Movie Mondays: Everything, Everything

Movie Mondays: On the occasional Monday, I will review a book series or novel that has been made into a movie. I will then answer the question that everyone asks: which is better, the movie or the book? Here is this edition’s offering:

Book Cover | Movie Poster

Book: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon (2015) | Movie: Everything, Everything (2017)

Which did I read/see first? the BOOK

Author: Nicola Yoon
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Point of View: First Person, Single
Source & Format: Public Library–eBook

I’ve seen this book on countless blogs over the years and so it inevitably made it onto my TBR. I really wasn’t sure what to expect; I’m not a big YA contemporary fan and this looked like it could be an angsty romance depending on the way it was spun. But, as a healthcare worker, I was super interested in the SCID aspect so I went in optimistically.

I almost read this as an audiobook but I either read somewhere that there were illustrations or I previewed the novel and saw them. Anyways, I’m really glad I read this as a novel but I’m sure this would be a great audiobook because Maddy is a great narrator.

Which is why I gave this book a 5/5 on Goodreads though I would give the overall plot a 4/5. I loved Maddy’s energy. She was so endearing as a narrator to me and I immediately got sucked into her story. I truly had a hard time putting it down and it’s one of the only books in recent memory where I read it in one sitting.

I would give the overall plot a lower score just because it does stretch the realism of the situation a bit. But as I always say, let fiction be fiction and I knew I wasn’t reading it for realism. The situations and circumstances work well for this story in terms of entertainment and conveying the message that only you can determine what it means to live your life.

Don’t go into this expecting some super realistic book about a girl with an immune disorder nor expect a novel that delves deep into situations. This is really about a girl defining what it means to live her life and the joys of first love. It’s definitely a lighter, mostly romantic, YA contemporary.

Rating: 4.5/5

• My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga
• Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed
• Fault in Our Stars by John Green

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Note: Do NOT watch the movie trailer if you plan on reading the book. As someone told me on Twitter, it kinda gives away the plot twist of the story (and it’s a really good twist that you likely won’t see coming otherwise). My review below does not contain any spoilers.

Were My Expectations Met?

Yes, I’d say they were. The movie captured the light, feel good vibe of the novel. I was smiling like an idiot (on the airplane no less) as I watched Olly and Maddy interact and fall in love. Gah, it was so adorable!

How Close is it to the Book?

Fairly close though the “main twist” had a different way of delivering itself in the movie. I think given the length of the movie that the approach worked well so I understand why the change was made. But the backbone of the novel is in the movie and it’s a very close adaptation when all is said and done.

Did I Like the Cast?

YES! I thought the movie was cast perfectly. Everyone was great in their roles, particularly Maddy and Olly. They just had fantastic chemistry and truly captured the charm of their characters on the big screen.

The movie is great! Don’t get me wrong! But I just loved the book and how charming it was to me.

Do you agree? Leave a comment below!

Synopsis for Everything, Everything (from Goodreads):

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

Trailer: