All the Little Lights

Perhaps it is due to the fact that I do not typically read anything in the romance genre. Perhaps it is because I have only read a precious few of Ms. McGuire’s previous novels. Whatever the cause, I found her latest novel, All the Little Lights, to be a delightful escape back to a time of innocence and young love.

In fact, All the Little Lights made me feel better in a way I did not know I needed. Its story of first loves and loyalty, alongside the high school horrors of cliques, peer pressure, and bullying, reminded me of better times, when I too was young and in love for the first time and torn between family and that love. It is a simple story but one that allowed me to escape adulthood for a few hours.

Not that Catherine’s and show more Elliott’s lives are simple. Growing up in homes with parents who are emotionally and/or physically abusive tend to remove all simplicity from any child’s life, and Catherine and Elliott gravitate to each other precisely because they can relate to the other in this regard. However, Ms. McGuire is careful to remind readers that no one person reacts to such situations in the same way, thereby setting the stage for Catherine and Elliott’s future relationship issues.

One of the best parts about All the Little Lights is the fact that it is part romance and part mystery. The regulars at her mother’s bed and breakfast are most unusual, coming and going at all hours of the day and night with no regularity to their schedules. Yet, nothing quite explains why Catherine is not willing to have anyone enter her former house or why she remains so invested in her mother’s feelings when it is obvious that Catherine has been on her own emotionally, mentally, and physically for a long time. Familial loyalty is admirable and understandable, and yet you side with Elliott as he questions why Catherine is willing to sacrifice her future and any happiness to stay with her mother in a failing business.

Adding another layer to this mystery is the disappearance of one of their fellow high school students and the reactions of the town. The racism and elitism that comes to the forefront upon the disappearance is appalling and yet timely given the increasing racism in our everyday lives. It does not make the situations Elliott faces any easier to read, but it does lend an arc of reality to the entire story.

As for the romance portion of the story, it is so very sweet and pure. Given both characters’ emotional frailty and neediness, as well as their stubbornness, I see nothing completely outlandish about their behavior or relationship. It is only slightly idealized in my opinion but done in a way that feels authentic to both characters. This is not a typical Jamie McGuire New Adult novel, even if it is being marketed that way. This is truly a young adult novel complete with characters who are not quite eighteen years old, are still in high school, and are still young and inexperienced in certain adult ways. With that in mind, I genuinely adore Elliott and Catherine as a couple. They are honest and open, mature in some ways and immature in others, and all with that blush of first love that is so powerful.

All the Little Lights is mostly likely not a perfect novel, but I could see few of its failings. The story is so touching, but the darkness in both families prevents it from becoming overly saccharine. Both mysteries balance the sweetness of the romance and provide an added layer of interest over a story that could feel contrived or at the very least redundant. As for the ending, it is not anything I saw coming. In fact, it was an ending that shocked me specifically because it was so unexpected and yet perfect.

If anything, All the Little Lights confirmed for me that I enjoy Ms. McGuire’s non-New Adult stories more than I do those which made her famous. Moreover, I appreciate any author who takes a chance and publishes stories across multiple genres. Ms. McGuire proved that she can do just that with her latest romance-mystery hybrid. show less

Holy crap!! This book started out as a tender love story between two teenagers. That was pretty much all that I was expecting. Well, that was only part of it. A large part of the book (maybe just a little too large) as a matter of fact.

However, there is an underlying danger that is hinted at. A hint that is exposed in bits and parts of the book. It's so slight. I had an idea of what was going on, so I thought. I was so far out in left field and I absolutely loved that I was wrong. So wrong!!! My jaw dropped when I discovered how far off I was on this danger! It was like "Yowza, no frigging way was I expecting that!"

And, there is absolutely no way any reader who reads this review or starts reading the book is going to guess the ending. show more That's just how well the book is written. I promise you will not see it coming!

I found this book interesting, complex and unputdownable! I am so glad that I discovered this book and got the chance to read it.

Thanks to Montlake Romance and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. show less

Jamie McGuire’s “Beautiful Disaster” is one of my all-time favorite YA books. Travis & Abby will forever hold a special place in my heart. I was very excited to receive “All the Little Lights”, thank you NetGalley, Montlake & author Jamie McGuire for a free advanced copy for an honest review.

The first time Elliott Youngblood spots Catherine Calhoun, he’s just a boy with a camera, and he’s never seen a sadder and more beautiful sight. Both Elliott and Catherine feel like outcasts, yet they find an easy friendship with each other. But when Catherine needs him most, Elliott is forced to leave town.

Catherine and Elliot’s relationship in one word, sweet, the book itself in one word, weird. Every person I spoke to about this show more book I used that word over and over again…. Weird. That being said, I truly enjoyed “Warrior” Catherine & Elliott’s story. I could not read fast enough, I just had to know what that “weird” element was. I had so many ideas running through my head, and I so did not figure it out (so frustrating!). That “weird” reveal at the end was brilliant! Bravo Jamie! This story had more suspense and mystery surrounding the characters than any of her other books.

This is also a story about the effects of bullying, being judged by the color of your skin, your culture, and who your friends may be. But, it’s also about loyalty, protectiveness, and the resilience to overcome every adversity. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys YA books.

And on a side note; please don’t go into this thinking it’s going to be like any of the Maddox series books, because IT IS NOT. Just enjoy this very different ride, because that’s what it is. show less

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A coming-of-age story filled with romance and mystery written by the incredible Jamie McGuire? Count me in. All the Little Lights has been at the top of my most-anticipated list since I first heard of it several months ago, so finally having it in my hands is very exciting. Like, so exciting I cracked it open immediately and read it over the course of two days. It's a different sort of novel from Jamie McGuire and though the story isn't entirely unique, it is unique in the way it unfolds and how it is told. Snubbed due to her family's dark history with the small town Catherine is left with few friends and the inability to share what goes on inside the walls of the crumbling mansion turns show more B&B. Elliott can't escape the racism he faces due to his heritage, but he can be the bigger man and he tries to be for Catherine despite her insistence that he keep away. Told from the perspective of Elliott and Catherine, All the Little Lights tell the story of two students who are anything but ordinary and the discrimination they face growing up in an old-fashioned small town.

Oh my heart, I have such a hard time with bullying and mean girls and reading about it was even worse, because I couldn't do anything for Catherine. Luckily, there is Elliott in this novel and his wise, determined, and strong character rescues her despite her attempts to rebuff him. Of course, he can't save her from everything and that is what makes this novel so great, it's real. Like is said so often on the news, we never know what is going on in someone's home and behind the walls they hide behind and Catherine is such a prime example of this. She works hard in school, she attempts to keep up with all the household duties, she manages to welcome space into her life for Elliott and his push at her having other friends, but she also sags under the weight of the secrets she keeps and the loyalty she has to them. Her past, her present, her beliefs of what her future may be, make this novel very heavy. My heart hurt for her and then for her and Elliott as they faced in-home and out-of-home challenges with their parents and the mean students who had been raised with hate in their hearts. I appreciated the heaviness as well though and Jamie McGuire wrote about the topics perfectly. There is light in this novel though, like their sweet friendship turned relationship and the fierce protectiveness Elliott has for her and really for anyone being picked on. I enjoyed Catherine coming out of her self-made shell and embracing love, laughter, and help for the first time since she was a little girl. The novel is both sweet and mature, the perfect blend for this YA/NA fangirl.

I know, I'm raving about this novel, but I really liked the story of youth being wise beyond their years due to the battles they face growing up. It's so realistic and with all the bullying we see in the world, very relevant. I think Jamie McGuire is brave to take on the subject of discrimination in a small town, because despite the realness of it the world does like to deny it. The mystery too is very realistic and is an unfortunate reality for many, I just wish I hadn't guessed it so early on. I think I've read just one too many books with a similar storyline so it wasn't a big shock to me, however I like that the explanation of the mystery was saved until the very end. It'll leave unsuspecting readers shocked and I think that'll make it an even better novel for them.

All the Little Lights is such a great novel from Jamie McGuire and one that will stay with readers long after the close the cover on the pages. It is novel that embraces the struggles youth face and the hope that life can become what you so want it to be for yourself. I highly recommend this novel and can't wait to hear what others think of it. I'm all for a book club discussion! show less

Jamie McGuire is an author I hadn’t previously read, and now I’m looking forward to reading some more of her works. All the Little Lights is a love story and a mystery all rolled into one.
Elliott Youngblood falls head over heels in love with Catherine Calhoun the second he sees her. It doesn’t matter that he’s only eleven or that she’s sobbing at the base of a tree while her dad buries the deceased family dog, Goobers. From that moment on, Elliott just wants to be with Catherine. She is equally enchanted with him which is why she is completely heartbroken when, near the end of the summer, he up and disappears.
Many years later Elliott returns to Oak Creek and discovers that there are many changes - the most serious being with show more Catherine, who spends an outrageous amount of time helping her mom run a bed and breakfast called the Junioer house and who is not interested in renewing their friendship. Elliott is nothing if not persistent and soon wins Catherine’s friendship back. There is however some kind of mystery surrounding the Juniper house and Catherine refuses to let anyone in on the secret. If she doesn’t do something about the dangers of living at the Juniper house, she could end up dead. show less

Young love, mystery, and teenage angst! The feels, man! McGuire knows how to do to angst. These two were kind of having a 2nd chance romance while only in high school. It was a unique twist. Its more than just the will they/won't they angst because there is a deeper mystery going on that I enjoyed more than the teen drama-llama.

I absolutely love Jamie McGuire so I am not sure why it took me so long to pick this one up. I picked up the other new release that came out and it was disappointing, so I was hopeful that this would be get back to the reasons why I love her storytelling…and it did!

This started off introducing both Elliot and Catherine. You learn a little about their childhoods and their family life. Both are dealing with some issues at home and they start up a friendship. Then something tragic happens, and Elliot is not able to be there for Catherine. This does deal with domestic violence and emotional abuse. It also deals with mental health.

The first 100 pages were so good. The middle was a little repetitive. I liked the mystery around what was show more happening in the Juniper. I actually did not know this was going to turn into a mystery. It really was not the focus of most of the story and does not really start to come together until over 200 pages into the story. I really liked what it brought to the story in the end.

Overall, I enjoyed this. show less