All The Bright Places

The title of this book is a stark contrast to it's storyline.
However, I loved that it spoke about what most authors trivialize in their novels; the struggle of facing mental illness alone.

It is one thing to battle PTSD, depression, and suicidal thoughts, as a teenager, and another to battle it completely alone.
It's also very difficult not to get attached to the characters in this book.

I've read so many books in the past, where characters had, or helped people in their lives who battled with constant thoughts of death, but none felt as realistic as this novel, probably because the main characters are the ones with the problem.

Theodore Finch, one of the main characters has an obsessive fascination with death. He thinks and dreams everyday of how he could possibly end his life.
But everytime he comes close, or attempts to, something stops him.
It's always something good, and I would assume that must have been the author's inspiration for the novel's title.

Violet Market on the other hand, lives not for the present, but for the future. Like many of us, she's counting the days until she can finally graduate and escape the small Indiana town she feels us holding her hostage.
Her reason for escape might also be that she wants to escape the constant grief that constantly rears its head in her soul after the loss of her sister.

Everyone around Finch and Violet thinks they are troubled teenagers, but no one around them truly understands that Violet us just a girl morning the death of her sister, and Finch just wants to disappear forever.

Things take a different turn, when Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at their school.
It is not clear amongst them who saves the other from their demons, but Finch discovers that he can truly be himself around Violet and not be tagged a freak, and Violet discovers she doesn't count the days until she disappears again.

However, can their presence in each other's life, truly drown the misery of the mental struggles they are both dealing with or will their acceptance of their struggles be a way for one or at least both of them to heal?

I love how this books doesn't dwell on the romance between Violet and Finch, but rather on how they help each other overcome their struggles.

I truly appreciated how much the author tried to make sure in their own little world, they were their own therapists, and their own escape.

At some point in the novel, I had to keep it down. Not only was it an emotional rollercoaster, but it was triggering in so many ways for me.

Did I have any favorite characters ? Well, be rest assured that both Violet and Finch had a special place in my heart. Their character was so beautifully depicted, that it had me wondering why I haven't read any book by this author.

It would be truly difficult to pick up another book after this one, because this is one of those books that leave your heart aching long after you flip through it's final pages.

Do I recommend? I one hundred percent do. Not only for people dealing with mental issues, but for others who might not have the slightest idea how damaging these mental issues can be if they are handled alone.

^{images are all screenshots from the book}