The Impossible Vastness Of Us

by Samantha Young

"I know how to watch my back. I'm the only one that ever has."

India Maxwell hasn't just moved across the country—she's plummeted to the bottom rung of the social ladder. It's taken years to cover the mess of her home life with a veneer of popularity. Now she's living in one of Boston's wealthiest neighbourhoods with her mom's fiancé and his daughter, Eloise. Thanks to her soon-to-be stepsister's clique of friends, including Eloise's gorgeous, arrogant boyfriend, Finn, India feels like the one thing she hoped never to be seen as again: trash.

But India's not alone in struggling to control the secrets of her past. Eloise and Finn, the school's golden couple, aren't all they seem to be. In fact, everyone's life is infinitely more complex than it first appears. And as India grows closer to Finn and befriends Eloise, threatening the facades that hold them together, what's left are truths that are brutal, beautiful and big enough to change them forever…

From New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young comes a story of friendship, identity and acceptance that will break your heart—and make it whole again.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, High School, Fiction, Audiobook, Young Adult Contemporary

364 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 27, 2017

About the author

Samantha is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author and a Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee. Samantha has written over 60 books and is published in 31 countries. She writes emotional and angsty romance, often set where she resides—in her beloved home country Scotland. Samantha splits her time between her family, writing and chasing after two very mischievous cavapoos.

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Reviews

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!!!



Samantha Young wrote a beautiful, emotional, and addicting YA book. It was a sweet romance, but it was more that that. It focused on growth, family and friendships. The characters were diverse and the subject matter wasn’t light and fluffy. This coming of age YA hooked me from start to finish.

India is uprooted from her friends and high school in California when her mother decides to move her across the country to Boston. India and her mother don’t have the best relationship, so when India’s mom tells her they’re moving… because she’s getting married to a rich attorney India’s never met, India is not thrilled. When she gets to Boston, she doesn’t know what to expect. The world she’s plunged into is so different than what she’s used to. She now lives in a huge house, everyone drives expensive cars, it’s truly all rich and privileged all the time.

India has a step-sister to be that is the same age as her. Fitting in with her friends is not as easy for India as her life was in California. She is the new girl, and she doesn’t fit in. There is one guy though... A guy named Finn. At first he seems broody and indifferent, but when you get to know him you see there is so much there. And even though Finn and India come from different worlds, the truth is, they get each other because of their similar circumstances. India has never had someone truly get her. Getting to know Finn is a gift.

“Most of the time I feel like I can’t breathe inside my own life. Like I’m just existing. Not with you, though. I feel like I’m breathing fresh, clean air whenever I’m with you. I feel alive.”

There is so much I want to talk about when it comes to The Impossible Vastness of Us but I feel like the story-line has so many surprises and secrets, and though some were a bit predictable to me, most were not. I don’t want to spoil this story for anyone. Go in and make your own guesses and find out these revelations on your own. Just know that you will devour this book once you start it. I know I didn’t want to put it down. It was an enthralling read.

I completely adored this book. I adored the characters, the way the story turned out, the writing, just everything about it. I hope Samantha Young decides to do more YA books, because she did an incredible job with this story.

We’d changed the course of our futures. We’d saved each other.

[Rachel L · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!!!

How do you begin to gush about a book you loved so so much? Samantha Young is one of my all-time favorite authors, I’ll read anything the woman writes. So when she published a YA I was intrigued, and decided to give it a shot. I was completely blown away!!!! Young delivers a heartfelt and beautiful story, filled with angst, friendship, love and family.

India Maxwell is alarmed when her flight attendant mother tells her she’s been seeing a man on the other side of the country. Pretty soon her mother is engaged, and she’s whisked away to Boston to live with her soon to be step father, Theo, and step sister, Eloise. India and her mother have never been well off, so she’s in for a world of shock when she finds her new family insanely rich. And because of trust issues from her past, India has no desire to get close to her new family.

While India is adjusting, Eloise is not cruel but also not kind. Eloise’s boyfriend Finn appears to dislike India as well. All India wants is to be on top, and to get enough extracurricular’s to get into a good college. But as time goes by, feelings thaw between the two girls and a tentative relationship forms.

This book wasn’t anything like I expected in the best possible way. India had such a presence on the page, I absolutely adored her, flaws and all. There’s something about a girl trying so hard to be strong that I find endearing, and I felt for her and wished for her to succeed the entire time I was reading.

While this is a young adult romance, my favorite part of the book was the themes of friendship and family. People need more than just romantic love to feel supported in life, and I loved being on India’s journey to find her forever friendships and her way to a new family.

I cannot recommend this book enough, it’s one of the best books I’ve read this year. So if you find yourself curious about this book, just do yourself a favor and buy it and read it. You won’t regret it.



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[Jennifer Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.75 Stars*

[✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

India has kind of accepted her place in life. She's in high school. The most popular girl in junior year. She's nice to everyone - every clique. She works hard at all the extra curricular stuff, because she needs to get into a good college - she wants to be a District Attorney one day - to lock bad guys away forever!
But everything she shows to the world; all that power and control, is just a facade. She's only existing. She's not really happy, she's not tough and confident. Every positive feeling towards people has been killed years ago.
And then suddenly her superficially perfect life gets even more complicated!
Her mom moves her from California to Boston! To move in with mom's new mega-rich lawyer fiancé Theo and his private-school daughter Eloise.

... standing in cheap clothes in that big, expensive house, I suddenly felt this overwhelming fear that I would never find my power here, my control. I felt awkward. Unsophisticated. Uncultured.

Let the fun times begin! Because now she is so not the most popular girl at school anymore. And it's also not really good for making new friends when she's falling for her new sister's boyfriend!
But also ... everything is not really as it seems with all those new people!

What will happen with India in Boston??
Will there be a Happy End??
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT! ☺

════════════════════════





I really had no idea what to expect - I was afraid that the story was a bit too young for this old blogger. But pffft. I didn't care!
You immediately like India. You know she's been through a lot and she had to fight for her place in life and school. But now she's in Boston and it gets even worse. She's not the only person with a past or with secrets.
You can't stop reading - you have to know what happened to everyone, what their secrets are, what they are trying to hide. Who is in love with whom? I loved it.
The story has shades of Gossip Girl and 90210 and so many other tv shows! It all really feels like you're watching it on tv - on the edge of your seat because it's all so mysterious and sad and heartbreaking and sweet and touching and romantic and funny and secretive and ugh. I just loved it!
The story touches some very serious and tough real-life problems. This book should definitely be on the reading lists of highschoolers!
But of course it's not all sad and problematic. There are sweet and adorable and funny and even sexy moments too!
Perfect YA romance! I loved it!
I hope we - or rather Sam - will come back to this story again one day! I would love to hear how their life is like at college or even later!

THE IMPOSSIBLE VASTNESS OF US was such a heartbreakingly beautiful and adorable Young Adult story. After fighting and hiding for so long, India and her new friends, are this close to finding their places in life ... and love. Run to your nearest amazon to find out if they do - and also - get your own Finn - this one is MINE! ☺

♡ ♡
♡ ♡

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

What a nice surprise,I loved the characters and Samantha Young did a wonderful job with the storyline.The story was captivating with the perfect mix of plot twists,secrets,great characters and some serious issues.I like India more than everyone in this story.But I was also intrigued to know more for Finn and Eloise.
All the characters are complex and everything they are going through feels realistic.
There were some moments it was a little bit slow but I didn't have a problem with this.Overall it was a great read,The Impossible Vastness of Us is about finding yourself.I wish we can have more YA books from Samantha Young!

 

  

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first YA genre title I’ve read by Samantha Young. India Maxwell moves across the country when her mother marries a man from Boston and now has to contend with a new stepsister, Eloise, and her boyfriend, Finn. The relationship between Eloise and India particularly grew on me. In some ways it reminded me of Erin Watt’s Royals series. This is the perfect read if you love lots of drama, relationships and mean girls, galore.

[Seda · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚”Uyuşturucu bağımlısı olmadığımı biliyorsun, değil mi?
Dudaklarının köşeleri hafifçe yukarı doğru kıvrıldı.
Tanrım... Bu gerçekten de bir yarı-gülümseme miydi?
“Biliyorum,” dedi.
“Yani, benimle çalışırken için biraz daha rahat olabilir.”
Bir şey demedi.
“Ayrıca, sözlü sunumun aslında konuşma içerdiğini de biliyorsun herhalde?”
“Sözlü kelimesinden mi anlaşılıyor?”
“Sadece, iyi not alabilmemiz için, tüm şu tek heceli düşüncelere dalma haline bir şeyler yapman gerek.”
“Anlaşıldı.”
“Bu konuda çabalamaya yarın başlayacaksın herhalde.”
“Her şeye verecek zekice bir karşılığın var mıdır?”
“Hayır, mesela milföy pastayı hiçbir koşulda terslemem.”

Kitap beklentimin çok üstünde çıktı. Aile, arkadaşlık ve aşk ilişkilerini etkili bir şekilde anlatan, bazen sarsan ve hüzünlendiren, duygu dolu bir kitaptı. Aşk üçgeni var diye kitabı okumamazlık yapmamanızı tavsiye ederim, çünkü hiçbir şey göründüğü gibi değildi, çok daha derin ve etkileyiciydi.

Young Adult türü, karakterlerin ergen tripleri varsa diye riskli türlerdendir benim için. Türünün en güzel örneklerinden biri bu kitaptı. India ve Finn’in, 17 yaşında olduklarını kendime sık sık hatırlatmam gerekti. Özellikle India, yaşından beklenmedik olgunlukta cümleler kuruyordu ama bunlar aşırı bilgelik değil, anlayış, acı ve empati doluydu.

Finn’le India yanyana geldiğinde, diyaloglarında farklı bir enerji vardı. India’nın olgun, farklı, güçlü karakterine, Finn’in gizemli, dışarıdan mesafeli içeriden sıcak duruşu ve India’ya olan ama saklamaya çalıştığı zaafı eklenince ikisini yanyana görmek daha da etkileyiciydi.

India, hayran kaldığım, gurur duyduğum hatta aşık olduğum bir karakterdi. Çoğu yerde kitaptan çekip almak, sarılmak istedim. Yıllarca kendini hayattan, herkesten korumaya çalışmış, anne babasının sağlayacağı korunaklı sığınağı hiç bulamamıştı. Hayal kurmaktan, bir şeyleri umut etmekten bile hep korkmuş, acı çekmişti. Yaşadıklarının sadece bir kısmı anlatılmış, fazla drama kaçılmamıştı ama bu bile etkilemeye yetti. Böyle bir şeyi bir insan nasıl yapabilir diye düşürdürdü. Özellikle annesiyle yaptığı konuşma beni çok etkiledi.

India’nın yeni hayatıyla ilgili çekinceleri, korkuları, her an elinden alınacağını düşünmesi, güvensizliği ve bunlara rağmen içine girdiği büyülü dünyanın, elinde olmadan onu etkilemesi çok güzel anlatılmıştı. Sonrasında da bu yeni hayatının gerçek olduğunu kabul etmeye başlamasını, alışmasını ve bitmemesini dilemesini, bir de artan yemeklere verdiği her tepkiyi gözlerim dolu dolu okudum.

Yazar, olayları Finn açısından anlamamızı isterken, Finn’i neredeyse hiç konuşturmamıştı. Çok az diyaloğu vardı ama ne hissettiğini çok iyi anlatmıştı. Finn’in bütün hislerini, bakışlarında ve yüz ifadelerinde okudum. O kadar güzel ifade etmiş ki duygularıyla ilgili hiçbir şey bilmediğim zamanlarda bile Finn’den emin oldum. İlk andan itibaren, garip bir şekilde gözleriyle konuşmasıyla, normalde görmezlikten geldiği India‘dan, onun bakmadığını düşündüğü anlarda gözünü ayırmamasıyla, ona karşı oluşabilecek en ufak tehlikeye müdahale etmesiyle, başkası kötü bir şey söylediğinde korumasıyla kendini çok sevdirdi. Açık açık bir aşk hikayesi olmasa da, gizli gizli yanan bir alev vardı Finn’in hislerinin altında. Bir söz söylemesine gerek yoktu, hareketleriyle anlattığı ve sadece okuyanla paylaştığı bir sırdı India onun için.

India’nın annesine, Hayley’ye, çok sövdüm, saydım. Bir ara gerçekten nefret kustum ama kitabın sonunda çok güzel bir değişim gösterdi, en azından nefret edilesi halinden kurtuldu. Theo’yu ve India’ya olan tavrını bütün kitap boyunca sevdim ama son yaptıklarından sonra çok fena aşık oldum kendisine. Bu kadar sıkıntılı ebeveynin içinde pırlanta gibi değerliydi, sığınak böyle olunur işte dedirtti. Bryce dışında sevmediğim karakter olmadı, o da zaten okulun kötü kraliçesiydi.

Kurgunun tarzına hayran kaldım. Samantha Young, olayları öyle güzel kurgulamıştı ki hiçbir şeyin altını boş bırakmamış, sorulacak her soruya, duyulacak her şüpheye bir cevap yapıştırmıştı. Ve artık daha şaşıramam, bitti sayılır derken bir cümleyle yine ağzımı açık bıraktı. Son 40 sayfayı çok hareketli yazmış ve hikayeyi çok güzel tamamlamıştı. Tek sıkıntım sonu güzel olsa da içim biraz buruk kaldı. Gelecekle ilgili hiçbir sorum kalmasa da bir zaman atlaması, 5 yıl sonrası son durum okumak isterdim.

📚”India, daha önce kimsenin hakkımda ne düşündüğünü pek umursamadım... Ama senin kötü bir insan olduğumu düşünmeni gerçekten istemem.”
“Senin kötü bir insan olduğunu asla düşünmem. Bu gece bana yardıma geldiğin için teşekkür ederim. Hiç unutmayacağım.”
“Bu tuhaf biçimde elvedaya benziyor.”
“Belki öyledir. Bence ikimiz de diğerinin hiç ihtiyacı olmayan bir sorunuz.”

📚”Ben sadece... Delireceğim sandım. Bütün o yalanlar, gizlilikler.” Bana yalvarıyordu sanki. “Çoğu zaman, kendi hayatımın içinde nefes alamaz gibi hisediyorum. Sadece varlık gösteriyorum sanki. Ama seninleyken öyle değil. Seninleyken temiz, taze hava soluyor gibiyim. Kendimi canlı hissediyorum.” 😍

📚”Diğer kızları neden anlatıyorsun bana?”
“Bilmiyorum. Sana her şeyi anlatmak istiyorum sanırım. Zamanla kimseye bir şey anlatmamaya başladım. Zordu ama bu beni seninle tanışana kadar hiç rahatsız etmemişti. Sana her şeyi anlatmak istiyorum. Senin de bana her şeyi anlatmanı istiyorum.”
Ah Tanrım, neden böylesi romantik bir baş belasıydı sanki?
“Seni tavlıyorum değil mi?” Yüzünde yine o kendini beğenmiş gülümseme belirdi.

📚Eli yastığımın altına girince kaşlarını çattı ve kolunu çekip çıkardığında, elinde e-okuyucum vardı.
“Hey,” deyip yatağa zıpladım. “Özel.”
“Sakinleşebilirsin. Aşk romanları okuduğunu biliyorum.”
Yanaklarım birden ısındı. “Ne... Nasıl... Ne?”
“Sırrını bir süredir biliyorum,” diye fısıldadı. “Merak etme, kimseye söylemem.”
“Ben...” Aşk romanlarını neden bu kadar sevdiğimi ya da bu bağımlılığımdan neden bu kadar utandığımı nasıl açıklayacağımı bilemediğimi fark ettim.
“Sorun değil. Mutlu son istiyorsun. Bunda utanacak hiçbir şey yok India.”

📚”Söyleyecek hiçbir şeyin yok mu?”
“Artık yok. Sadece bunun ışığında... bence doğru olanı yaptın. Krep ister misin?”
“Ne?”
“Krep ister misin? Bence bu durum krep yemeyi gerektiriyor, çünkü her ne kadar acayip sağlam görünsen de kalbinin kırık olduğunu biliyorum. Bunun seni zayıf düşürdüğünü sanabilirsin ama bence öyle değil, bu yüzden kahvaltıda krep var ve bütün gün dondurma yiyeceğiz, çünkü dondurmanın kırık bir kalbi iyileştirecek bir merhem olduğuna inanıyorum.”
“Seni sevmeyi gerçekten istememiştim, biliyorsun bunu. Tam bir baş ağrısısın Fairweather.”
“Al benden de o kadar.”
Krepten bahsettiğinden beri, duygularımı boğacak kadar akçaağaç şurubu olup olmadığını görmek istiyordum.

📚”Seni bu kadar güçlü yapan nedir India?”
Yakın zamana dek öyle değildim. Finn’e anlattıklarım doğruydu. Özgür kalmış olmanın rahatlığını hissetmiştim. Ama yıllar içinde, zarar görme korkumdan kendime yeni bir zindan inşa etmiştim. Kendi özgürlüğümü elimden almıştım. Massachusettes’e gelene dek.

[Berit☀️✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an extremely well done young adult contemporary; major props to Samantha Young....

Everybody is a little damaged and a little flawed no matter how pretty the packaging is on the outside.... India is torn from her California high school where she is queen bee, to live with mom's fiancé and go to a private school in Boston... she is not only gaining a stepfather but also a stepsister who is the same age.... India was such a real character and I liked how her relationship with her stepsister El developed, the girls realizesd they are more alike than different.... there was a romance in this book as well, and although complicated it was very believable... all the main characters in this book had gone through some tough things in life, but how they learned and grew from them gave me hope.... maybe the happy ending is the right ending; so appropriate for this book.....

[Sophie "Beware Of The Reader" · Rating 5 out of 5]

An advanced reading copy has been kindly provided by Harlequin Teen via Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest opinion

5 stars!

First some facts about this book:
-it’s a page turner;
-high school drama BUT among Boston Blue Bloods (Gossip Girls much? Love it!);
-near disaster averted;
-everyone is hiding something so have fun guessing the secrets;
-the heroine is resilient beyond anything else. You’ll wish to have a daughter just like her. Or to be her;
-brooding hot guy on the horizon. Mysterious, distant, more than handsome and … hiding secrets of course!
-coming of age story really well executed plus characters diversity.

So let’s get in the nitty gritty of some of these facts.

-Page turner. I did not want to stop reading. Of course it happens when the kids are hunting you to help with the finals, the dog is making “puppy eyes” to have her walk and hubs just has to have his shirt ironed. This called for extreme measures .I pretended going to the gym and hid in the parking lot just to finish this story. One pound more maybe but I was so relieved!!!
I was the first surprised by my addiction!
I’ll be honest here: so far I only had read “On Dublin Street” by Samantha Young. Everyone was raving about the book. I really did like it I but could not totally grasp all the fuss. Sure it was a very good story and I enjoyed myself. I just wasn’t wowed by it.
I was not prepared to be knocked on my butt by this YA story! Yet the bruises on my left cheek are testimony to me falling head over heels for this book ;-)

-High School drama among Boston Blue Bloods.
When I read the blurb of The Impossible Vastness of US I was really intrigued. I love YA and this seemed my cup of tea: a teen uprooted from her low-middle class life to enter Boston high society thanks to her mom marrying a Blue Blood. In her new school she’ll discover she is not alone hiding secrets. A step-sister and her gorgeous boyfriend plus high school “clique” complete the cast.
Of course you have students lashing at others, rumors being spread all this while wearing Prada and walking in Jimmy Choo. This is sinfully decadent for me! I never gossip but my guilty pleasure is reading gossips and witnessing girl fights in High School halls. You won’t have real cat fights but claws are out and tongues are sharps!

-Near disaster averted.
The first pages were not promising. I began rolling my eyes, thinking the heroine was just a brat and that teenagers did not really speak like that “Eau de Teenage Turd”, “Freak with me”, etc.
Really I was all: “Oh Hell what have I done requesting this book?”
Well Hell must be frozen because soon enough I was really sucked into the story.

-Everyone is hiding something.
Well the title is The impossible vastness of Us, implying there are many depth and layers to the character’s lives.
If India’s secret is soon uncovered we have to wait a little longer to find what Finn’s aloofness hides and even more to get to Eloise’s secret. Honestly I did guessed most of the secrets but it was heart breaking nonetheless.
It reminds us sometimes we can be trapped in our life, buried under guilt and shame. But we are our own enemies as often we should not hide but shout. Everyone has a right to be accepted for who he/she is. No matter what.


-The heroine is resilient beyond anything else. You’ll wish to have a daughter just like her. Or to be her;
India had suffered so much and it was really hard reading about her suffering as a kid. She is scarred and keeps reliving her past from time to time. Never again will she be so helpless. Control is of the utmost importance. India was a wonderful character to get to know. She’s been through so many things but refused to turn into someone bitter and self-centered. She has a huge inner strength and she really was the pillar of this story. Any mother would be proud to have a daughter like her.
Strong, independent, determined, smart, beautiful and caring.


-brooding hot guy on the horizon. Mysterious, distant, more than handsome and … hiding secrets of course!
Finn was gorgeous. I mean male model gorgeous. His family was also crazy rich. He had everything he wished right? Right? Well no. Even star students hide something and can feel lonely inside.
Trapped even.



-Coming of age story really well executed plus characters diversity.
I won’t spoil your fun but the diversity of topics featured in this book is one of its main assets. Readers looking for complex and diverse issues affecting teenagers and people in general won’t be disappointed.
What Samantha Young achieved was really brilliant: changing my perception. The character’s evolution or rather the character “reveal” was faultless. From a preconceived idea about many of them I discovered right alongside India that no matter what, everyone has secrets and can hurt. Wealthy or not you still suffer the same. You sometimes hurt others just to protect them. Hell’s road is paved with good intentions.
These engaging characters hurt. They hate, they love, they forgive…they grow up. It’s life. It’s messy. It’s just beautiful.


So did I love it? A thousand yesses!
Would I recommend it? Definitly.
I even plan on buying it in my mother language as a gift to my teenage daughter. I love bonding through books with my kids!

Last parting note just for Samantha Young: pretty please Mrs Young if you could give me even more of these characters I would be in heaven!

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[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guys, I found it!! I got my reading mojo back! WOOHOO! I could not be more excited about this. For about five weeks I haven't wanted to read and I think in total I read (not including audio books) a whooping total of like three books *[I just counted and it was actually seven but whatever, that's still low for me.]* That's pathetic. I apologize for this disgrace to the book community. Please don't stop loving me, I'm back, I promise.

But on a whim this week I wanted to try something different and when looking through my kindle, I noticed I had this book from Sam Young on there. I thought, what the heck, lets give it a shot.

From cover to cover, I loved this book. A lot. It's so special and unique and well done. And isn't that fantastic? There's just something about a well done novel that makes me happy. TIVoU did just that.

I feel like at times I could see people maybe becoming frustrated with India, but I actually really enjoyed her as a main character. She brought interesting values and insights to light based on her (heartbreaking) experiences but I always liked her. Her relationship with Finn intrigued me from the beginning and really, there's nothing I can say about it because I wouldn't change a thing. The real kicker though is the relationship that was developed between India and Eloise. THAT is the extraordinary part of this book. I feel like the world needs to look out because it's not ready for the likes of the Fairweather sisters.

At times I forget how much is actually going on in good YA books. There's so much more than just the relationship between the hero and the heroine, and this book was the perfect example for that. I had to remind myself once or twice to look at the big picture and all of the other issues too, and not just get caught up in the tales of India and Finn.

This book is way more than your average young adult romance. It's not boy meets girl, girl meets boy, and they fall in love. It's a difficult journey with plenty of roadblocks. But as Hayley reminds us, if it's worth it, does it have to be easy? I say no.

Oh and before I forget! The ANGST! Dear Lord, the angst. It was splendid. You all remember how much I love angst, right? Yeah. This cracked my heart. It made me feel things. It made my little black soul happy. I can't explain it but angst just does things to me and this one got me hook, line and sinker. I ain't even mad, bro.

So I think that means that you should probably read this book or something. And by 'or something' I mean you should probably just read it. Like now. Or yesterday. You know, whenever's convenient.

[Beatrice · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 41%

After a month, I decided to give up The Impossible Vastness of Us and here are the reasons why:
- Social climbers and spoiled brats are my character pet peeves. Most likely I'll hate these characters regardless of their back story. India Maxwell is a social climber. Eloise Fairweather is a spoiled brat. So.... BYE 👋🏼😸
- I think I have outgrown high school cliques. If I'm in my teenage years, I'll probably enjoy the drama. This one was was boring and forced.
- Finn Rochester was a mysterious guy but he failed to grab my attention.
- I'm at the 41% mark but it lacks plot and character development.

I'm so bummed right now because Samantha Young is my favorite author. I have no complains on the writing style, as always her writing was beautiful. However, this one isn't for me. I'm relieved to let this one go.

[Aj the Ravenous Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really addictive narrative I didn’t quite expect. The flow of the story is smooth and easy to read. It kind of reminds me a little of Ms. Colleen Hoover’s writing style in her earlier romance novels. The plot is very interesting, the dark backgrounds of both the heroine and hero tugging at my heartstrings. At the same time, it’s also very entertaining and I’m pleased with the humor of the main character, India, glad that the story is told in her perspective.

It’s interesting that the the supposed nobody like India was the one strong enough to help the elite group of friends including Finn and her stepsister, Eloise with their individual tragedies. At first I was worried that there’d be a love triangle, cheating, and all that stuff and it’s why I was a little wary of the plot but I was definitely surprised at the path it took. There was this twist that made the story all that more likable and it showed that even the rich have really difficult personal challenges sometimes even worse than we have. Overall, it’s a nice, sometimes heartwrenching, hopeful, and sweet YA contemporary story with a romance that is not at all overwhelming or cheesy. I’m properly impressed.

[Lo Bookfrantic · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐⭐⭐ Stars

I listened to the AUDIO version of this book via my library overdrive app. Told from female point of view. The story was good it did made me cried few times and laughed too. However; I felt a bit bored at times lol there was a lot of teen drama that I felt like it never stopped haha. I was OK with how the story ended even though I wished it would have been a bit different. Overall I liked it and would definitely check out more of this author's work.

[Norah Una Sumner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Impossible Vastness Of Us - the characters were fantastic and the way they all developed throughout the book was the main reason I loved the story so much. The over-the-top drama at the end was a bit of a mood killer for me since it reminded me of The Royals series by Erin Watt. I was scared that the whole Eloise-Finn-India triangle might take a wrong turn but I was positively surprised to see that there was no love drama when it came to these three. India's relationship with her mother is really complicated and at times a bit confusing, but I liked seeing her accept her new life and her new family. Supporting characters were just as interesting and I loved their interactions. Overall, I definitely think Samantha Young should write more YA books in the future!

[Amy Bartol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of The Impossible Vastness of Us.

India Maxwell is used to armoring up against the world. She has constructed thick walls to protect herself. Enduring a childhood marked by the instability of a single mom who’s prone to having relationships with all the wrong men, India has formed a distrust that runs deep. Even with this rocky start in life, India has cultivated friends in her high school and found a place where she’s accepted. But with her mother’s abrupt announcement that she’s met the man of her dreams and plans to marry him, India’s world is transformed almost overnight.

Starting a new life in Boston with her mother’s wealthy fiancé and his daughter, Eloise, isn’t the fairy tale it sounds. Her culture shock is only made more complicated when Eloise’s boyfriend, Finn, turns out to be far from shallow. And, the secrets India uncovers there are as life-changing as her own.

Samantha Young is a brilliant writer with an intuitive knack for understanding the nuances of relationships. She will shatter you with emotion and put you back together with prose. With this novel, she brings thoughtful insight into pivotal issues young adults face. Her characters are raw and real and will stay with you long after the final page. I recommend this story to readers of young adult contemporary romance. Five HUGE stars! Bravo, Samantha!

[Jessica Hull · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 STARS

India is a California high school student, completely uprooted from life as she knows it, when her flighty mother drops the bombshell that she's fallen in love with a successful businessman from Boston and they'll be relocating immediately. India finds herself thrust into an opulent home, a new private school, and into a tenuous relationship with her soon-to-be step sister and an upper crust circle of friends India doesn't quite click with... especially her step sisters boyfriend. The Impossible Vastness of Us is India's story of finding hope, finding peace, finding friends, and finding love while struggling to maintain the walls she's built around herself.

This story is a complete 180 from anything Samantha Young has written before... and I absolutely loved it. I loved her fresh storytelling and polished writing in this book. I loved the feelings she evoked, the kind of emotion so exclusive to YA. This storyline was remarkably heavy yet still sweet and hopeful all at once. I'd like to say I was consumed from beginning to end, but that doesn't accurately explain my reading experience. I was pulled in at the very start, absolutely. But as I read, as India's story came to light, as this difficult, heart wrenching dynamic between her and Finn evolved, I grew more and more riveted with each turn of the page.

Rife with impossibility, heavy subject matter, and sweet teen romance, The Impossible Vastness of Us is a beautiful story of hope and intense emotions that I thoroughly enjoyed. There were moments that I felt were a bit disjointed toward the end, and of course, I was left wanting more... always more. But this story is right... so, so right in all the ways. These characters are young, their stories are difficult, and Samantha Young has crafted an intricate course of events that never felt sugar coated or forced for the sake of a cliche happy ending. Instead, this story left me feeling hopeful, satisfied that even when things don't feel ok in the moment, where there is love and family and friendship, everything WILL be okay eventually. What a wonderful surprise this book was. What a completely unforgettable story this truly is. It's unlike anything I've read before and I hope Samantha Young has more YA in store for us, maybe even more from this unforgettable ensemble of characters, because I adored every single page.

[Sevgi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bir puan bile çok. Sonundan dolayı salak yerine konmuş gibi hissediyorum. Gerçekten bu kitabı yazanla Dublin Caddesi gibi bir güzelliği yazan kişi aynı mı? Berbattı.

[Quinn's Quippy Quotes · Rating 5 out of 5]

October 27, 2017
Just finished re reading the last 20% of this and still in complete awe of this book! Sam, I applaud you. Now, please write me a novella....pretty please?

4.99999999 STARS!

Wow. Just, wow. Every time I get the chance to read a Sam Young book I change. It might not be a dramatic, life altering change, but there's change nonetheless. That is not something that I welcome often. I'm a Cancer, and Cancer's like consistency, we don't like surprises, but there's something about Sam's writing that my soul craves and TIVoU fed my soul like it was The Last Supper.

India Maxwell has not had an easy life, but she has worked hard creating the perfect life in California with her mother, Hayley. She is the 'it' girl at her high school, involved in a ton of extra curricular activities and has her sights set on law school. She just has to keep up her charade a little longer....

India is hiding in plain sight. It's what she does best. No one really knows who the real India is, and that's exactly how she likes it. So it's not welcomed news when her flake of a mother decides to uproot her perfectly crafted world in California and transplant her in upper crust, elite society Boston. The girl that once was known as trailer trash, turned PROM queen is now wearing Jimmy Choos and Prada.

India is incredibly vulnerable. She is at the bottom of the social status ladder and at the top is her future step-sister and her entire posse. Initially, Eloise appears to be a stuck-up Daddy's girl, but India is an observer and she starts to see a lot more than Eloise's hard exterior. We start to learn a lot more about India's past with her abusive father and how this has strained her and her mother's relationship. Now thrown into this new family dynamic, India is confused and scared to let others in. Especially, Finn, Eloise's broody boyfriend.

We soon learn that EVERYONE has a secret. These characters have so much depth and complexity! UGH! I hurt so bad for everyone. Each person had their own battles that they were fighting on their on, but once India showed up at the scene, they didn't have to fight alone. They could fight together.

I'll be honest. When I finished this book, I wasn't sure how I felt. I needed a little downtime to let it mellow first. But as I went to bed that night, I just couldn't stop thinking about how I hope that I can live my life like India. Fighting against fear because it's for the greater good. She is definitely one of my top five favorite YA heroines of ALL TIME. To say that she is strong is an understatement. She is selfless. Incredibly selfless.

I didn't even talk about the romance yet! AGH!!! Finn and India! Wow. These two had an incredibly deep connection, only one that heartbreak can create. Sam did such a wonderful spin on this threesome dynamic. But to make sure that you understand, THIS IS NOT A LOVE TRIANGLE!!! Intrigued? You should be, because I didn't know how she was going to pull this off.

I'm a bit of a HEA whore. I like a nice and neatly wrapped bow to put on top of the perfectly wrapped present. Did I get that? Not exactly. I can see how the ending is frustrating and elusive, but the REAL message in this book is definitely loud and clear. Even if it doesn't look like it from the outside, I think if you look closely enough you'll see the right ending is the happy ending.

[aysegwn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitap çok güzeldi gerçekten. YA türünü pek tercih etmediğim halde buna bayıldım. Ama... Ta ki sonunu görene kadar. 380 sayfa okudum ve doğru düzgün bir son yoktu. Kandırılmış hissettim. Bunun için 1 yıldız kırdım😕 Yarım yamalak bitti. Üzüldüm.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Impossible Vastness of Us was one of those books that I didn't realize I was addicted to until it was three in the morning and I just finished the book in one sitting. This book started off a little slow, but I quickly found myself absorbed in this world and the characters. I became fascinated by the characters and their stories.

What was so captivating about this book was all the secrets. Every single character had something they were hiding, and I was dying to learn their secrets. I wanted to know their backstory, their family life, who they had feelings for, and what their dreams were. I felt like I was reading about a mysterious secret society of the rich and beautiful, AND I WAS HOOKED.



The focus on family was really interesting in this book. Multiple characters had dark and secretive family lives. Some relationships were positive and some...weren't. It was intriguing to see some of the families deal with the challenges that they faced in this book. Sometimes it was heartbreaking and other times it was extremely endearing to read about.

There were elements of child abuse and physical abuse, which was rough and devastating to read about. Those scenes were presented in flashbacks or they happened "off camera". I cannot speak from personal experience or knowledge, but it seemed like the author handled those issues well. My only thought was that I felt like the characters should have sought more professional help, but I am hoping/thinking they will do that in the future.

The main character, India, rubbed me the wrong way at first. She seemed very self-absorbed and extremely worried about her social status in high school. I thought I wasn't going to like her. Boy, I was WRONG! A few chapters into the book, I realized there was so much more to India. India was a strong, kind, thoughtful, and loving person. I ended up really enjoying her character and her growth. I felt her pain and desperately wanted her to find happiness. I really loved her addiction to romance novels. I thought it was a cute personality trait that I related to SO HARD.

Finn was an extremely swoon-worthy man. He had the brooding and mysterious thing down pat. I found myself fascinated by him, and I was desperate to know more about him. His story was heartbreaking and I was glad he found India so he had someone he could talk to. I also really liked Eloise, Charlotte, and Gabe. Their characters were all lovable and relatable in their own unique ways.

The romance in this book warmed my heart. I WAS FEELING ALL THE FEELS. I swooned so many times while reading this book. FINN IS A DREAMBOAT, OKAY?!?! Finn and India made a beautiful couple. I felt like their souls matched up so well. I SHIP THEM SO HARD. Also, their kisses were SOOO steamy.

I will admit that I was a little hesitant about shipping them at first. There were obstacles I wasn't sure if I could overlook, and I was relieved that India had the same hesitations. I felt like I couldn't truly root for them to get together. However, things were revealed and then I found it much easier to ship Finn and India. #FINNDIA FOR LIFE!!!



Also, there was a side couple that formed in this book that I don't want to spoil. But, I ADORE THEM TOGETHER. THEY ARE SO STINKING CUTE. I WANT A BOOK JUST ABOUT THEM, PLEASE?!

Overall, The Impossible Vastness of Us was a heartbreaking and delightful book. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a new YA contemporary romance.

*WARNING: have your tissues ready.*

4 / 5 Fangs

*This ebook was given to me in exchange for an honest review. *

MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
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[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book captured my heart in so many ways.
These characters have become a part of me and I am so freaking sad this book has ended.
I want to just have a never ending book with these characters... think that could happen Sam??
The amazingness of this story has touched me so deeply. There are so many issues that is touched upon. Seeing India struggle from the beginning to become such a strong young woman... inspiring!!
Finn.. oh goodness!!! I was leery in the beginning b/c he was so brooding, but gah.. once you get to know him?? Love... just pure love for him... LOVE!!!!!!!
And now Eloise... sighs... what she goes through, she is one strong young lady too...
These three.. they have blown me away!!
They have truly shown the impossible vastness of us..... the title of this book encompasses all that this book is and more!!
I know I have so much more to say. Words elude me with all the emotions I felt from this story.
I can say that The Impossible Vastness of Us is brilliantly written and one of my favorite reads thus far.
See the full review and my blog partners at TSK TSK What to Read
http://tsktskwhattoread2.blogspot.com...

[OonaReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Min Li Li · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hayley'in de dediği gibi "Dışarıdan öyle görünmese de yeterince yakından bakarsan,doğru sonun mutlu son olduğunu göreceksin bence."

Sevdiğim bir kitap oldu.Zaten Samantha'nın okuduğum kitaplarını sevdim hep.
Young adult türünde başarılı bir kitaptı Aramızdaki Uçurum.Sadece aşk değil aile,arkadaşlık kavramları da çol güzel işlenmişti.

[Serap(Agresif Spoiler Kraliçesi) · Rating 3 out of 5]

SONU OLMAYAN KİTAP YAZMASINLAR😡Aslında kitap güzeldi ama sonu yetersiz,sonu olmayan açık uçlu kitaplardan...yıldızlar sonu yüzünden gitti...

[Jeannine Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Eloise and India's relationship. I did enjoy the romance, but watching these two girls grow and become friends was my favorite part 😍

[Ewa (humanizmowo) · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF
wattpad by się tego wyrzekł

[Karen Mc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you read a story that you KNOW from the start will stay with you forever. A story that just sticks. A story that swiftly works its way into your heart. A story that means the world while becoming your world. Entrancing and emotionally-charged, The Impossible Vastness of Us is an inspirational story of young love that imprints on the heart and soul.



I delved into rare territory, a young adult romance, and oh was The Impossible Vastness of Us an incredibly MOVING and MESMERIZING journey. The fierce and fiery angst of this teen romance made my pulse pound and my heart beat out of my chest. The characters are full of fire with a story so heady, harrowing, and heartfelt.

India is the youngest and strongest heroine I've encountered in a long time. A warrior, India is young but has already lived a life of hell. This beautiful girl bravely hides a shattered soul. I admired India a lot!!!

I was probably insane to even think about him — this beautiful, rich boy — but he was getting to me. Nobody got to me.

Finn is gorgeous, tall, athletic, and insanely rich. He, like India, is broken but wields a sword of bravery in spades. I LOVED this hero so much!!!

Broken sees broken, and Finn and India are two shattered souls trying to be whole.

I saw him. I think he was the first person I'd ever truly seen and I couldn't help it — I wanted him to see me, too.

Passion penetrated me, these words so poignant. I cried so many tears of sadness and sweetness. I felt each word slice through me, my emotions enveloping me where I was ALL IN this story.

"Most of the time I feel like I can't breathe inside my own life. Like I'm just existing. Not with you, though. I feel like I'm breathing fresh, clean air whenever I'm with you. I feel alive."

Finn and India's connection is MAGICAL!!! I loved this heart-wrenching and heartwarming romance that made ME FEEL ALIVE!!!

"Freedom is bigger than us."

The Impossible Vastness of Us by Samantha Young was not what I expected; it was a million times MORE!!! The Impossible Vastness of Us is an EPIC young love story and beyond!!! This book is strength in spades. This book is healing after heartbreak. This book is accepting and embracing differences and diversity. This book is hard-fought freedom. This book is selfless love. This book is EVERYTHING, and I NEED more of Eloise, Finn, and India, as I feel their story has only begun.

Heart-pounding, butterfly-fluttering, soul-shattering, feels flowed through me fast and furiously as The Impossible Vastness of Us touched me every part of me. Like a gaping wound, this story cut me open as it bled angst, exposing every emotion. All of the words made me FEEL ALL OF THE THINGS!!!

The Impossible Vastness of Us is an emotional explosion that BLEW ME AWAY from beginning to end. I was OBSESSED with and OWNED by this romance. Samantha Young brilliantly brings characters to life that captivate through a journey of heartbreak and healing. You NEED to get touched by this UNIQUE and UNPUTDOWNABLE ROMANCE. HEARTBREAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL and UTTERLY BRILLIANT, The Impossible Vastness of Us is an unforgettable coming of age love story you'll feel forever.

"If something bad happens to you, it's up to you how you let it change you — you either become more compassionate or you let it make you bitter."

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 heartbreakingly beautiful stars

A MUST-CLICK ---> http://amzn.to/2sJHEc6



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[Christine (Shh Moms Reading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't typically read a ton of YA because often times it's too young for my taste. But I completely loved The Impossible Vastness of Us—finding it hard to put down for even one second when life (aka kids) were demanding my attention.
The Impossible Vastness of Us is the story of India Maxwell. India has had a rough life to date only to be made worse when her mother decides to get remarried and move them across the country to Boston. In Boston, India is thrust into a high society life—something that is so completely opposite of how she was raised. In her new school, she must start again making friends and attempting to rise to the top of popularity though finding it hard with her very popular and unfriendly sister-to-be Eloise and her seemingly snobby friends.
Without giving anything away because this book was so completely well done and so captivating that you need to read it on your own, The Impossible Vastness of Us touches upon several relevant issues in life today. Most importantly this is India's journey—a journey in learning who she is, finding trust again in others, opening herself up to allow people in and of course opening her heart up to love.
And while I was completely enthralled by this journey, I wanted more when it came to the ending. But I guess that's the case with every good book that a reader is always left wanting more.
This was a completely different book than I have ever read from this author before and I loved it. Most especially the characters who I want to know more about... And while I know that this is a standalone, I hope that Young will continue on this YA path as the young love romance, the storyline, the writing, the characters made for such a beautifully epic book.
The Impossible Vastness of Us is one of the few YA books that I have read and loved over the years and it is something that I will never forget <3

[Gamze · Rating 3 out of 5]

böyle ucu açık kalan kitapları sevmiyorum -_-
her konu da özellikle.
yazar bana göre Dublin Caddesi ile iddialı bir giriş yapsa da ondan sonra çıkan tüm okuduğum kitapları beni memnun etmedi. hep bir tık bir tık düştü heyecanı..

[nick (the infinite limits of love) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.
Super underwhelming and underdeveloped.