Only Everything

True Love #1

by Kieran Scott

Sometimes the gods can be so unreasonable.

Like Zeus, the king, who thinks the proper reaction to finding me kissing a mortal is to threaten my boyfriend Orion's life, banish me to Earth, and force me to inspire true love between three couples without my powers. I know! Elders! I'm Eros, a.k.a. Cupid. The Goddess of Love. Until this morning, anyway.

Now I'm stuck on Earth with no clue how to function as a human, and I can't even conjure up my magical bow and arrows to help me do my job. I've already met this amazing guy—Charlie, a new kid in school like me—but matching him up isn't as easy as I thought. Turns out opposites don't attract, nearly identicals don't attract, and giving a guy what he seems to want is just one big disaster. My sweet new friend Katrina might work, but she's got more complications than Medusa's hair, and a live-in boyfriend with a serious mean streak. Probably not the best idea to go there.

If I don't make a match, I may never see Orion again. I have so much to lose, and only everything to gain.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Mythology, Fantasy, Contemporary, High School, Greek Mythology

326 pages, Hardcover

First published May 6, 2014

About the author

Kieran Scott is the author of domestic suspense and mystery novels including WISH YOU WERE GONE, REGRETS ONLY and PEOPLE WILL TALK. She has also written several young adult novels, both under her own name and for Alloy Entertainment under the pseudonym Kate Brian. These include the New York Times best-selling PRIVATE and PRIVILEGE series, as well as MEGAN MEADE'S GUIDE TO THE MCGOWAN BOYS and many others. She grew up in Bergen County, New Jersey, attended Rutgers University, and now lives in New Jersey with her husband, two sons and one goofy dog.

Reviews

[Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies · Rating 1 out of 5]

“Daddy, no!” I shouted.
“They’re going to kill him!” I wailed, desperate.
“Nooooo!” I wailed.

Meet Eros, the Greek Goddess of Love. She never stops fucking wailing. This is one of the worst books based on Greek mythology that I've ever read. To make matters worse, it's told from THREE POVs.

People usually get wiser with age, for example, I used to be afraid that monsters would munch on my toes while I slept. That ended when I was 20, so clearly, I gained some wisdom over 10 years. One would think that after several fucking millennium, a fucking Greek goddess would have developed a few fucking brain cells in her dumb fucking head. One would think the goddess of love would know better than to fall into desperate, desperate love after knowing someone for all of six fucking months.

In Greek mythology, Eros is supposed to be the Greek god of love (not to be confused with his mother, Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty).

Like this.



You're welcome.

Instead, we get THIS.



This is Eros, aka Cupid. Aka the little naked dude on cheesy Valentine's Day Cards that shoot arrows into people's hearts and make them fall in insta-love who is now turned into a stupid teenaged female. Needless to say, Eros has played an unseen and unnamed role in much of YA literature.

In this book, Eros is the Greek goddess of love, and she shows no more intelligence than a particularly stupid 16-year old girl, and by saying that, I think I might be insulting all the 16-year old girls out there, because there's no denying the fact that Eros is a stupid fucking moron who's probably been indulging in too much Bacchanalia.

The Summary:

Orion was my soul mate. Orion, who had bedded Eos and dallied with Artemis and gotten himself killed by her and her awful brother, Apollo. Orion, the notorious egomaniac, the most reckless thrill seeker who’d ever lived, a mortal I was still getting to know. He was, in many ways, my polar opposite, but he was my one and only home.

The Ancient Greek goddess of love, Eros, has fallen in love with Orion (as in the constellation dude) after a few months. He is her sooooooooul maaaaaate, man. No matter what anyone else says about him, dude, Eros knows that he is THE ONE, man!

After several tremendously long months of courtship, Eros declares her undying love for Orion!

“I’d rather die than live without you.”

And BOOM! Daddy Ares (the god of war) appears. Orion shits his pants, because, well, hello? You don't fuck around with an angry father, and you particularly don't fuck around with an angry father who IS THE GOD OF WAR.

A deafening crack of thunder shook the ground beneath our feet, sending us staggering together into the nearest tree trunk.

“How dare you debauch my daughter?” he growled in Orion’s ear. “I should tear your head from your feeble, mortal body right here.”

(DADDY! NO!!!!!! Eros wails)



(DADDY! NOOOOOOOOOOO! Eros wails)

DON'T MESS WITH ARES, MOTHERFUCKER.

And since Eros is such a wonderful daughter, she tries to shoot her father in the back.

With a bow in my hands I never failed. With a bow in my hands I was the purest version of myself. I pulled back and let fly. The hunting arrow zipped through the air, headed directly for its target. Headed for my father’s heart.

She shoots her dad. To protect her boyfriend. Of six months. Such a filial thing to do.

Long story short, Eros isn't supposed to be fucking around (literally) with a mortal. She's in deep deep shit. Zeus (here referred to as "The King," and "Your Grace," and "Your Majesty," like what the FUCK, man?!) sends Eros to Earth as punishment. Her mission to get back into grace and to save Orion's life?

“You will be banished to Earth without your powers. You will be, essentially, a mortal. You will then prove your worth to me by forming true love between three couples with no godly tricks up your sleeve,” Zeus continued. “Only then will you be allowed to return to Mount Olympus.”

Simple, right?! I mean, Eros has only been watching humans and making them fall in love for thousands of years. How hard can this be?!

First: choose a name that blends in.

At the very top of the page in front of me was a space for my name and my birth date, which had been left blank. At least the king had given me that, the chance to choose my own name.

I stared out the window and considered, then picked up a pen and wrote it in. True Olympia.

Um. Ok, True.

Fine. It's fine. Really. It's just a name. We can deal with the name True. Ok, next, be subtle about it all.

“Do any of you have girlfriends?” she asked.
Josh’s jaw fell open. Brian laughed.
Everyone gaped at her. She didn’t seem to notice. Instead she looked at me. “What about you? What’s your name? Do you have a girlfriend?”

Ok, it's fine. It's her first day in school. Eros, aka True has been watching humans for thousands of years. Surely she can blend in with them, you know, dress like how they dress.

She was wearing a white sweatshirt about ten sizes too big and pink shorts that showed almost every inch of perfect leg. But craziest were the brand-new, shiny, red-and-purple cowboy boots. Which I think she was wearing with no socks.

Um, well. I'm sure that's fashionable in some parts of the world. It's fine, whatever her name, whatever she chooses to wear, as long as she's got her eyes on the prize. As long as she's got a subtle way of fulfilling her mission that's not going to draw any attention whatsoever.

“I’m going to find you a girlfriend,” I repeated, taking another swig of iced tea. “I’m really good at matching up couples. It’s a special talent of mine.”

Veronica rolled her eyes. “Who is this freak?” she whispered to Josh.

Fine, that's just, like, the second day of school or whatever. Just give her some time! Eros is smart, she'll surely use her millenium of experience to match couples up.

“Another setup?” I whispered.

“Yes! You said you wanted to find love! I’m finding it for you!” True exclaimed.

“With a girl who doesn’t speak?”

WHATEVER. Just as long as she blends in as a high schooler. She'll fulfil the mission eventually.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” I shouted.

I grabbed the tiny device from his hand and hurled it as hard as I could toward the street. Unfortunately, with my weakened human muscles, that wasn’t very far. Still, it did crack in a satisfying way against the concrete and shatter into a half-dozen pieces.

“What the hell? This bitch is crazy!”

Needless to say...

This was a nightmare.

Clearly, I couldn’t make one match without my powers, let alone three. I was never going to get this right. Never.

Orion was doomed.

-_-

The Greek Gods:

“Lmee ’lone,” she muttered. Her breath smelled like rotten grapes. I maneuvered her back onto the mattress and flung the covers over her legs. Her hair was matted in places, and puddles of drool marred one pillow.

That...thing, ladies and gentleman, is Aphrodite, Goddess of Love. This book gives us the most one-dimensional portrayal of Greek gods and goddesses that I've ever encountered. Zeus is pockmarked. Ares is petty and only seeks to curry favor. Aphrodite is a drunken slop of a mess when she doesn't get what she wants. One of the most powerful goddessses in the Pantheon, and she's a wreck when she's on earth. Aphrodite does nothing but drink herself into oblivion. She sobs. She wails. She screeches.

Artemis is..."the most vile. She has the bark, but not the bite.” Apollo is a nasty, childish idiot. Selene is "a bit of a dimwit." The Greek gods are rarely mentioned in this book, but when they are, they are stupid, foolish, flat characters.

Eros AKA True:

I leaned forward, horrified. Was that a pimple on my chin?

“No!” I cried, the tears flowing freely now. “This was not part of our deal! No one said I was going to deteriorate!” Back home, my skin had never been marred by anything—not a blemish, not a wrinkle, not a scar, and certainly not this awful burning sensation. I was simply beautiful, every moment of every day and night.

I was a goddess, for Zeus’s sake! There wasn’t a human on Earth who could touch my beauty.

*waaaaaaaaaaails

Oh, for fuck's sakes. One would think that an immortal goddess who has been living for thousands and thousands of years would be less of a motherfucking dumbass. Wah I have a pimple. Wah I don't look perfect. Your motherfucking boyfriend of three motherfucking months is going to die, because you tried to fucking KILL YOUR DAD. ISN'T THAT CUTE?

Despite watching humans for thousands of years, she hasn't a fucking clue how to blend in. She doesn't know how to dress normally.

It was me on vomit day, wearing the band jacket over the long, gauzy dress and jeans Then me in my overalls on Wednesday, that itchy plaid vest I’d sported on Thursday, and finally the purple sweatpants and striped shirt I’d worn on Friday.

Despite watching humans, she doesn't know how to blend in at all. She steals. Everything. A scarf.

We passed by an open bag on a chair and I saw a pretty plaid scarf peeking out from inside. I grabbed it and tied my hair back from my cheeks.

A pair of sunglasses.

I looked her up and down through the silver-framed sunglasses I’d taken from an open locker.

Other people's food.

That iced tea looked good. Refreshing. I picked up the bottle and gulped down half of it. Charlie stared. I placed it down and sighed. My head throbbed a bit more dully.

“Um, that was mine,” Charlie said.

“What is with everyone and this mine thing?” I asked.

And she steals food from EVERYONE. This is the new girl in school we're talking about.

She leaned away from me, sliding wary eyes in my direction. I picked up one of the doughy sticks, dipped it in the vat of maple syrup I’d been provided, and took a bite.

Are you fucking telling me you don't know how people behave after watching them all this time? Are you fucking telling me that you don't know how to tell personalities despite having matched people up and observing them for thousands of years. Are you telling me you don't know how to blend in as a NORMAL person and keep attention from yourself?

I reached past a tiny girl with blond curls and took a carton of milk and a brown roll.

“You’re cutting the line,” she said.

“Get over it,” I snapped.

Are you telling me that a Greek goddess who's such a judgmental asshole who calls EVERY GIRL SHE DOESN'T LIKE A BITCH is such a terrible judge of character?

After shadowing Veronica this morning, I was certain of one thing: The girl was a two-faced bitch.

Are you telling me that a Greek goddess of love can be such a woman-hater?

The honors English teacher looked like a Hun and had the personality to match. You’d think she’d be happier, considering she was sporting a gold wedding band and had a picture of herself and her handsome husband framed on her desk. People around here obviously took true love for granted. I would have liked to have seen how she would behave if she’d had that big hunk of masculinity ripped away from her for the gods knew how long. Maybe it would soften her a touch.

The Romance: I have to stop. I have a headache. I can't even go on about the fucking mess that is the OTHER romance in this book. Hint: it's about a girl who is

...bogglingly beautiful. So clearly clueless to it. So obviously sweet and shy and vulnerable."

...And...

..."Not-Justin-Bieber was standing there, holding my books out to me in a neat stack. Except up close he looked nothing like Justin Bieber. His cheeks were more square and his eyes very, very blue. He was hotter than Justin Bieber. By a lot."

Die, book.

[Tiff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted at: http://mostlyyalit.blogspot.ca/2014/0...

Kieran Scott is one of my Jedi Masters of YA - she's been writing YA since before we really called it that (and since *I* was a YA...yikes, I'm old), she edited Sweet Valley books, and no one does YA contemporary romance quite like her (Some of you may know her as Kate Brian - this woman is a writing machine!). So it's no surprise that when I saw she had this new YA contemp coming out, I jumped at the chance to review it.

Ok, truth? I jumped at it more for Kieran than for the premise, which seemed a little silly to me - I mean, come on, a Greek goddess descends down to earth to be matchmaker so she can save her own true love? It sounded a little out there to me. But I'm the first to admit it when I'm wrong - and I was pretty wrong about Only Everything. This is book is full-on Kieran Scott, combining sweet, stomach-fluttering moments with darker themes of abuse and neglect , punctuated with zany cluelessness and learning-one's-lesson.

Most of the learning comes from True, one of the three narrators of the book, and our resident goddess, also known as Eros or Cupid. No, she's not a fat baby cherub, she's a teenage girl who lives on Olympus, a lower goddess whose mother is Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love. True's job is finding people to match together using her soul-reading skills, and shooting them with arrows. Except that she's fallen for a mortal, and her dad, God of War Ares, and their king, the mighty Zeus, are not pleased with her. To punish her, Zeus sends True to earth - to New Jersey -  and gives her a limited amount of time to match three couples. The kicker? She has no powers - she's just a human now who has to use her brains to match the couples.

The hilarity and learning comes from the fact that True has always had it super easy - she's never really had to work for anything, so to be a human, in a fallible human body (what the heck is a hangover? Oops...) is really hard for her. She starts off quite entitled and as the book goes on, really learns a lot about how strong she is and what she can do. Scott did a decent job balancing True's whininess with humour and glimpses of how kind she can be. I think I could have hated True a lot more had it not been for her honest, sincere belief in love and its curative powers.

Speaking of love, True starts out by attempting to match up another "new kid" in school, Charlie, who is our second narrator. Charlie's a sweet guy who loves drumming and has always been teased or beaten up at school. Now, coming to New Jersey, he accidentally falls in with the "cool" crowd and ends up doing a lot of stuff that he maybe doesn't really care about to impress people, including his jock father. It's a predictable storyline, but it's well done. Again, I think in the wrong author's hands, Charlie could have been totally one-note , but Scott's delicate balance of characters and moments made him adorable. 

Katrina, the third narrator, had the darkest story, and it's the one that got me the most. Kat has recently lost her father in the car accident, and it's turned her life upside down. She's tanked her sophomore year, has burnout friends, and is dating a guy who totally doesn't appreciate her. The latter relationship is the worst, and it touches on some of the classic signs of abuse. I don't want to give anything away, but I think a lot of girls will relate to Kat and her relationship . It's a bit of a journey to the end with her, and it's a good one.

Even though Only Everything was very enjoyable and I liked the characters, there were a few things that brought it down for me. The first was the introduction of a deux ex machina type character who helped some of the others find their way - it was kind of an obvious ploy, and it made the rest of the book a little too predictable. I liked the character a lot (definitely my favourite), but I wished he hadn't been SO much the reason why certain characters got their act together. It cheapened the triumph at the end a little.

In the same vein, the ending of the book felt a little rushed to me, and everything was resolved a little too quickly . I wanted more of an arc for the characters, and I was a bit disappointed that a lot of it was resolved without a lot of hard work.

Thirdly, because I liked Katrina and Charlie a lot better than I liked True, I found True's flashbacks to her past life a bit dry. I found myself wishing that I could get back to Katrina's head , which seemed like a way more interesting place than True's woe-is-me arc. It's a testament to Scott's writing that I didn't put the book down because of that.

Speaking of writing, Scott is, as I said, a YA master. Everything felt easy, fun, and effortless - she writes with a clear voice for each narrator , and there was never a moment where I was pulled out of the story because of her writing. Because of that, Only Everything is a fast, fun read, one you can devour quickly, and then look forward to the sequels (but not die waiting!).


Bonuses: 



Photo: TheSurrealArtist

Magical Foreshadowing: There are definitely a few threads that were left to tie up in the next books, and one of them has to do with True's abilities - again, don't want to give anything away, but that was one of the coolest parts of the book for me, and it will definitely keep me reading.

Greek Mythology: There's a cast of characters in the Greek god/goddess world for any aficionado - I've never been super into Greek mythology, but Scott made the gods and goddesses easy to follow and a fun part of the story.


The Final Word: 

Only Everything was a fun read, but it left me wanting a little bit. I thought we could have gotten deeper into Katrina and Charlie's stories, but it ended up feeling a bit fluffy instead. Still, I liked the characters, and the concept, along with the trio of narrators, made it a unique read. Definitely a beach read, but one with a lot of heart.

[Kaitlyn Abshire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eros is sent to Earth after her father, Ares, discovers that she is in love with a mortal, Orion. Apparently only the upper gods/goddesses can have relations with mortals and whoever they like while lower gods and goddesses are just out of luck. Anyways…Zeus sends Eros to Earth without her bow and arrows or her powers and she must make three couples fall in love. Otherwise, Zeus and/or Ares will kill Orion.

This story is told from three point of views. True (Eros), Charlie, and Katrina. I found that I thoroughly enjoy this book. While most reviews were all over the place, I’m glad I kept an open mind about this one. The story was easy to follow and I have no problems finishing it fairly quickly.

As far as characters go, True is clueless. One would think that after thousands of years she would know what people look for in others, but she is seriously clueless without her powers. She also has no idea how to dress herself without her powers and has no idea how to hold a normal conversation with others. At least anyone who is mortal (excluding Orion). She has a problem with stealing. Stealing food, clothes, just about anything she feels like taking. Supposedly in the “god/goddess” world, others don’t mind if you steal from them because they can just conjure another of the same item with no problems. For someone who has spent plenty of time on Earth matching others to their one true love, she has absolutely no idea the way the world works.

Although this book could be a bit ridiculous at times, I still really enjoyed it. I really liked Charlie and Katrina and they were adorable in their little moments together. The ending of the book is conclusive in certain aspects, but leaves you with a bit of a hanger that sets the second book up for an interesting story. This book is part of a three part series that I could see myself finishing.

[Hannah McBride · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was approached about reviewing this series since Valentine’s Day was around the corner (and the series is about Eros, Goddess of Love AKA Cupid), I figured why not? It sounded kinda fun and I like Greek Mythology. I never expected it to kickstart an obsession with all things Kieran Scott and one of the funnest, most original characters I’ve read in a long time.

ONLY EVERTHING is unique in the way it’s told. It has 3 points of view—the first is True (Eros) who has been banished to the Earth by Zeus after falling for a mortal. Her punishment says she has to make 3 human couples find true love … but without the use of her goddess abilities. Trust me when I say taking a thousands of years old goddess and thrusting her onto Earth in human form is a recipe for hilarity. From her awkward encounters with other students that had me laughing out loud to her trying to find a job to pay for things, True is one of the funnest characters I’ve read in a long time.

The other two points of view are Charlie and Katrina—the couple fated to fall in true love. But there’s isn’t a picturesque high school love story. Katrina is still reeling from the sudden death of her father the previous year compounded with an ass of a boyfriend. Charlie is struggling to live up to the expectations of his parents (who are all about sports while he is all about music) while fitting in at a new school.

It all combines in a witty but poignant romance that is sweet and sincere and totally True. As soon as I put this book down, I reached for the next one and you will, too. So this Valentine’s Day, spend it with Cupid and Kieran Scott.

[Karmen (readingoncloud9) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5 stars*

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You will then prove your worth to me by forming true love between three couples with no godly tricks up your sleeve," Zeus continued. "Only then will you be allowed to return to Mount Olympus."

This is the best mythology book I've ever read. And I'm very surprised, because I usually hate mythology. Anything to do with gods and goddesses usually bores the heck out of me, and I usually hate all of the history and actual myths and everything. I picked up this novel thinking that it's a usual contemporary read with heart-stopping romance and cute guys with a nice plot. I didn't even read the summary. I just picked it up because the cover and having it be written by Kieran Scott. (AKA Kate Brian, author of the Private series.) So I think I'm ready for Rick Riordan. :)



True, aka Eros aka Cupid aka Daughter of the Goddess of Love, is banished to Earth having to match three mortal couples together with no use of her powers after Zeus (the king) finds Eros kissing a mortal, also known as Orion. Eros is sent to Earth and doesn't have a clue how to act and what to do as a mortal. When she meets Charlie, (who is also new) she knows that he'll be the perfect guy to match someone up with. From the beginning, Charlie falls in love with Katrina, a girl who already has a strange and cruel boyfriend. All True wants to do is match the three couples so she can see and be with Orion again.

Romance and a mythology twist? Count me in. Let me just say that this book was spectacular, and I would read it over and over again. This is going to be an amazing trilogy, I just know it. Kieran Scott has mastered something that no author has ever done before, and it's to mix so many genres together to great a light teen read. Fantasy, contemporary, mythology, romance? That's just great to conquer.

From the beginning, I was hooked in. A lot of the characters from the immortal world, Mount Olympus have been heard of and known for many centuries, and that's great that we were introduced to some new ones as well. But we already have heard of Zeus and Eros's mother and some of Eros's sisters. Kieran Scott never bored me and the plot twists just came on coming straight at me and I wasn't able to even go sleep because this book was too good. I would put this book before my beauty sleep. Now that's some crazy stuff. :p

The romance was so strong. SO BEAUTIFUL. I loved the idea of putting couples together without the use of powers. Everything was natural and the idea of friendship was absolutely there. The fact that True was giving up so much to be with Orion again was just amazing. But then BOOM that ending though. :( Hopefully everything'll go back to normal again and True will just do it. But I absolutely ship Katrina and Charlie so hard. They're the perfect nerdy cute couple and one of the best I've read about in a while.

All of the characters were memorable. True was a strong heroine who tried so hard and gave up so much to make everyone happy. She just didn't put couples together so she can get back to Mount Olympus faster, she did it because she wanted to see her friends happy. In those few weeks/days that she's been on Earth, she already made so many new friends and established strong friendships and went through so much and did new things. Perfect heroine.

Charlie was an absolute hero. He was the boy next the door, the boy you wanted to hug all the time and the boy who you felt so bad for because he just didn't fit in with the rest of the family. He wasn't understood by anyone except Katrina, and that's why they're the perfect couple. I loved him to death. :)

I'd absolutely read this book over and over again and it was my universe and beyond. I recommend this to everyone, young and old. It's truly a life-changing read. :)

"I'd rather spend whatever short time I have here with you than hang among the stars watching life go on without me. Watching you go on without me."

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This book has been sitting on my shelf for quite a while, and I’m glad I finally picked it up. It was really cute and enjoyable.

Eros, the goddess of love, has been banished from Olympus for falling in love with a mortal. He will be killed unless she can match 3 couples without the use of her magic. She goes undercover as a high school student named True Olympia to complete her matchmaking. (I have no idea why she decides to call herself True. Such an odd name.)

I really enjoyed both Charlie’s and Katrina’s perspectives. They were interesting characters and I liked seeing them grow and change. They had some really sweet moments too.

In the beginning, I found True annoying, but she matured a bit as well. I thought it was funny that she didn’t like cell phones or technology.

Kieran Scott/Kate Brian writes ya well. Her dialogue in her books is fairly realistic and readable.

[Moriah Chavis · Rating 5 out of 5]

*This review will also appear on A Leisure Moment*

“If there’s one constant in love, it’s the keeping of little white secrets. And I should know. It’s kind of my job.”

Greek mythology and forbidden romance? Sign me up! I got this series for my birthday (great choice, Mom *wink, wink*) and started it immediately. I’ve read many other books based off the Greek myths and can’t resist when another lands in my hands. It amazes me how different each book is, and Only Everything was nothing like anything I’ve read before.

When I read the basic premise, I didn’t know what to expect. The main character, and what I assumed and discovered would be the main narrator for the entire trilogy, was not the one trying to find love. Eros, who went by True Olympia in the human world, had already found the love of her life and had to fight to get her happily-ever-after back. Being the goddess of love, known to the Romans as Cupid, meant that she helped people find love on a regular basis, but finding her own love was rare, losing it inevitable. Instead of the entire story being told through True’s eyes, it switched perspectives, giving me three sides to the story. True was quirky and unique, and she had no understanding of the human world, meaning that she didn’t fit in at all. There were laugh-out-loud and cringe-worthy moments whenever she was around, and I couldn’t wait to start the next book to see her progression throughout the series.

In order to make it back home, she had to create three couples. Her first project involved Charlie Cox. New kid, always the new kid, who constantly moved town to town because of his father’s job as a football coach. Instead of being the stereotypical jock like his older brothers, he liked to play the drums and marched to a different beat (see what I did there?). Scott did something a little different with the new kid persona, and instead of making him a social pariah, he fit in with the most unlikely groups. He was an infectious character, and I looked forward to the chapters told through his eyes. Charlie had a learning curve, trying to decide who he wanted to be without the help of others telling him what he had to do or who he had to become. Which is why he was the perfect fit for Katrina Ramos.

The loss of someone always leaves its mark on a family, and after the death of her dad, Katrina and her mom didn’t know how to communicate anymore. Katrina already had a boyfriend when the story began, one that had dropped out of high school and wasn’t psychologically healthy to this broken girl. Since she was so shy and reserved, there were many moments when I wanted to shake some sense into her, showing her that she was not alone. Nail-biting and edge-of-the-seat moments, I had to know if she would get all that she deserved in a guy and in life.

I sat down and finished this book in less than a day. I took a trip to Lake Carmody, New Jersey and didn’t want to leave. And what a cliffhanger! I dare you to try and resist getting your hands on the next book because I had to know what happened next.

Whereas there is a contemporary story playing around you, there is also the timeless tales of the Greek myths dispersed throughout the book. If you’re a Grecian buff or lover of a good tale of romance, then this is the book for you. Add the rest of Scott’s books to my list, please!

[Celeste_pewter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been looking for other interesting takes on Greek mythology since (re)reading the Percy Jackson series for the hundredth time, so I decided to check out Only Everything. I've heard nothing but good things about the series, so figured it was worth a shot.

Kieran introduces us to Eros a.k.a. Cupid a.k.a. True (her Earth name) who is stuck on earth after a love affair with a mortal. Her punishment is to inspire true love between three mortal couples without her powers, before she can be allowed to return to Olympus. However, things aren't exactly easy, when True realizes what she has to work with. Even with likable new friends like Charlie and Katrina, it takes a lot of navigating and trial-and-error, before True can truly (har har) inspire love between the first of her three couples.

Scott's writing is funny and zippy, as she helps True and the reader navigate a foreign world. Readers won't be able to help but laugh as True figures out the complexities of human interactions and emotions, while also feeling a sense of pride when she does get things right.

Charlie and Katrina make good (unwitting) foils to True's attempts to inspire true love and return home. Scott is careful to give them distinctive personalities and backgrounds of their own, and readers learn why the two of them may be reluctant to fall in love again, and can't help but cheer when they begin to realize their feelings for one another.

While True's misunderstandings of how to act human may not be enjoyed by every reader, I personally thought that Scott hit the right note of snarky and funny. She perfectly captures just how an outsider may view the zoo that is the high school experience, and the end results.

[Fani · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the beginning i was struggling to read this book, i didn't like Eros as a character only because her personality was that of an immature teenager rather than a thousand year old goddess who has spent her entire life reading people's minds and finding them true love. I also felt that the personalities of some goddesses didn't suit them.

What saved this book in my opinion was Charlie and Katrina, i really liked those characters and i was eager to learn more about them. Even Eros's character improved as i kept reading, making the book more pleasant. In the end i did enjoy Charlie's and Katrina's story and i am now looking forward to read the next book and find out what will happen to Eros and the next couple she will choose to pair.

All in all, it was a fun book but with Eros having this kind of personality i would prefer for her to be just a teenage girl who for some reason is forced to find true love for three couples instead of her being the goddess of love.

[★MC's Corner★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
This is so cool!!!

*MC’s Corner*

• I think my only problem here is there’ s SOOOOO many characters!!! **dizzy**

• So now I know Eros is Cupid… I didn’t know that!!! THANK YOU!
I thought Cupid is an angel and Eros is a guy…. LOL **silly me**

• I really love the idea of this series. It’s so cute! Katrina and Charlie are just… **sigh** I love the last part of their story. I’m so jealous.

• The cliffhanger is crazy. I don’t know what to say/think. GIMME THE NEXT ONE! . I am so excited!

PS: Hotter than Justin Bieber??? Huh? Hot? Excuse me?

@gleekidMC
ARC provided by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and Edelweiss in exchange of honest review. Thank you!

[Louise9 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sooooo good! So funny, so fast-paced! Everything that I wanted it to be!

[Mitchii · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, so I originally wanted the fun and hilarious antics like the author’s first book series. I really loved She’s So/He’s So series despite my fluctuating mood while reading it and my ever conflicting feelings towards Jake. This one has those elements too but not really as interesting and as captivating as her former series. The only edge of this one is that it wasn’t a complete contemporary book. It injected mythology to it. Our heroine here is True; which is in fact one of the gods who got herself kick to the curb because of bad behavior and well, falling in love with a man she wasn’t supposed to. But her banishment wasn’t just getting exiled and that’s it. Zeus gave her a seemingly impossible mission as the goddess of love. But how on earth will she found true love among billions of people without her powers?

This wasn’t just about True. It was also about Charlie, the new kid with new objective. And it was also about Katrina, a girl who was coping with her loss. Put them together you got an interesting couple. Or so I thought. Don’t get me wrong, they were nice characters. But that’s it, they were just nice. I hate Jake, man I hate the dude but at least he was quite memorable despite the indignation I felt for him. Katrina and Charlie, they weren’t entirely doing it for me. I guess I found them adorable at times. And honestly, they weren’t that bad…not at all. But them together was just too conveniently there.

From the get-go, I knew they were meant for each other and I’m pretty sure without reading you will know it, too. The only thing I was so keen for is how the two will develop. And how True will do it. I was waiting for things to fall into the right places. But their development lacks that certain swoon-factor. You know, the certain element that made you gush and root the couple, even they were against the odds. Hey, on my defense, I’m not waiting for the love of epic proportion kind (despite the theme) but I was waiting for something, I don’t know, sweet and sincere? I liked them together but the overall development wasn’t completely that interesting to me.

True could be funny, a bit mischievous and even sometimes ridiculous (but very, very tolerable, it was cute in a strange way). But I gave her major props because her side was the one that I was really focused on more. The ending wasn’t exactly what I would’ve guessed. But I should have thought of it though, being I already knew it was a series and everything wasn’t going to be as resolved as I thought. But that last thing with Orion? It has this whole ‘trouble in paradise’ written on it!

Originally published at The Aeropapers. Please leave any comments there.

[Alexa (Alexa Loves Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

FIRST THOUGHTS:

Holy moly, this book was SO MUCH FUN. I love how Scott put a spin on all the Greek mythological figures I'm familiar with to bring them into the contemporary world! And the story is entertaining, shenanigans and all.

REVIEW:

I read for many reasons, but chief among them is to be entertained. And holy moly, but Only Everything was the first book I'd read in a while that was really good and really fun too! It was a seriously enjoyable reading experience, and just thinking about True, Kat and Charlie makes me smile.

Scott's done something that only Rick Riordan has ever managed to accomplish for me: she put her own spin on familiar Greek mythological figures in a contemporary setting. While she embraced some of the qualities that made True/Eros (and the other gods) recognizable from their myths, she also didn't stick with the stereotypes completely (which was great!)

With a deft hand, Scott managed to balance two stories - True's and Charlie & Kat's - in Only Everything. True's parts were full of shenanigans, as she was trying to adjust to the human world and make sure to match up a pairing of true love at the same time. I laughed a lot during her parts, though there were also times I wanted to shake some sense into her.

The same could be said for Charlie and Kat, actually. Each of them had a story (with heartbreaking bits sprinkled in), and I was very much invested in their futures (together and individually). While they both did do some things that made me shake my head (and want to shake them too), I loved that they were real, flawed individuals who shared a spark. (You'll have to read if you want to find out what happens to them!)

It's very obvious that I really liked Only Everything! In fact, even just writing my review has gotten me to smile as I think about True, and Charlie, and Kat and everyone else in this story. I'm very much looking forward to the next installment in this series. (And thank goodness it's coming out later this year.) If you're in search for a fun new read, look no further than this book!

{If you liked this review, check out Alexa Loves Books for more!}

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another book I read absolutely ages ago and then promptly forgot to write the review SORRY.

I absolutely loved the concept behind this story; we all know Eros (aka Cupid) daughter of Aphrodite is a Goddess of Love. BUT how can Eros truly be an advocate of love when she knows nothing about it personally having relied on her abilities with a bow to match people rather than looking for the true connection between individuals. let me tell you there have been some very awkward situations caused by Eros's bow.

When Eros somehow releases Orion from the heavens, Zeus banishes Eros to Earth tasking her to bring together three couples with true love without her powers, and only then will he accept her feelings for Orion as real.

Now imagine Eros as a teenage girl, True, having to navigate a world she is unfamiliar with including technology, high school and mean girls. Without her powers she is more than a little socially awkward, unable to see a true love match if it bit her on the butt; to say it's interesting watching True navigate her way is an understatement. Add in her mother, Aphrodite as a wine guzzling hollywood style house wife and you have a lot of comedic moments.

There is a twist in the tale when Orion joins the high school with no memory of True. Not only is she having to guide other people's relationships, True now has to deal with making Orion remember his feelings for her.

The character development is fantastic, I loved watching True grow as a person from her experiences, gaining friendship and gaining empathy for others. Only Everything is a really interesting take on mythology, fresh and unique I hope True gets to find her own true love ♥

[Katy]

I've always like Kieran Scott, but I've tried and tried and tried for the past month, and I just could not finish this one... I went switching back and forth from being extremely bored with the messed-up mythology to extremely irritated with the characters. After trying to pick it up at least 20 times, I've given up about halfway through.

First of all, I could not stand True. It's not that she was a total walking disaster, who believed she knew it all but was too blind to see what was right in front of her. But she was far from charming, more than beyond obnoxious and over the top dramatic. I've. Had. Enough.

It also didn't help that I didn't like Katrina. She was your classic charity case, only Scott overdid it for me - a formerly smart, straight-laced girl who had a traumatic loss of a parent that forever changed her and her family, so now she's failing and hanging out with the wrong crowd with an older, piece of trash boyfriend. No. Just. No.

The only saving grace in this book, and the reason I tried so hard to keep reading, was because of Charlie. He's a quiet, somewhat nerdy kid who's been overshadowed by his famous coach of a father and two hot shot brothers. Nothing special right? But his new life here was different, with him actually having a taste of popularity, for reasons he did not know why. Now, this was interesting. However, I was just too annoyed with his two female co-stars that I even thought about just skimming the rest or reading the chapters in his point of view, but I just couldn't.

Like I've said, I've always been a fan of Kiernan Scott, even for her silly books like her Cheerleader series. I've honestly tried with this one, but I just couldn't finish it for the life of me.

[Kristina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not finish.

I received this galley in exchange for an honest review.

I ended up not finishing this one. I usually love books that are set in our time period with the Greek gods and goddesses as the main characters, but I just couldn’t get into this one. I liked the characters enough, but the story just bored me. The first chapter left me completely confused. We have Eros (aka Cupid) and the love her life, Orion in the heavens just hanging out. They love each other, which pisses Zeus off because Orion is human. Now I know the story of Orion, but how it fit into this story just confused me. I wish that his story would have been explained to us right in the beginning. I’m not sure if it ever is explained. Since saving Orion from being a constellation for eternity, Eros has been teaching him about modern times, but when she is banished to earth, she doesn’t known a damn thing! Plot hole!! With the first few chapters leaving me with a confused taste in my mouth, I decided not to continue with the rest of the story. I have been hearing wondering things about this book, and reading glowing reviews, so I’m pretty sure that I will give this book another shot at a later date.
I also skimmed ahead to the end of the story, and I have to say, even though I choose not to finish Only Everything, the next book, Complete Nothing looks like it’s going to be interesting.

[Elo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know if I really enjoyed the book so I'll settle for 2.5 stars.

It was a quick and somewhat entertaining read but also full of mean girls/jocks clichés that pictures very cartonish characters.

The two MCs are supposed to stand out because of it, and in contrast to such poor side characters, it's not hard but I can't say I felt anything much about the couple. Just a pair of nice kids.

If we take the third MC, former match-maker goddess Eros exiled on Earth, she definitely brings a little something fresh with her attitude.

Which is a mix of clueless/don't care I do what I want that actually doesn't shock me for a god. She's not the brightess but the Greek gods are such a bunch of kids throwing tantrums all around, when there're not fooling around for milleniums so I trully don't expect much of them ;)
I thought True was quite entertaining, if not the brightest of the bunch.

Sad to say I could not care less about her love story though...

I might read the next book if I come across it but I'm not going to rush to buy it.

[Deitre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greek mythology and forbidden romance? Sign me up! I got this series for my birthday (great choice, Mom *wink, wink*) and started it immediately. I’ve read many other books based off the Greek myths and can’t resist when another lands in my hands. It amazes me how different each book is, and Only Everything was nothing like anything I’ve read before.

Why have I never heard of this series? To read the rest of the review of a series that's arrow struck my heart, simply follow the link: http://www.aleisuremoment.com/2016/01...

Complete Nothing
Something True

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really cute! It took me a while to get through for some reason, but I definitely enjoyed it. The concept was really fun and I can't wait to see what happens in the rest of the trilogy. I like that the books are set up so that True has to get three couples together: one per book. Charlie and Katrina, in this book, were so cute but I wish there was more time with them - more interactions and more swoons and more chemistry. The three different POVs didn't throw me off as I got reading, but was definitely caught off guard at the beginning. It was nice to get into everyone's head, considering all three characters are equally important to the story, but I found myself wishing for a bit more of True's chapters. She's really the main character. Regardless, cute book! Onto number two!

[Nancy Brady · Rating 3 out of 5]

A YA novel that features Eros, a lesser goddess, being sent to earth as a mortal to create a love match...actually three of them. Otherwise, her love will be tortured and killed by Zeus.

Making her way in high school is a learning,curve all its own as she attempts to match up Charlie with various girls. Told through the perspective of three characters, this story isn't as simple as it appears, but only because a reader pays attention. Getting the two people together takes more help from other gods and a dose of reality for Eros (True) as she learns how to be a decent human being. One down, two to go...

An as aside, there are some of the current trends in this one: hair tucking behind ears, messy ponytails, green eyes, and of course, it is the first novel in a trilogy.

[Soumya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book more. I did. But it was just so obvious. I kept turning the page, going, "FIGURE IT OUT ALREADY!!!!" But no, all the characters just had to be clueless until that one random moment when it all clicks. I'm going to read the second one anyways, so I'm hoping it's better.

[Andi (Andi's ABCs) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time with this one and only liked two of the three main characters. Really the main voice bugged me. I did enjoy the unexpected ending but not sure if it was enough to read the next book.

[Lisa (A Life Bound By Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect with this one but I will tell you one thing I didn't see coming was so many laugh out loud moments. Loved it! Full review to follow on my blog - A Life Bound By Books soon.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much fun!! I thought the whole concept of this book was smartly done. I always wish for more time that the main characters can finally be together but alas... Definitely a fun romance for Greek mythology fans!

[Hazel (Stay Bookish) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4-4.5
FREAKING AWESOME. LAUGHED AND FLAILED AND OVERALL ENJOYED. NEED NEXT BOOK!!!!!

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to thank Simon and Schuster for providing me with an early copy of this book (through both Edelweiss and physical copy) to read and review. I love Kieran's writing and have enjoyed her other books so I was anxious to get to this one. Receiving this book for free has in no way altered my opinion or review.

Blurb from Goodreads:
High school romance is tough—even for a bona fide love goddess. Can Cupid succeed as a mortal matchmaker?
When Eros (aka Cupid) is expelled from Olympus for defying Zeus after falling in love with Orion, she is banished to what she believes to be hell. We call it New Jersey. If she ever wants to go back to the comforts of her old life, she will have to find love for three couples—without using her powers.
Eros, now calling herself True, immediately identifies her first project in Charlie and believes finding him love will be a piece of cake. Charlie is new at school and eager to break out of his old image of band geek, so it’s lucky for him when he falls in with the right crowd on his first day. But music is still his passion. That is, until he meets Katrina...
Katrina is floundering after the death of her father and takes refuge with a boy who, while not entirely supportive, will be there when she needs him, unlike her mother. Too bad True thinks any girl Charlie talks to is perfect for him. Can she get out of her own way and help Charlie and Katrina connect, or will she be stuck in New Jersey forever?

I have to start out by saying that I really loved the theme of this book. I usually start by saying how great the cover is. And I do like it. Especially the colors. But that's not what drew me to the book. I love anything to do with mythology. So, when combined with modern day life, it just totally intrigues me. Take a contemporary story and put a twist on it, and you've got me hook, line and sinker. Don't get me wrong, I do love the cover, but I don't think the cover is what will draw people to this book.

One thing that made me really happy was to see the book was told in several points of view. I really love when authors can do this, especially when they can do it well, as Kieran does. I know how hard it is to find a voice for each character. And Scott was able to do that, making her characters distinct enough to help you feel each of their personalities and characteristics with every chapter you read.

True Olympia is the mortal version of Eros. Well, she was Eros, until she was cast out and given the task of helping others find true love, without her powers. Because True was once powerful enough to be able to help people fall in love, but now she only has her human traits to help her along. And she has always gotten anything she's ever wanted because of her power, now she's powerless to do so. I loved how True's character starts out with a bang. She is unused to being human, so she doesn't act human. But since she has no powers, she can't do anything she usually does, and her defiance of human traits leads her into some sticky situations. During the course of the book True learns and grows and becomes human, at least to the degree she needs to be not to be labeled a freak anymore! You really see her change from a stuck up snobby godlike creature to a regular human teenager with needs for friends and acceptance. It was fun to watch.

Charlie, oh how I loved him. He's this mix of dork and jock that you just did not see conning. He's compassionate and lovable and just downright adorable. I don't find him sexy or swoon worthy, to be honest, but he's definitely a character that bores his way into your heart. I was routing for his happily ever after for the entire book. He needed it. Having grown up in the shadow of his athletically successful brothers, Charlie always felt he was less than what his father wanted him to be. Throughout the course of this book, he really does learn who he is. He realizes he can like more than one thing and be a diverse human being. That it's ok to want more than one thing in your life and that people can accept you for who you choose to be. Charlie doesn't really give up his principles in this book, rather he embraces them and demonstrates people can love someone for who they are without wanting them to change.

Katrina, she's had it hard. She's harboring these deep, dark feelings throughout the book that weigh her down and confine her to a life that she really doesn't need to be in. After losing her father, her life kind of fell in the dumps, She got involved with people she normally wouldn't have and she let her grief consume her. She shows so much great development in this book. She comes out on the other end a strong and much more mature young woman who realizes that what has happened to her in the past does not have to define her. She can be who she wants to be and not compromise her principals to get there.

I loved the premise of this story for sure. Who doesn't love a Goddess who's been cast out of Olympus and had her powers taken away only to realize that she has to do what she normally does without having this advantage. It was like waiting for a ticking time bomb to go off. The plot was unique enough, although I'm sure similar plots have been done, but none that I have read. I liked that True struggled, that things didn't come easy to her and she had to accept it and change to accommodate it. I especially liked that she struggled with getting people to fall in love and made mistakes along the way. It was great having this book set in New Jersey, where I live (and where the author lives, as well). I could picture the town in my mind so clearly, though I don't know it myself.

The book starts off with a bang. I tore through the first few chapters. But then I kind of felt the pace slow down. Charlie is paired up with several girls before realizing who his one true love is, and Katrina spends her time with an abusive boyfriend who doesn't care about her at all. As a matter of fact, I hated his character, which I'm sure is what the author intended. I also had a few parts I found to be unbelievable as far as a teenage story would go: teenagers moving out of their house and the parents not even caring strikes me as odd. It was a bit over the top for my taste, even though I could see how it might be integral to the growth and development of the character.

I can tell from the way the book is set up that this will most likely not be the only book in the series (since True still needs to fulfill her challenge before being reunited with her own one true love). I would be interested to see where the author takes it, how she adds to True's growth and development and abilities.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. I do wish it were a little quicker paced. I did like the romantic scenes portrayed between the matched pair, especially towards the end of the book. I found there were a bit too many flashbacks from True's point of view, a few of which I wasn't sure why they were included since they didn't seem to really add to the story at the time. I think fans of mythology spin offs will enjoy this book as well as fans of contemporary reads.

[Michaila · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh. Annoying main character with annoying motivation and it's clearly set up as a series so I kind of want to see it through because I like completion and stuff and want the whole story to be over but really??? Not to mention how little I liked the idea of Orion leaving the constellation or whatever crazy magic thing Eros did to get him down. Eh. Didn't really like their chemistry.

Thing that annoyed me the most - THE NAME CHANGE. Okay, maybe the plot or whatever or the insipidness of the characters should have annoyed me more but I was listening to this while I was at work so basically anything was better than listening to silence. But I'm a name nerd. So Eros gets to rename herself and I'm like, yes. Yes. This is exciting. Maybe she'll pick something that sounds like the name she's had for millennia - like Erica or something. Or maybe something that means love, like Amara or Carys or Esme or Phillipa/Pippa for short - heck Amanda means loved but I can see why a goddess would pick something a bit more exotic than Amanda but still, she's supposed to blend in. Or maybe something to remind her of Orion, like Oriana or something. Like I could see her doing any of those names - they're a little trendy but not obnoxiously so. And even Olympia as a last name is isn't terrible. But True? TRUE???!?!?!?!

I like names with meaning as much as the next person but seriously. Did not really want to listen to a book all day and keep hearing the name "True Olympia" - so pretentious. What about Erica Hunter - since Orion is the hunter? Pippa Hunter? Pippa Olympiad? Carys Olympia? Amara Hunter? Like girl, I know you're a goddess, but can you be a little more down to earth? Also how do you not know how the mortal world functions? You've been watching it forever. You know mortals don't just take other mortal's stuff. That's how wars start. Ares is your dad for crying out loud you idiot!

Even the cliffhanger at the end isn't enough to make me track down a sequel unless I'm really really bored.

[Raven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this was a rough start.

Everything got all switched around and I was like "Not my Greek Gods!" but then I didn't care cause it was cute. It took a while to get into the whole story. I had a hard time with Eros/True because all she did was wail and bitch and moan, but once she got Hephaestus she mellowed out and wasn't as bad. I mean I kind of get it, she was thrown into the mortal realm, no powers, not used to human life or anything with the threat of death looming over herself and the man she holds dear, I guess I just expected the Greek Goddess to be a little more... adaptable? I mean, she is a goddess, powers or not.

I felt for both Katrina and Charlie, I'm glad they got the HEA in the end. Katrina definitely needs new friends so I hope she finds them (that bit wasn't really addressed in the book) and as much as I'd like to find out what happens in the next, after that ending and my knowledge of Eros' wailing, bitching and moaning habits I am not gonna touch it with a ten foot pole!

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute and fun story. I didn’t think I was going to enjoy it but I was hooked from the start. And the writing made for an easy, fast and cozy read.

True (aka Eros - the Goddess of Love) has been banished to Earth along with her mother Aphrodite. True has broken so many rules on Mount Olympus, some that Zeus doesn’t even know, and now must match 3 couples on Earth in order to return to her own soulmate, Orion. It this task proves much harder than True expected, especially since she was banished without her powers.

I found myself really enjoying this story, it was a cute and sometime funny young adult romance. True navigating mortal life was a hoot at times.

For a quick, cozy read I would definitely recommend.