Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book.

THIS BOOK.

Wow.

Like I went into it not really knowing what it was about, I'll admit. I saw all the other positive reviews and thought hey why not? Within the first chapter I knew this wasn't going to be a happy ending.

Jack, Ava, and Matty's story is full of dark things. It's hard to read, yes, but you want so badly for these kids to have their happy ending that you keep going for them. Like I ached at every misstep, I rejoiced at their triumphs, and I cried like a baby at the end.

Just do yourself a favor and read this if you're a fan of fiction.

You won't regret it.

I promise you that.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I knew almost nothing about this book when I started reading it. Once I got used to the different tones used I was drawn to the plight of the main characters.
I loved the way the scenes were narrated. You can see everything, vivid colors painted across the scenes. For those unsure, this book does contain things like murder, drug dealing, the reason for existence, and more and not necessarily in that order.

Wowwww! This book hurt each bone in my body! My heart is ripped by tiny little razor blades! So intense, so heartfelt, so deep, so effective: it shook me to the core.

Those beautiful young characters are like Atlas carrying the entire world on their shoulders. Their pain, their struggle, their loneliness, their resilient, their inner strength blew my mind away!

Jack’s mother committed suicide: hanged herself in her room and the poor young son Jack buried his own mother, then took care of his little brother alone, lying to him their mother went to a trip. Their father is in the prison from theft and his partner Bardem is still looking for where he hid the money bag.

Jack’s path crosses with Ava: other MC of the story. Her mother was forced to leave the house when she was a little girl, witnessing her father Bardem wash the blood from his hands in the sink, telling her scary real crime stories and terrifying life anecdotes about not trusting or loving someone.

She knows her father wants the money and she realizes Jack and his brother escape from their house. In fact it’s not their house anymore: because it’s auctioned and they were forced to leave the place in two days. After being attacked by his own father at his visit in prison, he put himself on the radar of Bardem. He also gets attention of officer Doyle who get suspicious because of absence of their drug addict mother ( she’s buried beneath the ground) , he informs them to call child services.

Jack cannot lose his brother: they need a safe place to stay! But when all of the accomplices of his father coming for the lost money, it’s hard for them to survive.

Matty connects with Ava and brings her into their life. As soon as Ava drags into their mess: she realizes she needs to make a choice: finding the money for her father or helping the brothers. As she starts having feelings for Jack, she cannot make an objective decision.

This book is remarkable mash up of Winter’s Bone, Road Winter with Liam Neeson’s Cold Pursuit movie vibes. Both Jack, Ava and little Matty were well crafted, deeply layered, resonating characters. Especially final third part of the book was action packed, stunningly heart pounding, nail biter, gut wrenching!

I think there will be sequel of the series and I cannot wait to read more about the characters.

Even though the book is so dark, pessimist, so intense, I got truly intended by deeply emotional narrations of the characters. Especially those words of Ava:
“ What you put in your heart will make you heart. But it will be the most spectacular kind of hurt. It will light you up and burn you. It will knock you down. It will break you apart. And it will make you different.”

It is impossible not to root for the amazing, sad, dedicated love story of Jack&Ava and wish to see they get through all those struggles, reach to their own happy ending.

Those delicate, sensitive, tough kids broke me so hard! That’s why even their story made me so sad and hurt me so hard, I’m rounding up my 4.5 stars to 5 amazingly poignant, tear jerker, heart pounding, snow storm stars!

Special thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group/ Roaring Brook Press for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

Oh wow. What beauty there is in this book was completely unexpected.

This story exceeded all of my expectations in terms of prose, narration, storytelling, characters, and atmosphere.

It's one of those novels that forces you to feel and experience as Jack and Matty are everything good in the world personified.

This is a story worth loving.

Heavy and emotional yet elegantly refined, this YA thriller will capture your heart and leave you hanging on every word. With some difficult subject matter my recommendation would be for high school age and above, but I would not limit its audience to YA alone. The prose is breathtaking, the depth and development of the characters are brilliant, and the descriptions have you experiencing every physical and emotional feeling with haunting clarity. Fast paced edge of your seat action with a complex narrative that will stay with you long after the book's conclusion.

This book was suspenseful and had some twists and turns that were surprising. I read it in one day! I had trouble following some of the narration at the beginning of each chapter, and the last chapter was a bit confusing. However, overall it was a great story! I would recommend it to older middle school students with a warning about the suicide scene, perhaps with parental approval required.

I didn't quite make it to the end of this one, but what I read was okay. It was decently written and the characters were likable enough, but the premise was just very 2012 torture porn kind of drama. Don't get me wrong, I know there's kids who struggle with poverty and a lack of parental involvement. But this was just one of those ones that used it as kind of an exploitative thing, where it romanticized the situation and made the main character seem like he had it all under control even as he's homeless, getting shot at, etc.

4.5 stars. I struggled to suspend my disbelief at times, but I don't read a lot of YA 'thrillers' exactly for that reason. However, the plot is fast and tight, and I loved the rate of reveal/building of stakes. Also the prose is absolutely stunning!

The beginning opens with a serious tragedy. The domino effect this tragedy had was truly heartbreaking. It had me wanting to sign up to be a foster parent to love all the kids! Then it turned into a thriller and stuff was happening left and right. People were dying, people were being chased, kids are involved… oh wow! It was intense.

While the events were far-fetched and crazy, it was highly entertaining and addicting. I could not see what was happening next. It was too crazy! I think the fact that it was happening to teens made it all the more crazy.

It was a wild ride, if you love thrillers, this is for you!

Thank you to Fierce Reads for the ARC of What Beauty There Is by Cory Anderson.
The use of a third person narrator combined with small chapter introductions in first person create a unique tone for the story, while giving the reader insight into a character POV separate from the main character in the story.
The intensity of the third person narrative plot drives the story while the beautiful prose in first person capture the reader's heart and linger long after the book is closed.

Jack Dahl, a seventeen year old young man, struggles to care for his younger brother, Matty, after both parents are no longer able to, with his father imprisoned and mother gone. Faced with the possibility of losing Matty to foster care and unable to secure a job, Jack sets out on a mission to find the money his father stole and hid. He quickly finds out he isn't the only one out to find the hidden money. When life takes a turn for the worse, Ava Bardem shows up to help the brothers survive while wrestling with her own internal demons from being raised by a controlling father. Together, they brave the odds stacked against them.

"What made you? How did you form? From where did your layers and your curves and your holes come? Your gentle and your savage places? The bright and the deep hallowed dark. The valleys and the cliffs of your soul. The loud and the silent. For what does your heart beat?"

The first person narrative resonated with me immediately. I love Ava's thoughts, blending and interwoven with the third person narrative of the rest of the story.

"All I can say is sometimes you live your whole life for a thing that reveals who you are. There is no why."

Jack's drive, determination, and devotion pull at the reader's heartstrings and cause you to root for him instantly. If you have to put the book on pause, the characters cling to you after you close the book, beckoning you back to adventure with them.

This book does contain some graphic, violent scenes and suicide. Just a mention for anyone possibly being triggered by such things. Overall, I couldn't put this book down, and I had to know what happened next.  The characters were realistic. While some situations seemed over the top, I stayed immersed in the story. The stream of Ava's subconscious is my favorite part of the story. The bravery and love between Jack, Matty, and Ava is at once admirable and sweet.

Beautiful, poetic prose with a heart-wrenching story. The plot is fast-paced and tense, and the story gritty and brutal but at the same time heart-warming and melancholic. This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster, and I know the characters will stick with me a long time after finishing.

I was so thrilled to get an early copy of this novel. It is haunting and beautiful and I could not put it down. It is the story of two teens put in sad and impossible positions but searching for a better life. Set in the dead of winter with impossible cold and snow, the setting itself is a well developed character trying to keep the characters from their goals. They fight as much against the weather as they do the man with a gun, which means constant tension and suspense for the reader

The two main characters, Jack and Ava, each tell their own story and let you know their motivations. Each one is heartbreaking, but their determination is contagious. The reader knows the danger, but still fights along with them to push forward.

I will not give away spoilers, but at the end of this story I cried, tears of sadness and happiness. This is one of the best books I have ever read.

Wow.

You know when you read one of those books that will stick with you for a while?

I’m not one for gruesome details, but the beauty of this book came from its intensity and shock factor moments. Jack will do anything to protect his brother Matty and the hard life they’ve been dealt. The details of their disparity are heartbreaking as Jack searches for how to provide for their brotherhood. Suddenly, Ava enters the picture as a quiet angelic presence with secrets of her own. Will Jack’s father’s past always haunt his present day?

I love the character development, simple yet powerful setting description, and shift in perspective throughout this book. I will DEFINITELY be recommending it to other readers. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

The story of Matty & Jack is heart-warming. story of what lengths people will go to in order to survive and to protect the ones you love. Perfect for guys who like survival stories and anyone who loves adventure!

An exceptional debut YA novel often compared to other YA authors as first works often are. For me it was reminiscent of Jacqueline Woodson’s “Under the Meth Moon” in both story and writing. I couldn’t put this down and stayed up late to finish, and then woke up early thinking about it. Excellent writing (I kept highlighting single sentences, phrases, and paragraphs) and very good character development. The story is violent and brutal at times; meth use and dealing have devastated his family leaving a teenage boy to save his young brother. The boys have nothing left and yet so much to lose.

“All things you choose to hold in your heart,” he said, “have the capacity for pain.” He looks at her, he looks hard. “Be careful what you choose.”

If you are not reading YA (Young Adult) you are missing some of the best writing out there.

What Beauty There Is
by Cory Anderson
Pub Date: 06 Apr 2021
read courtesy of http://www.netgalley.com

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I couldn't put this book down. The author told a unique tale with interesting details that I've never read anywhere else. It was refreshing to be surprised and engrossed in spite of the somber subjects. The multiple threads of the story are tightly and expertly wound together. The characters have distinct and believable personalities. The setting was described with chilling results (pun intended.) Even the style of writing, which was quite accessible, had layers of nuance depending on which character was speaking or being spoken about. [Not a spoiler alert, but... I finished the book a few hours ago, and it took me until I started writing this to realize why each chapter was written in two different fonts. So cool!]

An aside that I don't think too many YAs would perceive, but the characters of Doyle and Midge reminded me of the law enforcement characters from the movie "Fargo." It's a testament to the author's writing ability to get a regional accent and speech pattern so right in writing as opposed to an aural medium.

You'll have to excuse me... I think I'm going to go re-read the story now.

This story grabbed me and would not let go. If you’re looking for something gritty, suspenseful, and heart-achingly tense, this is it.

18-year-old Jack Dahl has had a rough life. At the book’s outset, his father is in jail for stealing money from a dangerous drug dealer. His mother is addicted to pain medication and can barely function. Jack’s always been the one responsible for taking care of his little brother, Matty. Now, they’ve got less than fifteen dollars left, Jack can't get a job, and the water and electricity have been turned off. They’re running out of two things crucial for surviving the bleak Idaho winter—food and heat.

As a last resort, Jack sets out to find the money his dad went to jail for stealing—money that seemingly disappeared the day of the arrest. But at every step, Jack has three different men trailing him, hoping Jack will lead them to the money. One is deadly, one is kind, and one is so dangerous he’s almost not human.

Cory Anderson’s storytelling and writing skills are immensely powerful. She builds and manages suspense so well - there were so many times I felt main character Jack was mere seconds away from a bitter end. My heart was aching the whole time I was reading.

The setting was bleak and quiet - and beautiful in its own terrifying way. I could feel the painfully cold winter creeping into every corner and stealing every last bit of warmth from homes, from hearts. I loved the impeccably well-drawn characters, and their voices will echo in my heart for a long time.

This was an adrenaline-fueled, bloody, and intensely suspenseful ride, and one I'm so glad I got on.

I absolutely loved Anderson's style of writing. The prose in this book is beautiful, and one that will sit with me for a long time. What Beauty There Is was heartwrenching, and an emotional rollercoaster.

This destroyed me, along with my expectations. I was not anticipating the tenderness in these pages, the delicate parts that wrenched my heart and ripped it in two.

Jack’s plight is agonizing. Living in truly abject poverty, with a father in prison, a mother he finds dead, a little brother, and a swiftly dwindling supply of money and food, his circumstances are terrible. Rather than relinquish his brother to social services, he buries his mother and sets out to find the money that landed his father in prison. It’s a deadly quest, one that almost kills him until Ava—the daughter of his father’s enemy—saves his life. Their lives intertwine in a way that makes you wish they could just run away from it all, but the money is soaked in blood, and Ava’s father will not let them go. Have some tissues on hand, this one made me cry several times. Five stars.

Breathtaking prose, characters to break your heart, and an edge-of-your-seat, can't-look-away plot. It's devastating as Cormac McCarthy's NO COUNTRY but doesn't leave you as hopeless.