All the Water in the World #BookReview #allthewaterintheworld @scribnerbooks

Synopsis from Simon & Schuster:

A stunning debut novel about a teenage girl and her mother as they grapple with first love, family secrets, and tragedy.

Maddy is sixteen. Smart, funny, and profound, she has loyal friends, a mother with whom she’s unusually close, a father she’s never met, devoted grandparents, and a crush on a boy named Jack. Maddy also has cancer. Living in the shadow of uncertainty, she is forced to grow up fast.

All the Water in the World is the story of a family doing its best when faced with the worst. Told in the alternating voices of Maddy and her mother, Eve, the narrative moves between the family’s lake house in Pennsylvania; their home in Washington, DC; and London, where Maddy’s father, Antonio, lives. Hungry for experience, Maddy seeks out her first romantic relationship, finds solace in music and art, and tracks down Antonio. She continually tests the depths and limits of her closeness with her mother, while Eve has to come to terms with the daughter she only partly knows, in a world she can’t control.

With unforgettable voices that range from tender to funny, despairing to defiant, this novel illuminates the transformative power of love, humor, and hope.

About: All the Water in the World is a contemporary fiction written by Karen Raney. It was recently published on 8/6/2019 by Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, 352 pages. The genres are contemporary and fiction. This book is the author’s debut. According to the publisher’s website, Scribner was founded “in 1846 by Charles Scribner. Scribner was originally a publisher of religious books. Today, under president Susan Moldow and publisher Nan Graham, Scribner has a distinguished list of writers that includes #1 bestselling author Stephen King.” Please see below for more information about the author and publisher.

My Experience: I started reading All the Water in the World on 8/15/2019 and finished it on 8/20/2019. This book is a great read! I like Maddy’s easy going relationship with her grandparents. Her and Jack’s interest in the environment is surprising because they are young and they care about the earth’s health. Additionally, I find it surprising also that Maddy doesn’t embrace social media like most teens do but choose instead to use email. It’s a nice change sometimes to go against the current. Since Maddy is sick, she rushes into romance too fast and I guess it’s okay but to repeat what her mom did, I feel disagree that she intentionally made that decision. What if she doesn’t get better or become pregnant and time isn’t on her side? That’s a bit complicated there.

This book is told in the first person point of view following Eve as she sits out by the lake enjoying the water view and sipping her coffee. Eve has a secret past that she hasn’t completely told her daughter. The second view is Maddy, 16, Eve’s daughter. Maddy is currently undergoing chemo for her cancer. She feels mad and sad that her biological father doesn’t seem to want her just like the universe because she’s sick. She wonders if her crush even wants her. Maddy has one or two secrets up her sleeve that her mom doesn’t know until too late. This story is divided into 3 parts.

All the Water in the World is well written though a bit slow paced for my liking. I like Maddy’s friendship support and Jack’s easy going relationship with Maddy. Jack is a good guy for treating Maddy normal. He offers her beers! Those few surprises that I didn’t expect were great though they do pull at my heartstrings. I like the positive image of a healthy and happy step parent relationship. I like that Maddy’s effort at reaching out ended well. I’m glad the story explain the title. This book has that good mother daughter relationship that isn’t always perfect. I recommend this read to everyone!

Pro: young characters concern about environment, family, lake, music, friendship, mother-daughter relationship

Con: instalove, slow paced

I rate it 4 stars!

Buy it here for free shipping: Book Depository or Simon & Schuster’s website

About the Author:

Karen Raney recently gained an MA in Creative Writing from Goldsmiths, University of London, with a distinction and was awarded the 2017 Pat Kavanagh Prize for All the Water in the World when the novel was still a work in progress. Born in Schenectady, New York, Raney attended Oberlin College, graduated from Duke University, and worked as a nurse before moving to London to study art. She lives in London with her husband and daughter, and teaches at the University of East London. (Photo and info obtained from Simon & Schuster’s website).

More Information about Scribner

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***Disclaimer: Many thanks to Scribner for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.

xoxo,
Jasmine