trailer" and I go "WUT THE TRAILERS OUT" and it was beautiful and count down to the movie initiated. But it got better. There's a book. I just so happened to be at Barnes and Noble a few days ago and just so happened to see the book and long story short I now own the book. 

To say I am a responsible teenager and stopped the book in the middle so I could go to bed at a decent time would be a lie. 

It was a beautiful book.

I've been struggling with the idea of reviewing this book without spoiling it for potential readers or viewers, then I remembered "hey! the trailer sucked! " so watch the trailer and that will give you everything you need to know for this rant. 

Summary: Madeline was sick. Olly moved in next door. They changed each other's entire world. 

First and foremost, one of my favorite parts about this book is (as the author put it) they "fell in love with each other's minds first." Not meaning that they didn't know what the other looked like, cos they did. But that fact was pretty much irrelevant for a good part of the book. Maddy couldn't go outside, Olly wasn't allowed in. They, quite literally, could not see each other. They communicated through emails. They played "fast five favorites" and talked about poetry and Lord of the Flies. Eventually, they came to tell each other their secrets. It was a well-timed process, all in all. 

This is also played well into the fact that, above all else, they're friendship came first. When Maddy first told Olly about her sickness, she demanded that he not feel bad for her. She would not let him say "I'm sorry." She wanted a normal friendship. And when they started seeing each other and it inevitably became romantic, it remained that way. Yes, Olly worried. I think that's kinda what you do when you love someone. But he also respected her. (Go Olly Go!) He let her make her own decisions, something I don't think Maddy had ever been allowed to do. 

But what I really want to talk about is what I consider the climax of the romance. There came a point when Maddy asked Olly if it would be enough for him. To only be able to talk over IM and stand on the opposite side of the room. "It's better than nothing. My life is better with you in it." 

(I don't think my response at that point could be considered a full-scale swoon, but there was definitely some melting, some idiotic smiles, a possibly a tear)

So there are the 3 points of Everything, Everything that I considered important. Why, oh why, did I love this so much? Because this focused on a point of love that 9 out 10 YA authors kind of forget about. Nothing about love is physical.

 Love is not the other person's looks. -- no matter how hot they are.

Love is not a kiss.   -- true love's kiss is disney propaganda.

Love is not sex.  -- just because you "make love" doesn't mean you're in love. (I cannot believe I really just said that.)

Love is much more than an emotion, butterflies in a stomach, skipping of a heartbeat, numbing of the brain, though those are symptoms of a crush. Love is a selfless devotions to another person's well being. There is nothing about love that is self serving. Sometimes I think love just might be the definition of selfless, which is part of the reason I know I've never been in love. In Everything, Everything, Maddy (I think) might not have understood that. But Olly did. Olly displayed that, however hidden it was. (I read the book twice to make sure I wasn't hallucinating it) 

So all in all, I wish Everything, Everything could be seen from Olly's POV. I think he had a good head on his shoulders.

Nick Robinson sure better do him justice.

Who are we kidding, this is Nick Robinson of course he will.