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In a World Just Right
High school senior Jonathan Aubrey creates worlds at will. In Kylie-Simms-is-my-girlfriend, he’s given himself everything he doesn’t have in real life-–the track team, passing grades, and his dream girl–-until one day he confuses his worlds and almost kisses the real Kylie Simms. Now his girlfriend Kylie and the real Kylie are changing, and Jonathan must solve the mystery of his own life to save his love from a gruesome fate.
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 28, 2015
29 people are currently reading
6401 people want to read
About the author
Jen Brooks
1 book79 followersJennifer Brooks was born and raised in the suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts. After high school she matriculated at Dartmouth College to become a research scientist, but by the end of her sophomore year she felt a calling to the teaching profession. After graduation and fourteen years of teaching high school English, she answered a second calling to write full time while raising her new son. Her journey began with two theses for an MA and later an MFA in writing popular fiction at Seton Hill University.
A competitive hurdler and jumper in high school and college, she coached thirty-one seasons of cross-country and track and field, which is why runners show up so frequently in her stories. Jen has also had a lifelong relationship with books–as a youngster checking out a dozen at a time from the library, and as an adult buying books to build her own personal library. She has always been attracted to the science fiction and fantasy genres and claims Star Wars is the single greatest fiction influence in her life. She also enjoys British literature and says Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse is her favorite book of all time, which is why lighthouses also make appearances in her stories.
Running, Hiking, Traveling, and Gardening are Jen’s favorite activities when she’s not writing. She lives with her husband and son on the North Shore of Massachusetts where she writes from her office overlooking their little backyard pond.
A competitive hurdler and jumper in high school and college, she coached thirty-one seasons of cross-country and track and field, which is why runners show up so frequently in her stories. Jen has also had a lifelong relationship with books–as a youngster checking out a dozen at a time from the library, and as an adult buying books to build her own personal library. She has always been attracted to the science fiction and fantasy genres and claims Star Wars is the single greatest fiction influence in her life. She also enjoys British literature and says Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse is her favorite book of all time, which is why lighthouses also make appearances in her stories.
Running, Hiking, Traveling, and Gardening are Jen’s favorite activities when she’s not writing. She lives with her husband and son on the North Shore of Massachusetts where she writes from her office overlooking their little backyard pond.
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May 20, 2015
Full disclosure: I read to page 200, skimmed to from there to page 327, then read till the end. If you dislike it when reviewers don't finish books before embarking on a review, then I'm about to really upset you.
In a World Just Right had a really cool premise: a teen who can create worlds with his mind! Heck, yeah! Sci-Fi! Count me in on this road trip into Awesomeville! Then I realized that he created a world specifically to be with a girl that he couldn't be with in the real world and my enthusiasm admittedly dipped a little as my stalker meter started to go off on my dashboard. Then I kept reading and reading and found out that Jonathan didn't give two shits about anything else besides said girl and was completely obsessed in a not-so-adorable fashion. That's when I stopped reading.
I won't bore you and make this a super long review, because I could go on and on here, but here are the biggest things you need to know about why I couldn't finish In a World Just Right:
The Ultimate Stalker:
Jonathan has a really sad background. His parents, aunt and little sister all died in a plane crash years ago and he survived. After the accident, he mostly stayed to himself, not actively getting involved in school or interacting with anyone his age more than it was required of him. But he also discovered that after the accident, he could make worlds out of thin air. And because he is a teenaged boy, who is in love with a girl he's never spoken with, he creates an entire world that is dedicated to full filling this need. He aptly calls it Kylie-Sims-Is-My-Girlfriend.
I don't think I've ever encountered this level of stalking in any other character. I mean, he has Edward Cullen beat because HE CREATED A WORLD for her. That alone gives me pause, but since I knew this before I read the book, I can't really complain, can I? And yet, here I am shamelessly doing it anyway. He FOLLOWS HER AROUND in that world. He MAKES SURE HIS SCHOOL SCHEDULE IS THE SAME AS HERS. The world is set up TO ENSURE THAT SHE WILL ALWAYS LOVE HIM AND NEVER BREAK UP WITH HIM. Even when Fake Kylie has feelings of dislike or of needing space, she can't do that because that's not how that world works.
This guy literally stalks her in no less than 3 different worlds. Read the book and you'll know what I mean. It was written to be romantic, I'm sure. But I connected with none of the characters so it registered to me as Creepy As All Get Out.
Oh Hey, It's My Dead Sister, But Whateves ALL I CARE ABOUT IS KYLIE:
I know you're probably thinking, "WUUUUUUUT?" and that would be an appropriate response to that. Much more appropriate than Jonathan's response, I can assure you. Let me back-peddle a bit. So there was a point where I was getting a little bored with In A World Just Right and struggled to find reasons to continue. Usually when I find myself in this situation, I try to push myself to at least 50% before giving up. But out of the blue, the book starts getting interesting when Jonathan's dead sister shows up out of nowhere and is able to visit all the worlds he's created. A normal person might stop and think, "hey wait a second... how is my sister alive? I thought she was killed in the plane crash?! I should probably find out because this seems rather important!" Instead, do you know what Jonathan's top priority is? KYLIE. He spares exactly 2 seconds to think about his sister and then it's back to saving Kylie from some devastation he's created by mixing up his worlds.
I legitimately thought this was the biggest fail of the book. The mystery of how Jonathan's sister manages to be alive, is dropped on the reader pretty early and she spends a lot of time with him after the fact "training" him and teaching him new World Maker skills to save Fake Kylie and Real Kylie. But Brooks deliberately keeps the reason for her existence hidden so that the ending can have maximum impact. The problem with this is that I stopped giving a shit once I realized Jonathan didn't give a shit about his sister he'd been crying over earlier in the book. It was this huge elephant on every page with him refusing to plague her with questions that matter. If I found out my sibling was alive, you can bet your ass that I'd need to know WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY and HOW immediately.
And oddly enough, as much as he constantly obsessed over Kylie, he never has sex with her. Now, I'm not one to think every YA novel needs or should have sex in it, but it felt like is was actually missing from the story. I mean, HE CREATED A WORLD AROUND HER LOVING HIM and you expect me to believe they just spent all of their hours of alone time holding hands and kissing? A high school, senior boy, who also created a world of dance clubs and strippers just for himself, has never had sex with his made-up girlfriend? Or thought about it? Or monologued about it?! The girl he's been in love with for years!!
I don't buy it.
He Can Create Worlds Because Science:
I'm not really a fan of contemporary books that are essentially contemporary books with a sci-fi backdrop. Almost like those fake LifeTouch backgrounds for your school photos where you look at them and wonder, "Is this really necessary?" I understand it would be great for those who aren't really into the genre, but as a veteran, it sucks hard. I need that science, the reason for the existence of the weirdness to make sense. In A World Just Right doesn't tell me anything. All we know is that he can create worlds because of the plane crash and somehow that is supposed to be enough to carry all your questions.
It's a shame because I really feel like this book could have pushed limits and caused readers to ask big questions regarding the human subconscious, perception and reality. But the focus instead was on how Jonathan felt about Kylie and figuring out a way to be with her.
Zzzzz... TL;DR:
A good portion of In A World Just Right involves Jonathan going to school, following Kylie around, going to track practice with Fake Kylie, reading poetry in Creative Writing class with Real Kylie and angst over his family's death. It had a tendency to really drag on and on at certain periods to the point where I wanted to throw myself against my white walls repeatedly like a pinball machine just to shake things up. I started skimming Jonathan's internal monologues about Kylie and was surprised that it practically makes up 50% of the novel. If he isn't with her, he's constantly thinking about her and nothing else. (Oh did I mention he lives with his rich uncle? No? Well, don't worry about him because he doesn't have ANY page time in the entirety of this 400 page doorstopper.) It became tedious to read about the same thing over and over, and I was surprised at how little I missed as I skim read. I stopped to read most of the dialogue between him and his sister and even Kylie.
The Ending or You've Got To Be Kidding Me (Here there be spoilers):
Convoluted is the best way to describe the ending. Click the spoiler tag if you are curious. Be warned, it spoils the ending completely and mercilessly.
I just could not with this book and then I could, obviously, because I finished it. I was so curious on how it would end and I enjoy punishing myself as my track record has shown. Honestly, the writing wasn't bad at all and if this was a straight up contemporary novel, I probably would have enjoyed it a lot more. I'll probably try out the author's other stuff down the line, but this one was a bust for me.
ARC was received from the publisher for an honest review. My work here is done.
More reviews and other fantastical things at Cuddlebuggery.
In a World Just Right had a really cool premise: a teen who can create worlds with his mind! Heck, yeah! Sci-Fi! Count me in on this road trip into Awesomeville! Then I realized that he created a world specifically to be with a girl that he couldn't be with in the real world and my enthusiasm admittedly dipped a little as my stalker meter started to go off on my dashboard. Then I kept reading and reading and found out that Jonathan didn't give two shits about anything else besides said girl and was completely obsessed in a not-so-adorable fashion. That's when I stopped reading.
I won't bore you and make this a super long review, because I could go on and on here, but here are the biggest things you need to know about why I couldn't finish In a World Just Right:
The Ultimate Stalker:
Jonathan has a really sad background. His parents, aunt and little sister all died in a plane crash years ago and he survived. After the accident, he mostly stayed to himself, not actively getting involved in school or interacting with anyone his age more than it was required of him. But he also discovered that after the accident, he could make worlds out of thin air. And because he is a teenaged boy, who is in love with a girl he's never spoken with, he creates an entire world that is dedicated to full filling this need. He aptly calls it Kylie-Sims-Is-My-Girlfriend.
I don't think I've ever encountered this level of stalking in any other character. I mean, he has Edward Cullen beat because HE CREATED A WORLD for her. That alone gives me pause, but since I knew this before I read the book, I can't really complain, can I? And yet, here I am shamelessly doing it anyway. He FOLLOWS HER AROUND in that world. He MAKES SURE HIS SCHOOL SCHEDULE IS THE SAME AS HERS. The world is set up TO ENSURE THAT SHE WILL ALWAYS LOVE HIM AND NEVER BREAK UP WITH HIM. Even when Fake Kylie has feelings of dislike or of needing space, she can't do that because that's not how that world works.
This guy literally stalks her in no less than 3 different worlds. Read the book and you'll know what I mean. It was written to be romantic, I'm sure. But I connected with none of the characters so it registered to me as Creepy As All Get Out.
Oh Hey, It's My Dead Sister, But Whateves ALL I CARE ABOUT IS KYLIE:
I know you're probably thinking, "WUUUUUUUT?" and that would be an appropriate response to that. Much more appropriate than Jonathan's response, I can assure you. Let me back-peddle a bit. So there was a point where I was getting a little bored with In A World Just Right and struggled to find reasons to continue. Usually when I find myself in this situation, I try to push myself to at least 50% before giving up. But out of the blue, the book starts getting interesting when Jonathan's dead sister shows up out of nowhere and is able to visit all the worlds he's created. A normal person might stop and think, "hey wait a second... how is my sister alive? I thought she was killed in the plane crash?! I should probably find out because this seems rather important!" Instead, do you know what Jonathan's top priority is? KYLIE. He spares exactly 2 seconds to think about his sister and then it's back to saving Kylie from some devastation he's created by mixing up his worlds.
I legitimately thought this was the biggest fail of the book. The mystery of how Jonathan's sister manages to be alive, is dropped on the reader pretty early and she spends a lot of time with him after the fact "training" him and teaching him new World Maker skills to save Fake Kylie and Real Kylie. But Brooks deliberately keeps the reason for her existence hidden so that the ending can have maximum impact. The problem with this is that I stopped giving a shit once I realized Jonathan didn't give a shit about his sister he'd been crying over earlier in the book. It was this huge elephant on every page with him refusing to plague her with questions that matter. If I found out my sibling was alive, you can bet your ass that I'd need to know WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY and HOW immediately.
And oddly enough, as much as he constantly obsessed over Kylie, he never has sex with her. Now, I'm not one to think every YA novel needs or should have sex in it, but it felt like is was actually missing from the story. I mean, HE CREATED A WORLD AROUND HER LOVING HIM and you expect me to believe they just spent all of their hours of alone time holding hands and kissing? A high school, senior boy, who also created a world of dance clubs and strippers just for himself, has never had sex with his made-up girlfriend? Or thought about it? Or monologued about it?! The girl he's been in love with for years!!
I don't buy it.
He Can Create Worlds Because Science:
I'm not really a fan of contemporary books that are essentially contemporary books with a sci-fi backdrop. Almost like those fake LifeTouch backgrounds for your school photos where you look at them and wonder, "Is this really necessary?" I understand it would be great for those who aren't really into the genre, but as a veteran, it sucks hard. I need that science, the reason for the existence of the weirdness to make sense. In A World Just Right doesn't tell me anything. All we know is that he can create worlds because of the plane crash and somehow that is supposed to be enough to carry all your questions.
It's a shame because I really feel like this book could have pushed limits and caused readers to ask big questions regarding the human subconscious, perception and reality. But the focus instead was on how Jonathan felt about Kylie and figuring out a way to be with her.
Zzzzz... TL;DR:
A good portion of In A World Just Right involves Jonathan going to school, following Kylie around, going to track practice with Fake Kylie, reading poetry in Creative Writing class with Real Kylie and angst over his family's death. It had a tendency to really drag on and on at certain periods to the point where I wanted to throw myself against my white walls repeatedly like a pinball machine just to shake things up. I started skimming Jonathan's internal monologues about Kylie and was surprised that it practically makes up 50% of the novel. If he isn't with her, he's constantly thinking about her and nothing else. (Oh did I mention he lives with his rich uncle? No? Well, don't worry about him because he doesn't have ANY page time in the entirety of this 400 page doorstopper.) It became tedious to read about the same thing over and over, and I was surprised at how little I missed as I skim read. I stopped to read most of the dialogue between him and his sister and even Kylie.
The Ending or You've Got To Be Kidding Me (Here there be spoilers):
Convoluted is the best way to describe the ending. Click the spoiler tag if you are curious. Be warned, it spoils the ending completely and mercilessly.
I just could not with this book and then I could, obviously, because I finished it. I was so curious on how it would end and I enjoy punishing myself as my track record has shown. Honestly, the writing wasn't bad at all and if this was a straight up contemporary novel, I probably would have enjoyed it a lot more. I'll probably try out the author's other stuff down the line, but this one was a bust for me.
ARC was received from the publisher for an honest review. My work here is done.
More reviews and other fantastical things at Cuddlebuggery.
April 30, 2015
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
Light fantasies aren't usually my thing, since I'm all for hardcore world-building and all that, but surprisingly, In a World Just Right was an enjoyable read! Reminiscent of Kasie West's Pivot Point, romance lovers will surely enjoy this one.
Honestly, I was expecting this to be a detail-heavy book that focused on the parallel universe aspect, but that definitely wasn't the case. In fact, this book read more like a realistic fiction novel than a fantasy which is totally fine by me, being a fan of those myself. Fantasy took a backseat while the character development reigned.
Despite this book being written by a female, Jonathan's voice was authentically male. I didn't have to remind myself that I was reading from the point of view of a guy, like in other books. It wasn't only his voice that was realistic, but also his personality. Jonathan had wants and needs like a teenage boy. He wanted a world where he had a girlfriend, and although that was kind of creepy, he did it. He was sweet towards this girlfriend of his, and they were cute together.
The "actual" (you'll get me when you finally read the book) romance happened a bit suddenly, but there's a reason behind it all, so it wasn't bothersome at all. Kylie was an interesting love interest--she was honest about her feelings, and I really liked that about her.
Because of this book not really going into depth with the fantasy elements, lots of questions were still floating in my head after I finished, like: a) HOW is Jonathan able to create worlds? and b) how the heck are people not noticing when Jonathan is nowhere to be found and is in a different freaking world?
This book was also full of crazy twists. Like, you can't trust anything or anyone in this book. Seriously. The twists made me go HOLY SHIT! every single time. And you won't even see any of them coming until they're right in front of your faces.
In a World Just Right is an easy read, perfect for anyone looking for some drama, romance, and world-hopping.
June 9, 2014
I was fortunate to read an ARC of Jen Brooks's stunning debut YA novel. I guarantee that every reader, every person alive, at one time or another has wished for the ability that the main character in this book has. IN A WORLD JUST RIGHT centers on Jonathan, a teenage boy who can make worlds better than the one he lives in. What makes his fantasy world better? Kylie, the girl he's always pined for. That's it--I was sold on the story from the concept alone. But then I read the first page. Jen Brooks's writing is hypnotic. There's an elegance to her prose that doesn't distract from the story. It's fast-paced, and yet her skill with language elevates it to a level that will have you pausing to appreciate the sentences and paragraphs you've just read. Jonathan and Kylie struggle with their places in this world, and you feel for them, root for them, and think of them long past the final page. This story will stay with you. In the best way.
Look for it in April 2015, and you won't be disappointed.
Look for it in April 2015, and you won't be disappointed.
September 16, 2014
Author Jen Brooks has broken the speculative fiction YA mold with In a World Just Right. Jonathan Aubrey is a World Maker, creating whole universes with just the power of his imagination. Disconnected from the real world by personal tragedy, Jonathan chooses to live in his created world as much as possible, isolating himself from the real world.
What we find when we open the book is a lonely boy straddling two worlds: the “real” one where he imagines himself invisible, a loner; and a created one, (called Kylie-Simms-is-My-Girlfriend) where he’s popular and loved by his girlfriend Kylie, but which he knows is still a product of his own creation.
Kylie-Simms-is-My-Girlfriend is as real as the “real” world is. Everyone lives and breathes, has hopes and dreams and choices and failures, just like in our world. This world is no less real for Jonathan having created it.
And that is where the trouble begins.
One morning, for the first time ever, Jonathan mixes up his worlds, and tries to kiss the REAL Kylie Simms when he thinks he’s in Kylie-Simms-is-My-Girlfriend. What happens then is a complicated spiral of emotion, guilt and soul searching as the two worlds, the real and the created, begin to bleed into each other. Both Kylies are affected, torn up mentally and emotionally by something they can’t understand.
We see beauty both in Jonathan’s ongoing relationship with girlfriend Kylie and the burgeoning relationship with “real” Kylie. The book isn’t just about world-making and soul-mates, however. It’s also about how we view the world, and how we view our place within it.
The last reveal at the very end takes In a World Just Right from impactful to unforgettable. I won’t spoil it, but just know that every word you read, every amazing point up until the end, becomes framed in a completely different light.
Ms. Brooks has an expert command of the narrative, creating a world so vibrant and believable. The YA voice is so authentic, it’s clear that this type of story comes naturally to her. She draws Jonathan in such an engaging, conflicted and real way that I can’t help but root for him, can’t help but feel for him. As secondary characters, the Kylies are no less real, and the combination of the three-person struggle is heart-wrenching and uplifting. The book offers tragedy and hope, and explores what it means to live a real, true existence among our fellow humans.
It’s a “must read,” by my standards, and definitely worth a reread (or three), which is the highest praise a book can receive.
What we find when we open the book is a lonely boy straddling two worlds: the “real” one where he imagines himself invisible, a loner; and a created one, (called Kylie-Simms-is-My-Girlfriend) where he’s popular and loved by his girlfriend Kylie, but which he knows is still a product of his own creation.
Kylie-Simms-is-My-Girlfriend is as real as the “real” world is. Everyone lives and breathes, has hopes and dreams and choices and failures, just like in our world. This world is no less real for Jonathan having created it.
And that is where the trouble begins.
One morning, for the first time ever, Jonathan mixes up his worlds, and tries to kiss the REAL Kylie Simms when he thinks he’s in Kylie-Simms-is-My-Girlfriend. What happens then is a complicated spiral of emotion, guilt and soul searching as the two worlds, the real and the created, begin to bleed into each other. Both Kylies are affected, torn up mentally and emotionally by something they can’t understand.
We see beauty both in Jonathan’s ongoing relationship with girlfriend Kylie and the burgeoning relationship with “real” Kylie. The book isn’t just about world-making and soul-mates, however. It’s also about how we view the world, and how we view our place within it.
The last reveal at the very end takes In a World Just Right from impactful to unforgettable. I won’t spoil it, but just know that every word you read, every amazing point up until the end, becomes framed in a completely different light.
Ms. Brooks has an expert command of the narrative, creating a world so vibrant and believable. The YA voice is so authentic, it’s clear that this type of story comes naturally to her. She draws Jonathan in such an engaging, conflicted and real way that I can’t help but root for him, can’t help but feel for him. As secondary characters, the Kylies are no less real, and the combination of the three-person struggle is heart-wrenching and uplifting. The book offers tragedy and hope, and explores what it means to live a real, true existence among our fellow humans.
It’s a “must read,” by my standards, and definitely worth a reread (or three), which is the highest praise a book can receive.
April 27, 2015
Huge thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book via Edelweiss in exchange for a honest and unbiased review.
Jonathan Aubrey is a world maker. Basically he can make any world he wants. This includes, but not limited to, a world where fairies or aliens exist, a world where everything is medieval, or a would that is related to a dream he had. Heck, he could create Narnia if he felt like it. I’m pretty sure if I was a world maker I would create a world where Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory existed or The Doctor… I just loved the idea of world making! It felt so original and I really enjoyed this concept.
The first fifty percent of this book was well paced and was pretty good at capturing my attention. While you are reading, you believe in Jonathan’s one goal, which is how to get the real Kylie, not the one he made up, to fall in love with him. I thought that once this goal was reached, Jonathan and Kylie would skip into the sunset and live happily ever after, but it’s never that easy is it? I was reading along thinking I had it ALL figured out then, BAM! Plot twist.
I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy this book until I had finished it. This was one of those books that hadn’t been under my radar much and it was a quick decision to go ahead and read it. I loved Jonathan and his worlds. I truly felt for Jonathan and what life had put him through. The ending was that kind of bittersweet that makes your heart hurt, but you wouldn’t have wished for the outcome to change one bit. In A World Just Right is a raw and emotional book about loss and the journey to find real and unconditional love.
You can also check out my review at One Night Book Stand
Jonathan Aubrey is a world maker. Basically he can make any world he wants. This includes, but not limited to, a world where fairies or aliens exist, a world where everything is medieval, or a would that is related to a dream he had. Heck, he could create Narnia if he felt like it. I’m pretty sure if I was a world maker I would create a world where Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory existed or The Doctor… I just loved the idea of world making! It felt so original and I really enjoyed this concept.
The first fifty percent of this book was well paced and was pretty good at capturing my attention. While you are reading, you believe in Jonathan’s one goal, which is how to get the real Kylie, not the one he made up, to fall in love with him. I thought that once this goal was reached, Jonathan and Kylie would skip into the sunset and live happily ever after, but it’s never that easy is it? I was reading along thinking I had it ALL figured out then, BAM! Plot twist.
I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy this book until I had finished it. This was one of those books that hadn’t been under my radar much and it was a quick decision to go ahead and read it. I loved Jonathan and his worlds. I truly felt for Jonathan and what life had put him through. The ending was that kind of bittersweet that makes your heart hurt, but you wouldn’t have wished for the outcome to change one bit. In A World Just Right is a raw and emotional book about loss and the journey to find real and unconditional love.
You can also check out my review at One Night Book Stand
May 3, 2015
Intro:
Ok. I'm having one of those moments where I'm thinking to myself: "I can't possibly do this book justice with a review, so could I just insert some GIFS into my review and call it a day?"
But I won't. Because as big and complicated as my feelings are for this remarkable book, I want all of you to read it. And I think the only way to truly do that, is to not just tell you that you should buy this book, but to give you compelling reasons to do so. So read on!
***
Things that worked:
Characterizations
From the very first page, it's pretty clear that Jonathan Aubrey isn't your normal protagonist. He has a tragic backstory - he survived a plane crash as a child - and he came out of the plane crash with the ability to create worlds suited to his own needs.
While Brooks clearly shows that Jonathan has a gift that many would love, this is also a young man who clearly feels directionless in his life. Even as he escapes to the idealized version of his world, where he is popular and has the girl he wants, there is some part of Jonathan that realizes that it's still not as emotionally satisfying as having the same in reality, and yearns for that slight imperfection.
So when the two worlds begin colliding, Brooks sets Jonathan on a path to discover just what is truly meaningful to him. Is it a world that he can control and create? Where everything is just right? Or is it a world where things may not necessarily work out perfectly, but helps him grow and develop in the process? We see him struggle frantically, thoughtfully and emotionally with every step of this growth, and it's a journey that feels rich since we're on it too.
While this is very much Jonathan's story, the secondary characters are all memorable as well. Brooks is careful to build a world where every characters has a part and does add to the bigger picture of Jonathan figuring out who he is and what he does want, and I think readers will especially appreciate every appearance.
Writing/World-building
In a story like this, an author obviously needs to establish rules and structure very early on, or it's possible for the world(s) to become chaotic. From the first chapter Brooks does so effortlessly, keeping just the right amount of mystery and intrigue behind Jonathan's abilities, as she also shows that there's a certain logic, coherency and even hierarchy to Jonathan's ability to create worlds.
We learn that there are certain rules to what Jonathan can and cannot do, including the roles of the people who exist in the worlds that he's created. There are those who oversee the world creating to some extent, and can step in as needed. Though I was a little weirded out about the bonding that takes place as Jonathan learns more about his abilities - it seemed a little violent and intrusive in every instance it occurred - all of the details end up making complete and perfect sense in the end.
Also, Brooks may be a debut author, but she's clearly not a novice writer by any means. As another reviewer said, there's a certain elegance to her writing that draws a reader in, and fully immerses them in the story as the book progresses.
The family/friends relationship factor
If there's one thing that Brooks does especially well throughout the novel, it's her exploration of the relationships that make up Jonathan's life. While the Jonathan and Kylie relationship do make up a significant portion of the novel, it's also only a singular piece of the overall puzzle.
In many ways, the confluence of both Jonathan/Kylie relationships acts as a catalyst for Jonathan to realize that the status quo isn't something that he wants to maintain forever. There is more to his worlds, than spending time with a Kylie who adores him.
As the book progresses, Brooks shows Jonathan taking advantage of his gift to explore the possibilities of what could have been, and what might still be. Yes, Jonathan comes to terms and realizes that he could have had a great life with a family who loved and supported him, and he could have turned out differently.
However, he also realizes that there are quite possibly, reasons for why things have turned out the way that they have, and there are value and worth to his relationships now. There's a astonishing, valuable amount of pragmatism to Jonathan's eventual outlook , which I think is a worthy lesson for any reader of any age.
The science fiction factor
Like many other wonderful science fiction novels, Brooks uses Jonathan's world making abilities as a metaphor to explore the human psyche.
We see how world-making, as fun and limitless as it may feel, is also very much a tool for individuals to escape from the true realities of their situation. Brooks has us question the pros and the cons of that escapism, and just what it does take to face the reality at hand.
I think that both Brooks's acknowledgement of the value of having that avenue to escape, and the strength it takes to come back and face reality, is an important lesson of growth.
And finally…
The ending
While the last twenty-five percent of the book was definitely unexpected - more on this later - I also think that that it set up an ending that was beautiful, stunning and ultimately very, very hopeful.
Without giving spoilers away, Jen really emphasizes the idea that it's the decision to face reality which can be the scariest, but most rewarding leap of all. I finished the book feeling optimistic and light-hearted, and I'm confident that other readers will too.
***
Things that didn't work/Things to consider:
While I clearly love this book beyond all measure, I do think that it should be noted that the synopsis doesn't fully encompass the scope of the story.
The book ultimately is so much more than just the Jonathan/Kylie/world-building aspects. While I can understand why the editorial decision was made to not get in-depth with the synopsis, I also think that it might give the wrong impression to some prospective readers. I've seen reviews complaining that the book wasn't what the synopsis presented it to be, and that's why the reader ended up disliking it in the end.
I don't have a answer or solution for this - I think that many other readers like myself, enjoy being surprised by the depth of the book - but I also think that it's important for other readers to keep this in mind. So I guess my bottom line would be: keep an open mind while reading, and you should be fine.
***
Final verdict:
While In A World Just Right may be rooted in science fiction, it's ultimately also a fantastic, thought-provoking story about identity and self-worth.
Jonathan Aubrey may have the power to create worlds to suit his needs, but Jen Brooks challenges Aubrey and the reader to recognize and understand, that sometimes, it's the decision to face reality which may be the biggest challenge in any life. Aubrey's struggles and growth as he comes to recognize this fact, is what makes this a powerful, heartbreaking tale for readers of any age.
I highly recommend this book for fans of science fiction, and for readers who enjoy urban fantasy. I also enjoy this for anyone searching for a good bildingsroman This is the ultimately story about growth and learning, and Jonathan's struggles and triumphs, will seem relatable and undestandable to readers of any age.
Ok. I'm having one of those moments where I'm thinking to myself: "I can't possibly do this book justice with a review, so could I just insert some GIFS into my review and call it a day?"
But I won't. Because as big and complicated as my feelings are for this remarkable book, I want all of you to read it. And I think the only way to truly do that, is to not just tell you that you should buy this book, but to give you compelling reasons to do so. So read on!
***
Things that worked:
Characterizations
From the very first page, it's pretty clear that Jonathan Aubrey isn't your normal protagonist. He has a tragic backstory - he survived a plane crash as a child - and he came out of the plane crash with the ability to create worlds suited to his own needs.
While Brooks clearly shows that Jonathan has a gift that many would love, this is also a young man who clearly feels directionless in his life. Even as he escapes to the idealized version of his world, where he is popular and has the girl he wants, there is some part of Jonathan that realizes that it's still not as emotionally satisfying as having the same in reality, and yearns for that slight imperfection.
So when the two worlds begin colliding, Brooks sets Jonathan on a path to discover just what is truly meaningful to him. Is it a world that he can control and create? Where everything is just right? Or is it a world where things may not necessarily work out perfectly, but helps him grow and develop in the process? We see him struggle frantically, thoughtfully and emotionally with every step of this growth, and it's a journey that feels rich since we're on it too.
While this is very much Jonathan's story, the secondary characters are all memorable as well. Brooks is careful to build a world where every characters has a part and does add to the bigger picture of Jonathan figuring out who he is and what he does want, and I think readers will especially appreciate every appearance.
Writing/World-building
In a story like this, an author obviously needs to establish rules and structure very early on, or it's possible for the world(s) to become chaotic. From the first chapter Brooks does so effortlessly, keeping just the right amount of mystery and intrigue behind Jonathan's abilities, as she also shows that there's a certain logic, coherency and even hierarchy to Jonathan's ability to create worlds.
We learn that there are certain rules to what Jonathan can and cannot do, including the roles of the people who exist in the worlds that he's created. There are those who oversee the world creating to some extent, and can step in as needed. Though I was a little weirded out about the bonding that takes place as Jonathan learns more about his abilities - it seemed a little violent and intrusive in every instance it occurred - all of the details end up making complete and perfect sense in the end.
Also, Brooks may be a debut author, but she's clearly not a novice writer by any means. As another reviewer said, there's a certain elegance to her writing that draws a reader in, and fully immerses them in the story as the book progresses.
The family/friends relationship factor
If there's one thing that Brooks does especially well throughout the novel, it's her exploration of the relationships that make up Jonathan's life. While the Jonathan and Kylie relationship do make up a significant portion of the novel, it's also only a singular piece of the overall puzzle.
In many ways, the confluence of both Jonathan/Kylie relationships acts as a catalyst for Jonathan to realize that the status quo isn't something that he wants to maintain forever. There is more to his worlds, than spending time with a Kylie who adores him.
As the book progresses, Brooks shows Jonathan taking advantage of his gift to explore the possibilities of what could have been, and what might still be. Yes, Jonathan comes to terms and realizes that he could have had a great life with a family who loved and supported him, and he could have turned out differently.
However, he also realizes that there are quite possibly, reasons for why things have turned out the way that they have, and there are value and worth to his relationships now. There's a astonishing, valuable amount of pragmatism to Jonathan's eventual outlook , which I think is a worthy lesson for any reader of any age.
The science fiction factor
Like many other wonderful science fiction novels, Brooks uses Jonathan's world making abilities as a metaphor to explore the human psyche.
We see how world-making, as fun and limitless as it may feel, is also very much a tool for individuals to escape from the true realities of their situation. Brooks has us question the pros and the cons of that escapism, and just what it does take to face the reality at hand.
I think that both Brooks's acknowledgement of the value of having that avenue to escape, and the strength it takes to come back and face reality, is an important lesson of growth.
And finally…
The ending
While the last twenty-five percent of the book was definitely unexpected - more on this later - I also think that that it set up an ending that was beautiful, stunning and ultimately very, very hopeful.
Without giving spoilers away, Jen really emphasizes the idea that it's the decision to face reality which can be the scariest, but most rewarding leap of all. I finished the book feeling optimistic and light-hearted, and I'm confident that other readers will too.
***
Things that didn't work/Things to consider:
While I clearly love this book beyond all measure, I do think that it should be noted that the synopsis doesn't fully encompass the scope of the story.
The book ultimately is so much more than just the Jonathan/Kylie/world-building aspects. While I can understand why the editorial decision was made to not get in-depth with the synopsis, I also think that it might give the wrong impression to some prospective readers. I've seen reviews complaining that the book wasn't what the synopsis presented it to be, and that's why the reader ended up disliking it in the end.
I don't have a answer or solution for this - I think that many other readers like myself, enjoy being surprised by the depth of the book - but I also think that it's important for other readers to keep this in mind. So I guess my bottom line would be: keep an open mind while reading, and you should be fine.
***
Final verdict:
While In A World Just Right may be rooted in science fiction, it's ultimately also a fantastic, thought-provoking story about identity and self-worth.
Jonathan Aubrey may have the power to create worlds to suit his needs, but Jen Brooks challenges Aubrey and the reader to recognize and understand, that sometimes, it's the decision to face reality which may be the biggest challenge in any life. Aubrey's struggles and growth as he comes to recognize this fact, is what makes this a powerful, heartbreaking tale for readers of any age.
I highly recommend this book for fans of science fiction, and for readers who enjoy urban fantasy. I also enjoy this for anyone searching for a good bildingsroman This is the ultimately story about growth and learning, and Jonathan's struggles and triumphs, will seem relatable and undestandable to readers of any age.
March 10, 2015
Every few years you read a book that just won’t let go. You finish it and you can’t clear your head. It won’t let go of your imagination, your senses, your heart. The characters won’t budge and you can’t scrape off the emotional residue to make room for whatever you try to read next.
This is one of those books. I could go on about the books and movies it reminds me of, but that might give too much away. It is really no one thing. Just when you think it’s going to be THIS it changes into THAT, and the elusiveness, hope, and longing keep you turning the pages.
I am way beyond the YA demographic (somewhere in grandfather territory) but don’t let marketing labels dissuade you. It’ll take you back to a time of unrequited love and roads not taken, and who doesn’t like a road trip?
As a bonus, there’s not a single semicolon on any of the 419 pages, a testimony to Kurt Vonnegut’s advice: “Do not use semicolons. All they do is show you’ve been to college.” Makes me glad to live in the world of Jen-Brooks-wrote-this-book.
This is one of those books. I could go on about the books and movies it reminds me of, but that might give too much away. It is really no one thing. Just when you think it’s going to be THIS it changes into THAT, and the elusiveness, hope, and longing keep you turning the pages.
I am way beyond the YA demographic (somewhere in grandfather territory) but don’t let marketing labels dissuade you. It’ll take you back to a time of unrequited love and roads not taken, and who doesn’t like a road trip?
As a bonus, there’s not a single semicolon on any of the 419 pages, a testimony to Kurt Vonnegut’s advice: “Do not use semicolons. All they do is show you’ve been to college.” Makes me glad to live in the world of Jen-Brooks-wrote-this-book.
July 30, 2014
Oh, wow! I loved this book. The ending caught me entirely by surprise, in a good way. Highly recommended! Thanks for sending it out on the ARC tour, Jen. :)
March 10, 2015
I wanted to read In a World Just Right because I like the premise of the alternate universes. Turns out there is the emotional aspect with a good portion of his family deceased in the accident that left him in a coma as a kid. When he woke up, that is when his ability to make the other worlds emerged. His current world that he visits is based on Kylie, the girl he has a crush on and it soon turns out that that world and the real world gets confused.
I like Jonathan. It is nice these days to get a male point of view in a book where it isn't a couple and their dual narrative. He is very self conscious of his scars, especially the big on on his face, and he feels invisible at school in the real world. It was a bit confusing for me--if he disappears from the real world when he is in his Kylie is my girlfriend world. If not, how the two works together, especially at school, where he is in most of the same, but not all classes, and in Kylie girlfriend he takes sports with her.
It is interesting to see where he prefers his made up world and then the things that make him feel like the Kylie girlfriend world is inconsequential, that why does it matter if it isn't the real world. And then a mystery girl that he feels like he knows but can't figure out how makes him question even more the lines of reality.
I like that there was some connection before his accident with Kylie, some reason for him to have a crush on her. Enough to make a whole alternate universe where they are a happy couple.
I liked the broad interests- from running track, to poetry that also has connections from the real world into his alternate one.
After the slightly confusing beginning and then getting a handle on exactly how this universe of world creating and parallel worlds--thought that I had a good handle on the story. but Jonathan's and Kylie story ended up taking a twist that I never saw coming and then after that twist resolved itself it was another huge one that I didn't even think to be a possible conclusion to the story
So all in all even though there were some definite weird part and a few things that I didn't understand even at the end of the story I was really surprised and happy with the new spin that this premise took.
I really enjoyed what Jonathan learned about himself and others through the exploration of the different worlds. although he was an unspeakable tragedy and lost a lot of his family he took the self pity and feeling invisible to a new level.
He also learned a lot about life and even though he has some issues with school he still had hopes and dreams for something bigger for himself and he was pretty devastated when he thought that he messed that up
Well a lot of the story does revolve around the romance between him and Kylie elect at the end took on an even bigger meaning and show that there was something more in this world then Jonathan Kylie and his grief.
The title of the story also played into a lot of the messages of this book. feeling that happiness was going to simple as creating someone to love you or manipulating his world to give him what he thought was happiness. he could keep opening and closing world are changing the parameters all he wanted to try to make quote unquote a world just right. Rather he learned that you have to make the best from what life has given you and always look out that you might be able to help and encourage someone else.
I loved how he put things he learned about himself and through others to make an ending that fits just right. I never saw the sacrifice coming, but I appreciated it so much.
Bottom Line: Interesting take on the boy who survived, and his ability to make alternate worlds.
I like Jonathan. It is nice these days to get a male point of view in a book where it isn't a couple and their dual narrative. He is very self conscious of his scars, especially the big on on his face, and he feels invisible at school in the real world. It was a bit confusing for me--if he disappears from the real world when he is in his Kylie is my girlfriend world. If not, how the two works together, especially at school, where he is in most of the same, but not all classes, and in Kylie girlfriend he takes sports with her.
It is interesting to see where he prefers his made up world and then the things that make him feel like the Kylie girlfriend world is inconsequential, that why does it matter if it isn't the real world. And then a mystery girl that he feels like he knows but can't figure out how makes him question even more the lines of reality.
I like that there was some connection before his accident with Kylie, some reason for him to have a crush on her. Enough to make a whole alternate universe where they are a happy couple.
I liked the broad interests- from running track, to poetry that also has connections from the real world into his alternate one.
After the slightly confusing beginning and then getting a handle on exactly how this universe of world creating and parallel worlds--thought that I had a good handle on the story. but Jonathan's and Kylie story ended up taking a twist that I never saw coming and then after that twist resolved itself it was another huge one that I didn't even think to be a possible conclusion to the story
So all in all even though there were some definite weird part and a few things that I didn't understand even at the end of the story I was really surprised and happy with the new spin that this premise took.
I really enjoyed what Jonathan learned about himself and others through the exploration of the different worlds. although he was an unspeakable tragedy and lost a lot of his family he took the self pity and feeling invisible to a new level.
He also learned a lot about life and even though he has some issues with school he still had hopes and dreams for something bigger for himself and he was pretty devastated when he thought that he messed that up
Well a lot of the story does revolve around the romance between him and Kylie elect at the end took on an even bigger meaning and show that there was something more in this world then Jonathan Kylie and his grief.
The title of the story also played into a lot of the messages of this book. feeling that happiness was going to simple as creating someone to love you or manipulating his world to give him what he thought was happiness. he could keep opening and closing world are changing the parameters all he wanted to try to make quote unquote a world just right. Rather he learned that you have to make the best from what life has given you and always look out that you might be able to help and encourage someone else.
I loved how he put things he learned about himself and through others to make an ending that fits just right. I never saw the sacrifice coming, but I appreciated it so much.
Bottom Line: Interesting take on the boy who survived, and his ability to make alternate worlds.
Want to read
June 25, 2014GIMME THIS
NOW
NOW
April 2, 2015
More reviews at Mrs. ReaderPants.
REVIEW: I'm just going to say it right now...this book deserves attention. I won't be surprised to see it on 2015 Best-of booklists or even the Goodreads Choice Awards in December. In A World Just Right is well-written, suspenseful, emotional, and beautiful. Jonathan is a sympathetic character right from the start; he's a brilliant-but-scarred loner who experienced unimaginable tragedy at a very young age.
I don't want to say much about this book out of fear of giving away too much. While I thought it dragged a bit in the middle, there are some surprises throughout the story that I really enjoyed. I finished the book this morning while riding a city bus, and I had to try SO HARD not to cry at the end. For that reason and so many others, I am adding In a World Just Right to my own "Best of 2015" list. I am absolutely positive it will also appear on many others.
THE BOTTOM LINE: An impressive debut! Beautifully-written with sympathetic characters and a very unique premise. Despite a few slow spots in the middle, it's one of my favorites of 2015 so far.
STATUS IN MY LIBRARY: I am so getting this book! I talked about it with several of my library classes this week, and my students are excited to get this title for our library. And for a romance about 18-year old characters, it's relatively clean.
READALIKES: Every Day (Levithan); All Our Yesterdays (Terrill)
RATING BREAKDOWN:
Overall: 5/5
Creativity: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Engrossing: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Appeal to teens: 5/5
Appropriate length to tell the story: 4/5--a bit overlong; some slowness in the middle
CONTENT:
Language: very mild; a couple of hells
Sexuality: mild; mainly kissing. Fake-Girlfriend Kylie sleeps in same bed with Jonathan, but nothing is described. A sensual massage, but again, it's pretty mild.
Violence: none
Drugs/Alcohol: mild; a couple of references to beer, wine, and whiskey
February 5, 2015
An interesting concept that turned out to be a great story, In a World Just Right was a fantastic YA read. With the cool world-builder element and a romance that went across worlds, this book was definitely wonderful and I really liked it.
Johnathon was a really likable character. He had a lot of changes throughout the book with the worlds he visited and a shocker of a secret that totally changed my perception of him. Throughout all that, though, he was a kind and sweet guy who was genuinely adorable.
Kylie was kind of a multi-character, if that makes any sense. There was more than one version of her that were kind of the same but with enough differences that they weren't identical and that made her an interesting character. But, like Johnathon, her character throughout it all was nice and accepting of everyone. I thought she was a great character as well.
The romance was really sweet. It was definitely different, with the different worlds and all that. But, throughout every world, Johnathon and Kylie were a sweet couple.
The plot moved quickly, keeping me interested all the way through. The only downside of the story was that the world-building and explanations weren't all there. I got enough that I had some understanding of what was going on but not enough that I could say I really got the whole concept. I still had a few questions, mostly over some details that weren't quite explained. But, it wasn't that bad and I was still able to follow the story so it wasn't a major problem. I still really liked the story. There were several twists along the way that really took me by surprise and made the story unpredictable. And the ending was perfect.
In a World Just Right was a fantastic YA read that I really liked. It had an interesting idea, a few unexpected surprises, and a great story. YA lovers, this is a book that you'll want to read.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Johnathon was a really likable character. He had a lot of changes throughout the book with the worlds he visited and a shocker of a secret that totally changed my perception of him. Throughout all that, though, he was a kind and sweet guy who was genuinely adorable.
Kylie was kind of a multi-character, if that makes any sense. There was more than one version of her that were kind of the same but with enough differences that they weren't identical and that made her an interesting character. But, like Johnathon, her character throughout it all was nice and accepting of everyone. I thought she was a great character as well.
The romance was really sweet. It was definitely different, with the different worlds and all that. But, throughout every world, Johnathon and Kylie were a sweet couple.
The plot moved quickly, keeping me interested all the way through. The only downside of the story was that the world-building and explanations weren't all there. I got enough that I had some understanding of what was going on but not enough that I could say I really got the whole concept. I still had a few questions, mostly over some details that weren't quite explained. But, it wasn't that bad and I was still able to follow the story so it wasn't a major problem. I still really liked the story. There were several twists along the way that really took me by surprise and made the story unpredictable. And the ending was perfect.
In a World Just Right was a fantastic YA read that I really liked. It had an interesting idea, a few unexpected surprises, and a great story. YA lovers, this is a book that you'll want to read.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Read
April 6, 2015Interesting! I'm not usually a big fan of parallel universe books. (To me they fall, along with books with jumpy time lines and time travel, in the "non-linear" category of books that never allow me to become fully absorbed in the story).
I think the reason that the non-linear aspect of IaWJR worked for me was that the book did a good job of making sure I knew which world I was in. It also felt more philosophical than scientific -- it wasn't a book about physics, but about grief and memory and longing.
The basic premise is that Jonathan, after the death of his family, becomes sort of a loner and makes up a new world where Kylie, the girl of his dreams, is his girlfriend. He then proceeds to move back and forth between the worlds. Eventually, this causes problems -- he can't be in both worlds at once and his absences start to be noticed and then both Kylies start acting strange.
This isn't a plot-heavy book, so if you're a reader who needs lots of stuff happening it might not be the best fit for you. And I felt things started to drag a bit around the 2/3 mark There was a major plot development that I was expecting, and I was right.
Intriguing premise, liked the writing. My more spoiler-y comp titles are above under protection, but this one reminded me a bit of Through to You by Emily Hainsworth.
I think the reason that the non-linear aspect of IaWJR worked for me was that the book did a good job of making sure I knew which world I was in. It also felt more philosophical than scientific -- it wasn't a book about physics, but about grief and memory and longing.
The basic premise is that Jonathan, after the death of his family, becomes sort of a loner and makes up a new world where Kylie, the girl of his dreams, is his girlfriend. He then proceeds to move back and forth between the worlds. Eventually, this causes problems -- he can't be in both worlds at once and his absences start to be noticed and then both Kylies start acting strange.
This isn't a plot-heavy book, so if you're a reader who needs lots of stuff happening it might not be the best fit for you. And I felt things started to drag a bit around the 2/3 mark There was a major plot development that I was expecting, and I was right.
Intriguing premise, liked the writing. My more spoiler-y comp titles are above under protection, but this one reminded me a bit of Through to You by Emily Hainsworth.
February 2, 2015
My thanks to Simon & Schuster
------------------------------------------------------------------
Point of View: Single (Jonathan)
Writing: First Person | Present Tense
Setting: Massachusetts
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy
------------------------------------------------------------------
I absolutely adored the cover, and if the book had ended before it reached page 200, I would have rate it at least 4 stars. Well, it seems like I'm the only not satisfied with this book, but what the heck, I just could find it interesting anymore .
So, I liked the book a lot at first (first half of it was pretty nice in my opinion). I loved Jonathan so much, for his weird sense of humor just what I'm totally in love it. Sadly though, I really didn't enjoy the second half of it. Mainly because of the strange turn the book took.
Again, the storyline was great at first. I loved the make-believe worlds and all that. It was refreshing and the writing was really nice and weirdly humorous. After 50%, the book was more weird than humorous. I still don't know how that could happen - I was enjoying the book and then poof, it gave me a headache just because it was confusing and messed up.
I love my books all smooth and flowing, with interesting characters and plots. Maybe this book was just too bizarre for me.
September 15, 2014
I had the pleasure of reading an advanced copy of IAWJR, and quite simply, I was wowed. The book's pitch: there is a boy who has been hurt, and he has the ability to escape his reality and create new worlds where he can have whatever he wants. But that pitch hides an enviably complex and richly emotional tale of love, loss and hope -- exploring what lengths we will go to protect ourselves, and just how painful the process of forgiveness and acceptance can be.
I loved the book's MC Jonathan, the author's careful world-building, and the decisions and dilemmas created and crafted for Jonathan across his many worlds. I loved how Brooks wrote a killer story but effectively managed to tease deeper issues. And perhaps mostly, I LOVED how IAWJR, at its heart, is a love story -- not just a love story between Jonathan and Kylie (although I was absorbed by that of course), but the greater love story of Jonathan coming around to love himself.
A rare blend of contemporary and science fiction, with taut, beautiful prose. Highly recommended.
I loved the book's MC Jonathan, the author's careful world-building, and the decisions and dilemmas created and crafted for Jonathan across his many worlds. I loved how Brooks wrote a killer story but effectively managed to tease deeper issues. And perhaps mostly, I LOVED how IAWJR, at its heart, is a love story -- not just a love story between Jonathan and Kylie (although I was absorbed by that of course), but the greater love story of Jonathan coming around to love himself.
A rare blend of contemporary and science fiction, with taut, beautiful prose. Highly recommended.
August 11, 2014
I was able to read an ARC of Jen's IN A WORLD JUST RIGHT as a member of the Fearless Fifteeners and Class of 2k15. In addition to being a blend of fantasy, contemporary, and romance, Jen's debut novel is also a bit of a mystery--at least it was for me. As I read, I definitely got the feeling that something wasn't quite right, that Jen was holding back on a significant plot point, but I couldn't figure it out! Sure enough, something revealed late in the story adds a whole new layer to the narrative. I'm not a book spoiler, so I won't go there. But it surely was one of those "Ohhhhhhh, wow!" moments. I also loved how she blended Jonathan's fantasy worlds and real world down to the end. Again, not going to go into details. At the heart of the novel, is a broken, grieving boy who needs to heal after a tragic loss, which appealed to the contemporary YA lover in me. The mixing of genres here means there's a little something for everyone.
August 21, 2014
I had the opportunity to read an ARC of this fabulous book and I could not put it down! Full of unexpected twists and turns, this is definitely one novel to keep on your radar when it publishes in 2015!
August 20, 2014
Beautifully written with spare, elegant prose and an ending that will catch you by surprise! Nicely done!
March 2, 2015
That was not as I expected it, but the longer I think about it the more I love it.
January 5, 2026
2026
2024
2020
2019
I had some majorly mixed feelings about this one.
On one hand, the idea is phenomenal. I loved Jonathan being a world maker. I loved that he created a world for love. I loved that he created a world where he felt accepted. I mean, who doesn't want those things, right? Honestly, this book was a big ol' five star for me.
Until Tess.
Cause that was super weird. I was so uncomfortable during the merging scene (I mean, I know it's explained later, but that doesn't make the scene any less awkward for me.)
I sink into the bedcovers, and she straddles me, pushing me deeper into the mattress while her warm fingers find tension and rub it away. I think vaguely that having my sister do this is not appropriate, but the heat spreads quickly from my back into my chest, arms, and legs. ... She changes technique and starts running her fingers up and down with a feathery touch. My skin prickles ... She pauses at my lower back and lifts my shirt a few inches, running her fingers left and right on the bare skin. I try to fight it but sink deeper and deeper into that dreamy state. Her hands slide up under my shirt, and the weight of her shifts forward. With an increasing warmth she lowers herself to reach up to my bare shoulders.
It goes on for more, but I think you probably get the idea. Yes, it is explained in the end (and I won't give it away), but the entire book took a very sharp downward turn for me at that moment. It is so icky. Like, nothing would be wrong with that moment if it was a couple of random teenagers getting frisky together, but everything is wrong with that moment since she is supposed to be his sister! Ugh.
Leaving that for a minute...
Jonathan himself is a very likable character. He doesn't think he is to other people. In fact, he worries far too much about other people in his high school, in his hometown. Although, I can see where he's coming from. The poor boy had such a trauma in his past, that it would only makes sense that he worries that everyone can only see him for the moment when his plane crashed. Plus, you have your normal teenage angst and worry on top of that. But when he is in "his" world, he is charming. People love him. He is accepted. No one views him with pity and sympathy. He is sarcastic and smart and sweet. And that is when he really shines.
Girlfriend Kylie is annoying. But totally believable. I had a "boyfriend" from my high school. And he was the exact copy of Kylie, except as a man. Looking back, it was simply pathetic, but if I had been a world maker like Jonathan, than my high school "boyfriend" would have been exactly the same as Girlfriend Kylie: fawning, adoring, loving. So, she isn't particularly likable for me, but Real Kylie is. Real Kylie goes through her struggles when the worlds are merging (she gets a little psycho obsessive of Jonathan), but other than that.. She is funny and smart. She wants to be a scientist. She is popular and sweet. Honestly, she's great. Girlfriend Kylie could learn a thing or two from her.
I never did grow to like Tess. Even after I learned everything about her/Tess. The whole bedroom scene with Jonathan just instantly put me off and I never recovered from that. She was just too aggressive and brash and sexual. Gross. She did help Jonathan how she could, but never in a nice way. In fact, sometimes she went out of her way to make him unhappy/uncomfortable.
I can't say if this book is right for you. I can't say if this book was right for me. I can say that if that weird bedroom/weird Tess thing hadn't been apart of this. If it had been handled differently, then this book would have easily been a favorite of mine. I enjoyed the world making. I enjoyed that the author thought up clear, concise rules to being a world maker. I like how much Jonathan changed and grew as a person. But I simply cannot get past the sister thing.
2024
2020
2019
I had some majorly mixed feelings about this one.
On one hand, the idea is phenomenal. I loved Jonathan being a world maker. I loved that he created a world for love. I loved that he created a world where he felt accepted. I mean, who doesn't want those things, right? Honestly, this book was a big ol' five star for me.
Until Tess.
Cause that was super weird. I was so uncomfortable during the merging scene (I mean, I know it's explained later, but that doesn't make the scene any less awkward for me.)
I sink into the bedcovers, and she straddles me, pushing me deeper into the mattress while her warm fingers find tension and rub it away. I think vaguely that having my sister do this is not appropriate, but the heat spreads quickly from my back into my chest, arms, and legs. ... She changes technique and starts running her fingers up and down with a feathery touch. My skin prickles ... She pauses at my lower back and lifts my shirt a few inches, running her fingers left and right on the bare skin. I try to fight it but sink deeper and deeper into that dreamy state. Her hands slide up under my shirt, and the weight of her shifts forward. With an increasing warmth she lowers herself to reach up to my bare shoulders.
It goes on for more, but I think you probably get the idea. Yes, it is explained in the end (and I won't give it away), but the entire book took a very sharp downward turn for me at that moment. It is so icky. Like, nothing would be wrong with that moment if it was a couple of random teenagers getting frisky together, but everything is wrong with that moment since she is supposed to be his sister! Ugh.
Leaving that for a minute...
Jonathan himself is a very likable character. He doesn't think he is to other people. In fact, he worries far too much about other people in his high school, in his hometown. Although, I can see where he's coming from. The poor boy had such a trauma in his past, that it would only makes sense that he worries that everyone can only see him for the moment when his plane crashed. Plus, you have your normal teenage angst and worry on top of that. But when he is in "his" world, he is charming. People love him. He is accepted. No one views him with pity and sympathy. He is sarcastic and smart and sweet. And that is when he really shines.
Girlfriend Kylie is annoying. But totally believable. I had a "boyfriend" from my high school. And he was the exact copy of Kylie, except as a man. Looking back, it was simply pathetic, but if I had been a world maker like Jonathan, than my high school "boyfriend" would have been exactly the same as Girlfriend Kylie: fawning, adoring, loving. So, she isn't particularly likable for me, but Real Kylie is. Real Kylie goes through her struggles when the worlds are merging (she gets a little psycho obsessive of Jonathan), but other than that.. She is funny and smart. She wants to be a scientist. She is popular and sweet. Honestly, she's great. Girlfriend Kylie could learn a thing or two from her.
I never did grow to like Tess. Even after I learned everything about her/Tess. The whole bedroom scene with Jonathan just instantly put me off and I never recovered from that. She was just too aggressive and brash and sexual. Gross. She did help Jonathan how she could, but never in a nice way. In fact, sometimes she went out of her way to make him unhappy/uncomfortable.
I can't say if this book is right for you. I can't say if this book was right for me. I can say that if that weird bedroom/weird Tess thing hadn't been apart of this. If it had been handled differently, then this book would have easily been a favorite of mine. I enjoyed the world making. I enjoyed that the author thought up clear, concise rules to being a world maker. I like how much Jonathan changed and grew as a person. But I simply cannot get past the sister thing.
November 30, 2015
In a World Just Right is an incredible debut novel, and likely a harbinger of great things to come from Jen Brooks. Brooks takes a simple yet intriguing premise – a teenage boy with the ability to create alternate realities – and executes it in a smart and entertaining way. If I had an ability to create alternate worlds, I would go nuts – I’d go to Hogwarts, be a millionaire, visit Oz, and so on. Jonathan, on the other hand, uses his ability to create a version of reality where his crush is his girlfriend, and so many good things flow from that. He lives a double life until one day he accidentally mixes up his worlds, and then all hell breaks loose.
A premise like alternate realities needs to be exceedingly well-thought-out to work, or astute readers will pick it apart until there’s nothing left. But every time I had one of those thought – why doesn’t Jonathan keep creating new worlds, or just permanently move to the one he likes? – Brooks addressed it within twenty pages or so of it popping into my head. Well played, Mrs. Brooks. This book also asks quite a few ethical questions about what constitutes “real,” that I bet would go over great in a book club. I found myself often wondering not only what I would do, but also what the right thing would be to do.
Also, there is a twist that made me feel like a complete idiot for not anticipating it. Occasionally, it’s nice when a book outsmarts me, and this was definitely one of those cases.
The book ended up being quite full of feels, and really sucked me in in the latter half. It’s always nice to find an exciting new voice in YA, and this is definitely an author to follow.
A premise like alternate realities needs to be exceedingly well-thought-out to work, or astute readers will pick it apart until there’s nothing left. But every time I had one of those thought – why doesn’t Jonathan keep creating new worlds, or just permanently move to the one he likes? – Brooks addressed it within twenty pages or so of it popping into my head. Well played, Mrs. Brooks. This book also asks quite a few ethical questions about what constitutes “real,” that I bet would go over great in a book club. I found myself often wondering not only what I would do, but also what the right thing would be to do.
Also, there is a twist that made me feel like a complete idiot for not anticipating it. Occasionally, it’s nice when a book outsmarts me, and this was definitely one of those cases.
The book ended up being quite full of feels, and really sucked me in in the latter half. It’s always nice to find an exciting new voice in YA, and this is definitely an author to follow.
June 16, 2015
"It's just a line. And evidence that you're a miracle."
Although I don't love everything about this story, I am choosing to take my own twist on the story and that has made me like it more. That's the fun of being a reader. I can decide to like something even if I'm not 100% biting off what the author is trying to give me.
At the end of it all, and the reason I can reconcile that I liked this even if I had some concerns, is that I love the message. I love the hope that there's more. That dreams and ideas can hold so much and that there is happiness and freedom in what might seem like hopeless situation.
I also love the revelation that, often, we miss the little moments when others are reaching out to us. Either in friendship or more, often we miss these vulnerable moments because we are wrapped up in our own stuff. Sometimes, when it all quiets down and we have a moment to breath and think situations over or even take a moment to think about someone, we just might remember things a little differently and see the intentions behind the other person.
It's beautiful to think about and remember. It's an amazing message and one that I think is worth the confusion and the little eccentric paths in the book. I couldn't quite make all the leaps, but I made enough to enjoy the ride.
Although I don't love everything about this story, I am choosing to take my own twist on the story and that has made me like it more. That's the fun of being a reader. I can decide to like something even if I'm not 100% biting off what the author is trying to give me.
At the end of it all, and the reason I can reconcile that I liked this even if I had some concerns, is that I love the message. I love the hope that there's more. That dreams and ideas can hold so much and that there is happiness and freedom in what might seem like hopeless situation.
I also love the revelation that, often, we miss the little moments when others are reaching out to us. Either in friendship or more, often we miss these vulnerable moments because we are wrapped up in our own stuff. Sometimes, when it all quiets down and we have a moment to breath and think situations over or even take a moment to think about someone, we just might remember things a little differently and see the intentions behind the other person.
It's beautiful to think about and remember. It's an amazing message and one that I think is worth the confusion and the little eccentric paths in the book. I couldn't quite make all the leaps, but I made enough to enjoy the ride.
May 26, 2015
This is possibly one of the most difficult reviews to write. Partly because I did not want to finish the book for a long time, knowing that I will be hunting for another such a unique book to read and partly because I knew that there are no words to express the feelings the book evoked.
I really wish all debut authors would write a first book like this.
The characterisation is excellent, with a plot that just cannot go wrong. The added poems greatly enhance joys and sorrows.
The book has a great entertainment value, while it provides inspiration for love, life and for the writer at heart alike. It is surely destined to leave a great mark on any reader.
I really wish all debut authors would write a first book like this.
The characterisation is excellent, with a plot that just cannot go wrong. The added poems greatly enhance joys and sorrows.
The book has a great entertainment value, while it provides inspiration for love, life and for the writer at heart alike. It is surely destined to leave a great mark on any reader.
October 17, 2014
I don't think I've read another high concept YA that honors its own premise the way this book does. Instead of using Jonathan's world building ability as a simple launching pad for the plot, Jen Brooks explores the implications of his power logistically, emotionally and philosophically. Incredibly thoughtful and moving.
June 16, 2015
I thought that the main character was a total creep and that the ending was very predictable. I also felt like we should have gotten more information on the world and plot. It focused on the romance too much in my opinion..
February 5, 2017
Great take on wondering if what you create is better than the real thing. A little wordy - probably could have knocked off 50 pages of details about track meets. But otherwise this is a great story.
August 13, 2016
Not so flashy
As it could have been
But here, quiet is just right.
As it could have been
But here, quiet is just right.
April 15, 2015
This review can also be found on A Thousand Lives Lived, check it out for more reviews!
*4.5 star rating*
Since mid-2014, this book has been on my eye, and I must say that it's been one of my top most-anticipated reads of the year. Now that I've gotten the amazing chance to read it early, I have to say that EVERYONE MUST READ THIS AS SOON AS IT'S RELEASED. You won't be disappointed, and to this moment after finishing it last night (as I'm writing this), I still have the chills running down my spine. Of course, the longing for the picture-perfect romance that Jonathan and Kylie had will always haunt my mind as well.
I am left without words, I have to admit to the fullest extent. What I expected the themes and genres to come out of the book weren't exactly what was actually released, instead it was something much more surprising and wicked. I would never expect the aspect of the fantasy to go to that level, and parallel universe-novels always end up a favourite of mine every single time. The author puts readers into a situation where we'll want to be there for our main male protagonist, Jonathan, and go out and create worlds with him. Perhaps we'll make our own universes where we'll be dating our fictional boyfriends... hmm?
Before I get into the serious and raving moments of fangirling and actually raving, let's talk about the gorgeous storyline that was set up for us here. Jonathan Aubrey was one of the only survivors of a well-known plane crash when he was six. He instantly was sent into a coma, and woke up with the ability to make different worlds. Yes, all he has to do is shut his eyes tightly, and picture the things that he'd like to see. After that, he had no friends in the real world and spent most of his time in his Kylie-Simms-is-my-girlfriend world where he's dating the girl of his dreams. What happens when both worlds mix and things go chaotic?
I have to absolutely say that the ending of this brilliant piece of literature is what brought this book into its new standards—where the genre switched in to something unrecognizable, but in a totally great matter. We were shocked, thrown around and I never saw that coming. Can we just say that suspense, thrill and mystery was added to all of the fun as well? I adored the concept of this and it also somewhat reminded me of Erica O'Rourke's Dissonance, though we had an intelligent male protagonist who did what he did for an absolute different reason. What's the best thing to do in your life if you're lonely and have no one... other than creating the most masterful world for yourself? I can tell you that after reading, there's almost nothing better other than doing this, where he is living the perfect life, although he most certainly has to visit his old one. I couldn't believe how unique and different this was to most afterlife-kind-of-thing that's pretty common to find in YA literature today, but from the moment I saw the summary and cover, I knew that this would be something special.
One of the best things that this book held was the fact that it shared tons of passion. The author and the protagonist's message were so special and I felt all of the emotions that he had. I did shed some tears, share some laughs, squealed over the romance and the kissing between Kylie and Jonathan, and fell for the poetry and writing that was incorporated. It didn't go over the top, but it was special for a novel that's mostly based on the world-building.
432 pages? This is plain awesomeness, where I find that I enjoy books when they are longer. The storyline shared the perfect amount of detail, climax and building, and although it was long, it was a standalone and the author gave us the right amount for a first and final novel in Jonathan's world... or at least of what we know of. One of the tiny mishaps that I saw was a weak start until about page 50, but that may have been because of my attention span and you should just go on. From there, I can tell you that everything's fast-paced, interesting and you'll find yourself falling in love and wanting to stay in this world that's just right.
Can we just hop into Jen Brooks' mind and continue this journey with Kylie, Whitney, Luis, and the rest of the memorable characters? I can't stop thinking about them and what may be happening to them at the moment (since I can't even see them as fictional characters as they mean so much to me). Without the side characters, we can all predict that Jonathan would've never grown up and see the truth behind the reason why he does everything and why does he leave the world that he lives in. It's certainly not his fault, and I kept on feeling guilt to the highest maximum for him. Pathos was everywhere in this book and I kept wondering if Kylie's character was only feeling guilt to go for Jonathan and just did it out of pity. Of course, it was true love, my lovely friends.
Man, did they have a connection. *sighs* From the beginning when we really got to know Kylie's character, I felt that she was his remedy, and he would be a broken soul without her. And even if he didn't make worlds or anything and only got to see and be with her, those moments are sacred. And those moments when they were in the third grade? *blushes and tears up* AWWWWWW, this is the cutest of the cutest.
In the end, I can tell you that everything about this book was fantastic. The ending left me hanging and begging for more books by Jen Brooks, a great storyline, and one of the best protagonists that I've ever written about. The premise left me wishing that every other book I've read this year would end up like this one! I swear, if you go your year without reading this book, you'll miss out on so much. Better go out, preorder and adore it as much as I did! This, especially, left me wondering if the world that seems just right will ever end up being one's reality, and I guess that this book wholly gives you that definite answer. Go for it!
*A review copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!*
*4.5 star rating*
Since mid-2014, this book has been on my eye, and I must say that it's been one of my top most-anticipated reads of the year. Now that I've gotten the amazing chance to read it early, I have to say that EVERYONE MUST READ THIS AS SOON AS IT'S RELEASED. You won't be disappointed, and to this moment after finishing it last night (as I'm writing this), I still have the chills running down my spine. Of course, the longing for the picture-perfect romance that Jonathan and Kylie had will always haunt my mind as well.
I am left without words, I have to admit to the fullest extent. What I expected the themes and genres to come out of the book weren't exactly what was actually released, instead it was something much more surprising and wicked. I would never expect the aspect of the fantasy to go to that level, and parallel universe-novels always end up a favourite of mine every single time. The author puts readers into a situation where we'll want to be there for our main male protagonist, Jonathan, and go out and create worlds with him. Perhaps we'll make our own universes where we'll be dating our fictional boyfriends... hmm?
Before I get into the serious and raving moments of fangirling and actually raving, let's talk about the gorgeous storyline that was set up for us here. Jonathan Aubrey was one of the only survivors of a well-known plane crash when he was six. He instantly was sent into a coma, and woke up with the ability to make different worlds. Yes, all he has to do is shut his eyes tightly, and picture the things that he'd like to see. After that, he had no friends in the real world and spent most of his time in his Kylie-Simms-is-my-girlfriend world where he's dating the girl of his dreams. What happens when both worlds mix and things go chaotic?
"She doesn't let go of my hand, though, and although I'm dying because this incident will ruin my obscurity as soon as the ending bell puts the gossip mill in motion, I squeeze her hand back in solidarity."
I have to absolutely say that the ending of this brilliant piece of literature is what brought this book into its new standards—where the genre switched in to something unrecognizable, but in a totally great matter. We were shocked, thrown around and I never saw that coming. Can we just say that suspense, thrill and mystery was added to all of the fun as well? I adored the concept of this and it also somewhat reminded me of Erica O'Rourke's Dissonance, though we had an intelligent male protagonist who did what he did for an absolute different reason. What's the best thing to do in your life if you're lonely and have no one... other than creating the most masterful world for yourself? I can tell you that after reading, there's almost nothing better other than doing this, where he is living the perfect life, although he most certainly has to visit his old one. I couldn't believe how unique and different this was to most afterlife-kind-of-thing that's pretty common to find in YA literature today, but from the moment I saw the summary and cover, I knew that this would be something special.
One of the best things that this book held was the fact that it shared tons of passion. The author and the protagonist's message were so special and I felt all of the emotions that he had. I did shed some tears, share some laughs, squealed over the romance and the kissing between Kylie and Jonathan, and fell for the poetry and writing that was incorporated. It didn't go over the top, but it was special for a novel that's mostly based on the world-building.
432 pages? This is plain awesomeness, where I find that I enjoy books when they are longer. The storyline shared the perfect amount of detail, climax and building, and although it was long, it was a standalone and the author gave us the right amount for a first and final novel in Jonathan's world... or at least of what we know of. One of the tiny mishaps that I saw was a weak start until about page 50, but that may have been because of my attention span and you should just go on. From there, I can tell you that everything's fast-paced, interesting and you'll find yourself falling in love and wanting to stay in this world that's just right.
Can we just hop into Jen Brooks' mind and continue this journey with Kylie, Whitney, Luis, and the rest of the memorable characters? I can't stop thinking about them and what may be happening to them at the moment (since I can't even see them as fictional characters as they mean so much to me). Without the side characters, we can all predict that Jonathan would've never grown up and see the truth behind the reason why he does everything and why does he leave the world that he lives in. It's certainly not his fault, and I kept on feeling guilt to the highest maximum for him. Pathos was everywhere in this book and I kept wondering if Kylie's character was only feeling guilt to go for Jonathan and just did it out of pity. Of course, it was true love, my lovely friends.
"I'm less her boyfriend than her keeper. Her creator. And this change in how I see her sickens me, frightens me, because all this time I thought I loved her. Oh. God. I do love her. That's not what I meant. Is it?"
Man, did they have a connection. *sighs* From the beginning when we really got to know Kylie's character, I felt that she was his remedy, and he would be a broken soul without her. And even if he didn't make worlds or anything and only got to see and be with her, those moments are sacred. And those moments when they were in the third grade? *blushes and tears up* AWWWWWW, this is the cutest of the cutest.
In the end, I can tell you that everything about this book was fantastic. The ending left me hanging and begging for more books by Jen Brooks, a great storyline, and one of the best protagonists that I've ever written about. The premise left me wishing that every other book I've read this year would end up like this one! I swear, if you go your year without reading this book, you'll miss out on so much. Better go out, preorder and adore it as much as I did! This, especially, left me wondering if the world that seems just right will ever end up being one's reality, and I guess that this book wholly gives you that definite answer. Go for it!
*A review copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!*
September 17, 2015
In a World Just Right is a crazy ride of a book. So many twists and turns. Lots of emotions and plenty of amazing characters. Even the 'other' characters had their own personalities. This is a contemporary book with a splash of, not so much supernatural, but magic? I'm not sure how to say it without saying too much.
Jonathan is this really amazing and eccentric character. His through process is both frightening and powerful. He has one of the strongest personalities I think I have seen in a male protagonist. His is just truly a work of art. I do, however, think he would be completely different if his parents and sister hadn't 'died' or maybe even if he just didn't have the scar. I think because he had so much time alone with himself that he just turned into a somewhat bitter hermit.
I don't know if this is a spoiler or not. I mean I won't be giving away any major plot points so here goes. Jonathan can bring things to and from his mad up worlds. Letters, T-shirts, and other material items. So I kept thinking, why doesn't he just replace his files or something with the ones from his 'other' school? Or slip the acceptance letter from one college to another? After thinking about it for a while it sounds pretty hard and a bit crazy but he did do the world in both worlds so if he was really worried so much about starting college ASAP then I am wondering why this idea never crossed his mind.
Why is everything about Kylie? I know she is the reason Jonathan created her world but Tess is right there... RIGHT THERE and all his questions are based on Kylie? That would be the furthest thing from my mind. What about his parents? Did they have this ability too? And is Tess the same one? AHHH!!! I wanted to yell at Jonathan so much!
When I read books I really enjoy the conversations in them. You get to know not only the main character but whoever else they might be talking to. In this book, there is a lot more description and thought sections, not enough conversation scenes for me. I know that Jonathan is a loner in the Real world but he isn't in his made up worlds so I feel like there should have been a bit more conversing. Sometimes the book went pages and pages without conversation. I feel like this was the only problem I truly had with the book.
Now you might think I would give this book a low star review because of some of the statements. But I think that if a book makes you feel, makes you want to yell at a character, then it's a good book. What is the point of reading if you don't feel something? This book made me feel sadness, anger, confusion, happiness and complete. I love love love when books just make you feel everything. And the ending of this book just made me go BOOM. So many unpredictable paths. This book was just abso-freakin-lutely stunning and I can honestly say its the FIRST book I have enjoyed from a male protagonists perspective.
Overall, I gave the book 4.5/5 stars.
Jonathan is this really amazing and eccentric character. His through process is both frightening and powerful. He has one of the strongest personalities I think I have seen in a male protagonist. His is just truly a work of art. I do, however, think he would be completely different if his parents and sister hadn't 'died' or maybe even if he just didn't have the scar. I think because he had so much time alone with himself that he just turned into a somewhat bitter hermit.
I don't know if this is a spoiler or not. I mean I won't be giving away any major plot points so here goes. Jonathan can bring things to and from his mad up worlds. Letters, T-shirts, and other material items. So I kept thinking, why doesn't he just replace his files or something with the ones from his 'other' school? Or slip the acceptance letter from one college to another? After thinking about it for a while it sounds pretty hard and a bit crazy but he did do the world in both worlds so if he was really worried so much about starting college ASAP then I am wondering why this idea never crossed his mind.
Why is everything about Kylie? I know she is the reason Jonathan created her world but Tess is right there... RIGHT THERE and all his questions are based on Kylie? That would be the furthest thing from my mind. What about his parents? Did they have this ability too? And is Tess the same one? AHHH!!! I wanted to yell at Jonathan so much!
When I read books I really enjoy the conversations in them. You get to know not only the main character but whoever else they might be talking to. In this book, there is a lot more description and thought sections, not enough conversation scenes for me. I know that Jonathan is a loner in the Real world but he isn't in his made up worlds so I feel like there should have been a bit more conversing. Sometimes the book went pages and pages without conversation. I feel like this was the only problem I truly had with the book.
Now you might think I would give this book a low star review because of some of the statements. But I think that if a book makes you feel, makes you want to yell at a character, then it's a good book. What is the point of reading if you don't feel something? This book made me feel sadness, anger, confusion, happiness and complete. I love love love when books just make you feel everything. And the ending of this book just made me go BOOM. So many unpredictable paths. This book was just abso-freakin-lutely stunning and I can honestly say its the FIRST book I have enjoyed from a male protagonists perspective.
Overall, I gave the book 4.5/5 stars.
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