Girl Against the Universe ARC Review

Girl Against the Universe by Paula Stokes
5 Stars
Oh man, Girl Against the Universe was one of my most anticipated reads for 2016 and I was thrilled when I got my hands on it early. It's about a girl who thinks she's bad luck and tries her hardest to prevent anyone from ever being hurt, even if it means not leaving her house.

First, I really love how this is set up. We have chapters where our main character is in therapy and also when she's out doing her thing. I can't imagine what this book would be like without these sessions and I'm so glad that they're included as they provide some pretty great insight into our character.

Maguire may feel like bad luck and try to isolate herself on behalf of others, but man you kind of feel it too. Paula writes in a way that makes you really empathize with Maguire and everything she is going through internally. It's so wonderful and I definitely cried a few times. (Damn you, Paula.) Now our other main character, Jordy, I love him to bits. He's so flirty and confident even though he's insecure. Which I can definitely understand and relate to and that's so cool. Mostly, he's sweet and also kind of funny. I need myself a Jordy. Obviously there are more than these two and some honorable mentions are Penn, Jade, and for sure Dr. Leed. There really isn't a single character that I don't like. How refreshing.

One of my favorite things about Girl Against the Universe is the approach it takes on mental health. It truly normalizes it just like we should. My favorite quote is actually Dr. Leed talking to Maguire:
The first thing you need to realize is that mental health is fluid. It's not like you have an infection and a doctor gives you antibiotics and then you're cured. No matter what the two of us accomplish together, you're still going to have good days and bad days. Make sense?
And I love this because it is so incredibly true and more people need to realize it. Mental health is not a destination, it's a journey. No body is going to have the perfect life and be happy every single day. As Meredith Grey would say, "That's not mental health, that's crap."

Girl Against the Universe was everything that I hoped it would be and more. I laughed, I cried, and even had some anxiety pangs because I just love these characters so damn much. I honestly wish we could get a sequel or a companion from Jordy's perspective. *Prays to the publishing gods* I strongly recommend you pick up this cute contemporary with a twist. If you're interested, Girl Against the Universe will be out on May 17, 2016 and Paula is sending some preorder swag that you can read about here. I'd love to hear about your most anticipated reads and your thoughts on Girl Against the Universe in the comments!
Xoxo,
Gabriella

Comments

  1. Kelly @ Here's to Happy EndingsApril 29, 2016 at 3:52 PM

    I love the quote you posted about mental health...we really need more YA books that deal with mental health issues in a positive light that makes them a normal part of everyday living. Great review, can't wait to read this one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gabriella MoralesApril 29, 2016 at 5:14 PM

      Thank you! I can't wait for you to read it! Less than 20 days until release! I hope you preorder a copy and receive some awesome swag! Happy reading!

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Debut Author Bash 2017: Kate Hart

Image
Hello and welcome to day one of the 2017 Debut Author Bash! This year I'll be doing a couple of days and today is all about Kate Hart! I hope you enjoy! About the Book A YA debut about a teen girl who wrestles with rumors, reputation, and her relationships with two brothers. Seventeen-year-old Raychel is sleeping with two boys: her overachieving best friend Matt…and his slacker brother, Andrew. Raychel sneaks into Matt’s bed after nightmares, but nothing ever happens. He doesn’t even seem to realize she’s a girl, except when he decides she needs rescuing. But Raychel doesn't want to be his girl anyway. She just needs his support as she deals with the classmate who assaulted her, the constant threat of her family’s eviction, and the dream of college slipping quickly out of reach. Matt tries to help, but he doesn’t really get it… and he’d never understand why she’s fallen into a secret relationship with his brother. The friendships are a precarious balance, and when t...
Read more

Armchair BEA 2017 Day Two

Image
Welcome to day two of Armchair BEA, the from home version of Book Expo America which I hope to attend someday. Let's just get straight into today's topics, shall we? What Do Readers Want? What I want as a reader is to be sucked in. I want a story to hold my attention and make me care. That is actually how I rate my books, based on how well they keep my attention. When it comes to events, I would like them to be spread out more. Maybe that's a weird way to say it. What I mean is, change the cities you visit. Don't always do the major ones, some of us can't make it to those. And if you insist on making them so far, can you make them at a reasonable time? Example: Most of the events are a two hour drive from me, but don't begin until 7 PM and on a week night. Let's say I only stay for an hour? I'm still not getting home until after 10 PM if I'm lucky. We all know well known authors might not get to everyone in a simple hour. This is why I rar...
Read more

Armchair BEA Day One

Image
Armchair BEA! Hello and welcome back to my blog! For those of you who don't know, Armchair BEA is the online version of Book Expo America held for those who cannot attend the live event. I personally hadn't heard of it until this year and I was in a definite need to join. So let's give this a shot! Introduction Questions! What is the name you prefer to use? You can call me Gabriella. How long have you been a book blogger? I started blogging a little over a year ago, but about a month ago I decided to switch blogs. Have you participated in ABEA before? This is my first time doing Armchair BEA and I am quite excited about it! Do you have a favorite book? My all time favorite book is Water for Elephants and I am definitely do for a reread really soon. If you could recommend one other book blogger who would it be and why? I would recommend Grace from Grace Lucy Reviews . Her reviews are very thorough and in my opinion, she deserves more attention than sh...
Read more