[Review] When the World Tips Over by Jandy Nelson

There is no possible way to sing enough praises for this book. It is pure perfection—storytelling at its finest.

This is a character driven novel, and the character development is exceptional. The characters are diverse. They are raw and real. They are rich and unique—absolutely vibrant. And what this novel does, that I haven't seen any other book do with nearly as much success, is capture the magic in the mundane. I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but you will understand after you've read this book. Never have I seen real life depicted so magically.

There is also a lot of great subtext in this book. This is one of those books that begs to be scrutinized and studied (maybe on a second reading, because the first reading should be purely for the pleasure of it). Themes of family and family trauma, love—both familial and romantic, mistakes and forgiveness, and metamorphic self-discovery. There's even an underlying nod to the transformative power of literature and storytelling.

This book feels like magic—words and language that transcend the mundane, dancing across the page in a jubilant celebration of life. Hands down, this is one of the best books I have ever read.

Note: I received this book as an ARC. It is scheduled to be released September 24, 2024.

5 stars (x5x5x5, onward to infinity)