Review for Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven

Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven

Blurb:

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.

Review:

All the Bright Places holds a special place in my heart, so I was really looking forward to Jennifer Niven's next novel. And Holding Up the Universe did not disappoint.

I love books where I get to learn something new or understand some new concept. And this book did that and so much more. Everyone struggles with who they are and what they want to be seen as when they are in school. It is all about the "face" we choose to show the world. HUTU beautifully deals with the struggles of prosopagnosia and the struggle to defy the labels assigned to you.

I adored the characters and the writing style. The highlight for me was the Supernatural references, I adored them! (Fellow fangirl here!)

I did read some reviews and posts saying that the book or the blurb was offensive. But in my opinion, after reading I felt that the book delivered a very body-positive message. I just had to get that out there.

I don't know what else to say other than I loved the book, and I will be anxiously waiting for the next release by Jennifer Niven.