mertic2's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nbrickman's review against another edition
3.0
I am trying to figure out why this didn't hit me quite as hard as Quick's other books. It was a good story. Maybe it's the fact that I read too many books with a similar life message? I don't know. But I loved the end. The writing was good. I get the characters. I don't know- something was just keeping it good and not great or amazing for me.
michelle_pink_polka_dot's review against another edition
5.0
I have no idea how I could love this book so hard and simultaneously not be in sync with Part 2 Nanette, but it happened. This is a beautifully sad book that I won't be forgetting.
There's nothing like Matthew Quick books. It's been a void in my life that needed filling. I read Every Exquisite Thing in one day because I could not stop reading it. At times I had other things to do, but they didn't get done because this crazy/beautiful book completely took over my life.
Nanette is given a book that speaks to her soul and makes her feel like life makes more sense. What reader can't relate with that?? That's my favorite thing about reading: every now and again I come across a piece of writing that makes me feel like I'm not alone in this crazy world. I meet characters that are ME. I read words that make me feel OKAY. So then, Nanette gets to meet AND be friends with the author of this life-changing book!! I was so jealous! I would do anything to be besties with my favorite author(s).
That was probably the end of me relating to Nanette though. Nanette has a "rebellious spirit" which awakens after reading The Bubblegum Reaper and meeting a fellow misfit named Alex. And I feel like normally I would relate with rebellion (sometimes I still find myself rebelling just to rebel), but Nanette went about it in a way that felt super selfish and high-horse riding.
Every Exquisite Thing is broken up into 2 parts-- and so were a lot of my feelings.
Part 1-- I was right THERE with Nanette and Alex. I was loving their journey and I was so happy Nanette found someone to share this awakening in her with.
Part 2 though-- I started not liking Alex (he has some serious anger issues) and I started REALLY not liking Nanette. She went from confused girl looking for meaning, to a girl that just gave up. She also spends a lot of Part 2 talking in the 3rd person-- out loud. It was SUPER annoying-- almost as annoying as how selfish Nanette became. I don't know how it happened-- one minute she was a character that I related to and just FELT, and then next thing I knew she was this girl that I wanted to punch.
Ranty Section Where I Tell You What I Think Of Part 2 Nanette:
The thing is: I wanted Nanette to CARE and she just wouldn't. I didn't want her to care about things like soccer and college and conventional teenage life, I wanted her to care about PEOPLE. Why couldn't she just care enough about the people in her life to give them a chance? She wasn't connecting with anybody and she somehow comes to this realization that it's everyone else causing the problem and not her. I get it-- people are HARD sometimes, but it's really disheartening to read about someone who's already given up on people at such a young age. To her they're all homogenized and "mainstream". She had plenty of non-mainstream people in her life, but was able to walk away from all of them without a second thought.
Another really bad thing about Nanette is that she does this insane "experiment" where she decides to act like a popular girl. It goes on for months and she even has a serious boyfriend-- all the while knowing in her mind that it's fake. And then she's all Sorry, Not Sorry to this boy that she completely stomps on. You know why?? Because it's ALL ABOUT NANETTE. When she got up at graduation, I literally wanted to jump into the book and say "sit your ass down, you ungrateful little brat". Someone needs to tell this girl SOMETHING!
There is something completely relatable to not knowing what one wants to do with their future. I feel like most of us have wondered if where we were headed after high school was the right path for us. But Nanette somehow wanted to believe that her uncertainty was worse than all that came before her because she listens to obscure music, likes seeing "art house films" and having philosophical conversations.
So after ALL of what I just said, you're probably thinking this book is BLAH. The weird thing is it's not!! Sure Nanette is kind of awful. But the thing is, I like reading about all different types of stories. It usually would offend me to read about a girl who is selfish and pretentious, but this book just worked. I'm never going to like Nanette, but I was intrigued by her story. That's the genius of Matthew Quick for me. That he could write this totally un-likable girl and still have me turning pages like mad to see what would happen to her, is impressive.
OVERALL: I love a book that can make me feel... even if that emotion is mostly ANGER towards one of the characters. What reader couldn't relate to finding a book that changes your life?? That premise made me love this book even after the main character started acting a fool. I totally recommend this to anyone who's ever felt lost and found a book that made you feel found.
My Blog:
There's nothing like Matthew Quick books. It's been a void in my life that needed filling. I read Every Exquisite Thing in one day because I could not stop reading it. At times I had other things to do, but they didn't get done because this crazy/beautiful book completely took over my life.
Nanette is given a book that speaks to her soul and makes her feel like life makes more sense. What reader can't relate with that?? That's my favorite thing about reading: every now and again I come across a piece of writing that makes me feel like I'm not alone in this crazy world. I meet characters that are ME. I read words that make me feel OKAY. So then, Nanette gets to meet AND be friends with the author of this life-changing book!! I was so jealous! I would do anything to be besties with my favorite author(s).
That was probably the end of me relating to Nanette though. Nanette has a "rebellious spirit" which awakens after reading The Bubblegum Reaper and meeting a fellow misfit named Alex. And I feel like normally I would relate with rebellion (sometimes I still find myself rebelling just to rebel), but Nanette went about it in a way that felt super selfish and high-horse riding.
Every Exquisite Thing is broken up into 2 parts-- and so were a lot of my feelings.
Part 1-- I was right THERE with Nanette and Alex. I was loving their journey and I was so happy Nanette found someone to share this awakening in her with.
Part 2 though-- I started not liking Alex (he has some serious anger issues) and I started REALLY not liking Nanette. She went from confused girl looking for meaning, to a girl that just gave up. She also spends a lot of Part 2 talking in the 3rd person-- out loud. It was SUPER annoying-- almost as annoying as how selfish Nanette became. I don't know how it happened-- one minute she was a character that I related to and just FELT, and then next thing I knew she was this girl that I wanted to punch.
Ranty Section Where I Tell You What I Think Of Part 2 Nanette:
The thing is: I wanted Nanette to CARE and she just wouldn't. I didn't want her to care about things like soccer and college and conventional teenage life, I wanted her to care about PEOPLE. Why couldn't she just care enough about the people in her life to give them a chance? She wasn't connecting with anybody and she somehow comes to this realization that it's everyone else causing the problem and not her. I get it-- people are HARD sometimes, but it's really disheartening to read about someone who's already given up on people at such a young age. To her they're all homogenized and "mainstream". She had plenty of non-mainstream people in her life, but was able to walk away from all of them without a second thought.
Another really bad thing about Nanette is that she does this insane "experiment" where she decides to act like a popular girl. It goes on for months and she even has a serious boyfriend-- all the while knowing in her mind that it's fake. And then she's all Sorry, Not Sorry to this boy that she completely stomps on. You know why?? Because it's ALL ABOUT NANETTE. When she got up at graduation, I literally wanted to jump into the book and say "sit your ass down, you ungrateful little brat". Someone needs to tell this girl SOMETHING!
There is something completely relatable to not knowing what one wants to do with their future. I feel like most of us have wondered if where we were headed after high school was the right path for us. But Nanette somehow wanted to believe that her uncertainty was worse than all that came before her because she listens to obscure music, likes seeing "art house films" and having philosophical conversations.
So after ALL of what I just said, you're probably thinking this book is BLAH. The weird thing is it's not!! Sure Nanette is kind of awful. But the thing is, I like reading about all different types of stories. It usually would offend me to read about a girl who is selfish and pretentious, but this book just worked. I'm never going to like Nanette, but I was intrigued by her story. That's the genius of Matthew Quick for me. That he could write this totally un-likable girl and still have me turning pages like mad to see what would happen to her, is impressive.
OVERALL: I love a book that can make me feel... even if that emotion is mostly ANGER towards one of the characters. What reader couldn't relate to finding a book that changes your life?? That premise made me love this book even after the main character started acting a fool. I totally recommend this to anyone who's ever felt lost and found a book that made you feel found.
My Blog:
ufcasey's review against another edition
1.0
This book is just depressing and annoying as hell and seems to be a slight ripoff of The Fault In Our Stars, minus the cancer. Both books feature a female protagonist obsessed with a fictional book that has an unsatisfactory ending so she tries to get further clarification from the book's author. Also, both feature an ill fated romance.
Nanette is given a book by a teacher that inspires her to 'quit' basically everything. This could have been some kind of uplifting tale about self discovery, but instead it's about how she just hurts everyone else's feelings along the way because she feels she is just too super special to interact normally with anyone (for a large portion of the book she starts referring to herself in the third person, I kid you not). She becomes this self-inflicted loner who is honestly a bit selfish. It's like she has no ability how to just act like herself or how to be honest in a non-aggressive way. She's pretty, she's from a rich family, she's great at soccer, and at times has friends and a boyfriend. But none of that makes her happy, and as it turns out, quitting doesn't make her happy either.
Also, this book makes it seem like the only options for a teen is to either be a shallow party goer, a bully, or someone super unique who just can't get along with anyone and therefore is depressing.
Highly do NOT recommend. The only good thing about this book is the plot of the book inside of the book. That book also happens to feature a turtle named Unproductive Ted, which I loved. But that's not enough to make me recommend this book to anyone.
Also, the narrator has a decently nice voice, but she sounds almost exactly the same for each character so I can't recommend the audiobook either.
Nanette is given a book by a teacher that inspires her to 'quit' basically everything. This could have been some kind of uplifting tale about self discovery, but instead it's about how she just hurts everyone else's feelings along the way because she feels she is just too super special to interact normally with anyone (for a large portion of the book she starts referring to herself in the third person, I kid you not). She becomes this self-inflicted loner who is honestly a bit selfish. It's like she has no ability how to just act like herself or how to be honest in a non-aggressive way. She's pretty, she's from a rich family, she's great at soccer, and at times has friends and a boyfriend. But none of that makes her happy, and as it turns out, quitting doesn't make her happy either.
Also, this book makes it seem like the only options for a teen is to either be a shallow party goer, a bully, or someone super unique who just can't get along with anyone and therefore is depressing.
Highly do NOT recommend. The only good thing about this book is the plot of the book inside of the book. That book also happens to feature a turtle named Unproductive Ted, which I loved. But that's not enough to make me recommend this book to anyone.
Also, the narrator has a decently nice voice, but she sounds almost exactly the same for each character so I can't recommend the audiobook either.
ashleighbeanxo's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Headline for giving me an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review
I looooved this book. It reminded me a lot of The Fault in Our Stars in the beginning, the sub-plot about Hazel being obsessing with a book written by a reclusive author who only wrote one book, that ends on a cliff-hanger, and Hazel tries to contact the author in order to find out what happens after the book ends. The storyline in Every Exquisite Thing is quite similar in that it follows the story of Nanette, who is given a copy of a book by a teacher she looks up to. That book is The Bubblegum Reaper. She meets up with the author, Booker, who has turned his back on his only published work, and they form a friendship. Booker introduces Nanette to his friend Alex, and helps encourage her to find herself. What makes this book stand out is the fact that it doesn't follow the traditional coming of age/boy meets girl cliches. I've taken one star off as there were some points where Nanette felt like a whiny character, and a bit of a bitch if I'm honest. But on the whole, a really enjoyable read.
I looooved this book. It reminded me a lot of The Fault in Our Stars in the beginning, the sub-plot about Hazel being obsessing with a book written by a reclusive author who only wrote one book, that ends on a cliff-hanger, and Hazel tries to contact the author in order to find out what happens after the book ends. The storyline in Every Exquisite Thing is quite similar in that it follows the story of Nanette, who is given a copy of a book by a teacher she looks up to. That book is The Bubblegum Reaper. She meets up with the author, Booker, who has turned his back on his only published work, and they form a friendship. Booker introduces Nanette to his friend Alex, and helps encourage her to find herself. What makes this book stand out is the fact that it doesn't follow the traditional coming of age/boy meets girl cliches. I've taken one star off as there were some points where Nanette felt like a whiny character, and a bit of a bitch if I'm honest. But on the whole, a really enjoyable read.
laurelinwonder's review against another edition
4.0
Nanette is a quirky girl, who is the embodiment of any teen who has ever read a book that felt like it was written just for them. She is the perfect encapsulation of a teen trying to figure out their place in the world, when the world, and the people in it are incredibly uncertain. This book is perfect for teens on the edge of adulthood, and if I were teaching it, I would pair it with "Girl In progress" the film with Eva Mendes, that would be a nice parallel reading to discuss with students. This it the thirs book I have read by Matthew Quick, and I look forward to reading more.
blburslem's review against another edition
5.0
I love Matthew Quick's writing, it's so real to me. I identified with Nannette so much and think it's a special thing to capture a realistic High School experience like that.
emjrasmussen's review against another edition
Matthew Quick is a master of writing misfits. From the disillusioned protagonist of Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock, who rebels against the world of corporate monotony, to the free-spirited main character of Sorta Like a Rockstar, who finds her place among a group of social-sidelines friends, I have yet to meet a leading character in a Quick novel who doesn't deviate in a memorable and endearing way from society's norm.
Every Exquisite Thing is no exception to this rule. Although Nanette has grown up in a life of comfort and privilege in suburban New Jersey, she cannot help feeling she doesn't fit in with her superficially-perfect-yet-emotionally-distant family, her friends whose interests differ vastly from hers, and most of all the expectations everyone places upon her. The result is a sometimes-heartrending, sometimes-relatable story about finding your place in a town full of people who urge you to become someone you're not.
Quick accomplishes Nanette's quirky characterization through a variety of interconnected methods: her identification with an out-of-print cult classic novel, her friendship with the book's reclusive author Nigel Booker (who conveniently lives in her South Jersey town), her possibly-romance with a boy she meets through the aforementioned author, and her own shifting feelings toward society. YA characters often undergo a major transformation due to a single event or person (almost always a romantic interest)—and while I have no problem with stories like this (except for possibly the "boyfriend waltzes in and immediately changes the protagonist's life" trope), I loved watching several related friendships and pursuits slowly changing a character's outlook. As Nanette begins to rebel against the expectations set for her, pulling away from her old friends, questioning whether or not her soccer talents outweigh her hatred toward playing, it is clear her growth is not brought on by an insular event. Instead, her reaction to The Bubblegum Reaper, the events that happen after she reads the story, and more combine to push her further and further toward the edge.
However, despite the connected complexity of Nanette's budding relationships and other experiences, I wanted a bit more depth in their individual descriptions. I wanted to know more about The Bubblegum Reaper, more details and quotes to make the plot seem more like a novel and less like a short story. I wanted to know more about Nanette's discussions with her favorite author, and I wanted her relationship with Alex, her newfound romantic interest, to feel a bit less like insta-love. The fact that the plot spans more than a year yet takes up fewer than 300 pages (causing some months to be skimmed over in a matter of sentences) could be the root of my vague dissatisfaction, or it could be that the author intentionally left time periods sparse, but I could not help finishing the book with the feeling that something was missing.
I can't complain too much, though, because somehow the light, brisk tone of Every Exquisite Thing makes the book feel more realistic. While not maximizing the plot's potential emotional power, the story's lack of deep, vivid descriptions leaves readers feeling like an outside observer watching Nanette from afar. This effect may bother readers who ache for strong connections with characters, but it also complements Nanette's growth, allowing her to distance herself from others—readers and fellow character alike—as she ponders who she is and what she wants out of life.
And best of all, Every Exquisite Thing is not merely a novel about interpersonal interactions; it is also a novel about the power and the role of literature—a book about books. Complete with an author who refuses to elaborate on his book's meaning or provide any sort of epilogue (a kinder version of Peter Van Houten from The Fault in our Stars), Quick's latest novel sparks plenty of questions about who characters and stories truly belong to, the impact literature can have on our lives, and the relevance of authorial intent. Although Nanette and her friends attribute several of their thoughts and actions to The Bubblegum Reaper, calling it a life-changing book, Booker insists his once-published novel is simply a story, and a silly one at that, offering at most entertainment value. Only readers can decide who is right, a task many will have already undertaken and that the rest will surely enjoy.
With offbeat characters facing universal teen issues like fitting in and questioning the future, Every Exquisite Thing is another winning Matthew Quick novel. It is different enough from his past work to stand out, yet similar enough to please old fans—and the added bookish element will especially appeal to those who have ever loved a story like Nanette loves The Bubblegum Reaper. Just as bright, lifelike, and unsure as its scribbled-title-meets-white-background cover, it is sure to resonate with teenagers of all kinds and leave them waiting with anticipation for the author's next inventive set of characters.
This review originally appeared at www.foreverliterary.com.
Every Exquisite Thing is no exception to this rule. Although Nanette has grown up in a life of comfort and privilege in suburban New Jersey, she cannot help feeling she doesn't fit in with her superficially-perfect-yet-emotionally-distant family, her friends whose interests differ vastly from hers, and most of all the expectations everyone places upon her. The result is a sometimes-heartrending, sometimes-relatable story about finding your place in a town full of people who urge you to become someone you're not.
Quick accomplishes Nanette's quirky characterization through a variety of interconnected methods: her identification with an out-of-print cult classic novel, her friendship with the book's reclusive author Nigel Booker (who conveniently lives in her South Jersey town), her possibly-romance with a boy she meets through the aforementioned author, and her own shifting feelings toward society. YA characters often undergo a major transformation due to a single event or person (almost always a romantic interest)—and while I have no problem with stories like this (except for possibly the "boyfriend waltzes in and immediately changes the protagonist's life" trope), I loved watching several related friendships and pursuits slowly changing a character's outlook. As Nanette begins to rebel against the expectations set for her, pulling away from her old friends, questioning whether or not her soccer talents outweigh her hatred toward playing, it is clear her growth is not brought on by an insular event. Instead, her reaction to The Bubblegum Reaper, the events that happen after she reads the story, and more combine to push her further and further toward the edge.
However, despite the connected complexity of Nanette's budding relationships and other experiences, I wanted a bit more depth in their individual descriptions. I wanted to know more about The Bubblegum Reaper, more details and quotes to make the plot seem more like a novel and less like a short story. I wanted to know more about Nanette's discussions with her favorite author, and I wanted her relationship with Alex, her newfound romantic interest, to feel a bit less like insta-love. The fact that the plot spans more than a year yet takes up fewer than 300 pages (causing some months to be skimmed over in a matter of sentences) could be the root of my vague dissatisfaction, or it could be that the author intentionally left time periods sparse, but I could not help finishing the book with the feeling that something was missing.
I can't complain too much, though, because somehow the light, brisk tone of Every Exquisite Thing makes the book feel more realistic. While not maximizing the plot's potential emotional power, the story's lack of deep, vivid descriptions leaves readers feeling like an outside observer watching Nanette from afar. This effect may bother readers who ache for strong connections with characters, but it also complements Nanette's growth, allowing her to distance herself from others—readers and fellow character alike—as she ponders who she is and what she wants out of life.
And best of all, Every Exquisite Thing is not merely a novel about interpersonal interactions; it is also a novel about the power and the role of literature—a book about books. Complete with an author who refuses to elaborate on his book's meaning or provide any sort of epilogue (a kinder version of Peter Van Houten from The Fault in our Stars), Quick's latest novel sparks plenty of questions about who characters and stories truly belong to, the impact literature can have on our lives, and the relevance of authorial intent. Although Nanette and her friends attribute several of their thoughts and actions to The Bubblegum Reaper, calling it a life-changing book, Booker insists his once-published novel is simply a story, and a silly one at that, offering at most entertainment value. Only readers can decide who is right, a task many will have already undertaken and that the rest will surely enjoy.
With offbeat characters facing universal teen issues like fitting in and questioning the future, Every Exquisite Thing is another winning Matthew Quick novel. It is different enough from his past work to stand out, yet similar enough to please old fans—and the added bookish element will especially appeal to those who have ever loved a story like Nanette loves The Bubblegum Reaper. Just as bright, lifelike, and unsure as its scribbled-title-meets-white-background cover, it is sure to resonate with teenagers of all kinds and leave them waiting with anticipation for the author's next inventive set of characters.
This review originally appeared at www.foreverliterary.com.
damnthereiam's review against another edition
3.0
I saw a lot of my younger self in this book. I tried so hard in my middle school and early high school years to assimilate into what I thought others wanted me to be. I never really thought, until I read this book, about how damaging that was for me and how hard of a habit it was to break. It’s okay to be a weirdo.
ina_pages's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25