Everything That Makes You by Moriah McStay
One girl. Two stories. Meet Fiona Doyle. The thick ridges of scar tissue on her face are from an accident twelve years ago. Fiona has notebooks full of songs she’s written about her frustrations, her dreams, and about her massive crush on beautiful uber-jock Trent McKinnon. If she can’t even find the courage to look Trent straight in his beautiful blue eyes, she sure isn’t brave enough to play or sing any of her songs in public. But something’s changing in Fiona. She can’t be defined by her scars anymore.
And what if there hadn’t been an accident? Meet Fi Doyle. Fi is the top-rated female high school lacrosse player in the state, heading straight to Northwestern on a full ride. She’s got more important things to deal with than her best friend Trent McKinnon, who’s been different ever since the kiss. When her luck goes south, even lacrosse can’t define her anymore. When you’ve always been the best at something, one dumb move can screw everything up. Can Fi fight back?
Hasn’t everyone wondered what if? In this daring debut novel, Moriah McStay gives us the rare opportunity to see what might have happened if things were different. Maybe luck determines our paths. But maybe it’s who we are that determines our luck.
Publishes in US: March 17th 2015 by Katherine Tegen Books aka Harper Teen
Genre: ya contemp (magical realism)
Source: Harperteen via edelweiss
Series? no
Buy it: Amazon Barnes & Noble IndieBound
Author stalk away: ~site
I wanted to read Everything that Makes You because of course I have wondered what if, along with most everyone, and in general I like books that explore this sort of topic.
I really connected with Fionna she's the one in this one that has the scar on her face. it is interesting to see the differences in her school work in her personality even in her relationships with other people. Her friendship with Trent is there in the Fi side of things where she doesn't have her car and her whole life is basically lacrosse. whereas on the thing on the side she just has a crush on Trent and they're finally just kind of talking for the first time. even her relationship with her family is different. they are way over protective with Fionna and that includes her brother I think that he has some feelings of guilt or whatever because of the accident that caused her scars on her face.
In the FI part of everything she is having more trouble with school work and really start to have more of an identity crisis that is lacrosse all that makes her special. she also feels a lot of pressure from her mom to be more girly to study more to basically she feels like her mom just wants her to be a completely different person.
The two even though at the heart they're the same person the contrast is just so pronounced in the first part of the book.
The other thing that distinguishes the two is that Fiona really loves music. She plays the guitar and writes lyrics to it and she has a burning desire to create but she also feels very insecure and never really wants to share what she's written. she says that revealing those truths bit opening herself to others opinions and criticisms would be like going inside out she might break apart completely and I really think that that sums up kind of her outlook on life I guess. little of the quote where she said there was an outside part of her music that she couldn't hide her songs filed a dozen notebooks... guitar string calluses covered her fingertips but the inside part? it was like her music was stitched through her system like tensions or blood cells ... all of it the rhymes, the chords... performed vital functions.
A little before halfway through I started to realize just how connected the two really were. the stories have a lot of the same characters in it's interesting just tell a few decisions can change the course of her life so much. the senior year begins for the two are beginning to Feel this little pit in the bottom of my stomach is kind of telling me that their stories were going to be even more intertwined than I originally thought they would be.
While l expected the emotional impact from Fiona story I didn't really expect the emotional depth that was in there for Fi.
The story went on and everything got even more connected and intertwined and complicated and messy the more I loved it. I love seeing both the similarities and differences of Fiona and a fi because they have the same people in their life. but at the same time those people were different and she was different. the way that she looked at the world was different... it was shaped by her mom treating her differently plus her brother not feeling responsible for scars on her face or just even the boy that she had a crush on being her best friend.
Both versions of Fiona changed a lot in this one. They learned a lot about themselves and what they love as well as their identity. That its all of the people you love how you love them as well as I guess the face that you put on to the world. they both went through some hard things they were totally different hard things but it shaped him to be a really strong person and to love deeply and to feel grief deeply.
What I thought would be a simple what-if comparison of two parallel lives ended up something much deeper and much more emotional than I could have bargained for
My question to you, my lovely readers:
What would your "what if" center around?
The parallel reminds me of an "old" film with Gwyneth Paltrow, Sliding doors. I'd love to read this novel, thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteI didn't like this one much, which is down to the character, didn't like either version of her, there was just something that rubbed me the wrong way, but I did like the concept of it.:) I think my what if is really personal but something that happened when I was younger, so I guess I wonder who I would be if it didn't happen.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds so interesting with how the two lives "what if" get tangled up and twisty, yet really are not so different. It sounds like you connected to both as well. Glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Brandi :)
This does seem like an interesting read. Everyone wonders "what if" and this is the first time I've seen an author really take it into perspective. I think I will have to pick this one up. Thanks for your review :)
ReplyDeleteThe more I read you review the more intrigued I became. Not on the face of it a book I'd probably have picked up but you have me convinced its worth a read.
ReplyDeletehttp://pettywitter.blogspot.co.uk
Ooo that's interesting. I'm loving that cover too. Very different. Glad you had such an awesome time with it :D
ReplyDeleteWow this sounds amazing! This wasn't on my radar at all, so I'm very glad I read your review. I will definitely give this one a try!
ReplyDeleteThese books with alternate realities always interest me. Such a strange cover as well.
ReplyDeleteLovely review, Brandi, thank you :) Your questions, you know, are dangerous :) I make it a rule to stay away from what-ifs, because I believe nothing good can come from it. But I've always been fascinated by alternate realities in fiction.
ReplyDeleteComing across your review for this one felt so coincidental since i'm actually just about to start this one! I'm so thrilled to hear that you loved this one Brandi :)
ReplyDeleteAmazing is well..amazing :D
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book! I hadn't heard of this one before and now I think it needs to go on my wishlist.
ReplyDeleteIm glad you loved this book Ive almost picked it up a few times but I read only one other review of it and that person hated it so I was nervous to read it. Seeing that you liked it makes me want to trust my instincts and read it! Great review! <3 Bee @ Bee Reads Books
ReplyDeleteIs this like If I Stay?
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your review! I love stories like this, as it reminds me of a few others I've read. Always interesting to see the differences as well as the similarities! Need to add this one to my wishlist!
ReplyDeleteTerri @ Alexia's Books and Such...
I have seen this book around a bit but never had a review in as much detail as this one! I am glad to hear it was such a great and emotional story where the characters get to develop a lot. The concept of what if is one I often speculate about as well, but I am not sure what it is around. Most likely I wonder what if I was from another country or culture? I wonder what kind of person I would have been then.
ReplyDeleteThis one is totally new to me Brandi and I like how it all intertwined and got messy.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see this one is so good! I have this on my wish list this year. I'm glad it isn't just a comparison but a real exploration of the "what if".
ReplyDeleteMy "what if"- what if he hadn't gotten on that plane?
I like the concept. It's really unique and it sounds like they pulled it off. Being able to see something from both sides and wonder if they could what side they would take.
ReplyDeleteWow, this sounds really good! And I always take special notice of books you give 5 stars =)
ReplyDeleteI really love the concept of the what if scenario. I'm glad you really liked this one! Lovely review!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really unique and definitely interesting! I haven't seen it around. I see that you have the genre as YA "magical realism" I don't think I've come across one of this before. I'm very curious.
ReplyDeleteThank you for putting it on my radar.
Glad you enjoyed this so much. Sounds a little confusing though :)
ReplyDeleteOh wow! This sounds great Brandi, I'd like to see how these storylines are connected myself. Fab review!
ReplyDeleteNaomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace
Great review! I haven't seen this one around much but I will definitely have to check it out, it's great that it had more depth than you were expecting!
ReplyDeletelovely review Brandi, this book is either you like it or hate it, glad to see you loved it :D
ReplyDeleteI love books that go deeper than you expect.
ReplyDeleteAlways the best surprise
ReplyDeleteI can totally see its one or the other
ReplyDeleteI was drawn in by the scars and delighted was much more
ReplyDeleteIt is so neat
ReplyDeleteIt can surely be a bit confusing, but I still loved
ReplyDeleteI think its contemporary, but didn't know if fully since it is the two parallel lives with different decisions
ReplyDeleteLove the what ifs as well
ReplyDeleteIt really suropised me and made me think
ReplyDeleteYes! Seeing the two sides is amazing for me, and wish I could do for parts of my life
ReplyDeleteAw that does sound like one that would be considered
ReplyDeleteYes, you said it wonderfully
ReplyDeleteOh, man the different culture angle is a really great idea
ReplyDeleteIt does have some similarities to pivot point and the like
ReplyDeleteUm, some similarities I think, but not life and death for her
ReplyDeleteI think like said above, that I can see it being a love or hate
ReplyDeleteHope you like it, so glad I gave it a chance
ReplyDelete:)
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy as much as me
ReplyDeleteHa, yes I suppose can be pretty dangerous. That is a good thing to live by in real life, because nothing can be done about it
ReplyDeleteyes, it is, luckily looked past that. but it fits I guess having the facial scars in one story line but not the other
ReplyDeleteYay, hope you enjoy
ReplyDeleteIt is is a unique cover. and while plot has been done before, also has a neat twist
ReplyDeleteYes, glad I looked past, but now after finishing it is def a good one for the story inside
ReplyDeleteI have seen a few play with it, but certainly liked this take
ReplyDeleteYes, do get all intertwined
ReplyDeleteAw, yes, connecting with characters is certainly important
ReplyDeleteSeveral have mentioned that about pivot point, I need to watch that one
ReplyDeleteOh, I love books that explore the what-ifs in a credible way, where the possibilities of change are different because of that. Adding to my TBR, Brandi.
ReplyDeleteI think my "what if" would be about my first concussion. Things would probably be so different if that never happened.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed the book. It wasn't for me, but I love seeing when people like something that I didn't.