I have no idea how I could love this book so hard and simultaneously not be in sync with Part 2 Nanette, but it happened. This is a beautifully sad book that I won't be forgetting.

There's nothing like Matthew Quick books. It's been a void in my life that needed filling. I read Every Exquisite Thing in one day because I could not stop reading it. At times I had other things to do, but they didn't get done because this crazy/beautiful book completely took over my life.

Nanette is given a book that speaks to her soul and makes her feel like life makes more sense. What reader can't relate with that?? That's my favorite thing about reading: every now and again I come across a piece of writing that makes me feel like I'm not alone in this crazy world. I meet characters that are ME. I read words that make me feel OKAY. So then, Nanette gets to meet AND be friends with the author of this life-changing book!! I was so jealous! I would do anything to be besties with my favorite author(s).

That was probably the end of me relating to Nanette though. Nanette has a "rebellious spirit" which awakens after reading The Bubblegum Reaper and meeting a fellow misfit named Alex. And I feel like normally I would relate with rebellion (sometimes I still find myself rebelling just to rebel), but Nanette went about it in a way that felt super selfish and high-horse riding.

Every Exquisite Thing is broken up into 2 parts-- and so were a lot of my feelings.

Part 1-- I was right THERE with Nanette and Alex. I was loving their journey and I was so happy Nanette found someone to share this awakening in her with.

Part 2 though-- I started not liking Alex (he has some serious anger issues) and I started REALLY not liking Nanette. She went from confused girl looking for meaning, to a girl that just gave up. She also spends a lot of Part 2 talking in the 3rd person-- out loud. It was SUPER annoying-- almost as annoying as how selfish Nanette became. I don't know how it happened-- one minute she was a character that I related to and just FELT, and then next thing I knew she was this girl that I wanted to punch.

Ranty Section Where I Tell You What I Think Of Part 2 Nanette:
The thing is: I wanted Nanette to CARE and she just wouldn't. I didn't want her to care about things like soccer and college and conventional teenage life, I wanted her to care about PEOPLE. Why couldn't she just care enough about the people in her life to give them a chance? She wasn't connecting with anybody and she somehow comes to this realization that it's everyone else causing the problem and not her. I get it-- people are HARD sometimes, but it's really disheartening to read about someone who's already given up on people at such a young age. To her they're all homogenized and "mainstream". She had plenty of non-mainstream people in her life, but was able to walk away from all of them without a second thought.

Another really bad thing about Nanette is that she does this insane "experiment" where she decides to act like a popular girl. It goes on for months and she even has a serious boyfriend-- all the while knowing in her mind that it's fake. And then she's all Sorry, Not Sorry to this boy that she completely stomps on. You know why?? Because it's ALL ABOUT NANETTE. When she got up at graduation, I literally wanted to jump into the book and say "sit your ass down, you ungrateful little brat". Someone needs to tell this girl SOMETHING!

There is something completely relatable to not knowing what one wants to do with their future. I feel like most of us have wondered if where we were headed after high school was the right path for us. But Nanette somehow wanted to believe that her uncertainty was worse than all that came before her because she listens to obscure music, likes seeing "art house films" and having philosophical conversations.

So after ALL of what I just said, you're probably thinking this book is BLAH. The weird thing is it's not!! Sure Nanette is kind of awful. But the thing is, I like reading about all different types of stories. It usually would offend me to read about a girl who is selfish and pretentious, but this book just worked. I'm never going to like Nanette, but I was intrigued by her story. That's the genius of Matthew Quick for me. That he could write this totally un-likable girl and still have me turning pages like mad to see what would happen to her, is impressive.

OVERALL: I love a book that can make me feel... even if that emotion is mostly ANGER towards one of the characters. What reader couldn't relate to finding a book that changes your life?? That premise made me love this book even after the main character started acting a fool. I totally recommend this to anyone who's ever felt lost and found a book that made you feel found.

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Rating, 4.5

For those who have followed my reviews, you're aware of a fondness for authors whose stories inspire or raise questions. Such is the case for this one.

Quick has a unique talent that requires the reader to look inward, which when added to his use of metaphor, uplifting morals and quirky characters makes for an engaging and evocative experience. Driven by themes of self value, and being different, we meet Nanette O'Hare, a teen girl who's lead by her high school English teacher to a book titled "The Bubblegum Reaper". Confused by the metaphors, she's delighted to know Booker, the author lives nearby and pays him a visit. In spite of being a 70 year old recluse, Nanette and Booker become friends.

Being different is far from the norm, and it's those like myself that appreciate it. While tradition opposes going against the tide, there are many who find comfort within it. Booker introduces her to Alex, a boy he became fond of and the two form a bond due to their desire to be different. Rather than fill this with spoilers, suffice it to say that tragedy yields personal breakthrough.

Being someone that has bucked authority, tradition and the "should's" parents demand, this story was extremely personal since being different is what I've embodied all my life. Regardless of your personal views, this young adult story has merit, much as all of the author's books. Adding the fact of Quick's expertise at storytelling from a female perspective along with his oddball characters and plots, the open minded reader finds joy, inspiration and more! ( )

CW: Death of boy trying to climb outside of building but unclear whether it was actually a suicide. ( )

Parts were splendid. But overall disappointing and not anywhere near his other works. Really unlikeable characters. ( )

This is the fourth book I've read by Matthew Quick, and I can definitely say that I've been impressed with each one! Quick has a talent for writing about mental health issues in way that makes them feel so real, and in a world that constantly trivializes mental health, I think that's really important. Really, really important.

Nanette is about to enter her senior year of high school when she reads a book, The Bubblegum Reaper. This book awakens a rebellious spirit in Nanette, allowing her to finally be open with a reckless abandon. After befriending a reclusive author and a troubled poet and fellow fan, she must learn to find a balance between her rebellious side and her life before.

Though I'm not in high school anymore, I think many teens coming to the end of their high school experience would find this book incredibly relatable, especially because Nanette feels like she was pressured into a lot of the activities she participated in, like soccer. Society places this immense pressure on teens to be successful and well-rounded in everything that they do, often driving them into states of anxiety or depression, like depicted in this particular story. And Matthew Quick does a marvelous job putting this exact state of being into words, while still addressing the life of privilege that Nanette comes from.

The other thing that's awesome about this book is that it is a book about the way that books can open up your world view and completely change your life (metafiction, anyone?). This has happened to me personally so often that I love the fact that it is a book that catalysts Nanette's journey toward learning more about herself and breaking free from the cage that she feels trapped in.

That being said, there was one thing that bothered me while reading this, one small instance that made me cringe slightly. Fairly early in the narrative, Nanette says, "I used to worry I was asexual or something." The connotation provided here rubbed me the wrong way, and while I understand that this is the view of the speaker and not necessarily the author, I wasn't sure that it needed to be included in here anyway. The connotation of "worrying," as if being asexual was a bad thing, frustrated me a bit. As someone who is continuously on the lookout for positive portrayals of asexuality (as there are very few, especially in YA), I was a little disheartened by this small instance here.

However, other than that, this is a spectacular book that I think should be included in any high school classroom, to show students that it's okay to not have life completely figured out when you graduate high school. ( )