Ratings42
Average rating3.5
A New York Times Bestseller From the author of the New York Times bestseller All the Bright Places comes a heart-wrenching story about what it means to see someone—and love someone—for who they truly are. Everyone thinks they know Libby Strout, the girl once dubbed “America’s Fattest Teen.” But no one’s taken the time to look past her weight to get to know who she really is. Following her mom’s death, she’s been picking up the pieces in the privacy of her home, dealing with her heartbroken father and her own grief. Now, Libby’s ready: for high school, for new friends, for love, and for EVERY POSSIBILITY LIFE HAS TO OFFER. In that moment, I know the part I want to play here at MVB High. I want to be the girl who can do anything. Everyone thinks they know Jack Masselin, too. Yes, he’s got swagger, but he’s also mastered the impossible art of giving people what they want, of fitting in. What no one knows is that Jack has a newly acquired secret: he can’t recognize faces. Even his own brothers are strangers to him. He’s the guy who can re-engineer and rebuild anything in new and bad-ass ways, but he can’t understand what’s going on with the inner workings of his brain. So he tells himself to play it cool: Be charming. Be hilarious. Don’t get too close to anyone. Until he meets Libby. When the two get tangled up in a cruel high school game—which lands them in group counseling and community service—Libby and Jack are both pissed, and then surprised. Because the more time they spend together, the less alone they feel. . . . Because sometimes when you meet someone, it changes the world, theirs and yours. Jennifer Niven delivers another poignant, exhilarating love story about finding that person who sees you for who you are—and seeing them right back. "Niven is adept at creating characters. . . . [Libby's] courage and body-positivity make for a joyful reading experience." --The New York Times “Holding Up the Universe . . . taps into the universal need to be understood. To be wanted. And that’s what makes it such a remarkable read.” —TeenVogue.com, “Why New Book Holding Up the Universe Is the Next The Fault in Our Stars” "Want a love story that will give you all the feels? . . . You'll seriously melt!" —Seventeen Magazine
Reviews with the most likes.
“We're all weird and damaged in our own way”.
That quote is the one i'll remember from this book.
I loved All The Bright Places by Jennifer but i didn't like Holding Up The Universe as much as i wanted to like it.
I couldn't connect with the characters at all...
it was an enjoyable read but not the best i've read so far.
This definitely wasn't my favourite work from Jennifer Niven but just like most of her works, it was relatable and real.
As someone who has always struggled with their weight and has had their fair share of bullying because of that, I was able to relate to Libby in the way. Libby was such a strong and independent character and I really loved that.
It was really interesting to read about Jack's character and his prosopagnosia. It's not something that I have seen portrayed in a book before.
For the most part, I enjoyed this book in the way that I felt its main element is that you're not alone and you don't need to change to make others like you. There were just a few moments that had me feeling confused on my feelings towards this book.
I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this so I think I'm going to stick with a three star rating until I decide otherwise.
Featured Prompt
43 booksWhether it's a course textbook or a fictional romance, we remember books that impact us deeply. Which books do you remember being forever changed by due to learning something new – either about you...