I seldom read young adult but Jandy Nelson writes them perfectly, she has whimsy, emotion and age appropriate characterizations.

When the World Tips Over much like my favourite I’ll Give You the Sun is full of unforgettable characters who are coming of age and finding out how to deal with difficult emotions.

Nelson writes with such a vivid pen, quirky characters jump off the page and the central story always offered rich life lessons.

An autobuy author forever.

Upon reading other reviews I’m glad I’m not just being a brat reader and not wanting to finish this. I have started this about 5 times and I just absolutely cannot get into this. It’s kinda comes in hot and slow at the same time. Maybe I’ll try again maybe I won’t idk another book this author wrote has RAVE reviews so maybe I’ll check that out first and revisit. Okay sorry thanks for letting me read this!!

This book had a bit of a slow start for me, but by the end I really loved it! The characters were so unique and they each won me over. The relationships really grounded the story in reality, even with its little touch of magical realism.

Jandy Nelson’s writing is SO distinct. Her prose is fast, a bit chaotic, and wonderfully dramatic without ever feeling too overwhelming. I really enjoyed the different mediums she used throughout the story: stories within stories, unsent emails, journal entries, and family trees.

With each piece of the puzzle revealed, I couldn’t stop turning the pages; I *needed* to know how everything connected. The entire reading experience was a rollercoaster.

The marketing copy on the back really gets this one right: “With road trips, rivalries, family curses, love stories within love stories within love stories, and sorrows and joys passed from generation to generation, this is the intricate, luminous tale of a family’s complicated past and present.”

I wasn't super sure about this book at the beginning, but as it continued on the more I fell in love with it. I loved how the stories inter-twined, how everyone had similar experiences and mysteries to figure out. Near the middle to the end of the book, I was shocked by how many twists there were, with some I kind of guessed and others I was wildly-off on. Overall, this book feels like the Jandy Nelson books I've read before, with a bit more to it. The meaning behind the story is still deep, all the characters are complicated, and the ending is well written and makes a lot of sense with what happened throughout the book. Personally, I really liked Cassidy and the way she told the story of the Falls throughout the book.

This was my first book by Jandy Nelson.

I found it difficult to keep track of all the characters and what's happening. The story is told via multiple POV's, diary entries, notes, letters and the addition of magical realism made the story all very chaotic.
I was not able to finish reading.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read the ARC!

I thought I'll Give You The Sun was a perfect book and wondered if Nelson would struggle to reach the high bar she set with her debut. Perhaps writing When The World Tips Over was a struggle; perhaps it wasn't. But good God is it every bit as fabulous! Another complex sibling story, this one interwoven with generational love and trauma, magic realism, music, wine and aphrodisiacal soufflés, the novel is nearly impossible to put down.

I deeply appreciate how Nelson explores family mythology -- how we take on roles (or have them forced upon us) which aren't necessarily a fit; how we convince ourselves that things are a certain way and struggle to incorporate new information that doesn't support the lies we've told ourselves. Simply put, this is an astonishing work.

Jandy Nelson is a very nostalgic author for me since I remember vividly the moment I read “I’ll
Give You the Sun” a decade ago. It was a beautiful book that still brings back a lot of nice
memories. So when the author finally announced a new book after years since her last book I was
very excited. However, “When the World Tips Over” wasn’t at all what I had expected.

We follow three main characters (Dizzy, Miles and Wynton) who are siblings, but get an additional
POV from this mysterious girl named Cassidy. In addition, we get letter in between chapters from
different characters, and all of this was a bit messy and all over the place in my opinion. All of the
different POVs, their backstories, the magical realism aspect… it was just too much to follow
along.

The three siblings were great, and I especially enjoyed Miles chapters with Sandro and Felix. But a
lot of the times I felt like their stories just got muddled over by other characters’ POVs. I enjoyed
the overall storyline but it was unnecessarily long; the pacing was slow at times. Despite that I
liked the message of the book and the finale, even if it was a bit rushed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dial Books, and Penguin Young Readers Group for this advanced copy! You can pick up When the World Tips Over on September 24, 2024.

Jandy Nelson undoubtedly writes gorgeous prose for dynamic, multi-faceted characters. Her stories are filled to the brim with emotional moments, stunning character growth, and messages that rip your heart out and put it back together again. Saying that, you definitely have to be in the right mindset to pick up her books, and unfortunately, my headspace is not set for a Jandy Nelson novel at the moment.

That doesn't mean I won't pick it up sometime in the future, but at the moment, I wasn't in the right reading mood to properly appreciate it. If you're looking for something that will make you laugh out loud and bawl your eyes out simultaneously, though, this is your book!

Thank you to Penguin Teen for both a physical and digital early copy of this book! 😊 I loved the emotional depth that this book had. It touched on a lot of things I think are difficult like mental health, depression, and complicated family relationships. I thought the characters were well developed and likeable. I liked that this shifted viewpoints and timelines. It was fun to jump from past, to present, to diary entries and letters unset. The only thing I didn’t like was I think the pacing dragged a little. I found myself getting bored and I didn’t think this needed to be 500+ pages. There were a few times this got repetitive for me. However, I enjoyed the emotional depth this novel had and thought it was a great read!

I didn't finish this book. It just wasn't my cup of tea. I attempted to delve into the author's other works, but I faced the same challenge and couldn't complete them either.

I thought the synopsis of this book sounded good. I tried several times to grasp ahold of the story but to no avail. I might return to it and try again. Probably not.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I LOVED I'll Give You The Sun, it is still to this day one of my favorite YA novels and just in general one of my all time favorite books. I was super pumped to receive the ARC for When the World Tips Over, so thank you NetGalley.

What can I say but that it was excellent, I always loved the way Nelson wrote about family dynamics in the most realistic way, because more often than not it is usually portrayed as teenagers having a stable relationship with family members and its all sunshine and butterflys when in most cases it is not the case. The romance is also always so pleasant and not the usual insta love which I despise. It took me longer to get through this one because life happens so i had to put it down for a bit but once I picked it up again I couldnt put it down. I love it! The writing is immaculate as always.

Rating: 5 Stars

Oh man, I've been putting off writing this review because I haven't wanted to part with this book. Jandy Nelson is just... perfection. She manages to mix magic with very real relationships, and the result is a book that made me laugh, cry, yearn, and sing.

Truly, this book is all about the relationships. We jump back and forth in points of view and timeline, though the past timelines are told through stories and journals, so it's not difficult to keep straight. Each character is so unique and loveable, and I just wanted everyone to live happily ever after.

I will say that I fully recognize that Jandy Nelson's writing style is not for everyone - she manages to make books feel like fever dreams with her effervescent word choice and touches of magic. But I wanted to live in this hazy book forever.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book was so beautifully done. They never expected how important a rainbow haired girl would be to each of them, and it was such a wonderful story to watch unfold.

A multi-generational family saga, centered around the latest generation of siblings, full of fabulism. Fun in some ways, magical in some ways, but really, really melodramatic 100 percent of the time. A bit like a soap opera or telenovella—it's kind of weird how little a reaction the various young characters have to like, discovering the secret liaisons and affairs of their parents (and grandparents). Like I get that it was a while ago and we're all being cool, but, it would be pretty realistic to be upset about it at least once! The 12 year old was kind of absurdly precocious, and not like any 12 year old I've ever been or known.

I really really reallyyyy wanted to like this book, but man I just didn’t. It was so slow, pretty confusing and all over the place. Sooo many mundane details and things that I just couldn’t care less about. Nothing grabbed my attention and made me want to know more or what was going to happen. Once what happened to Wynton happened I basically figured out what the rest of the story was going to be and I was right. I’m so confused about the glowing reviews?? Maybe this just wasn’t for me, because it seems like a bunch of other people truly enjoyed this story.

The writing was very cooky, unique and jumped all over the place which I did not enjoy.

I did like the multiple POVs, and the random tidbits of newspaper articles & letters/diary entries of unsent letters but everything else just seemed so meh.

This is also my first book I’ve ever read by this author so maybe I’m just not used to their writing style and this type of genre. Is what definitely unique.

This is a tale about the three siblings of the Fall family and a rainbow hair colored girl (Cassidy) in hot NC.

First we are introduced to Dizzy Fall. She is a quirky 12 old year old who sees voices in color and sees spirits. Cassidy pushes her out of the way of a speeding truck and saves her life. Dizzy thinks she saw an angel. Whenever she gets home, everyone is too busy to be bothered to hear her story and as usual ignore her.

Next we are introduced to Perfect Miles. His name suits him.
He is the most popular boy in school, top athlete, straight A’s, and just PERFECT. Except he has secrets. He has not come out of the closest, he is depressed, and he communicates telepathically with a dog. He meets Cassidy and tells her about his relationship with his older brother, Wynton, whom has always bullied him. His new confident.

Then there’s 19 year old Wynton who is struggling with the missing of his dad. He is hurt and angered and always in trouble. He gets himself kicked out if the house because he stole from his mother. (Dizzy often sneaks him in the house). He pours his anger into his only release in playing the viola. He had met the rainbow colored hair before and a special bond with her

This is a long read (528 pages long!). HOWEVER, it is beautiful written with an emotional rollercoaster we ride with the Fall family through their curses and drama.

Nelson writes beautifully. I don't know that many other authors have the same gift with words. But the stories, for me, are often a little too much. Such is the case here. There is a lot going on with tons of characters and a little bit of magic. I think this would be so fun for my friend Jen, but it just isn't the right fit for me.

“When the World Tips Over” by Jandy Nelson is a beautifully written, emotional journey that explores the complexities of family dynamics, secrets, and the power of truth. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Northern California’s wine country, the story introduces readers to the Fall siblings—Dizzy, Miles, and Wynton—whose lives are forever altered by the mysterious arrival of a rainbow-haired girl named Cassidy. Nelson’s lyrical prose and magical realism infuse the narrative with a sense of wonder, drawing readers into the characters’ world of heartache, healing, and discovery. The novel’s strengths lie in its vivid characterizations and its exploration of themes like familial betrayal, identity, and redemption.

While I found the book captivating and often reread passages that resonated deeply, the pacing was uneven at times, particularly in the beginning. The narrative opens through the eyes of Dizzy, a quirky 12-year-old with a unique perspective on life, which initially felt slow and somewhat meandering. However, as the story progressed, I became invested in the Fall siblings’ struggles and their complex relationships with one another and Cassidy. Nelson’s ability to weave together multiple perspectives, including letters and diary entries, added depth to the storytelling, though I occasionally found the family ties and backstories a bit confusing, necessitating frequent references to the family tree provided in the book.

Overall, “When the World Tips Over” is a poignant and moving novel that tackles heavy themes with grace and sensitivity. The magical realism elements are masterfully incorporated, enhancing the narrative rather than overwhelming it. Although the book’s length and slow start might deter some readers, the payoff is a richly textured story that captures the messiness of family and the beauty of finding one’s place in the world. For fans of Jandy Nelson’s earlier work, this novel offers another deeply emotional and rewarding reading experience, albeit with a few minor flaws that kept it from being an outright favorite.

A multigenerational YA spanning a family’s history in a town called Paradise Falls, the Fall family struggles to navigate family relationships, friendships, truth, and lies.

The good: No one can develop characters like Jandy Nelson can. I got to know each character deeply over the course of this novel, and I generally liked most of them. The relationships were complex and the writing was absolutely gorgeous. Her descriptions, particularly of feelings, really cut deep and resonated with me as someone who feels things really intensely. There was a lot to enjoy about this book.

The not-so-good: I changed my mind about five different times throughout the course of this book about whether I liked it or not. Truth be told, this book was just LONG. At almost 600 pages, it took me a while to get through it, and I wasn’t always super engaged. The plot moved at an uneven pace which made it hard to become invested in. There were some lies and family deceptions that became a little bit too much by the time it got to the end, and I was just kind of over it by that point.