Reviews

All That Shines by Ellen Hagan

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thebookishnarwhal's review

5.0

First drawn in by the cover, I discovered this story to be a HiLo novel-in-verse that explores the life of the privileged slash rich, and the major changes that come when that life is taken away. All That Shines by Ellen Hagan had some Schitt’s Creek vibes going on and I was totally here for it.

Meet Chloe. She knows the life of luxury because her dad owns many companies in Kentucky. He’s arrested for embezzlement, so along with her mom, Chloe has to navigate life without the glitz and glamour they’re used to. Join Chloe as she learns to cook, clean, appreciate the small things, and form true friendships. But will Chloe be able to re-evaluate herself, what is important in life, and in turn experience love and life in a genuine way?

This is a fantastic YA novel-in-verse and I think it would make a great addition to any English class. Hagan’s work should be studied for setting construction and character creation. With a clear message, Hagan captivates readers and intrudes on your thoughts even after you’re finished reading. But it’s not a bad thing, because this book is just terrific! I highly recommend this read to all readers above the eighth grade.

thenextgenlibrarian's review against another edition

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4.0

“But truth is she as lost as I am.”

jinx3djules's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

kaylareadsbooks's review against another edition

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5.0

More people need to be talking about this one. It’s amazing.

thindbooks's review

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4.0

I love books written in verse and Hagan nailed it with the writing. This book was very well written when it came to the plot and the writing style. You don’t have to think hard about what’s happening as the verse explained everything well. This book gave off Schitt’s Creek vibes as there were friendships grow and the characters go through similar problems. Chloe was a great character and I loved her character development as she lost so much but gained true friendships at the end. The side characters were also amazing and there’s a bit of cute romance for our romance lovers. I absolutely loved this book and recommend it to young readers who was a fast, different style writing that is fun with amazing character development.

*this arc was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*