Thu, August 16, 2012
Every Day by David Levithan Review
Every Day
By David Levithan
Publication date: Aug. 28, 2012
Knopf Books for Young Readers, 304 pages
Source: Publisher, via NetGalley
Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.
Every morning, A wakes in a different person’s body, a different person’s life. There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.
It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.
With his new novel, David Levithan has pushed himself to new creative heights. He has written a captivating story that will fascinate readers as they begin to comprehend the complexities of life and love in A’s world, as A and Rhiannon seek to discover if you can truly love someone who is destined to change every day.
— Goodreads.com description
David Levithan has long been my literary idol. He’s like…a writing/editing superhero (Book Man?) to me. With Every Day, he’s proven yet again why I hold him in such high esteem:
- Thoughtful and layered stories
- Poetic but accessible writing
- Oh, he’s just seems so gosh-darn nice
Okay, so that last bit has nothing to do with anything.
What I loved about A’s story in Every Day was that it challenged me as a reader, but not in a LOUD way. Let’s be honest: I’m typically someone who loves loud kissing books, typically hetereosexual. But the soft, sad and lonesome tone of this book swept over me while I read. The main character, A, crept into my soul and made me fall in love with him/her, regardless of what gender.
It’s an interesting take on love and whether it can be blind — no race, no gender, no weight, nothing.
Every Day is also a refreshing reminder of the burdens other people bear. A wakes up each day nearly paralyzed by something that overtakes that day’s host body: depression, nastiness, weight, you name it. This story helped me remember that you do not know what is weighing on the people around you, what their family life is like, etc…and you’ll never fully be able to understand what it is to be them, even if you do spend a day in their shoes.
In this book, David Levithan tells a very beautiful, albeit sad, story about identity and love, and I’m so very happy I picked it up.
15 Comments
Leave a comment
About Me
I read. A lot. Mostly whatever YA novels the library has on hold for me that week. Sometimes grown-up books if my book club makes me.
Currently Reading
Jessica Darling's It List #1: The (Totally Not) Guaranteed Guide to Popularity, Prettiness & PerfectionBy Megan McCafferty
OMGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rebecca said:
I won this a few months back during a BEA giveaway and can’t wait til it releases so my copy arrives. Unfortuanately, I haven’t clicked with Levithan yet but I’m hoping this will be the book to change that. Love the review, Anna! It’s always nice to hear your thoughts on book, I value your opinion
Rebecca recently posted..AAA: Interview with Miranda Kenneally, author of CATCHING JORDAN
[Reply]
Posted on: Thu, August 16, 2012
Michelle @ Pink Polka Dot Book Blog said:
I definitely want to read this one!! There was this series in the 80′s called Quantum Leap… except that guy had a guide and knew he was there for a purpose. This one sounds a lot more hard core… I love your review, I can’t wait til this comes out so I can get it
Michelle @ Pink Polka Dot Book Blog recently posted..Top Ten Tuesday- Book Romances That Would Make It
[Reply]
Posted on: Thu, August 16, 2012
Tarryn said:
I can’t wait to read this book. When I saw the Goodreads description I just knew it was something I’d like. Your review just affirmed that
Tarryn recently posted..Getting caught
[Reply]
Posted on: Thu, August 16, 2012
Lori said:
I kind of worship David Levithan…really, I’m pretty fangirly. He is so nice! Anyway, loved this book, of course!
Lori recently posted..Review: Confessions of an Angry Girl by Louise Rozett
[Reply]
Posted on: Thu, August 16, 2012
Lisa the Nerd said:
This book sounds overwhelming in the best way.
[Reply]
Posted on: Thu, August 16, 2012
Tara said:
David Levithan = the man. I want to be in his head just for one day and see how he comes up with so many unique and fabulous stories.
Tara recently posted..A Mini Blog Manifesto / Blog Genre Update
[Reply]
Posted on: Thu, August 16, 2012
Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) said:
I was going to read this one today … it looks like such a wonderful story and it’ll be the first David Levithan book I’ve read that’s written just by him. I’m so looking forward to it!
Great review!
Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) recently posted..DISCUSSION: Book Blogger Me Then VS. Book Blogger Me Now
[Reply]
Posted on: Thu, August 16, 2012
Estelle said:
Great review! I really like when writers keep something from their readers and let their imaginations sort of take over. I think it brings you to a whole new place. David is just such a gifted writer and storyteller and I can’t wait to read this book.
Estelle recently posted..Travel Tales: Where We Come From
[Reply]
Posted on: Thu, August 16, 2012
Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books said:
I really am looking forward to reading this book. It sounds absolutely lovely – and I happen to love David Levithan after reading The Lover’s Dictionary, so yes, definitely reading this!
Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books recently posted..In Honor – Jessi Kirby (Review)
[Reply]
Posted on: Thu, August 16, 2012
Jane said:
I absolutely adored this book! So glad to hear that you enjoyed it too. It was my favorite grab at BEA this year.
Jane recently posted..Book Review: Easy by Tammara Webber
[Reply]
Posted on: Thu, August 16, 2012
Vyki @ On The Shelf said:
It sounds so good! I added it to my TBR after seeing it on WoW and now I want to read it even more, great review!
Vyki @ On The Shelf recently posted..50 Follower Giveaway!!
[Reply]
Posted on: Thu, August 16, 2012
Pocketful of Books said:
This books sounds gorgeous and haunting. Lovely review x
Pocketful of Books recently posted..Authors Behaving Badly #12
[Reply]
Posted on: Thu, August 16, 2012
JP said:
I loved this book so much! I definitely agree that it’s thoughtful and layered. And poetic and truthful, really.
JP recently posted..The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson
[Reply]
Posted on: Thu, August 16, 2012
We Heart YA said:
“This story helped me remember that you do not know what is weighing on the people around you, what their family life is like, etc…and you’ll never fully be able to understand what it is to be them, even if you do spend a day in their shoes.”
Now that sounds very beautiful, important, and timeless.
Thanks for sharing your impressions of this book. We’ve been hearing good things about it, but this officially puts it on our TBR list.
We Heart YA recently posted..Twitter Tuesday
[Reply]
Posted on: Thu, August 16, 2012
Famed said:
From the excerpt itself, I think this one is a GREAT read. I have not read any of Levithan’s book before but this one intrigues me, to the point that I will reopen my Amazon account. Lol
Famed recently posted..Famous Philosophers Who Believed in Good
[Reply]
Posted on: Thu, August 16, 2012