I'll Give You the Sun

When someone (or multiple people) recommend a book to me, I take SO long to read it (I still have not read a single Harry Potter book). I think part of it is a twinge of fear that I'm not going to like it, but it usually takes me months to actually get to a book that someone has highly recommended for me. I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson was no different – I think my cousin, Riley, had recommended this book 50 times before I actually snagged a copy to read. But let me tell you, my cousin did NOT lead me astray. This book was beautiful – the type that you pick up whenever you get a free moment. I sent her multiple texts while I was reading, and they all said the same thing: "Oh my god, this book is so good."

Told through the eyes of two characters (Noah and Jude, twins who are both artists) this novel tugged at my heartstrings and painted a photo in a way no other novel has for me before. The author has a way of describing things in such a way that you can visualize the character's emotions. Her way of depicting feelings just make sense; it's so hard to describe.

Speaking of characters, Noah and Jude are both very intricate and well thought out. I love when characters have layers that unfold as the plot progresses. To me, it makes the story more meaningful and allows for more angles of analyzation, both in character development and in symbolism in the book overall. The character complexity paired with the events that take place in the plot truly evoke emotion in the reader – I found myself tearing up on multiple occasions.

Another aspect I liked about this book is how the time period jumps between past and present. Noah tells the part of the story that takes place in the past while Jude tells the part that is in the present. The story has a lot of overlapping and eerie connections, and the time shifts really help the reader piece the puzzle together as the timeline progresses. I think this is especially true since each twin has their own half of the story, and it all ties together in the end. This type of writing makes the reading experience that much more enjoyable in my opinion – I always love creating mini theories while I read.

Overall, I'd definitely say that this book is a must-read. And I know that my last book review was a must-read, but I'll Give You the Sun is even higher on my list than that one. I plan to purchase a physical copy to add to my shelves.

Let me know if you've read this book and your thoughts on it!