This was a quick read for me! I really, really liked the voice of Ryn. She is someone who doesn't hold back with her internal monologue, despite her struggle to be open with people around her.

Watching her grow over the course of the novel was the best part, and I think the point of the book. I liked how Ryn talked about Lottie with loving remembrance, and her memories are something important to her. It speaks true to how some people grieve. Memories are slippery things, and when Ryn looks back with hindsight it's easy for her to see flaws but also cherish them.

I found myself getting frustrated with Lottie as a character. It's easy to see why Ryn likes her is best friends with her. I felt that Ryn's glorification of Lottie made it hard to see Lottie as just a person. Ryn looks at her with rose-colored glasses, especially because she wants to remember only the good things about Lottie. As a reader, I could look in with outside perspective, so I wasn't as convinced of Lottie's invincibility. I think the dynamic nature of Lottie herself shouldn't be overlooked, and I can appreciate that.

Xander was great as a character, but let's be real, Troy was the awesome male character here. The idea of running into a child <del>genius&nbsp;</del>prodigy in an airport, and then befriending him is a little wild and I liked it. The conspiracy of the Denver airport was so interesting, and I loved the part where Troy and Ryn look for clues about it. I think that he added a new perspective for Ryn, and I liked their relationship.

The setting of the book played well into the plot. Being stuck in forces Ryn to face up to something really hard for her. It's something that Ryn has been struggling with for months, and probably will for years to come. However, I think that this first step really pushes her to deal with Lottie's death more openly than she has before.

Overall, I highly recommend this read!

The Chaos of Standing Still ripped out my heart and put it back together. I loved the flashbacks between Ryn and Lottie. I felt Lottie's loss as deep as Ryn did. I wanted to read more and more about her. I'm always a fan of 24 hour stories, especially when they involve a delay and one general setting (in this case, the airport). I enjoyed seeing Ryn and Xander grow to become friends and how they helped one another. I rate this amazingly heartbreaking and hopeful book five stars.

The book did not really work for me. I DNF'ed it. I wasn’t able to connect with any of the many characters in the book and I found myself putting down the book a lot because it was never really catching my attention.

This was such a wonderful read, I loved every minute of this story! People had been raving about this book to me so it was on my list but I took my sweet time getting to it, which I completely regret now. The book was set over about one day, taking place at an airport during a snow storm where all the flights are delayed, trapping the strangest of companions together for New Years Eve. While being in the present at the airport, we get important flashbacks sprinkled in from Ryn's life, be it time with her best friend to understand their dynamic or therapy sessions where Ryn refuses to grieve her loss. Ryn's dislike of Doctor Who not withstanding, I really liked her as a person. I don't know how Jessica managed to merge complete heartbreak into complete ridiculous, over the top humor, but with some sort of magic she did. I completely connected to Ryn, I experienced her anxiety and debilitating loss right along with her, her emotions were so real. But on the other hand, I found my self laughing out load while reading so many times, be it over fake identities or a food court duet, I feel like this story brought all the emotions to the table. While this was a story of loss and growth, it was very much so about friendship, letting go and the possibility of romance. I would gladly reread this story multiple times and force it on all my friends to read now too.
I recommend this for YA contemporary fans and anyone who wants all the feels.

Jessica Brody does a great job with giving her teens great voice that read well. This book is no exception. In a book about grief and loss, Ryn is trying to mourn the death of her best friend Lottie, who was killed in a car accident while the drunk driver got away without injury. She hasn't been able to grieve and has prolonged her release by holding onto Lottie's last text message to her and leaving it unread. She gets stuck in a Denver airport due to a blizzard and chaos ensues when she mixes up her phone with Xander. Choas ensues, and Ryn has to embrace the life she has to live.

(Blog post goes up this Friday, 1/11/19.)

I'm a big fan of Jessica Brody's books because they contain heart, are well plotted, and overall, her stories are engaging. This one started the same. It takes place when Ryn gets stranded at the Denver airport over the holiday. And instead of getting a fleeting romance when she meets Xander (whose identity is mysterious when they first meet after haphazardly swapping their cell phones), it's a story about grief, friendship and family, and learning to move forward when you can't get rid of the past.

The story is self-contained as a raging blizzard pummels Denver and Ryn is trapped over a 24-hour period. The airport -- and all its quirky employees and travelers -- also become a character in the book and helped with the book's pacing. Although there were a lot of flashbacks, other than the beginning, I didn't mind them because it did add to the overall story of the loss of her friend and her path to healing. It truly made me come to like her more as the story progressed.

I felt the same with the character Xander. I thought he was a sweet, complex character and complemented Ryn really well. And as he follows Ryn on this interesting conspiracy theory quest throughout the airport, including dealing with his own issues when it comes to his parents, the story felt really fresh and cute. Not to mention, Chaos was a funnier than I expected.

Jessica Brody, time and time again, shows us that she's a wonderful author and although this one wasn't one of my favorites of hers, I can't wait for her upcoming titles.

As always, happy reading!

At the time I enjoyed this book and would recommend Jessica Brody titles in the future, but thinking back I can't really recall what happened in this title. I remember the two characters were stuck in an airport and their lives were heavy with melodrama.

From the synopsis I could tell it would be a heavy book, but it was a lot more so than I expected. With the welcome "comedic relief" of the chaos of the airport and the whirlwind of the 24 hours, it was a good book to get lost in. I felt so sad for her. Even though I have never lost a best friend, I have lost someone close to me, and I understand, that even a year later it doesn't get any easier.

I was never able to read this book, the file wouldn't ever download and I'm really sad that I wasn't able to read it. I tried to download it both on my computer and on my iPhone (kindle) but it didn't work.

I really wanted to read this but for some reason the format would just not me read it. I'm super sad and plan on checking it out from my library so I can read it. I loved the synopsis.

Rating added only because Netgalley requires a star rating.

Ryn is stranded in Denver International Airport on New Year’s Eve with one unread message on her phone. This message has been on there for a year almost to the day. It’s the last message her best friend sent her before she died in a car accident on New Year’s Day. As Ryn rushes through the airport, she bumps into Xander and they accidentally switch phones. Once they switch phones back, Ryn is thrust into one heck of an adventurous night as she meets all sorts of different kinds of strangers.

Ryn is an excellent main character. Her grief and anxiety felt so real—from the constant need to have her phone at the ready to search any questions that pop into her mind to having conversations with Lottie in her head, I found this to be a very realistic portrayal. I felt for her so much and could understand the pain she was feeling.

I also loved the narrative she told. Lottie and her unread message are constantly on her mind. I loved how Jessica Brody would switch back and forth from the current situation in Denver to past memories Ryn has of Lottie. I loved watching their friendship and Lottie’s character unfold.

Overall, The Chaos of Standing Still is a heartwarming coming of age story about learning to move on after a tragedy and finding yourself. This is one novel not to be missed!

Actual Rating: 4.5 stars

I have never spent overnight stranded in an airport, but if I had, this book pretty much sums up everything that I imagine happens in situations like that. The Chaos of Standing Still is such a fun story, and while it has a lot of lighthearted moments that come with contemporary novels, it also touches on some tough topics, such as coping with the death of a best friend.

Ryn has a lot of interesting quirks, one of which is that she compulsively Googles things. I thought this was such a unique trait to explore, because I also Google the answers to random questions that pop into my head all the time! Not nearly to the extent that Ryn does, but still, I could relate.

The cast of characters that Ryn meets while stranded in the airport are absolutely hilarious, and they add a lot of comedy to the story. This is great, because it helps to lighten up the story, which could have otherwise been very serious and sad. Ryn manages to get herself into a lot of… interesting situations with her new friends.

I also really loved that Jessica Brody chose some interesting names for her characters! Ryn and Xander are such unique names, and while a name might not seem like the most important part about a character, I think that each of their names really fits with their personality.

I give The Chaos of Standing Still 5/5 stars. It strikes the perfect balance of hitting on hard topics while maintaining that fun feel of a contemporary novel.

Author Jessica Brody made this day in an airport seem like a lifetime of sorrow. She turned something as simple as tasting snowflakes into a tangible, flavorful experience of grief. Don’t worry that the book will make you too sad! The heartbreak is SO worth it.

Airports are kind of fascinating, aren’t they? They’re almost like little cities, but people are always in such a rush to get out of there that they hardly ever take the chance to explore. Honestly, though, this book made being stranded overnight at the airport sound not that bad.

Ryn was a pretty…weak character for me. She was kind of written that way on purpose and I think we were supposed to see a lot of growth from her as the book went on, but she kind of just stayed weak the whole time for me. I didn’t hardcore dislike her, but I didn’t like her very much either and didn’t really find myself with too much sympathy for her. I didn’t think she tried very hard to understand Xander or his situation. Speaking of Xander, as per the usual in YA books, he was way too mature/understanding/kind/forgiving for an 18-year-old boy. I’m not saying that all teenage boys are trash, but they’re definitely not like Xander.

I have my issues with Lottie too, but it feels kind of bad to criticize a dead person–even if they’re fictional. I just don’t really think she was a good friend for Ryn. Their friendship seemed enormously one-sided even though I think the author tried to paint it as two-sided.

There was not too much to the plot as it was mainly a character-driven book, but there were certain aspects that I questioned a little bit. While I love hearing Denver Airport conspiracy theories, I didn’t really understand why that was brought up. Or even what that character’s purpose was.

Overall, I think the book was pretty good. The pacing was quick and moved things along even with Ryn’s “flashbacks”. The writing was good as well and didn’t drag the story down. I wasn’t blown away by this book, but I would recommend it if you’re looking for a holiday read that isn’t a complete fluff-piece.

Disclaimer for my ratings: Usually while I read books I make notes about the content. But since I’ve been on hiatus, I haven’t been doing that. So my content ratings may not be 100% accurate (but I did try really hard to remember).

Overall Rating: 4 (rounded up from 3.5)
Language: Moderate
Violence: Mild
Smoking/Drinking: Moderate
Sexual Content: Moderate

Note: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book more for the hijinks than the grieving process of the protagonist.

The Chaos of Standing Still was one of the last books I read in 2017, and I immensely enjoyed it! While I did not *love* the book, I was pretty close to it!

The Chaos of Standing Still follows Ryn, a teenage girl stranded in Denver International Airport due to a massive snow storm (sound familiar, anyone?) while the anniversary of her best friend's death looms. At the airport, she meets Xander. A potential romance ensues, but so does the uncovering of a monumental force of grief.

Maybe it's just me, but sometimes I need a good cry, and The Chaos of Standing Still hit the spot. I thought the grief was well done - Ryn is angry; she is in denial, but at the end of it all, she's hurting. I can't imagine what it would be like to have one of my best friends die, let alone feel guilt about their death also. Brody completely immersed me in the story; Ryn was written so well, the feelings were authentic, and the setting was a character unto itself.

The whole entire book is set in the Denver International Airport, and I loved reading about it! While it can be miserable to be stuck at an airport, I loved how this one setting allowed for some unique situations. One of my favorite scenes was when Ryn and Xander were riding the airport train. Antics ensue, and it was so fun to read.

The only thing that I didn't like all the time was Ryn, but I think that might have been the point. Overall, she was a fine protagonist, but sometimes she got on my nerves. She is dealing with a lot of unresolved grief, but she was incredibly rude sometimes. Also, there were some pretty cringe-y scenes. There was one specific scene at a party where I felt just so embarrassed for Ryn that it was hard to read. While this does show how Brody wrote Ryn so well that I was able to empathize with her so much, it also made me get easily fed up with her as well.

If you are ever in the need of a book to make you cry, this is the one for you! Though Ryn would at times get on my nerves, I appreciated the story overall. The romance was heartening, and the ending was done so well. This is my first time reading something by Jessica Brody, and I'm definitely going to be reading more of her, hopefully this year!

With that, I give this book

4.5 out of 5 Stars!

Jessica Brody does it again, and I might argue that this is her best book yet. It has all the feels, and is an emotional rush from beginning to end. I couldn't put it down. Great characters! Unique plot and setting! Unforgetable.

The Chaos of Standing Still is an interesting contemporary by Jessica Brody. It deals with a teenager who is not only struggling to deal with grief but is also experiencing survivor's guilt. She has lost someone that she considers the better half of herself so she is stuck in this cyclone of emotions she can’t find a way out of.

I loved the setting of the book. Ryn is trying to get home and his flying a cheapo airline which makes stops in Denver. She ends up stranded at the airport due to a snowstorm that has completely shut down not only the planes, but the entire area. While I was reading I actually looked up things about the airport. I’ve been there before but Brody does such a great job of describing different things about it. Especially the artwork that I didn’t even notice in the times I’ve passed through there. (only on connecting flights). I loved how she made the airport come to life in my mind

I actually read an adult book where the main character was dealing with the grief in a similar way to Ryn. By that I mean the way she chooses to keep Lottie alive. The thing that is interesting is that being in her head you start to understand how she sees things this way. I really like that we learn more about Lottie and Ryn by the flashbacks she has. You see how Ryn really felt like she needed to take care of Lottie, it’s almost like that gave her a purpose and once Lottie is gone. She can’t find her place anymore, she doesn’t really understand where she belongs in the world. I think that also influences the guilt she feels because she doesn’t see herself as being someone who is worth anything on her own. She needs to figure out who this new Ryn is and she doesn’t really want to.

Xander is such a fun guy and even though he has his own things going. I like the way that he doesn’t just leave Ryn. He was just cute all around.

I love the other characters in the story as well. The various people they meet at the airport who have their own stories as well. It made the book fun, even though it deals with a heavier issue. Also it kept me drawn in. I felt like there was always something interesting going on.

I love a YA romance that reminds me of my own high school experience. I felt like this one gave me the same feels and it was easy to get on board with the cuteness of it. Of course it’s not perfect, Ryn is still dealing with some heavy stuff. I like the way Xander and Ryn come together and at times think they are going their separate ways but end up in the same place again.

I really enjoyed The Chaos of Standing Still. I loved Jessica Brody’s writing, she is able to keep a story interesting and moving. I liked the characters and setting. Of course this is the perfect time of year to read it with New Year’s just around the corner.

I haven’t read a lot of books by Jessica Brody – while I have quite a few of the ones that she has written so far, the only one that I have actually gotten around to reading was Addie Bell’s Shortcut to Growing Up. I thought that was a really cute book for both middle graders, young adults, and adults who enjoy young adult and middle grade (like me!). So I had really high hopes for The Chaos of Standing Still.

“I will always be a survivor. I will always be the girl who didn’t get in the car that day. That will be my identity until the day I die.
After that, no one can call me survivor anymore.”

The Chaos of Standing Still tells the story of Ryn, a girl who is dealing with the aftermath of a tragedy even a year after it happened, who gets stuck in an airport on her way home because of a horrible snowstorm. Since her anxiety is through the roof already, she spends a good portion of her time Googling questions on her phone (something that is incredibly important to her), and staring at the notification that reminds her that she has one unread message. That unread message is from her best friend, Lottie, and has sat on her phone since the day she died. Ryn hasn’t read it, and can’t bring herself to read it, because she believes that once she reads that message and the notification goes away, then she has to accept that Lottie is really gone.

“I swiped my phone screen on and stared down at my messaging app.
One unread message
One unanswered question.
One piece of her still left. Still alive. Still existing in the world.”

Ryn’s obsession with that text message, coupled with the guilt that she feels about surviving while her best friend died, as well as her never ending need to look up questions she has on her phone, Ryn has a hard time coping with the fact that she will be stuck in this airport overnight at least. She wants to get home so that she can fall apart the next day all alone – because the next day will mark one year that her best friend Lottie died.

When Ryn runs into a cute boy by accident, and the two of them end up grabbing each other’s phones and then having to switch them back, it turns into a a completely different experience for Ryn – one that she isn’t sure what to do with, especially when the boy asks her to have lunch with him, and then hang out with him in the airport. At first, Ryn is hesitant, but she eventually gives in to Lottie’s voice, which she fabricates in her mind to help deal with her grief. Lottie’s voice tells her that she needs to take him up on his offer, and against her better judgement, Ryn finds herself having lunch with a cute boy, having a party with some of the staff at the airport, and finally coming to terms with grief she has been burying for a year.

“It was at that moment, in my eight years of life, that I realized there are two kinds of people in this world: those who eat their Push-Up Popsicles a little at a time. And those who try to devour them whole. Or in other words: There was me and there was Lottie.”

I really enjoyed the friendship aspect of The Chaos of Standing Still. Even though Lottie is dead, we still get a lot of flashbacks about their friendship, including how they became friends, and I feel like we get to know Lottie a lot better than Ryn. It’s easy to see how much Ryn loved Lottie, and it’s kind of heartbreaking to watch as she crumbles under her grief. Their friendship was really something special, through the good and the bad.

The grief that Ryn has to deal with is heartbreaking, and the fact that a cute boy in an airport can more or less force her to face it was interesting – all the feelings that she had, her anxiety, her survivor’s guilt – it all comes to the surface in this novel, and it kind of grabs you and sucks you in so that you can almost feel what she is feeling. Jessica Brody did a really great job writing her character and the devastating things that she was dealing with.

Ryn’s character was interesting, and I did like her, but I wasn’t really able to connect with Xander’s character all that much. I don’t know why, but for whatever reason, he just seemed kind of cookie-cutter, although both Lottie and Ryn’s characters were really rounded. I do feel like by focusing completely on the tragedy and other things that Ryn was dealing with, we didn’t really get a good view of who she was before the accident, or the more positive qualities of who she was. I was hoping that the book would also focus on some other things, but everything just seemed really negative. I understand that the author was trying to create a heartbreaking/heartwarming story, but I just wish there would have been more to focus on.

For me, it’s a bit hard to pinpoint exactly what went wrong with The Chaos of Standing Still. It was a good book, it really brought out some emotions for me, and I thought that it had a lot to offer in terms of plot. But I just wasn’t able to connect to the characters as much as I would have loved to, considering that this book is character driven and takes place over such a short period of time.

I really flew through this book and I read it pretty much in a single night. It’s a really great book to curl up with during the winter with some tea and a big, warm blanket. I definitely will be picking up more books by Jessica Brody when they come out.

It's always fun to see what an author will do with such a short time frame - and this book takes place during 24 hours. Despite the short amount of time, the book is jam packed with plenty of material to keep things moving along and I immensely enjoyed it. It's definitely a sweet read that will melt your heart. Ryan and Xander are such a good pairing! They have a great back and forth going from the beginning, and I was rooting for them to the end! And, not to give too much away, but the airport really was such a great location for this book. Ryan's loneliness has hidden depths that I thought gave this book the something extra it needed to elevate it from basic romance to something more complex. It's heartbreaking and hopefully and uterrly delightful.