Scan barcode
sam_hartwig's review against another edition
4.0
Now this is what I was expecting when I picked up another one of Simmone Howell's books. I recently finished 'Notes from a teenage underground' and I was a little disappointed. But this was amazing!
Riley was awesome-sauce! Not only was she unique and kick-ass, she is also big-hearted and thoughtful. She may be off the track a bit, but who wouldn't be after losing their mother to cancer.
The setting for her road to recovery is 'Spirit Ranch'. A camp out in the desert which is filled with teenagers who have been going there for many years, so they know each other really well. This was bad news for Riley because she is destined to stand out, even if she wasn't her unusual self.
Over the course of seven days, Riley is transformed into the person she has always meant to be. With the help of a weird cast of secondary characters, she learns what being open is all about.
Bird and Olive are two cute siblings who needed someone like Riley to come along and save them. I like to think they save her a little too.
Sarita and Fleur may have started off rocky, but it became clear to me that they needed to open their eyes and do a bit of soul searching for themselves.
Dylan, he is literally broken and it takes Riley to put the pieces back together. I loved their connection and watching it develop.
This isn't a book for younger teenage readers as there is sex and drugs mentioned.
Riley was awesome-sauce! Not only was she unique and kick-ass, she is also big-hearted and thoughtful. She may be off the track a bit, but who wouldn't be after losing their mother to cancer.
The setting for her road to recovery is 'Spirit Ranch'. A camp out in the desert which is filled with teenagers who have been going there for many years, so they know each other really well. This was bad news for Riley because she is destined to stand out, even if she wasn't her unusual self.
Over the course of seven days, Riley is transformed into the person she has always meant to be. With the help of a weird cast of secondary characters, she learns what being open is all about.
Bird and Olive are two cute siblings who needed someone like Riley to come along and save them. I like to think they save her a little too.
Sarita and Fleur may have started off rocky, but it became clear to me that they needed to open their eyes and do a bit of soul searching for themselves.
Dylan, he is literally broken and it takes Riley to put the pieces back together. I loved their connection and watching it develop.
This isn't a book for younger teenage readers as there is sex and drugs mentioned.
mercey's review against another edition
4.0
Buzzfeed posted a list of books that feature a refreshing take on body image and 'Everything Beautiful' sounded cool, so I borrowed it from the library. I'm so freaking glad I did. This book is not just a breath of fresh air, it's also hilarious and raw and powerful.
Howell has such a wonderfully Australian way of telling the story of Riley Rose. Riley herself is complex, funny and just extremely lovable. Her rebellious nature make for an adventurous read and her descriptions of the other kids at the camp give readers an enlightening peek into their personalities. The way the story is structured; "on the first day, the second day..." like the bible is another layer of irony for Riley and it works so effectively. Howell describes grief in such a guttural way and brings a new definition to the word "broken": that broken isn't synonymous with ruined.
I wasn't expecting to enjoy 'Everything Beautiful' as much as I did but from the first page I knew it was going to be good. There are so many fabulous one-liners in this story and Howell's descriptions leave nothing to be desired in their quirky accuracy. I guess this book is kind of like the movie 'Wild Child' but focusses on a Melbourne city girl going to a spirit camp in Nhill (the middle of nowhere). I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Australia or just looking for a good laugh.
Howell has such a wonderfully Australian way of telling the story of Riley Rose. Riley herself is complex, funny and just extremely lovable. Her rebellious nature make for an adventurous read and her descriptions of the other kids at the camp give readers an enlightening peek into their personalities. The way the story is structured; "on the first day, the second day..." like the bible is another layer of irony for Riley and it works so effectively. Howell describes grief in such a guttural way and brings a new definition to the word "broken": that broken isn't synonymous with ruined.
I wasn't expecting to enjoy 'Everything Beautiful' as much as I did but from the first page I knew it was going to be good. There are so many fabulous one-liners in this story and Howell's descriptions leave nothing to be desired in their quirky accuracy. I guess this book is kind of like the movie 'Wild Child' but focusses on a Melbourne city girl going to a spirit camp in Nhill (the middle of nowhere). I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Australia or just looking for a good laugh.
chlosophis's review
2.0
I really liked this book, don;t let the stars discourage you.. they won;t let me put in a higher rating for some reason...
A light read about a troubled teen trying to make sense of her world. Good to eat chocolate with.
A light read about a troubled teen trying to make sense of her world. Good to eat chocolate with.
kyliedam94's review
3.0
"Do you think I'm fat?" I asked him.
He swallowed and wiped his mouth. "I think you're beautiful."
Everything beautiful is a story about a love story about the broken and the broken-hearted.
Riley Rose, a sixteen year-old teenager is sent away to Spirit Ranch Holiday Camp by her father and her new step-mother. She was a wild girl that needed to be tamed.
Riley Rose did not expect to make friends at the camp. Nor did she expect to find someone that was 'special' to her.
Riley Rose meets Dylan Luck, and everything changed. Everything beautiful they had.
He swallowed and wiped his mouth. "I think you're beautiful."
Everything beautiful is a story about a love story about the broken and the broken-hearted.
Riley Rose, a sixteen year-old teenager is sent away to Spirit Ranch Holiday Camp by her father and her new step-mother. She was a wild girl that needed to be tamed.
Riley Rose did not expect to make friends at the camp. Nor did she expect to find someone that was 'special' to her.
Riley Rose meets Dylan Luck, and everything changed. Everything beautiful they had.
leahhoulton's review
3.0
Read it very quickly, the chapters are very short which keeps it quite fast paced and makes me read more. The story was okay, not the best thing I've ever read but definitely very readable
amelias_library_'s review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
rebeccabooks's review
4.0
I have seen Everything Beautiful in Waterstones and though the cover was tempting, I just couldn't bring my self to actually buy it and read it, for some reason. I think the words Atheist and Christain Camp put me off, reminding me of a girl at school. Anyway, as you can tell as I dribble on about nothing, I did read it when I found it in the library.
The book was better than expected. There were times where the blurb sort of caught itself out. I mean Dylan, to me anyway, didn't seem like he was also trying to get in trouble. Apparently, together they ruin the camp but its more Riley. And Riley seems like this confident person who I guess I automatically put her in the normal/thin category but you find out she's actually quite fat or big. I didn't really sense it to be honest. But that maybe me. My favourite characters were Bird and latterly Fleur. Though she was a bit annoying at the beginning. Craig...eurgh, don't get me started on him. Overall, the book was really good with some great characters and I did quite enjoy it. Good read...read it. :)
The book was better than expected. There were times where the blurb sort of caught itself out. I mean Dylan, to me anyway, didn't seem like he was also trying to get in trouble. Apparently, together they ruin the camp but its more Riley. And Riley seems like this confident person who I guess I automatically put her in the normal/thin category but you find out she's actually quite fat or big. I didn't really sense it to be honest. But that maybe me. My favourite characters were Bird and latterly Fleur. Though she was a bit annoying at the beginning. Craig...eurgh, don't get me started on him. Overall, the book was really good with some great characters and I did quite enjoy it. Good read...read it. :)
book_nut's review
2.0
Bad girl with dead mom finds a newish start at a Christian camp. Better than that sounds, but not great. Liked that it was set in Australia, though.
lucyblack's review
2.0
hmmm, I felt like I should like this but nah... It is weirdly paced, has too many stereotypes and finishes with a wishy washy resolution to a wishy washy problem.
private_reader's review
4.0
I'm so cheesed off about the cover of this book I can barely speak. RILEY is supposed to weigh 182 pounds! Who is this girl on the cover? Unless she is eight feet tall there is no way she weighs 182 pounds.
And the one time when a gown is actually part of the story there isn't one on the cover! why not a lovely big girl in a dress?
Bad form publisher. Bad form.
And the one time when a gown is actually part of the story there isn't one on the cover! why not a lovely big girl in a dress?
Bad form publisher. Bad form.