All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood

Published: August 9th 2016

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books

Genres: Mature/Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Realistic Fiction, Mental Illness, Drug Abuse

Format: Hardcover Source: Publisher

My Rating: 

As the daughter of a meth dealer, Wavy knows not to trust people, not even her own parents. Struggling to raise her little brother, eight-year-old Wavy is the only responsible “adult” around. She finds peace in the starry Midwestern night sky above the fields behind her house. One night everything changes when she witnesses one of her father’s thugs, Kellen, a tattooed ex-con with a heart of gold, wreck his motorcycle. What follows is a powerful and shocking love story between two unlikely people that asks tough questions, reminding us of all the ugly and wonderful things that life has to offer.

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~My Thoughts~

 

*I received a copy of this book, for free from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

This is a story that I still can’t wrap my head around. It deserves the full 4 stars (as I gave on GR), so don’t let the 3.5 here give you pause. It’s just that this book is so complicated! I could have easily given it 5 stars, but my mind can’t even get around certain things. And to say anything about the plot will spoil this for you. All the Ugly and Wonderful Things is an apt title and perfectly describes this book. Greenwood is such a wonderful writer and I am eager to read her other books. This isn’t a review, really. I’ll just tell you what to look forward to and then you can read it for yourself. I had a WTF moment after finishing it, and am still thinking about what I read. You should definitely read this book. I can already see this book being challenged and/or banned. That’s just my opinion. The best books are the ones that are challenged. The author did an amazing job of holding the reader’s attention and crafting an unconventional story that will have your mind thinking “no no no, this is wrong.” but you will be powerless to stop your feelings of WANTING a HEA. 

What to look forward to….

– drug abuse and distribution, mental illness, child neglect and abuse, taboo romance

– Wavy and Kellen are 2 characters that will stay with you long after you’ve finished their story. Along with all the issues in this book, there are plenty of things to root for about Wavy and Kellen; and that is where my mind said one thing while my heart screamed something else. The way that Kellen took care of Wavy….. well, it’s no wonder the direction that the story took. I’m still just trying to reconcile my conflicting feelings for this story. Still, read this book. I swear you will never be the same again.

-It’s beautifully written, heart wrenching, hopeful (and will probably go against everything you believe in), but I can’t deny that it is one that everyone needs to read. It deserves all the praise because this story is still one that I’m trying to understand, even after weeks of finishing it. 

Overall, my 3.5-4 stars are pretty big. I highly recommend this book. My rating is strictly based on my beliefs and what I felt immediately after reading it. So, please give this story a try and form your own opinions.