All the Bright Places

Whelp I was NOT expecting this one to be so darn sad and depressing while at the same time having bits of love and laughter mixed in. I was thrown off by the title and honestly thought I was getting something light-hearted and fun.

While it did have elements of that here and there, this is mostly a sad and melancholy read. If not for a buddy read, I wouldn't have pulled this off the shelf yet. I had a really hard time wanting to read this one, BUT don't be confused...I loved it...it just really threw a monkey wrench in my holiday spirit today.

This has elements of a sweet love story and what it means to truly care for and love someone unconditionally. It also has elements of stigma related to mental health and the way it was carelessly thrown aside throughout this story, which led to the ending it did, was exasperating.

Theo's mother was completely self-absorbed as she cared more for “how it would look” to have a child with a mental health issue, instead of embracing her son and doing any, and everything she could to find help for him. I almost threw my book a few times when I encountered her parts in the story.

Too often, people are judged because of how they act and it's usually with misinformation. Kindness, and understanding could seriously change the world if people would get out of their own heads sometimes and just offer a smile and a hello once in a while.

I know some consider it silly and maybe even dumb, but I seriously believe a simple smile and show of humanity towards another could create a chain reaction that might save someone's life or just brighten their day when they needed it most.