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Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt: A Novel
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Travis is Death in the modern world. He wears jeans and a T-shirt and lives in a small, grey town. His job is to offer people comfort in their final hours of life. He’s stoic, gentle, and a little naive, despite everything he knows. He’s young and handsome, despite who he is. Each death he witnesses is meaningful to him; he listens, never judges, and most importantly, never tries to change anyone’s fate. He knows that every life must eventually end to maintain the balance of the universe and he respects the cycle.
Then he meets Dalia, a midwife, and her boisterous eight-year-old daughter Layla, who live across the hall. As Dalia and Layla come to embrace Travis, it becomes more difficult to maintain the detachment that’s allowed him to function for so long. Their time together teaches him what’s truly important in life—and what might be irrevocably lost in death.
Written with radiant warmth, wisdom, and compassion, Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt is a timeless story about appreciating life, accepting its end, and finding our place in the universe—especially when it feels most impossible—that will resonate with anyone who has ever loved and lost or worried at time’s passing.
Then he meets Dalia, a midwife, and her boisterous eight-year-old daughter Layla, who live across the hall. As Dalia and Layla come to embrace Travis, it becomes more difficult to maintain the detachment that’s allowed him to function for so long. Their time together teaches him what’s truly important in life—and what might be irrevocably lost in death.
Written with radiant warmth, wisdom, and compassion, Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt is a timeless story about appreciating life, accepting its end, and finding our place in the universe—especially when it feels most impossible—that will resonate with anyone who has ever loved and lost or worried at time’s passing.
- GenresFiction
256 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 7, 2026
28 people are currently reading
12427 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
January 19, 2026
This book will leave a forever impact on me. It made me look at life differently. This book is about death and the narrator is death itself. This book may be a tough topic to read, if you or a loved one is going through or have gone through something traumatic recently or right now. The main character (also known as death) is named Travis Smith and he also has a kitty companion. Travis begins to unravel, due to certain circumstances. The themes in this book are death and mortality, love and grief, life and death conversations, and ethics. It is a very heavy, yet powerful novel.
This is heartfelt in a way that it touched on the reason to love. It has strong character growth and lovable characters. It is very well written and thought provoking. Be sure to read the trigger warnings before reading the book itself, it does deal with heavy topics. If you want to skip the trigger warnings, that’s okay too. This gave me the movie “A Ghost Story” and the movie “Meet Joe Black” vibes! I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars rating!
Thank you yo NetGalley, author Ben Reeves, Avid Reader Press and Simon & Schuster for providing me with this eARC, in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is set to be released on July 7, 2026!
This is heartfelt in a way that it touched on the reason to love. It has strong character growth and lovable characters. It is very well written and thought provoking. Be sure to read the trigger warnings before reading the book itself, it does deal with heavy topics. If you want to skip the trigger warnings, that’s okay too. This gave me the movie “A Ghost Story” and the movie “Meet Joe Black” vibes! I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars rating!
Thank you yo NetGalley, author Ben Reeves, Avid Reader Press and Simon & Schuster for providing me with this eARC, in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is set to be released on July 7, 2026!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
my number one favorite read of 2025🩵
full rtc closer to pub day, but absolutely one of my top five reads of this year, and perhaps of all time. if only we all had twenty more minutes...
full rtc closer to pub day, but absolutely one of my top five reads of this year, and perhaps of all time. if only we all had twenty more minutes...
January 15, 2026
You would think a book about death, narrated by Death would be depressing. The opposite is true which makes Ben Reeves’s debut novel, EVERYTHING WAS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURT, all the more extraordinary. This is an uplifting, gorgeously human story.
Let’s first talk about the writing style. Lyrical, flowing, verse-like at times; there was a soothing rhythm to his prose. I felt buoyed by it; almost as if it was ethereal. Reeves’s use of phrasing, structure, and descriptive language added to the experience. And this book is just that—an experience.
His depiction of Death as an ordinary man you might pass on the street without a second glance is brilliant. It drives home the point that death does not discriminate. It comes for us all regardless of our circumstances. Death cannot be bargained with or swayed. It is inevitable.
The takeaway for me from this thought provoking book is that how and when we die matters far less than how we live and the legacy we leave. This struck a very personal note for me as I faced my own mortality a few years ago. That experience brought about a fundamental change in the way I live my life and the things I prioritize.
The book was recommended by the talented Sarah Damoff whose books both left me a sobbing mess with a heart pieced back together with hope. EVERYTHING WAS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURT had the same effect. Brilliance recognizes brilliance.
This is a book about death (occurring at all ages), so some may be sensitive to the content.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
Let’s first talk about the writing style. Lyrical, flowing, verse-like at times; there was a soothing rhythm to his prose. I felt buoyed by it; almost as if it was ethereal. Reeves’s use of phrasing, structure, and descriptive language added to the experience. And this book is just that—an experience.
His depiction of Death as an ordinary man you might pass on the street without a second glance is brilliant. It drives home the point that death does not discriminate. It comes for us all regardless of our circumstances. Death cannot be bargained with or swayed. It is inevitable.
The takeaway for me from this thought provoking book is that how and when we die matters far less than how we live and the legacy we leave. This struck a very personal note for me as I faced my own mortality a few years ago. That experience brought about a fundamental change in the way I live my life and the things I prioritize.
The book was recommended by the talented Sarah Damoff whose books both left me a sobbing mess with a heart pieced back together with hope. EVERYTHING WAS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURT had the same effect. Brilliance recognizes brilliance.
This is a book about death (occurring at all ages), so some may be sensitive to the content.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When Death comes a-calling... sometimes he's just visiting - unless it is your time to go!
I truly enjoyed this often poetical and highly vivid excursion into the life and times of Death's minion, Travis.
We come to realize that many of the people that Travis spends time with will, in the very near future, "pass on." Some are impatient for this passing, having lived too long. Others are dismayed: that opening scene was so heart-rendingly touching! The exploration of the final moments of earth's creatures was not limited to humans. (I found the passage about the deer riveting.) The writing was beautifully lyrical and in some places downright entrancing.
I enjoyed spending time with all of the characters in this story. I had a few premonitions here and there as to where the plot was going (and drat it, I was right!)
I won't go into any more details for fear of spoilers. You need to go into this one blind. I suspect that you will find it just as impossible, as I did, to put this book down! Totally heartwarming, despite Travis being the harbinger of Death....
My thanks to the author, Ben Reeves, his publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Five out of 5 glowing and well-satisfied stars. Highly, highly recommended!
I truly enjoyed this often poetical and highly vivid excursion into the life and times of Death's minion, Travis.
We come to realize that many of the people that Travis spends time with will, in the very near future, "pass on." Some are impatient for this passing, having lived too long. Others are dismayed: that opening scene was so heart-rendingly touching! The exploration of the final moments of earth's creatures was not limited to humans. (I found the passage about the deer riveting.) The writing was beautifully lyrical and in some places downright entrancing.
I enjoyed spending time with all of the characters in this story. I had a few premonitions here and there as to where the plot was going (and drat it, I was right!)
I won't go into any more details for fear of spoilers. You need to go into this one blind. I suspect that you will find it just as impossible, as I did, to put this book down! Totally heartwarming, despite Travis being the harbinger of Death....
My thanks to the author, Ben Reeves, his publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Five out of 5 glowing and well-satisfied stars. Highly, highly recommended!
Want to read
January 9, 2026Death is the narrator in this book!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Avid Reader Press and the author, Ben Reeves for an early eARC.
Publication date: July 7, 2025
Many thanks to NetGalley, Avid Reader Press and the author, Ben Reeves for an early eARC.
Publication date: July 7, 2025
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt is a slow-moving literary fiction novel narrated by Death. In this story, Death is an adult man named Travis, a reserved, casual, and normal man who visits characters throughout the story to guide them into their deaths.
I would've enjoyed more background on Travis and his role as Death. It's left up to the reader to fill in the gaps of how exactly he meets with everyone, everywhere who is dying, and what happens after Travis initially meets each character. Throughout the novel Travis visits several people just before their deaths; they have a conversation, drink tea, reflect on their lives, but Travis doesn't really serve a purpose other than to be there. While it was interesting, I found it frustrating at times when I was left wondering why Travis, of all people, was Death.
A large portion of this book shows Travis' connection and interest in a family of three: Dalia and her two young daughters. I found this to be the most compelling narrative, and I wish that it focused solely on this instead of being interspersed with new characters whose lives took up a page or two in between Travis visiting Dalia. At times it felt that there was too much going on, and the addition of these characters made the novel feel less personal than when it featured Travis' relationship with Dalia.
It's meant to be a sad book, but I wasn't moved the entire time--it had its compelling parts, and the writing is beautiful. It presents death so that it can speak about humanity and life. It doesn't shy away from any tragedy, but again, it doesn't present it in a tragic way. The book really picked up and felt the most compelling in the last fifty pages, which is when I felt it move from a three-star to a four-star read.
I would've enjoyed more background on Travis and his role as Death. It's left up to the reader to fill in the gaps of how exactly he meets with everyone, everywhere who is dying, and what happens after Travis initially meets each character. Throughout the novel Travis visits several people just before their deaths; they have a conversation, drink tea, reflect on their lives, but Travis doesn't really serve a purpose other than to be there. While it was interesting, I found it frustrating at times when I was left wondering why Travis, of all people, was Death.
A large portion of this book shows Travis' connection and interest in a family of three: Dalia and her two young daughters. I found this to be the most compelling narrative, and I wish that it focused solely on this instead of being interspersed with new characters whose lives took up a page or two in between Travis visiting Dalia. At times it felt that there was too much going on, and the addition of these characters made the novel feel less personal than when it featured Travis' relationship with Dalia.
It's meant to be a sad book, but I wasn't moved the entire time--it had its compelling parts, and the writing is beautiful. It presents death so that it can speak about humanity and life. It doesn't shy away from any tragedy, but again, it doesn't present it in a tragic way. The book really picked up and felt the most compelling in the last fifty pages, which is when I felt it move from a three-star to a four-star read.
January 15, 2026
Thanks to Avid Reader Press for the free ARC! All opinions are my own.
Wow, what a book.
What if Death personified was a guy named Travis? That’s the protagonist here. He’s not a super creepy grim reaper type, just a person who visits others and keeps them company in their last moments. He doesn’t judge, and he’s not there to change their fate. He accompanies them in their journeys out of the physical world.
The book combines vignettes of the people Travis visits at the end with a storyline following his relationships with the single mom and daughters who live across the hall from him. Can he actually make emotional connections in the world, or is that off limits to him? And even if he can, should he?
The prose in this book is lyrical and poetic. I also loved author Ben Reeves’s imagery. It’s a short read, but a deeply reflective and emotional one too. It’s one of those books that breaks your heart but brings you some hope toward the end. And above all, it’s life-affirming, covering the beautiful and heartbreaking parts of our journeys all at once. Please do check trigger warnings as needed. Glad to discuss in DMs on Instagram.
I highly recommend this debut novel to readers looking to feel a wide range of emotions while they read - which I know is many of us!
Wow, what a book.
What if Death personified was a guy named Travis? That’s the protagonist here. He’s not a super creepy grim reaper type, just a person who visits others and keeps them company in their last moments. He doesn’t judge, and he’s not there to change their fate. He accompanies them in their journeys out of the physical world.
The book combines vignettes of the people Travis visits at the end with a storyline following his relationships with the single mom and daughters who live across the hall from him. Can he actually make emotional connections in the world, or is that off limits to him? And even if he can, should he?
The prose in this book is lyrical and poetic. I also loved author Ben Reeves’s imagery. It’s a short read, but a deeply reflective and emotional one too. It’s one of those books that breaks your heart but brings you some hope toward the end. And above all, it’s life-affirming, covering the beautiful and heartbreaking parts of our journeys all at once. Please do check trigger warnings as needed. Glad to discuss in DMs on Instagram.
I highly recommend this debut novel to readers looking to feel a wide range of emotions while they read - which I know is many of us!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is about death and those few moments before it happens. The narrator is Death and he is just your average guy named Travis. No grim reaper to fear. Just an average guy who tries to offer comfort in those final moments.
The story also follows the Family across the hall at the apartment complex that Travis lives in. You see how he tries to navigate everyday life and the unusual friendship with that family.
This was a 5 star read for me. I think it will resonate differently for everyone based on their own life experiences. I took care of my Mom as she was dying with cancer. As her caregiver, I hope in those final moments she wasn't scared. Maybe she even had a Travis by her side.
This book is not really written in chapters. More like segments. Some segments are written more like a poem, others are individual's stories.
To me, this was a beautiful story about providing some peace to those getting ready to pass. It gave me all the feels and reminded me how much I loved my mom and how thankful I am that I was there in her final days.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book for my honest review.
The story also follows the Family across the hall at the apartment complex that Travis lives in. You see how he tries to navigate everyday life and the unusual friendship with that family.
This was a 5 star read for me. I think it will resonate differently for everyone based on their own life experiences. I took care of my Mom as she was dying with cancer. As her caregiver, I hope in those final moments she wasn't scared. Maybe she even had a Travis by her side.
This book is not really written in chapters. More like segments. Some segments are written more like a poem, others are individual's stories.
To me, this was a beautiful story about providing some peace to those getting ready to pass. It gave me all the feels and reminded me how much I loved my mom and how thankful I am that I was there in her final days.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book for my honest review.
February 20, 2026
This might be the best piece of literature I have ever read.
First of all, I would like to thank NetGalley and the author Ben Reeves for the digital ARC and the opportunity to read and review this book.
I think everyone, when finished with this book, looks at their blank wall and thinks to themselves - man, I wish I wrote this.
I didn’t really know anything about this book before I got the ARC, other than I had read the premise and it was recommended to readers of Fredrik Backman. And I honestly think I am the biggest Fredrik fan (you bet I have read all his books). So already my hopes were VERY high. Now I have read the book, and I don’t think it should be compared to Fredrik Backman’s work or anything else for that matter, because this book is in a league of its own. And don’t get me wrong Fredrik Backman’s books are the definition of perfect, but I think his books are very different from Everything was beautiful and nothing hurts. So, it’s no hate to Fredrik because his books are also in a league of their own. But Everything was beautiful and nothing hurts is completely incomparable to anything. I don’t even have the words to describe just how beautiful this masterpiece is. The way the book portrays life and grief- I just have no words. Well, maybe a few, so I’ll try ;)
THE CHARACTERS:
The main characters, Travis, Delila, and of course Layla, were all so beautifully written. I personally really enjoy depth of the characters and their worst sides, and you really get to see that in this book. Because the book is about life, and nobody who walks this earth is perfect, and the book really showcases this through the blame that is put on Delila. You don’t think it’s her fault, yet it is so understandable how Nick feels and why he blames her. The characters’ emotions feel so humane, so real, and so raw - and you rarely see books that do it so, so well, and to think this is Ben’s debut novel. HOLY SHIT. The characters also acted through their emotions, and it was just really well done. Bravo.
First of all, I would like to thank NetGalley and the author Ben Reeves for the digital ARC and the opportunity to read and review this book.
I think everyone, when finished with this book, looks at their blank wall and thinks to themselves - man, I wish I wrote this.
I didn’t really know anything about this book before I got the ARC, other than I had read the premise and it was recommended to readers of Fredrik Backman. And I honestly think I am the biggest Fredrik fan (you bet I have read all his books). So already my hopes were VERY high. Now I have read the book, and I don’t think it should be compared to Fredrik Backman’s work or anything else for that matter, because this book is in a league of its own. And don’t get me wrong Fredrik Backman’s books are the definition of perfect, but I think his books are very different from Everything was beautiful and nothing hurts. So, it’s no hate to Fredrik because his books are also in a league of their own. But Everything was beautiful and nothing hurts is completely incomparable to anything. I don’t even have the words to describe just how beautiful this masterpiece is. The way the book portrays life and grief- I just have no words. Well, maybe a few, so I’ll try ;)
THE CHARACTERS:
The main characters, Travis, Delila, and of course Layla, were all so beautifully written. I personally really enjoy depth of the characters and their worst sides, and you really get to see that in this book. Because the book is about life, and nobody who walks this earth is perfect, and the book really showcases this through the blame that is put on Delila. You don’t think it’s her fault, yet it is so understandable how Nick feels and why he blames her. The characters’ emotions feel so humane, so real, and so raw - and you rarely see books that do it so, so well, and to think this is Ben’s debut novel. HOLY SHIT. The characters also acted through their emotions, and it was just really well done. Bravo.
February 1, 2026
Thank you to Avid Reader Press and Simon & Shuster for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Everything was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves is a highly evocative and beautifully artful story of Travis, who is the human personification of death. Confined to a mundane and deeply isolated existence, Travis witnesses the deaths of the people in an unnamed and otherwise unremarkable town. His across the hall neighbor, a child named Layla, wrenches Travis from his exile and thrusts him into her family, where he finds himself falling for her mother. This new proximity allows him to consider life in a new way.
To start, I think that there is something very special about Reeves ability to create moments in time. Interspersed throughout the story are paragraphs that are just a collection of sentences describing different things happening at the same time all over the town. It is gorgeous how the author can create lush, layered images of a mundane place that is brimming with electricity. Truly, some of my favorite parts of this book are the scene setting. His vivid imagery is so rich and detailed that it paints a really stunning image, even when describing things as mundane as a tire floating in a river.
The book presents two different sets of stories; the plot with Travis, Layla, Ned’s, and Dalia, and the vignettes of the dying people. I really thought that the short vignettes were spectacular. It was amazing how much the author was able to do in a short amount of time to create detailed and dynamic characters. I could have read an entire book comprised of just these brief but absolutely fascinating stories.
The main plot was less inspiring to me. I think that while the plucky little kid who pulls loner from his shell is very frequently revisited as a story trope. And while we definitely see through Travis’ eyes, I don’t think that his character is played as so stoic and isolated that the relationship feels very bizarre. They seem to embrace him completely, immediately, and without any reservations at all. He, in turn, seems to become a central family figure after only a few cursory attempts to turn Layla away. I suppose it’s just the lack of balance that seems to keep me from enjoying this storyline completely. They seem so deeply invested in him, and it seems the only thing he provides is his physical presence. I just kept thinking that this newfound family was great, but what do they see in him, besides a mildly attractive adult man?
Overall, I did enjoy this book quite a bit. I thought the literary style and high descriptive way of creating a setting was really well done. The vignettes are vivid and interesting, and those three things are worth reading the book for, even if the main plot wasn’t particularly uncharted territory. I’ll be scoring this a 4/5.
Everything was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves is a highly evocative and beautifully artful story of Travis, who is the human personification of death. Confined to a mundane and deeply isolated existence, Travis witnesses the deaths of the people in an unnamed and otherwise unremarkable town. His across the hall neighbor, a child named Layla, wrenches Travis from his exile and thrusts him into her family, where he finds himself falling for her mother. This new proximity allows him to consider life in a new way.
To start, I think that there is something very special about Reeves ability to create moments in time. Interspersed throughout the story are paragraphs that are just a collection of sentences describing different things happening at the same time all over the town. It is gorgeous how the author can create lush, layered images of a mundane place that is brimming with electricity. Truly, some of my favorite parts of this book are the scene setting. His vivid imagery is so rich and detailed that it paints a really stunning image, even when describing things as mundane as a tire floating in a river.
The book presents two different sets of stories; the plot with Travis, Layla, Ned’s, and Dalia, and the vignettes of the dying people. I really thought that the short vignettes were spectacular. It was amazing how much the author was able to do in a short amount of time to create detailed and dynamic characters. I could have read an entire book comprised of just these brief but absolutely fascinating stories.
The main plot was less inspiring to me. I think that while the plucky little kid who pulls loner from his shell is very frequently revisited as a story trope. And while we definitely see through Travis’ eyes, I don’t think that his character is played as so stoic and isolated that the relationship feels very bizarre. They seem to embrace him completely, immediately, and without any reservations at all. He, in turn, seems to become a central family figure after only a few cursory attempts to turn Layla away. I suppose it’s just the lack of balance that seems to keep me from enjoying this storyline completely. They seem so deeply invested in him, and it seems the only thing he provides is his physical presence. I just kept thinking that this newfound family was great, but what do they see in him, besides a mildly attractive adult man?
Overall, I did enjoy this book quite a bit. I thought the literary style and high descriptive way of creating a setting was really well done. The vignettes are vivid and interesting, and those three things are worth reading the book for, even if the main plot wasn’t particularly uncharted territory. I’ll be scoring this a 4/5.
January 21, 2026
Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves is a profoundly moving, thought provoking, and ultimately inspiring novel. It is a short book, but it packed such an emotional punch that I needed to pace myself.
The novel’s simple message to embrace life is written in a beautiful, lyrical style that kept me hooked from start to finish. It is told from the perspective of Travis, who is a modern day Grim Reaper. Travis is able to walk unnoticed amongst people until it is their time. It is striking to see how some people greet him fondly and others try to bargain him away, but death is always inevitable. Travis remains somewhat detached until he forms a unique bond with his neighbor, Dalia, and her 8 year old daughter, Layla. Their bond complicates his thoughts on life and death.
Having faced my own mortality after a cancer diagnosis, this story resonated with me on a deeply personal level. That experience changed my perspective on life, my priorities, and how I want to be remembered. I hope readers will also embrace the importance of living life to its fullest.
I reserve my 5⭐️ reviews for books that stop me in my tracks and make me FEEL. I may not have been left a sobbing mess in the end, but there were times when this book took my breath away. And it left me with a serious book hangover. Congratulations to the author on his debut novel! 5/5⭐️
(anticipated release 7/7/2026)
Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for an advanced reader copy of Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
The novel’s simple message to embrace life is written in a beautiful, lyrical style that kept me hooked from start to finish. It is told from the perspective of Travis, who is a modern day Grim Reaper. Travis is able to walk unnoticed amongst people until it is their time. It is striking to see how some people greet him fondly and others try to bargain him away, but death is always inevitable. Travis remains somewhat detached until he forms a unique bond with his neighbor, Dalia, and her 8 year old daughter, Layla. Their bond complicates his thoughts on life and death.
Having faced my own mortality after a cancer diagnosis, this story resonated with me on a deeply personal level. That experience changed my perspective on life, my priorities, and how I want to be remembered. I hope readers will also embrace the importance of living life to its fullest.
I reserve my 5⭐️ reviews for books that stop me in my tracks and make me FEEL. I may not have been left a sobbing mess in the end, but there were times when this book took my breath away. And it left me with a serious book hangover. Congratulations to the author on his debut novel! 5/5⭐️
(anticipated release 7/7/2026)
Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for an advanced reader copy of Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is Death as a poetic empath; feeling everything, all at once, all the time, which equates to nothing at all. Travis/Death speaks in first person POV as himself, narrates other people's stories in 3rd person POV, and speaks directly in 2nd person POV. The shifts in and out of POVs were exquisitely written. I found the writing style and tone of the book refreshingly wonderful and the prose was lyrical and poetically descriptive. This is a book that makes you experience everything as the author delves into constant new emotions and feelings underwent by characters.
Truly an original and unforgettable story that leaves you appreciating life while simultaneously accepting the inevitability of death. Death is showcased in many forms from tragic to expected, but just as death is met each time, life is radiating through their conversations. It is incredible how this book encapsulates the breadth of the human experience and the infinite possibilities of ways a life can be lived and ended.
It is a short book but I would recommend not rushing through it. Because it teeters on poetry at times: slow down, grab a cup of tea, and savor it.
In the end, it wasn't death that made me choked, it was new life.
Truly an original and unforgettable story that leaves you appreciating life while simultaneously accepting the inevitability of death. Death is showcased in many forms from tragic to expected, but just as death is met each time, life is radiating through their conversations. It is incredible how this book encapsulates the breadth of the human experience and the infinite possibilities of ways a life can be lived and ended.
It is a short book but I would recommend not rushing through it. Because it teeters on poetry at times: slow down, grab a cup of tea, and savor it.
In the end, it wasn't death that made me choked, it was new life.
January 12, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!
This book completely took my breath away. The writing was brilliant and beautiful, the story was thought-provoking and heart-wrenching, and the whole reading experience felt as if I was living alongside the characters.
We accompany our narrator, Death (he goes by Travis) as he meets people in their final moments - some welcome him with open arms as a friend, others try to negotiate their way out of what is to come. His across-the-hall neighbors, Dalia and eight-year-old Layla, welcome him into their orbit and his job as Death suddenly takes on a new and different meaning to him, causing him to consider what is important in life.
While a difficult subject, this book explores life and death and grief with exceptional love and care. Definitely a heavy topic (especially as it explores death of people of all ages) so make sure you’re ready for it before reading this beautiful, beautiful book. I will absolutely be purchasing a physical copy of this one when it comes out, as I know it will be worthwhile to revisit.
This book completely took my breath away. The writing was brilliant and beautiful, the story was thought-provoking and heart-wrenching, and the whole reading experience felt as if I was living alongside the characters.
We accompany our narrator, Death (he goes by Travis) as he meets people in their final moments - some welcome him with open arms as a friend, others try to negotiate their way out of what is to come. His across-the-hall neighbors, Dalia and eight-year-old Layla, welcome him into their orbit and his job as Death suddenly takes on a new and different meaning to him, causing him to consider what is important in life.
While a difficult subject, this book explores life and death and grief with exceptional love and care. Definitely a heavy topic (especially as it explores death of people of all ages) so make sure you’re ready for it before reading this beautiful, beautiful book. I will absolutely be purchasing a physical copy of this one when it comes out, as I know it will be worthwhile to revisit.
January 10, 2026
This was a beautiful book, though a difficult one to review, because I believe it will resonate differently with every reader. Having worked in palliative care, and being older, I approached it from the perspective of someone who has witnessed death closely and repeatedly. The protagonist is gentle and deeply human, yet ultimately powerless; the accumulation of loss weighs heavily on him, and he struggles under its burden.
The book is filled with moments of profound humanity—so many, in fact, that I found myself crying more than once. It touched me deeply. The writing is lyrical and poetic, carrying both tenderness and grief with great care. I very much look forward to reading more from this author.
The book is filled with moments of profound humanity—so many, in fact, that I found myself crying more than once. It touched me deeply. The writing is lyrical and poetic, carrying both tenderness and grief with great care. I very much look forward to reading more from this author.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘩𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥. 𝘐𝘵 𝘦𝘣𝘣𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘵."
💭 THOUGHTS:
𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗮𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝘂𝗿𝘁 is a heartachingly poignant reflection on life and death that will resonate with everyone who's ever experienced the loss of a loved one or pondered their own immortality.
For a character who is essentially the Grim Reaper, Travis (aka Death) feels deeply human. He leads a quiet ordinary existence and spends his days visiting people to provide them company in their final moments; he offers comfort and kindness and no judgement.
There are vignettes laced throughout the story that highlight the inevitability of death for everyone. But the true beating heart lies in the relationship Travis forms with Dalia and her daughters, who live across the hall. I appreciated the juxtaposition between Dalia who, as a midwife, ushers life into the world and Travis who, as Death, accompanies those on their way out of it. Though Travis's job forces him to remain carefully detached to people, this little family wedges their way into his existence. Everything leads to a culmination that feels life-affirming and fittingly full circle.
Lyrical and moving, 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗮𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝘂𝗿𝘁 packs an emotional punch in it's pages. It isn't a long read, but it is one that you will savor and one that will linger for a long time afterwards.
✨ Thank you to Avid Reader Press and Net Galley for this eARC! [Pub date: 7•7•2026]
💭 THOUGHTS:
𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗮𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝘂𝗿𝘁 is a heartachingly poignant reflection on life and death that will resonate with everyone who's ever experienced the loss of a loved one or pondered their own immortality.
For a character who is essentially the Grim Reaper, Travis (aka Death) feels deeply human. He leads a quiet ordinary existence and spends his days visiting people to provide them company in their final moments; he offers comfort and kindness and no judgement.
There are vignettes laced throughout the story that highlight the inevitability of death for everyone. But the true beating heart lies in the relationship Travis forms with Dalia and her daughters, who live across the hall. I appreciated the juxtaposition between Dalia who, as a midwife, ushers life into the world and Travis who, as Death, accompanies those on their way out of it. Though Travis's job forces him to remain carefully detached to people, this little family wedges their way into his existence. Everything leads to a culmination that feels life-affirming and fittingly full circle.
Lyrical and moving, 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗮𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝘂𝗿𝘁 packs an emotional punch in it's pages. It isn't a long read, but it is one that you will savor and one that will linger for a long time afterwards.
✨ Thank you to Avid Reader Press and Net Galley for this eARC! [Pub date: 7•7•2026]
February 3, 2026
Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt is a deeply moving, gorgeously written debut that I know will stay with me long after I finished reading. Upon finishing the book I simply laid in bed crying, thinking about my life and everyone I love.
This is a novel about death in all its forms — sudden and expected, young and old, quiet and devastating — but more than that, it is a book about humanity, connection, and what it means to live alongside loss.
Ben Reeves’s prose is lyrical and poetic, often reading like verse. At its best, the writing is tender, thoughtful, and emotionally resonant. There were many moments that left me openly sobbing, and I know I will be thinking about this story for a long, long time. The novel treats its subject matter with care and empathy, allowing space for grief without ever feeling cold or clinical.
That said, the poetic style occasionally felt a bit overworked for me. At times, the language leaned so heavily into lyricism that I found myself skimming passages to return to the characters themselves, who were consistently the strongest part of the book. Reeves has a very distinct narrative voice, and while I admired it overall, it may not work for every reader.
This is also a book that warrants attention to content warnings. It explores death at all ages and stages, from many different causes, and while handled with sensitivity, it may be emotionally difficult for some readers.
Ultimately, Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt is a heartfelt, ambitious debut that grapples with mortality in a deeply human way. Readers who appreciate poetic prose, reflective storytelling, and emotionally immersive novels will find a great deal to admire here.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reading copy.
This is a novel about death in all its forms — sudden and expected, young and old, quiet and devastating — but more than that, it is a book about humanity, connection, and what it means to live alongside loss.
Ben Reeves’s prose is lyrical and poetic, often reading like verse. At its best, the writing is tender, thoughtful, and emotionally resonant. There were many moments that left me openly sobbing, and I know I will be thinking about this story for a long, long time. The novel treats its subject matter with care and empathy, allowing space for grief without ever feeling cold or clinical.
That said, the poetic style occasionally felt a bit overworked for me. At times, the language leaned so heavily into lyricism that I found myself skimming passages to return to the characters themselves, who were consistently the strongest part of the book. Reeves has a very distinct narrative voice, and while I admired it overall, it may not work for every reader.
This is also a book that warrants attention to content warnings. It explores death at all ages and stages, from many different causes, and while handled with sensitivity, it may be emotionally difficult for some readers.
Ultimately, Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt is a heartfelt, ambitious debut that grapples with mortality in a deeply human way. Readers who appreciate poetic prose, reflective storytelling, and emotionally immersive novels will find a great deal to admire here.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reading copy.
January 9, 2026
I’ve never read anything like this. It’s heartbreaking and beautiful. It’s poetry. It’s art. This book has changed me. I’ll never look at death, or life or even a brick the same ever again. I’m completely gutted, I cried multiple times. If I could give it ten stars, I would.
Travis is Death. He lives across the hall from Dalia and her two daughters, Layla and Neda, and slowly becomes entwined in the rhythms of their everyday lives.
I’m not sure whether this is poetry or prose. The language is pure poetry, lyrical, elegant , and breathtaking. The formatting feels poetic too, with dialogue and structure unfolding more like stanzas than traditional chapters. And yet, the story itself is prose, with traditional narrative and characters. I’ve never experienced a book that blends the two so seamlessly.
Read this book.
Read this book.
Read this book.
Thank you NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for this digital ARC. This might be the best book I’ve ever read and I’ve already preordered a physical copy.
Travis is Death. He lives across the hall from Dalia and her two daughters, Layla and Neda, and slowly becomes entwined in the rhythms of their everyday lives.
I’m not sure whether this is poetry or prose. The language is pure poetry, lyrical, elegant , and breathtaking. The formatting feels poetic too, with dialogue and structure unfolding more like stanzas than traditional chapters. And yet, the story itself is prose, with traditional narrative and characters. I’ve never experienced a book that blends the two so seamlessly.
Read this book.
Read this book.
Read this book.
Thank you NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for this digital ARC. This might be the best book I’ve ever read and I’ve already preordered a physical copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Travis is Death, a la Pratchett. He aspires to a quiet life, wears blue jeans, and tends to his allotment. He is polite and friendly to his neighbours.
Travis keeps to himself. His job is difficult and he tries to remain detached. Emotions would get in the way, and it is not about him... It is about the people who die, and those who survive. The death of a mother. The death of a baby. The death of a criminal. The death of a homeless man. All those deaths overlap. Travis tends to everyone, because death is the great equaliser. Nobody deserves to die alone, unless they want to.
In an unlikely turn of events, Travis becomes friends with his neighbour. She is a midwife with young children, one of them is still a baby. He gets attached to them and starts to dream of a normal life. When tragedy hits the family, Travis gets hit, too. He starts to question his role, even if he cannot change when people die. What ensues is a beautiful novel about overcoming grief and doing the right thing. Sometimes, the ultimate act of courage is just to stay alive.
Thank you to NetGalley, to the publisher Simon & Schuster, and to the author Ben Reeves. This is a delightful novel, talking about hard topics with respect and decency. I would love to read anything from Ben Reeves in the future... This novel was a solid 5 stars for me. Thank you.
Travis keeps to himself. His job is difficult and he tries to remain detached. Emotions would get in the way, and it is not about him... It is about the people who die, and those who survive. The death of a mother. The death of a baby. The death of a criminal. The death of a homeless man. All those deaths overlap. Travis tends to everyone, because death is the great equaliser. Nobody deserves to die alone, unless they want to.
In an unlikely turn of events, Travis becomes friends with his neighbour. She is a midwife with young children, one of them is still a baby. He gets attached to them and starts to dream of a normal life. When tragedy hits the family, Travis gets hit, too. He starts to question his role, even if he cannot change when people die. What ensues is a beautiful novel about overcoming grief and doing the right thing. Sometimes, the ultimate act of courage is just to stay alive.
Thank you to NetGalley, to the publisher Simon & Schuster, and to the author Ben Reeves. This is a delightful novel, talking about hard topics with respect and decency. I would love to read anything from Ben Reeves in the future... This novel was a solid 5 stars for me. Thank you.
January 10, 2026
This book is a beautiful gut punch that lives somewhere between poetry and prose. It’s a book that is going to linger with me for a long time.
It’s lyrical and somehow nostalgic but also surprising.
Read this book and revel in how deeply moving and painful and beautiful it is to be alive, to be anything at all.
Thank you to Avid Reader Press/Simon&Schuster and NetGalley for this eARC.
It’s lyrical and somehow nostalgic but also surprising.
Read this book and revel in how deeply moving and painful and beautiful it is to be alive, to be anything at all.
Thank you to Avid Reader Press/Simon&Schuster and NetGalley for this eARC.
March 4, 2026
Heartbreaking, life-affirming. It felt emotionally reminiscent of Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go, with some of the grief-saturated strangeness of Max Porter’s Grief Is the Thing with Feathers.
Excited for others to read this! Dare you not to cry.
Excited for others to read this! Dare you not to cry.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt, by Ben Reeves, from Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.
⭐ 4.5 ⭐
I am going to begin this Book Report by cutting and pasting a post (sans photos) I made to Facebook this morning.
I dreamed about Death as written by the incomparable Terry Pratchett in his Discworld series, and yes he (Death, not the author) WAS SPEAKING IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS.
And I know this was because after I finished reading Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves I went looking for what I was trying to remember about the title and it was this: I first came across those lines in the Kurt Vonnegut Jr. book Slaughterhouse Five, which I read when I was in high school. Entirely too young/too little life experience/too little knowledge of real history for it to have made total sense then, but man what an impact it made, anyway. (I need to read it again.)
FTR, yesterday’s very, very good book will get only 4 stars from me because neither the author nor his editors/publishers credited Vonnegut (and because there was one little stretch that left me utterly confused about its meaning).
But of course the real reason I dreamed what I did is because Billa Bartlett is no longer with us on this plane of existence. Sweet, smart, funny Billa. Why does it seem like the universe takes all the wrong ones early?
In the midst of life we are in death. In the midst of death we are in life.
Love y’all.
So, yeah.
Grievous, grievous mistake not to have included a shout-out to Mr Vonnegut.
And as much as I liked quiet, introspective, thoughtful Travis, I think the author did us and him a disservice by not making that one particular stretch referenced above a little clearer. I don’t think it’s any kind of spoiler for me to say I was left wondering from then on if Death can die.
But everything else? Five stars, all day long. I think if I still had it left in me to cry I would have been sobbing at the end.
PS
Here’s a link to a write-up on an art exhibit that explore’s the meaning behind Vonnegut’s lines: https://henryart.org/exhibitions/ever...
DESCRIPTION
“This novel has all the ingredients of unforgettability: a plot you’ve never seen, characters you want to love, writing that glimmers on the page, and a spectacular ending that will smack you in the face with an aching joy. Days later, I’m still brimming.” —Monica Wood, bestselling author of How to Read a Book
For readers of Fredrik Backman and Virginia Evans, an unforgettable and exquisitely moving novel about finding beauty, hope, and meaning in the brevity of life, as narrated by the one who knows it best: Death.
Travis is Death in the modern world. He wears jeans and a T-shirt and lives in a small, grey town. His job is to offer people comfort in their final hours of life. He’s stoic, gentle, and a little naive, despite everything he knows. He’s young and handsome, despite who he is. Each death he witnesses is meaningful to him; he listens, never judges, and most importantly, never tries to change anyone’s fate. He knows that every life must eventually end to maintain the balance of the universe and he respects the cycle.
Then he meets Dalia, a midwife, and her boisterous eight-year-old daughter Layla, who live across the hall. As Dalia and Layla come to embrace Travis, it becomes more difficult to maintain the detachment that’s allowed him to function for so long. Their time together teaches him what’s truly important in life—and what might be irrevocably lost in death.
Received a complimentary copy of Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt, by Ben Reeves, from Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.
⭐ 4.5 ⭐
I am going to begin this Book Report by cutting and pasting a post (sans photos) I made to Facebook this morning.
I dreamed about Death as written by the incomparable Terry Pratchett in his Discworld series, and yes he (Death, not the author) WAS SPEAKING IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS.
And I know this was because after I finished reading Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves I went looking for what I was trying to remember about the title and it was this: I first came across those lines in the Kurt Vonnegut Jr. book Slaughterhouse Five, which I read when I was in high school. Entirely too young/too little life experience/too little knowledge of real history for it to have made total sense then, but man what an impact it made, anyway. (I need to read it again.)
FTR, yesterday’s very, very good book will get only 4 stars from me because neither the author nor his editors/publishers credited Vonnegut (and because there was one little stretch that left me utterly confused about its meaning).
But of course the real reason I dreamed what I did is because Billa Bartlett is no longer with us on this plane of existence. Sweet, smart, funny Billa. Why does it seem like the universe takes all the wrong ones early?
In the midst of life we are in death. In the midst of death we are in life.
Love y’all.
So, yeah.
Grievous, grievous mistake not to have included a shout-out to Mr Vonnegut.
And as much as I liked quiet, introspective, thoughtful Travis, I think the author did us and him a disservice by not making that one particular stretch referenced above a little clearer. I don’t think it’s any kind of spoiler for me to say I was left wondering from then on if Death can die.
But everything else? Five stars, all day long. I think if I still had it left in me to cry I would have been sobbing at the end.
PS
Here’s a link to a write-up on an art exhibit that explore’s the meaning behind Vonnegut’s lines: https://henryart.org/exhibitions/ever...
DESCRIPTION
“This novel has all the ingredients of unforgettability: a plot you’ve never seen, characters you want to love, writing that glimmers on the page, and a spectacular ending that will smack you in the face with an aching joy. Days later, I’m still brimming.” —Monica Wood, bestselling author of How to Read a Book
For readers of Fredrik Backman and Virginia Evans, an unforgettable and exquisitely moving novel about finding beauty, hope, and meaning in the brevity of life, as narrated by the one who knows it best: Death.
Travis is Death in the modern world. He wears jeans and a T-shirt and lives in a small, grey town. His job is to offer people comfort in their final hours of life. He’s stoic, gentle, and a little naive, despite everything he knows. He’s young and handsome, despite who he is. Each death he witnesses is meaningful to him; he listens, never judges, and most importantly, never tries to change anyone’s fate. He knows that every life must eventually end to maintain the balance of the universe and he respects the cycle.
Then he meets Dalia, a midwife, and her boisterous eight-year-old daughter Layla, who live across the hall. As Dalia and Layla come to embrace Travis, it becomes more difficult to maintain the detachment that’s allowed him to function for so long. Their time together teaches him what’s truly important in life—and what might be irrevocably lost in death.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When I saw the title of the debut novel by Ben Reeves, I knew I had to read it. I did not need to know the synopsis or read a sample to know that it was a novel for me. The title is a quote from Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr, and the context is that life is tough and filled with ugliness and pain but once this life is over, once death comes, everything is beautiful and nothing hurts. This could not be a better title for this book.
The novel is narrated by Travis, who is also Death. He is not a jokey death though. He does not have black hood and scythe, but he is someone who comes to spend your last moments with you, to hear your last story, make you a cup of tea, or hold your hand one last time. The gentleness and empathy that he shows to the people whom he comes to collect, trying to console those who are scared, trying to listen to those who have just one more story to tell or one more regret to name, makes him someone that you like, even though he is helping people move from this life to the next. Travis is a pretty quiet guy. He lives on his own, restores photographs, and does not want to be bothersome to anyone who is not going to die. When he gets close to Dalia, the single mother across the hall in his apartment building, and her two young girls, you want to hope that he is finding some happiness and balance in his life, a life that up until this moment is solitary, filled with grief from the moments and stories that he respectfully holds onto after they move on. Ben Reeves does a masterful job of making Travis come to life on the page without him saying much or doing much. There are scenes where he does not say a single word but his presence is always there, and it is interesting to think that a character can be written in such a way that he can be in a room during the entire scene, and do nothing, but you never forget that he is there. The clarity that he represents Death is never forgotten, even when the scenes are not about him at all.
There is a heaviness and a quiet calm to Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt that really makes every single moment just as beautiful and heart wrenching as the last. The novel is a perfect testament to how those moments between life and death are a transformation, and this is okay. Reeves has written a novel that is a respectful and compassionate ode to these final moments between life and death. None of the deaths are really fantastical, there are no skydiving victims or police shootouts, so it also makes many of the deaths relatable. The people here in their last moments are normal people, living with normal struggles. This is also a reminder that sometimes life is tough but we are all together and we should lean on each other to get through the tough times when we need to. So it goes.
I received this ebook as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The novel is narrated by Travis, who is also Death. He is not a jokey death though. He does not have black hood and scythe, but he is someone who comes to spend your last moments with you, to hear your last story, make you a cup of tea, or hold your hand one last time. The gentleness and empathy that he shows to the people whom he comes to collect, trying to console those who are scared, trying to listen to those who have just one more story to tell or one more regret to name, makes him someone that you like, even though he is helping people move from this life to the next. Travis is a pretty quiet guy. He lives on his own, restores photographs, and does not want to be bothersome to anyone who is not going to die. When he gets close to Dalia, the single mother across the hall in his apartment building, and her two young girls, you want to hope that he is finding some happiness and balance in his life, a life that up until this moment is solitary, filled with grief from the moments and stories that he respectfully holds onto after they move on. Ben Reeves does a masterful job of making Travis come to life on the page without him saying much or doing much. There are scenes where he does not say a single word but his presence is always there, and it is interesting to think that a character can be written in such a way that he can be in a room during the entire scene, and do nothing, but you never forget that he is there. The clarity that he represents Death is never forgotten, even when the scenes are not about him at all.
There is a heaviness and a quiet calm to Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt that really makes every single moment just as beautiful and heart wrenching as the last. The novel is a perfect testament to how those moments between life and death are a transformation, and this is okay. Reeves has written a novel that is a respectful and compassionate ode to these final moments between life and death. None of the deaths are really fantastical, there are no skydiving victims or police shootouts, so it also makes many of the deaths relatable. The people here in their last moments are normal people, living with normal struggles. This is also a reminder that sometimes life is tough but we are all together and we should lean on each other to get through the tough times when we need to. So it goes.
I received this ebook as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
📚 BOOK REVIEW 📚
Title: Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt
Author: Ben Reeves
Format: ARC
Publication Date: 07/07/26
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
What if the person who ushers you into the afterlife is just a guy in a T-shirt who listens?
Thank you to NetGalley, Avid Reader Press, Simon & Schuster and Ben Reeves for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Imagine if the Grim Reaper wasn't a skeleton in a cloak, but a guy named Travis in jeans and a T-shirt who just wants to make sure you aren't alone when you go. Travis is Death—yes, literally—but not in the way you’d expect. He’s quiet, gentle, and moves through the world in jeans and a T‑shirt, offering comfort to people in their final moments. His existence is all routine and detachment… until he meets Dalia, a midwife with a soft strength, and her spirited daughter Layla. Their small, everyday kindness begins to unravel the distance he’s always kept between himself and the living. As Travis is pulled into their world, he starts to question what it means to truly live, what it means to let go, and whether even Death can long for something more.
I have such complicated feelings about this one. On one hand, Ben Reeves’ prose is undeniably beautiful—it’s lyrical, gentle, and creates an atmosphere that feels like a soft, grey afternoon. The concept of Travis as a "modern" Death in jeans and a T-shirt was a refreshing take on the personification of the afterlife.
The themes of compassion and the "balance" of the universe were handled with so much grace. The relationship between Travis and little Layla was the heart of the book for me; those moments felt authentic and added a much-needed spark of life to an otherwise very somber story. It’s a very "quiet" book, which I usually enjoy.
While the writing was radiant, the pacing felt a bit too stagnant at times. Because Travis is so stoic and detached by nature, I found it difficult to truly connect with him as a protagonist until very late in the story. I also found myself wanting a bit more world-building regarding "the balance"—it stayed very surface-level, focusing more on the vibe than the mechanics of his reality.
Still, there’s a quiet wisdom here—reflections on life, loss, and the small connections that make everything worthwhile. It’s a philosophical and thoughtful read, but it didn't quite have the emotional "punch" I was looking for.
It’s perfect for readers who prefer atmospheric, slow-burn stories over plot-driven ones.
Title: Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt
Author: Ben Reeves
Format: ARC
Publication Date: 07/07/26
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
What if the person who ushers you into the afterlife is just a guy in a T-shirt who listens?
Thank you to NetGalley, Avid Reader Press, Simon & Schuster and Ben Reeves for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Imagine if the Grim Reaper wasn't a skeleton in a cloak, but a guy named Travis in jeans and a T-shirt who just wants to make sure you aren't alone when you go. Travis is Death—yes, literally—but not in the way you’d expect. He’s quiet, gentle, and moves through the world in jeans and a T‑shirt, offering comfort to people in their final moments. His existence is all routine and detachment… until he meets Dalia, a midwife with a soft strength, and her spirited daughter Layla. Their small, everyday kindness begins to unravel the distance he’s always kept between himself and the living. As Travis is pulled into their world, he starts to question what it means to truly live, what it means to let go, and whether even Death can long for something more.
I have such complicated feelings about this one. On one hand, Ben Reeves’ prose is undeniably beautiful—it’s lyrical, gentle, and creates an atmosphere that feels like a soft, grey afternoon. The concept of Travis as a "modern" Death in jeans and a T-shirt was a refreshing take on the personification of the afterlife.
The themes of compassion and the "balance" of the universe were handled with so much grace. The relationship between Travis and little Layla was the heart of the book for me; those moments felt authentic and added a much-needed spark of life to an otherwise very somber story. It’s a very "quiet" book, which I usually enjoy.
While the writing was radiant, the pacing felt a bit too stagnant at times. Because Travis is so stoic and detached by nature, I found it difficult to truly connect with him as a protagonist until very late in the story. I also found myself wanting a bit more world-building regarding "the balance"—it stayed very surface-level, focusing more on the vibe than the mechanics of his reality.
Still, there’s a quiet wisdom here—reflections on life, loss, and the small connections that make everything worthwhile. It’s a philosophical and thoughtful read, but it didn't quite have the emotional "punch" I was looking for.
It’s perfect for readers who prefer atmospheric, slow-burn stories over plot-driven ones.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book sat with me long after I finished it, not because it overwhelmed me emotionally in every moment, but because of how quietly it asked difficult questions about life, loss, and what it means to care. Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt takes a familiar concept and treats it with restraint and tenderness rather than spectacle, which felt intentional and earned.
What stood out most to me was the tone. The writing is calm and observant, almost gentle, even when dealing with heavy themes. Death is not portrayed as frightening or dramatic, but as something patient and deeply attentive. Travis feels less like a symbol and more like a presence, someone who listens closely and exists alongside others without trying to fix or interfere. That choice gave the story a grounded quality that made its emotional moments feel sincere rather than manipulative.
The relationships in this book are where it truly shines. The bond that forms between Travis and the small family across the hall develops naturally and without force. Their interactions are ordinary in the best way, filled with small conversations and shared space, which makes the emotional weight feel real. The story reminds you that meaning often lives in the quiet parts of life rather than in grand gestures.
At times, I did find myself wanting a bit more narrative momentum. The pacing leans contemplative, and while that works for the themes, there were moments where the story felt like it lingered just a little too long in reflection. That said, the emotional payoff is worth the patience, especially in how the book brings its ideas together toward the end.
Overall, this is a thoughtful and compassionate novel that approaches death without fear and life without sentimentality. It is reflective, human, and quietly affecting. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy character driven stories that prioritize emotional honesty over plot heavy drama.
What stood out most to me was the tone. The writing is calm and observant, almost gentle, even when dealing with heavy themes. Death is not portrayed as frightening or dramatic, but as something patient and deeply attentive. Travis feels less like a symbol and more like a presence, someone who listens closely and exists alongside others without trying to fix or interfere. That choice gave the story a grounded quality that made its emotional moments feel sincere rather than manipulative.
The relationships in this book are where it truly shines. The bond that forms between Travis and the small family across the hall develops naturally and without force. Their interactions are ordinary in the best way, filled with small conversations and shared space, which makes the emotional weight feel real. The story reminds you that meaning often lives in the quiet parts of life rather than in grand gestures.
At times, I did find myself wanting a bit more narrative momentum. The pacing leans contemplative, and while that works for the themes, there were moments where the story felt like it lingered just a little too long in reflection. That said, the emotional payoff is worth the patience, especially in how the book brings its ideas together toward the end.
Overall, this is a thoughtful and compassionate novel that approaches death without fear and life without sentimentality. It is reflective, human, and quietly affecting. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy character driven stories that prioritize emotional honesty over plot heavy drama.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I don’t often judge a book by its cover, but I was immediately struck by this title and knew I had to read the book. Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt announces its intentions right away; this is a meditation on mortality, love, and the fragile beauty of being alive.
This is also a surprisingly difficult book for me to rate. The original title and premise feel like an easy four stars all on their own, and in places the writing rises to five-star territory with quiet, luminous passages that capture grief, tenderness, and human connection with real grace. At the same time, there were sections that felt thinner or more familiar, where the novel landed closer to two or three stars for me.
Ben Reeves gives us a modern, quietly human incarnation of Death in Travis, who wears jeans, lives in a drab town, and approaches his work with gentleness, patience, and deep respect for the natural order of things. His role is not to interfere, only to witness and to comfort, and the novel’s early chapters are especially strong in conveying the dignity and tenderness of these final moments. There’s something profoundly soothing in the way Reeves allows Death to listen without judgment.
The emotional center of the book emerges when Travis forms a connection with Dalia, a midwife, and her spirited daughter Layla. The contrast between someone who ushers life into the world and someone who accompanies it out is handled with warmth and clarity, and Layla’s presence adds lightness without ever feeling forced. Through them, Travis begins to understand attachment, joy, and loss in ways that complicate his carefully maintained detachment.
This is a short novel, and its brevity is both a strength and a limitation. The writing is often lovely and sincere, but some ideas feel introduced and resolved a bit too quickly, as though there were room for deeper exploration that the book chooses not to take. Still, the emotional impact is real, along with plenty of compassion.
Ultimately, this is a gentle, thoughtful book about accepting impermanence and finding meaning anyway. I settled on 3.5 stars rounded up. The ambition, compassion, and moments of truly beautiful writing make this a worthwhile read, even if it doesn’t fully cohere at the same level throughout. For readers drawn to gentle reflections on life, love, and death, there is much here to appreciate.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with a copy of this book. It will be published on July 7, 2026
This is also a surprisingly difficult book for me to rate. The original title and premise feel like an easy four stars all on their own, and in places the writing rises to five-star territory with quiet, luminous passages that capture grief, tenderness, and human connection with real grace. At the same time, there were sections that felt thinner or more familiar, where the novel landed closer to two or three stars for me.
Ben Reeves gives us a modern, quietly human incarnation of Death in Travis, who wears jeans, lives in a drab town, and approaches his work with gentleness, patience, and deep respect for the natural order of things. His role is not to interfere, only to witness and to comfort, and the novel’s early chapters are especially strong in conveying the dignity and tenderness of these final moments. There’s something profoundly soothing in the way Reeves allows Death to listen without judgment.
The emotional center of the book emerges when Travis forms a connection with Dalia, a midwife, and her spirited daughter Layla. The contrast between someone who ushers life into the world and someone who accompanies it out is handled with warmth and clarity, and Layla’s presence adds lightness without ever feeling forced. Through them, Travis begins to understand attachment, joy, and loss in ways that complicate his carefully maintained detachment.
This is a short novel, and its brevity is both a strength and a limitation. The writing is often lovely and sincere, but some ideas feel introduced and resolved a bit too quickly, as though there were room for deeper exploration that the book chooses not to take. Still, the emotional impact is real, along with plenty of compassion.
Ultimately, this is a gentle, thoughtful book about accepting impermanence and finding meaning anyway. I settled on 3.5 stars rounded up. The ambition, compassion, and moments of truly beautiful writing make this a worthwhile read, even if it doesn’t fully cohere at the same level throughout. For readers drawn to gentle reflections on life, love, and death, there is much here to appreciate.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with a copy of this book. It will be published on July 7, 2026
January 10, 2026
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗦
Death is a scruffy man named Travis who lives across the hall from you, the holes in his socks one of the things that allow him to blend in.
What makes Travis stand out is the gentle grace, the tender patience, the deep respect he has for the people with whom he sits as he guides them toward death. He cannot interfere, but he does his best to ease the dying into acceptance.
Travis is not the heart of this story.
The heart lies in the apartment across the hallway where midwife Dalia lives with her infant daughter, and her spunky school aged daughter, Layla.
Though Travis keeps his distance, his job one of desperate loneliness, it is impossible to ignore Layla.
And so, an attachment forms between Death and this small family.
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦
This view of Death, as a regular man who soothes without judgment is profoundly moving.
The clarity that exists between bringing life into the world in Dalia’s work as a midwife, and ushering people out of it beside Travis is gorgeous. It is with this small family that Travis experiences joy, attachment, belonging, family.
It also allows him to see what is truly lost in the end of a life.
This is often lyrical, always heart wrenching. It moves through innumerable stories, always coming to rest with Dalia and Layla.
𝗩𝗜𝗕𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞
I’ve read nothing like it before. It feels both like poignant, interconnected short stories and free verse poetry.
𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗
This book is not easy. It will tear your heart from your chest and return only a few of the used up pieces, but it will also leave you changed.
𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗦
@avidreaderpress shared this ARC which is due July 7, 2026. This is not to be missed.
4.75⭐️ rounded up
Death is a scruffy man named Travis who lives across the hall from you, the holes in his socks one of the things that allow him to blend in.
What makes Travis stand out is the gentle grace, the tender patience, the deep respect he has for the people with whom he sits as he guides them toward death. He cannot interfere, but he does his best to ease the dying into acceptance.
Travis is not the heart of this story.
The heart lies in the apartment across the hallway where midwife Dalia lives with her infant daughter, and her spunky school aged daughter, Layla.
Though Travis keeps his distance, his job one of desperate loneliness, it is impossible to ignore Layla.
And so, an attachment forms between Death and this small family.
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦
This view of Death, as a regular man who soothes without judgment is profoundly moving.
The clarity that exists between bringing life into the world in Dalia’s work as a midwife, and ushering people out of it beside Travis is gorgeous. It is with this small family that Travis experiences joy, attachment, belonging, family.
It also allows him to see what is truly lost in the end of a life.
This is often lyrical, always heart wrenching. It moves through innumerable stories, always coming to rest with Dalia and Layla.
𝗩𝗜𝗕𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞
I’ve read nothing like it before. It feels both like poignant, interconnected short stories and free verse poetry.
𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗
This book is not easy. It will tear your heart from your chest and return only a few of the used up pieces, but it will also leave you changed.
𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗦
@avidreaderpress shared this ARC which is due July 7, 2026. This is not to be missed.
4.75⭐️ rounded up
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I expected to love this book, and I think the result is that I liked it, just not loved. I know there are a LOT of reviews of people who found it really beautiful and life affirming, and I love that! For me, I did appreciate the perspective, but just a few elements made it not land as much for me.
The concept is that Travis, who is basically Death and arrives when people are about to die, is in a human form walking around in the world. The book is an interwoven series of stories of different people who he visits, some right before and some many years before. Some people we learn about in just a few paragraphs, while others have their story woven throughout the book.
This book is absolutely a lovely reminder that our time is short, and that what will really matter to us in the end is likely not what we are stressed about right now. There were some beautiful passages, and I definitely enjoyed getting to know some of the characters.
I think the thing that took me from "love" to "like" on this one was a feeling of...disconnection, maybe? Because Travis is Death, he is detached from everyone to an extent, but there are people who he spends more time with and seems to get close with. Perhaps it is that element of detachment that he has to maintain, but I also felt a little detached from the people in the book, from him. It's almost like the way the book is written, I felt a little like the Death character, watching all of these people from a distance.
Again, so many people loved this book. If you're even a little bit curious, need something to help shift your perspective, I think it's worth a read.
The concept is that Travis, who is basically Death and arrives when people are about to die, is in a human form walking around in the world. The book is an interwoven series of stories of different people who he visits, some right before and some many years before. Some people we learn about in just a few paragraphs, while others have their story woven throughout the book.
This book is absolutely a lovely reminder that our time is short, and that what will really matter to us in the end is likely not what we are stressed about right now. There were some beautiful passages, and I definitely enjoyed getting to know some of the characters.
I think the thing that took me from "love" to "like" on this one was a feeling of...disconnection, maybe? Because Travis is Death, he is detached from everyone to an extent, but there are people who he spends more time with and seems to get close with. Perhaps it is that element of detachment that he has to maintain, but I also felt a little detached from the people in the book, from him. It's almost like the way the book is written, I felt a little like the Death character, watching all of these people from a distance.
Again, so many people loved this book. If you're even a little bit curious, need something to help shift your perspective, I think it's worth a read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Everything Was Beautiful, and Nothing Hurt… what an achingly beautiful and deeply moving read. Heartbreaking. Intimate. Profound. I loved getting to read this debut novel by Ben Reeves as an ARC through NetGalley.
Synopsis: Meet death, his name is Travis. He’s here to sit with you as you die. He’s little more than a normal guy in normal clothes, but he will stay and offer comfort and honesty as your last moments pass.
“Then she smiles, as though she’s thought of something. As if everything is beautiful and nothing hurts, and she closes her eyes. She is peaceful.”
What should have been a story wrought solely with sadness, was woven with joy, hope, and understanding. Reeves explored the meaning of life, loss, and the impact of choice through writing that was often lyrical, but was constantly thought provoking.
“How could I let this happen? Day by day, this little family have sunk their roots into my skin. They’ve crept up on me like a diagnosis, and there’s no hiding it - I have fallen for them.”
From the moment I started this book I felt as though it would be one that would stick with me. Having finished it, I know now it is one that I will often reflect on. And it definitely one I’d recommend. It is heavy, but so worth it.
“But life isn’t a house, is it? It’s more like a hotel. And there are good hotels and there are bad hotels, but it’s okay because you only stay in each one for a little bit.”
Thank you to Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster, NetGalley, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Synopsis: Meet death, his name is Travis. He’s here to sit with you as you die. He’s little more than a normal guy in normal clothes, but he will stay and offer comfort and honesty as your last moments pass.
“Then she smiles, as though she’s thought of something. As if everything is beautiful and nothing hurts, and she closes her eyes. She is peaceful.”
What should have been a story wrought solely with sadness, was woven with joy, hope, and understanding. Reeves explored the meaning of life, loss, and the impact of choice through writing that was often lyrical, but was constantly thought provoking.
“How could I let this happen? Day by day, this little family have sunk their roots into my skin. They’ve crept up on me like a diagnosis, and there’s no hiding it - I have fallen for them.”
From the moment I started this book I felt as though it would be one that would stick with me. Having finished it, I know now it is one that I will often reflect on. And it definitely one I’d recommend. It is heavy, but so worth it.
“But life isn’t a house, is it? It’s more like a hotel. And there are good hotels and there are bad hotels, but it’s okay because you only stay in each one for a little bit.”
Thank you to Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster, NetGalley, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book took an unexpected hold on me. It's not a lengthy title but the entire premise has the potential to grab your heart and pull hard, and it certainly does. Heed trigger warnings and be kind to your mind if you choose this book. It is worth it, but it can be uncomfortable.
The way the sections progress was a bit difficult for me to sit with at first but that's more of a reflection on me than the book or author. I tend to think in abstracts myself so it can be hard to follow the abstract thoughts of another person. That being said, it is beautiful writing, considering the miracles of small details that we rarely reflect on every day.
I can say with confidence that this book could be difficult for some readers and it is not for everyone. Do not ignore content warnings for this title. It is about death, which touches all of us in some way or another, and its not always a good death after a long and beautiful life. Death comes at unexpected times, robs us of joys and potential, steals precious time with our loved ones. That's what this book is really about. We will all experience loss, overwhelming sadness, the depths of what it means to face our own mortality and that of those we love.
Having said that, after finishing the last page, I just sat and sobbed...and I am NOT that kind of reader. Its going to sit with me for a while, and thats not a bad thing.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy of this title in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!
The way the sections progress was a bit difficult for me to sit with at first but that's more of a reflection on me than the book or author. I tend to think in abstracts myself so it can be hard to follow the abstract thoughts of another person. That being said, it is beautiful writing, considering the miracles of small details that we rarely reflect on every day.
I can say with confidence that this book could be difficult for some readers and it is not for everyone. Do not ignore content warnings for this title. It is about death, which touches all of us in some way or another, and its not always a good death after a long and beautiful life. Death comes at unexpected times, robs us of joys and potential, steals precious time with our loved ones. That's what this book is really about. We will all experience loss, overwhelming sadness, the depths of what it means to face our own mortality and that of those we love.
Having said that, after finishing the last page, I just sat and sobbed...and I am NOT that kind of reader. Its going to sit with me for a while, and thats not a bad thing.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy of this title in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!
January 14, 2026
I am finding this book so incredibly hard to rate because I found some parts of it to be a two or three and some parts of five. I’m landing on four just for the sake of rating.
Everything was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt read like a patchwork quilt of individual stories with one particular narrative focused on from start to finish but not necessarily in a cohesive way. In addition to this main storyline plus individual stories were pages of random sentences all jumbled together representing other people’s lives at a particular moment in time. Those parts were definitely my least favourite and I wish they had been left out of the book entirely.
It’s told from the perspective of Death himself, who seemed to have a very flat persona but also a quiet appreciation for every mundane human experience. I get the feeling the author was trying to drum up something deep inside of his readers, but it just didn’t land with me. I did find certain moments to be very compelling, but I found those five star moments to be something I had to wait for instead of the whole experience of the book itself.
Much like my review I just think this lacked focus, especially the most interesting part - Death experiencing life and humanity. Even if more time had been spent with the female lead, she was painted as someone who wasn’t very deep or likable outside of her own tragedy.
thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book and exchange for my honest review.
Everything was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt read like a patchwork quilt of individual stories with one particular narrative focused on from start to finish but not necessarily in a cohesive way. In addition to this main storyline plus individual stories were pages of random sentences all jumbled together representing other people’s lives at a particular moment in time. Those parts were definitely my least favourite and I wish they had been left out of the book entirely.
It’s told from the perspective of Death himself, who seemed to have a very flat persona but also a quiet appreciation for every mundane human experience. I get the feeling the author was trying to drum up something deep inside of his readers, but it just didn’t land with me. I did find certain moments to be very compelling, but I found those five star moments to be something I had to wait for instead of the whole experience of the book itself.
Much like my review I just think this lacked focus, especially the most interesting part - Death experiencing life and humanity. Even if more time had been spent with the female lead, she was painted as someone who wasn’t very deep or likable outside of her own tragedy.
thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book and exchange for my honest review.
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