Member Reviews
This was my first romance novel in… months. I couldn’t bring myself to read a story that focused heavily on a boy and a girl falling in love for a long time.
That’s what happens when there is boy drama (and its aftershocks) in my life. I needed to step away from romance and focus on other things or my mind would keep wandering to that one boy with whom I really (mistakenly) believed something might happen.
So I turned to self help books and memoirs for a while. It helped, it really did. But a few days ago I remembered I had this book downloaded and I felt ready to dive back into romantic love that makes you dream and think that the world isn’t such a bad place after all.
I thought I would feel jealously seeing Will be so good to Stella and so, so romantic with her. But I didn’t… which made me realize that maybe I’m stronger than I thought. Maybe I’ll be able to appreciate seeing other people fall in love and not feel a pang of anything and be happy for them because I’ve never thought of myself as a pessimist or cynical. Maybe I moved on…
This was a lovely story. I’m not at all surprised a movie was made out of it. It’s engaging, original, relatable, and intense. Also, it teaches you about Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and that’s very important. I’m actually looking forward to reading another love story after this…
This book is exactly why I love a Young Adult. Five Feet Apart is the heartbreaking tale of Stella, who is currently hospitalized for her cystic fibrosis, and Will, who is new to Stella's home away from home. Will is on a trial medication for his B. Cepacia. We have the pleasure of watching Stella and Will's friendship blossom and their relationship unfold, all while dealing with the hardships of their diagnosis', family life and their social life... Or lack of.
It takes no time for you to fall in love with every single character. A small, intimate character cast gives you the opportunity to bond with each one. Loving their very different quirks and personalities. Going into this book, it's pretty evident it's going to be a tearjerker, and it most definitely is. It will play with your heartstrings like a puppeteer's very own marionette!
A fun yet heart-wrenching reading experience. A beautiful tale of 2 people and their fight to not let their disease define them.
The cover is gorgeous. That's what first got my attention I must say. Then it was the movie trailer that piqued my intrigue and one day, an e-galley showed up in my inbox and I was so excited.
Five Feet Apart is a heart-warming YA love story. We meet Stella, who basically lives in the hospital because of CF. She's been on this journey for as long as she can remember, and for as long as she can remember, she's been in control. She makes lists, crosses off lists, takes her medicine and everything else with care and routine. It's not until Will shows up at the same hospital, with CF that things start to get out of control. He's reckless, and cute, and not willing to let his illness control anything. Stella and Will share the same sickness but not much else. But friendship blossoms with Will's carefree attitude and Stella finds herself doing and feeling things she's never felt before.
I must admit, there was a bit of medical jargon that had to do with CF that I had to Google. I needed to know what B. Cepacia is and how the medical vest worked and so much more before continuing so I will say that reading Five Feet Apart has made me a hell of a lot more aware of what cystic fibrosis is. So I got awareness of this awful disease if nothing else. But there is so much more to Five Feet Apart. It's definitely a book that will make the reader smile and then cry, and smile all over again. It is worth the read! And I cannot wait to see the movie!
Fantastic book! I was weary about reading Five Feet Apart as I thought it would be to sappy, needless to say I read it and I loved it.
I enjoyed this book. I felt like the characters were very realistic. They have different experience in life than many other teenagers have, but they are still teenagers, and their actions seemed to really reflect that. It was the adults in the book that I found to be a little bit unrealistic, but also underdeveloped, so I think they were just a little bit one-dimensional, which made them seem like characters instead of people. Sometimes it felt like the adults and characters other than the protagonists were basically just used to create drama and move the story along, instead of having a real purpose or motivations of their own, which I think took away from the overall book a little. I liked that there were alternating points of view as well, because it gave some more insight into the way each character was feeling about their interactions.
I just didn't finish it. Just not my kinda book. Very cute and relatable main character. Well written too! I would recommend it.
Five Feet Apart is a story about Stella and Will, two teens with cystic fibrosis. Because they both have CF, they can never get within six feet of each other. If they do, Stella risks losing her place on the lung transplant list, and they both risk dying.
Reading this book, I was sure that it was going to break my heart into a million unrepairable pieces. It sounded like a mix of The Fault in our Stars (I spent 90% of that movie crying and don’t think I can ever watch it again because of that) and Everything, Everything (read the book in 24 hours, didn’t cry but it still had an impact).
To be completely honest, this book was nothing like either. I never had a connection to either of the characters or their romance. I never felt like I was cheering from them to figure something out or for a mircale cure to drop out of the sky. The only character I was cheering for to find the best happily ever after imaginable was Poe. And we’re not even going to get me started on that storyline.
The story had so much potential to be that deep, emotional kind of story that tugs at every heartstring and leaves the kind of impact that won’t let you forget it. Unfortunately, it didn’t meet that potential. Everything was written very surface level. There were many moments where characters could have been developed further or situations could have been more emotional, but it stayed very basic. This prevented me from having any kind of true attachement to the story.
Overall, I thought it was a good story in the sense that it brought important awareness to cystic fibrosis. However, I personally felt it was lacking in depth.
This book was great. It had amazing characters, an plot that was easy to get in to, and I completely read it in one night. It was truly a roller coaster of an emotional ride to read.
3.5 STARS - I was initially drawn to this book simply due to its stunningly beautiful cover. I mean, c'mon! It's gorgeous and I totally judge a book by its cover.
This is a story about Stella and Will, two terminally ill teens who live with Cystic Fibrosis. It's a bittersweet love story because Stella and Will have a big obstacle between them - they can never touch or they risk becoming even sicker and possibly dying. This book has some great plot points and while I love how it brings CF into the spotlight, I didn't quite connect emotionally with the two main characters. Almost but not quite.
Going into this book I figured I'd be a hot, blubbering mess and while there were a couple of points that I got a little veklempt, this wasn't the tear gusher I had expected it to be. It had an insta-romance feel (so not a fan) because it all happens in only TWO weeks! And while I did enjoy the sprinkling of banter between the two sick teens, I needed more time to buy into their bond. But I do give high grades for incorporating the parents' POVs and taking a look at the hard working hospital staff who almost become like family to these sick teens.
I'm happy to report that Five Feet Apart is being made into a movie (starring cutie Cole Sprouse from Riverdale fame!) and from the trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtgCqMZofqM) I think that it might fare better in cinematic form. I can't believe I just said that, but it's true. Five Feet Part is a simple story that happens over a very short period of time and I think seeing Will and Stella's connection on screen may help get me on board.
This is a cute romance that brings a focus on the struggles and fears of people living with CF and their loved ones. It's a simple and predictable story and while some of Stella and Will's choices made me go 'say wha?!', overall this was a good read and perfect for fans who want a tragic teen love story.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the publisher for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you Simon Teen for allowing me to read this in exchange for my honest review.
Stella has been suffering from cystic fibrosis her whole life. She's been in and out of the hospital multiple times, documenting her adventures on youtube along the way. She's in the hospital this time to prep for getting a new pair of lungs. During her time spent there, she gets to catch up with her long time hospital friend and meet a new one along the way. This new friend, Will, is stubborn as can be, and is also fighting for his life with cystic fibrosis. Can their different personalities mesh together? Can they be friends? or more? Remember, two people with cystic fibrosis always have to stay six feet apart....
From my understanding, this book is actually written from the screenplay of the movie, so essentially the movie came first. I felt like this book was really rushed. I feel like people are really trying to live up to the "Fault In Our Stars" hype and it doesn't actually have to be a thing. On the flip-side, they really nailed the emotions and feelings that CF patients go through. It's something I could relate to. I felt like Will started off as this stern "I don't care" kind of person and he was SOO quick to change to something completely opposite. For example, in the beginning of the book, you learn that Will lets his friends stay in his hospital bed to hookup (something I was completely turned off by - like really?). Towards the end of the book, nothing like that would've happend. It's just totally unrealistic. The ending? There are many things I would like to say about it, but I want to keep this spoiler-free. The motivation of some people after a certain event happens was a little disheartening. I would love to chat more with those of you that do read it.
Also, I was trying to find out why this movie came about in the first place, let alone the book afterwards. Were people motivated by real-life CF patients? Was it just a spin-off of the other chronic-illness books out there? I couldn't find any information on that, but I am very curious to know!
3/5 Stars
*SPOILERS*
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a e-review copy. I absolutely loved it so much. The review I have written is completely unbiased and my own opinion.
TITLE: 5 Feet Apart
AUTHOR: Rachel Lippincott with contributions from Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis
RATING: 4.5/5
REVIEW:
I found this book really difficult to rate. It was 100% a 5 star book for me for the first 3/4 of the book, maybe even a little more, but the ending with Will leaving Stella and then a few months later they meet again in an airport really didn't do a whole lot for me. I felt as though we should have seen more of Stella dealing with her new lungs and how Will was doing because it was very briefly mentioned at the end that he wasn't doing as well as before. I think Stella would have struggled a lot with losing Will and I think Will would have struggled in a similar way because he made that choice to leave Stella so she could get better. The characters in this book were amazing and very well developed. Stella and Will were really well written as they went from hate to love slowly (this is one of my favourite tropes). Poe was an amazing best friend for Stella and I really enjoyed his character. I was devastated by Poe's death but I feel like it was really necessary to the plot as it showed how imminent death is to all of the people with Cystic Fibrosis. The book most likely over-romatizied Cystic Fibrosis and I'm sure it will be judged very heavily on this, but in my opinion it was a good storyline that had an good romance/CF balance. That said I do not have CF so I don't really know a whole lot about it and maybe it was a really bad/good representation of their daily lives. In conclusion I enjoyed this book so much and I cannot wait to see the film adaptation (hopefully they will follow the plot perfectly).
Five Feet Apart had a lot of tropes that could really have turned me off (sicklit, instalove, brooding love interest, etc) but it all came together and worked for this story. I became completely invested in these characters and was brought to tears. I devoured it in less than 24 hours! I appreciated that it does not romanticize CF and we are given a detailed look at the symptoms and treatments. It is inevitable that this book will be compared to A Fault in Our Stars, but I much preferred this story. I am beyond excited to see the movie, the casting of Cole Sprouse is perfect!
A heart warming and heart breaking story of two young adults falling in love while fighting their way through life just to stay alive.
I would like to thank Netgalley for an advanced readers copy of, Five Feet Apart. All opinions are my own.
3.5/5
Five Feet Apart is a heartbreaking and moving book in very many different ways. I loved the characters and their development through the story. Stella is a strong character, someone who sticks by her convictions and does everything she needs to. Seeing how two very different people dealing with Cystic Fibrosis is eye opening. As someone who spent their early teen years reading Lurlene McDaniel books, looking for the same kind of tearjerker books this was a breath of fresh air. Although one of the characters is very pessimistic and seems to be done with following the treatment rules, etc. Stella is determined to fix that. What ensues is a heartwarming love story, the kind of love story that makes you cry and be extremely hopeful.
The author told the story of various people living with a disease that is usually terminal with mostly grace, although I am still very uneasy about one particular character death as the character is LGBTQIA+ and a minority and the problem that causes and I see as a 'bury your gays' scenario not only that but having the main character come to a realization as a result of his death The other thing that also stood out to me was the whole premise of the story being instead of six feet apart (the normal guideline for people with cystic fibrosis as they are dangerous to one another), five feet. Emotionally this hit me hard but it also made me wonder the repercussions of this in real life. This truly could mean very negative consequences for these two young people.
As soon as Will's character was introduced I knew right away why the casting for the movie was the way it was. This character suits Cole Sprouse so perfectly and I am curious to see it on screen.
"After all that CF has stolen from me, I don’t mind stealing something back. Three hundred four millimeters, twelve inches, one foot."
Hilarious and heartbreaking, Five Feet Apart offers us a peek into the lives of those with cystic fibrosis through the lens of Stella and Will.
Told in their alternating perspectives, the novel reads like a conversation which mirrors the progression of their relationship from not-so-friendly banter into something more. Like many of its YA counterparts, it contains a lot of the cliches we crave: a gorgeous girl and a handsome boy, difficulties in their personal and family lives they help each other overcome, and an overload of cute sparring.
Some parts of the story were a little too dramatic and unbelievable, but as I’m not usually very nitpicky with the details, I was able to continue enjoying the story. I especially found some of the backstories of the characters to be a little unrealistic and they seemed to make the characters more simple or stereotypical rather than multidimensional.
However, I really liked the way that Barb was portrayed. As the nurse and motherly figure who wants the best for her patients, she is conflicted on whether or not she should protect them or let them follow their hearts. I sometimes found myself connecting to her more than I did the other characters.
Overall, if you have a few hours to spare and you’re like me and like the cute and cringe, Five Feet Apart is worth the read, especially if you want something light to just pass the time. Be warned though that you will be brought through a roller coaster of emotions (yes, I did tear up at times), but we are left with a pretty open and hopeful ending. Remember to have some tissues near by!
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Schuster Books for sending me an advanced copy to review.
This book was absolutely fantastic! I have so many feelings about this book that it's hard to put into words. The emotional journey of this book was so intense, I very rarely cry but this book had me sobbing at more than one point. I don't typically read contemporary but I'm so glad that I branched out to read this book. I know a bit about Cystic Fibrosis from what I learned in my pathology classes in university but obviously, I am by no means an expert or even a more than above average person. I found the medical behind the book to be fairly accurate and from what I've heard they consulted actual CF patients and those around them to get a well-rounded understanding of the disease.
I took a ton of notes throughout the book because I really wanted to be able to provide an in-depth review of this book. The writing is so sweet and romantic right from the get-go which is really fitting to the characters and the story. The story is told from two perspectives and they're used really effectively and show a clear distinction between the two characters throughout the entire book. Also despite all being sick with the same condition the characters are still their own individuals which is great to see, they are portrayed as more than just their illness which is exactly what people need to see! Right from the beginning, we see Stella as more than just her illness, while still showing her struggles with her illness, hospitalizations, medications, and just everything that comes with being sick. We see her struggling with the disappointment of missing out on her senior trip and having to hide it so she doesn't ruin the experience for her best friends that still get to go. The story also includes things outside of her illness like her parent's separation which really adds to the story and makes it realistic and relatable. t is also important for others to understand what a chronic illness looks like and as a young adult their coming into that time when they can really understand what it means, which can make a huge difference in how they treat others with chronic conditions.
The romance in this book is so great and I'll say it again but I'm picky with my romances but this one just really did it for me. It shows the struggle of accepting love when you're sick and feeling deserving of love when you're sick which can be really difficult especially in this case where the characters are terminal. This romance was just so well written and sweet and fitting to the characters and the book it was absolutely fantastic.
This book won't be for everyone I know that but I want to recommend it to everyone anyway. It is a romance heavy contemporary but it is so much more than that too. If you liked The Fault in Our Stars by John Green you'll probably like this and even if you didn't you might still, personally I didn't like The Fault in Our Stars but that's just because I don't like John Green's writing. Fans of Jodi Picoult would also probably enjoy this book! I can't wait to pick up a finished copy of this book, read it again and force it on my friends and family.
I was very intrigued when I first saw Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott since it sounded so complex and emotional. The story features two characters with cystic fibrosis who fall in love but can’t get close to each other. The main characters complement each other, and the book does a good job informing the reader about the illness. I would recommend this one to fans of Everything, Everything, since it has similar aspects.
This book tells the story of two cystic fibrosis patients who fall in love, however they must stay six feet away from each other at all times. If Stella and Will get too close to each other, Stella could lose her shot at new lungs. I enjoyed how the book is both informative and entertaining, and how there are many uplifting moments even though it focuses on illness. The moments Will and Stella share are touching, and I felt for them since their situation is so difficult. I did feel like the plot was a bit tired, but it works, and I still enjoyed the story.
Stella and Will are like opposites, so I found it interesting to read both of their perspectives. Stella is more positive, and she has a YouTube channel where she educates others about cystic fibrosis. She is also so caring and determined to get Will to care about his health. Will is pretty reckless, and he rejects his treatments. Despite this, I actually enjoyed his character more since he transforms throughout the book. The two of them make some questionable decisions, but their relationship is ultimately so sweet.
What I really enjoyed about the book is the fact that it educates about cystic fibrosis. I learned a lot about it and the different types of treatment while I was reading, and it is clear that the author did her research. I appreciated how the story doesn’t contain massive info dumps, but the book still achieves its purpose. I can’t say firsthand if the characters’ experiences are accurately depicted, but I came away with a lot of knowledge on life with cystic fibrosis.
Five Feet Apart is an emotional story about two teens with cystic fibrosis. I enjoyed the main characters and the education throughout the book. I can’t wait to see if the film adaptation does the story justice!
I adored this book!! I really loved the characters, and the journey they went through. I loved the romance between the two main characters. The side characters were amazing as well. I'm glad I watched the trailer for the movie before reading the book. I like putting a face to the character, and I think from reading the book that they chose really well with the actors chosen for the movie. I like when movie adaptations stick to the book descriptions on characters.
I personally didn't really know much about Cystic Fibrosis until I read this book. So for that I do feel like I've learned a lot about this awful disease. For that I'm thankful, and also glad to see a book shedding light on an illness that doesn't get talked about enough.
I almost knocked a star off due to ending being left a little open-ended. I won't say who or what happens that made it feel that way for me, but there was just a couple questions I wanted answered. But it was such a small little handful that I feel like in time, I can fill in the blanks for myself and be okay with that.
Great book, amazing writing style from the author. Well done on raising awareness for Cystic Fibrosis!
I absolutely love love stories between teens with a terminal illness. It always makes for a heartbreaking story, and room for more education into these illnesses, more novels between teens that aren't of perfect health make for a more diverse romance selection, especially considering these books tend to be super successful with its target teen audience. (And, even before this book is released it's already a movie. Clearly, there's a demand).
We know that Stella and WIll are doomed from the start, not even able to touch eachother, and that's what makes this book so bittersweet from start to finish. The question is not if they'll make it, but how will it end? This is what keeps you reading, plus the utter cuteness that is their relationship. This was a romance I actually enjoyed.
I think there were a lot of moments where I felt this book could have been ended, but now I'll say that I'm happy with the final words of the book. The last few chapters of the book are heartbreaking, as expected, but also pretty hopeful in nature. I liked this mix, I like not knowing what'll happen next, knowing that in some way this can't end well, but we never see explicitly how terribly this will end, I think that was executed very well and although it doesn't make me cry, this book had just the right amount of heartbreak and yet not too much, I think it benefited the story overall.
Will is an interesting character, I really liked the character development in this book. At first he seems like a douchebag, but as we get to know him, he becomes a more complex character with a soft interior.
And Stella, who's established from the start as a control freak and a goody-goody, learns what it feels like to truly live and not buy borrowed time before she dies. Both these characters learn from each other and arguably come out better people after their experiences together.
One of my biggest critiques of this book is that it's an easy read, it wasn't very intricate and it didn't take very long to read due to it's simplicity. Maybe this is just me speaking from reading The Fault In Our Stars (a book EXTREMELY complex, which, to the fair, is criticized for), but it seems as though the romance between two sick kids should automatically be more complex than this story was. This is just me, however, and I'm open to others critiquing me about this.
The moral of the story is that I'll be watching this movie. Duh.
This is an absolute tear jerker!
I enjoyed the writing and I felt strongly for the characters. While its not something I generally choose to read I did enjoy this novel.