I've never climbed Mount Everest. I've never wanted to. But I can understand wanting to push yourself to do something like that, something so extreme and so dangerous its more about proving to yourself you can do it than anything else.

Tate and Rose have spent their entire lives climbing together, encouraged by Rose's mother and Tate's father who are both keen climbers. For years now, their focus has been on Everest and they have trained and fundraised and done everything they could to get there.

But now that the trip is actually happening, neither Tate nor Rose are as excited or as focused as they need to be to meet the challenge. Rose's mother is ill and couldn't accompany them to Nepal, leaving Rose feeling like she's missing a limb or something, while Tate's hiding a new terror of climbing he's developed since a nasty fall a few months back and pushing back when his father nags at him about failing to live up to his expectations.

And to complicate things even further, it appears that after all these years of being just friends, their relationship is changing, moving toward being the romance their friends always assumed they were already embroiled in.

With the mountain's summit growing closer and the challenges of climbing it with limited oxygen become more apparent, each of these climbers is going to need to dig deep to find their own strength and reason to keep going.

I enjoyed this book because it really brought home just how dangerous and how difficult it is to climb Everest. The characters were real and flawed and the romance between Tate and Rose felt like it grew organically.

I particularly liked the detail about climbing and the way you prepare for something like summiting Everest and the care and attention the Sherpas put into ensuring their climbers make it through the experience.

If you're interested in climbing, or maybe, like me, don't know much about it, this might just be the book for you. Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read it in advance.

Rose and Tate have been best friends since they were 2 years old. Not only do they see each other every day, they have the same hobby - climbing. Years of planning went into organising the climb of a lifetime - Mount Everest. It is dangerous and only nutters would climb it. But do they make it to the top?

This story was a bit of a is starter for me and find it difficult initially to get into it. However I carried on and it did pick up. To the point where I had to read on.
Although some parts were predictable, the story was lovely.

The characters were well developed and it was obvious that the author researched this topic thoroughly!

Brilliant read, nearly had me in tears bear the end.

This is an emotionally gripping story of 2 life-long friends that go to Nepal to climb Mount Everest. This has been their dream and goal for years and they have trained hard. On their trip, they come to terms with their relationships, face their demons and learn who they really are.

This book is one I will remember for many years. I laughed, I cried and I rejoiced with Rose and Tate.

A cute story with a serious undertone exploring mental health issues such as PTSD. The author has done a beautiful job describing the region of Nepal, as an avid traveller myself, I felt as though I could really taste, smell, and hear what being in Kathmandu would have been like. I wish the buildup to Rose and Tate’s relationship was teased a bit more, rather than progressing what felt like suddenly. I also wish we got a bit more depth into exploring why they felt the way they did in certain situations. But overall I really enjoyed this one and would reccomend it to any travel lovers out there looking for a quick read.

Great story about two families who have planned the climb of a lifetime on Mt. Everest and the reality of the dangers that await them.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC copy

As a climber myself I have never before read a decent and realistic mountaineering fiction, so I started this book almost expecting to write a negative review. But I thought Above All Else was fantastic. The author captured the same horrendous atmosphere of Everest that "Into Thin Air" portrayed. She realistically gave the insight into the mind of passionate climbers questioning their dreams and morals.

Above all else honestly was the best fiction about mountaineering that I have ever read. The story was gripping and the characters were loveable. The author tackled PTSD, MS and Summit Fever with sensitivity and a heartwarming romance between childhood friends made for a great addition to the story.

Although I've climbed numerous big mountains, I've never been to Everest and after reading "Into Thin Air"as a child, I decided I never want to go. This story has only convinced me further that my decision is the right one!

3.5 stars

First, let’s talk about how much I love this cover. So pretty I could stare her all day.
Both Rose and Tate are such well-developed and well-rounded characters. And, more importantly, their relationship was well-developed. Romance is there, but that's not what this book is about their friendship has a deep connection and it was actually quite riveting to read.

This was an overall captivating story, and everyone that the adventure seeker should read it.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸!

This was an extraordinary read. I could almost feel the struggles Rosa and Tate were going through. I’ve never experienced this much of a bond with the main characters in a book.
The story was built perfectly, describing one of the hardest, toughest locations on earth, I’d imagine. The characters were rich and full of their own quirks, the way the other characters were mentioned and used was amazing.

Thank you for this read, 10/10 would recommend

Above All Else by Dana Alison Levy was an exciting story about what it takes to climb Mount Everest. I was intrigued by this book initially because I love outdoor activities like hiking and rock climbing. I find stories including these activities are highly lacking in the book community in general but especially in the Young Adult genres. When I read the synopsis, I knew I had to read it.

The characters in this story were well done. While I could not identify with any one character in particular, I did enjoy getting to know the characters; especially Tate and Rosa. I will do my best to describe why I liked these characters without any spoilers. Tate was probably my favourite character. I admired his love and compassion for characters going through difficult times. How he was willing to help those in need. How Tate stepped up when things were tough even though he was scared as heck! I commend him for knowing his limits as well and knowing when to stand up for himself. Rosa had a passion I think very few ever have for anything. It is contagious and scary all at the same time. Lastly, Paul was the comic relief with all of his Disney knowledge, singing, and jokes.

I did wrestle a bit with the buildup in the relationship. Tate and Rosa have been friends and hiking partners their whole lives, so they pretty much know everything about each other. So, while they really don’t need to get to know each other, I find what happens in their relationship very sudden. I feel it could have been built up a little more during the flash backs or build up to Everest, or not gone so deep so fast.

I found the story line was a good mix of background story, training, the initial training at Everest and the final climb. The story moved at a pleasant pace, and I did not feel there was any extra fluff. The story dove into some of the moral dilemmas of how much people pay to have an opportunity to climb this mountain while there are people living in extreme poverty there. The dangers and tragedies faced. What the Sherpas and their families face on that mountain for thrill seekers, but how welcoming they are to share their home. I found the knowledge and information put in about the summit to be at a perfect reading level. It was very clear information and not so overdone that it would be boring and drag the story.

I am sure some instances were glazed over a bit since this book is for a younger audience. There are some possible trigger warnings such as dead bodies and some of the darker sides of climbing to the highest point in the world. It is not all glory. There are a lot of issues that climbers deal with once they return home. There was also language, making out, and a sex scene in the story. The sex scene was not described in any detail.

I received a review copy for my Kindle from Net Galley. Thank you, Charles Bridge Teen and Dana Alison Levy, for an epic adventure! All opinions are 100% my own.

This was a really great read! I really enjoyed reading this book, would definitely recommend. This is a good book for all ages.

This book... Wow!!

What a wild ride! Self... meet book hangover, for DAYS!!

Levy's research is evident throughout this entire book. I feel as though I've been to Everest myself and came back with the scars to prove it!

Never have I ever lent a single thought in the direction of desire to climb Mt. Everest. Hello asthma and a VERY healthy fear of heights. But the friendship between Rose and Tate and the intense drama that unfolds when their ultimate climbing dream becomes a reality was enough to make me consider it. Even if it was only for a second, because... lets be real, I would die.

"If a person were dropped on the top of Mount Everest with no acclimatization, she'd be dead in three minutes."
This is me... I would be that girl.

I did appreciate that Rose and Tate's parents were actually present and important. In the world of YA books and the epidemic of MIA parental units, it was refreshing for these parents to be actively involved.

There were a couple things about this book that I thought the author could have done better. I think she has a lot of subjects she is passionate about and wanted to shine a light on them all within her book, but when you try to fit that many BIG subjects into 300-something pages, some things won't be done as well as they could have been.

Overall though, this tight knit, epic group of climbers came, they saw, they conquered (mostly), and I was here. for. it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Charlesbridge Teen for sending me a copy of this ARC.

Hmm................ok

I love a good friends to lovers more than anyone but this just wasn't it for me. I can't put my finger on it.

Firstly, I felt the jumping around of the plot was difficult to follow. I understand wanting to parallel previous climbs with the Everest climb but it was done in a way that was difficult to follow, especially given the alternating first person POVs to worry about too. And this is a personal preference too, but I hate first person alternating POV.

Probably would float the boat for a large sector of YA audiences but...not me sorry.

This review will be posted on my blog closer to the publication date.
I have never been an athletic person. In fact, I’m pretty much as far as you can get from athleticism. But Above All Else makes me want to climb a mountain. The way the characters talked about climbing was so inspirational and the passion was so evident. Dana Alison Levy took multiple trips to Mount Everest to ensure the book is factually correct and the detail when talking about the streets of Nepal to the actual climbing on the mountain was so intricate and as far as I know accurate. The work that went into making this book is definitely worth it.

The writing in this book was so good that it made me care about things I would otherwise not care about at all. Above All Else is told with alternating perspectives in the past and present from the perspective of both main characters. Normally books told in this format, have one section that is more interesting but I found all sections equally fascinating. The voice of this novel seemed younger than the actual age of the main characters / audience the book is marketed as. It reminded me a bit of the Eric Walters books that were commonly read in my elementary schools except there was some mature content in Above All Else.

The past was focused on preparation for the climb. On Rose’s side, her concern over her mother’s illness is the main focus and on Tate’s side, his anxiety stemming from a climbing accident is his main struggle. This section was quite interesting and introduces themes that are present throughout the novel. As Rose’s mother’s illness progresses and inhibits her from climbing, Rose feels more and more guilty that she still can climb. This contrasted Tate’s progressive lack of interest in climbing and was an interesting source of conflict between the characters.

I really enjoyed the friendship between the two main characters, Rose and Tate. They were both good complex characters and I really enjoyed them on their own too. But the romantic aspect of their relationship felt so unnecessary. I think the book would have been stronger without it as their friendship was so strong. There was plenty of mountain drama anyways, without having to incorporate teen relationship drama.

It was super interesting seeing how climbing such a difficult mountain like Mount Everest changed the characters. During the climb, all the characters become more selfish but perhaps that is why they were successful. The book also touched on some of the controversy surrounding climbing Mount Everest.

Final thoughts: 4.5 stars. If you ever wondered about climbing Mount Everest but are realistic and know it’s never going to happen, this book is for you.

I really wanted to like this book. I even feel apologetic now, as I sit here and say that I've made it as far as I can: 43%. There are a few things that I liked, but the overwhelming majority of my thoughts are negative. I'll explain in detail below why I stopped the book despite wanting so badly to enjoy it.

Positive:
- World building! The suffocating air, the altitude, the bad decision of looking down, letting the dizziness from the height overwhelm them, the adrenaline as their hands shake on a particularly slippery edge. The imagery is more than decent, and although I've never climbed before, I feel that I do have a pretty good idea now of why I never will. :P *shudders*

Negatives:
- I don't know if it's just because it was an advance copy I received, but the formatting was *so* messed up. Paragraphs jumbled together, some spaced out too far, and the chapters didn't even start correctly. Words were separated from their start, and although I tried to look past it, this deceptively small detail made the reading experience a lot more difficult for me.
- Lack of character development. I loved the concept (who can say no to an intimidating adventure and challenge?), but the execution of the characters made it confusing. I was frequently conflicted about where the characters stood. Sometimes they wanted to climb, but other times, they didn't. I couldn't tell what their motivations were, and as a result, I couldn't connect to them.
- A random relationship? There was also a sudden relationship that blossomed (or more like, exploded) in the middle of nowhere. Even though readers can occasionally appreciate a spontaneous romance, Tate and Rose's relationship felt forced and extremely uncomfortable. There was seemingly no attraction to begin with, and then all of a sudden it seemed like they were thrown at each other as a coverup for the lack of development in their characters. Fact: They were better as friends.
- This reason is probably why I can't continue reading: The writing style is very elementary. If this book is meant for YA, which it is, there should be a lot more sophistication in the scenery, movement, and dialogue of the characters. It's lacking in all of those fields. When I read a book, I want to be immersed in the story, not cringing because of some strange dialogue choices or misplaced tenses. It eventually got to the point that I couldn't look past the writing and began to fix the sentences in my head instead of actually investing myself in Tate and Rose's story!

Conclusion:
I think this book would have worked SO much better had it been marketed towards a middle grade audience. The writing is clear but inelegant for the more advanced reader, and the concept could be extremely interesting and marketable if only the execution were smoother.

Would I recommend this book?
Honestly? Not really. I don't think you'd be missing much. If Levy were to release a new and revised version of the story, where things are a little cleaner and the character development is a bit stronger, I would be more than willing to give this story another chance.

This fantastic story filled with romance and adventure will appeal to a wide variety of YA readers. The combination of an incredibly unique setup (teens climbing Mt. Everest) with universal themes of friendship, family, and first love create an engaging and heartfelt book. The additional information at the end of the book was fascinating as well. Highly recommended.

Above All Else is a story that is not for the faint of heart.

Fueled by the desire to climb the highest and most dangerous mountain in the world, Rose and Tate's friendship has always been united by their common dream to summit Mount Everest. Together with Rose's mother and Tate's father, the adventurous group of four has spent hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars chasing the most challenging of climbs.

Rose and Tate have no idea what is in store for them as they head out to climb Mount Everest. Trial-after-trial comes their way. At first, Rose must face the trip without her mother. Then, Tate has a horrible accident that should have taken his life. Add in a friendship between the two that seems to be turning into more, and you have the makings for a great YA novel.

Above All Else is a story of love and adventure. Rose and Tate are complicated characters that are trapped between their fears, their dreams, and a life-risking climb ahead of themselves. They know there is no way they will be able to face the journey ahead unless they band together.

But Everest has a way of breaking even the toughest at heart, Tate's accident has set him into a series of panic attacks. He doesn't want to let Rose down, but something inside him has broken. Rose is growing weaker and quieter as the months summitting Mount Everest take their toll.

Will the two be able to make it to the top of Mount Everest? Will their friendship even survive? Will they?

Be sure to read Above All Else, by Dana Alison Levy, to find out!

I have climbed one mountain, it was 11,000 feet and I barely made it to the top. Even the idea of climbing Everest scares me! This book taught be so much about climbing and climbing Everest. I had a hard time picturing some of the scenes, but I watched multiple YouTube videos in conjunction that it much more interesting. The idea that 18 year olds doing that climb was insane. I really enjoyed the character development of both the main and supporting characters, the plot, and those last 100 pages have you biting your nails. Good read!

Thank you for sending me an ARC. This one is between a 3-4 star. I like the outdoors aspect of the story but I had a difficult time staying interested in the story. I kept wondering off to read other books in between reading this one. I felt like the story was good but needed more to it to keep my personal interest.

Above All Else is a story about two best friends who instead of finishing their last months of high school in their town decide to climb Mount Everest. Both Rose and Tate have worked for this almost their entire lives and it is heartbreaking when Rose's mum is not able to come. However, Rose, Tate and his father Jordan still go and what an adventure awaits them!
I think the author has done excellent work researching mountain climbing. I have no personal experience but I had a girl in my class who went mountain climbing every year. It is an incredibly difficult....passion. But it truly has to be a passion in order for you to succeed in it. I really enjoyed this book. I think it was realistic and I read it in one sitting. Some people have mentioned that the relationship was not necessary but I think it came rather naturally and really hoped for them to work out. I think that it was age-appropriate, and let's be honest - teenagers are selfish! So I did not think it was overly dramatic or anything.
I definitely cried at the end.
Thank you for providing me an ARC in exchange dor an honest review.

I've never really been interested in climbing and Everest and all those things, but I felt very attracted to this book.
I learned a lot about climbing Everest (and comforted me in the idea that I'll never ever go this high), and this was my favorite part of the book. The romance did not take too much place, and the balance between the characters' personal problems and their climbing doubts was perfectly found.
It made me cry (several times), it scared me, and it made me feel addicted. I could not put this book down, it is a real page-turner.
I would 100% recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this amazing book!!