Jennifer Niven started writing full-time in 2000, and in 2015 she created the beautiful novel All the Bright Places. At the age of ten she discovered her talent and passion for writing, a pursuit that her mother took up first. Following in her mother’s footsteps, she started out producing two autobiographies All About Me and My Life in Indiana: I Will Never Be Happy Again, a series of prison mysteries, and a collection of short stories (jenniferniven.com).

Amongst her many works, her young adult fiction piece All the Bright Places has caught the hearts of many. The book opens with the two main characters on the top of the their school’s bell tower contemplating death, which sets the tone through the story. Throughout the book, every moment carves the characters’ path or destiny, one that isn’t written already but one that they choose. All the Bright Places is a cliche romance novel where two unexpected teens who believed that happiness is unreachable, fall in love, but this story doesn’t give readers the usual “happy” ending of a romance novel. The storyline takes the readers on an emotional rollercoaster between two damaged lovers, Violet and Finch. Finch who is known as “Theodore Freak” thinks about suicide everyday and wants to die in such a way that would be most memorable, however Violet was a happy, popular senior who only began thinking about suicide after her sister had died in an accident. Both characters find their way together to end up being the most tragically beautiful duo.This is a story of teenage friendship and compassion, reminding us that love does not always conquer all but it is still worth the journey.

Niven’s creativeness is also established through more than just her words. The actual cover of the book itself is mainly blue, which is a calming and safe color and connects back to the teens suicidal thoughts. Also pictured are sticky notes, which can be related to the scene in Finch’s closet where he has each wall covered in sticky notes. Jennifer Niven produced a very thought out book that would cause the reader to create a deep attachment to the characters and keeps you guessing until the end when everything comes completely understandable.

All the Bright Places is often compared to the novels The Fault in Our Stars by John Green and Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell, so if you liked one of them, All the Bright Places would be a great suggestion for your next read. You can find this book in your local Barnes and Noble  or online for $11.90 for a hardcover and $8.37 for a paperback.