Wow, that was a journey. This book was a story of family and how the way you grow up influences who you become—including generational legacies and mistakes made. The different points of view are well written and there is so much whimsy in the writing. Is Sandro the dog the best character? Maybe.

The Fall family, which includes a mother and her three children, live in California wine country. They are all damaged by the disappearance of their father/husband years ago. A mysterious rainbow-haired girl appears out of nowhere, and each sibling has a separate amazing relationship with her. This was a beautiful story. Complicated, fantastical, full of love and pain and misunderstandings and ultimately a desire to set things right.

A while ago now, I read ‘I’ll Give You the Sun’ and adored it, and I was so glad I got the chance to read this latest book by Jandy Nelson. This was such a joy to read - I love Nelson’s writing, and her characters have always felt three-dimensional and engaging. I’ve struggled with some YA reads recently, but didn’t have the same problems here, in large part due to how well the characters were written and how well their issues were dealt with. I haven’t read much magical realism before, but I enjoyed it throughout the book – and I think ‘magical’ would be a good way to describe the story overall.

The only reason why I wouldn’t rate this five stars was the length – over 500 pages is a lot for YA, and I felt like it could have been cut down in places – and how busy the plot is. I got confused occasionally, but it didn’t cause me to dislike the book overall.

A fun trend I have adopted recently is that of reading a “palette cleanser” between heavier books (i.e.historical fiction and biographies, for example). A rock solid choice I have made for my palette cleansing reads has been YA/teen books, and so far, the best of these has been Jandy Nelson’s When the World Tips Over. Chock full of interesting characters and an incredibly fun storyline, Ms. Nelson has mastered the art of storytelling in the entertaining genre of magical realism. Sure to engage young adults and teens, this book is a great coming of age page turner for all ages. Being the first time I’ve read Ms. Nelson, I’m excited to discover her other works.

Oooh this book was such a long time coming, and I’m so grateful to have gotten a digital ARC from NetGalley and Dial Books, but… I didn’t quite love it. I definitely loved certain elements (the magical realism was fun, I adored a few of the characters, and Jandy Nelson’s writing style is still really sensual and engaging) but I really had a hard time with how much was going on in this story. It’s like the author tried to cram like three or four books into one, and it just didn’t make for the best reading experience. All that said, I would still recommend it! Especially to fans of Alice Hoffman’s “Practical Magic” series, Jaclyn Moriarty’s “The Spell Book of Listen Taylor,” and, of course, Jandy Nelson’s other books.

Extremely mixed feelings on this one. I love magical realism, and the big picture concept here is definitely intriguing. Some of Jandy Nelson's writing is very poignant and lovely. However, my biggest takeaway is just how long it took me to get through this book - I basically never wanted to pick it up. There are some real inconsistencies in tone and it still needs a whole lot of editing to come together. I wish I cared more about the family history and the "curse", but it didn't do enough to integrate into the present day timeline in a way that was satisfying to me. The most emotionally invested I felt was in Cassidy's story, which REALLY hit me hard on a personal level. I'm optimistic that there's a much more engaging and impactful version of this book, but in its current form there's too much going on that doesn't totally come together. 2.5/3 stars.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were three-dimensional and even when they weren't necessarily likable, they had redeemable qualities. The intersectionality of the stories kept me interested for the entirety of the book. This is definitely a book that I will recommend in the future!

After loving I'll Give You the Sun, I was very excited when I received this ARC from NetGalley. Unfortunately, I think I set my expectations too high. At first this reminded me a lot of Jerry Spinelli oddity that I find very charming, but there is a difference between quirky, odd characters and outright weird ones and I think this book crossed the line. I should note that I generally dislike magical realism and this is heavy into that with curses and talking dogs and such. But I was holding out because of the family saga, which I believe Nelson does well. This felt messy and confusing and unrelateble though. I didn't get feel a sense of love and belonging. It was just dysfunctional to the extreme. And some people are gonna like the mess. Just wasn't for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for letting me give it a chance.

My first read of a Jandy Nelson book, but definitely not my last. This book is magical and whimsical, yet tackles family drama and secrets. It started out with a degree of speed and intensity that made me think it was going to be a quick read, but turned out to be just the opposite. Longer than expected, it was never a chore; the way each character is developed, gave this reader so very many characters to care about.

Hard to describe. Just being in Dizzy’s head, with the way she associates and thinks was worth the read all by itself.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I enjoyed this book and think you will to.

The first chapter of this book is a home run -- charming, sad, funny, endearing. Then we're introduced to the Fall family one by one, as well as a mysterious rainbow-haired girl that youngest daughter Dizzy believes is an angel.

About a quarter of the way into the book something big happens and we realize the rainbow girl is NOT an angel, but has her own story to share. This shift surprised me. It also disappointed me a little since I also wanted to believe she WAS an angel and had very much fallen in love with the Fall family and wanted to stay focused on their story.

While we're learning more about the rainbow-haired girl, the book shifts gears again and begins to tell you the history of the Fall family and how the past is echoing in the current storyline. (For example, early in the book Dizzy mentions that she sees ghosts, later we learn their stories too.)

Then Fall family members go on a journey, and even more is uncovered that colors even more layers into what we know to be true.

This all seems like a lot, right? Well, for me it didn't FEEL like a lot because I loved, loved, loved these characters and I was deeply invested in them being happy. (If you don't, this book may instead feel like a slog for you). It didn't go in the direction I always wanted it to, but I ended up being tickled once I oriented myself to the new themes at play. It felt very much like real life.

I also enjoyed how the story played out circularly. There are moments touched upon in different timeframe, or by different characters that circle back around later. You don't have to follow all of these clues, but they do add something beautiful to the narrative when you catch them.

So, is this a perfect book? Nope. It's also not what I expected, but I highly enjoyed reading it and it touched my heart. Can't really ask for more than that.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I’d love to interview Jandy for my podcast Taise Your Wordss. When the World Tips Over is the perfect coming of age book for every teen to read.

This author is an auto-read for me and this book did not disappoint! I loved the characters in this novel with their unique and quirky qualities. This made the story feel authentic and had me rooting for them throughout the book. In addition to the well-developed characters, I loved her beautifully descriptive and sensory language that felt like being wrapped in a cozy blanket. It was the perfect cure for a book slump!

Not me crying after finishing a Jandy Nelson book, never…

This book was well worth the 10 years it has taken for Nelson to craft this absolute masterpiece of a book. Her writing and characters have no match. This story is so magical and dramatic but also felt like the best warm hug after a long day. I absolutely loved it.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers/Dial Books for the eARC.

I fell in love with Jandy Nelson's writing in her two previous books, "The Sky is Everywhere" and "I'll Give You the Sun," and was ecstatic to get an ARC of this latest novel.

The book revolves around the Fall family and the fallout after their father disappeared years ago.

The three children each have an encounter with a mysterious girl with rainbow hair and tattoos, and she becomes somewhat of a puzzle they each try to solve.

The characters in this book are practically incandescent. They glow within the pages and make their way into your heart. The pacing in the beginning is a bit slow, but it absolutely worth it to stick to it and read all about the heartbreaking and enchanting history of the Fall family.

It is beautiful to watch each of the Fall kids, Dizzy, Miles, and Wynton, go on their journeys of self-exploration and step into who they truly are.

This is a truly heartwarming read and one for people of all ages, despite being categorized as a YA novel. Thank you to Jandy Nelson for writing this beautiful book and to #Netgalley for this much beloved ARC of #whentheworldtipsover

After hearing amazing thinks about Jandy Nelson’s I’ll Give You The Sun, I was so excited when NetGalley approved me for this one. Unfortunately, while it certainly had some beautiful, quotable moments, this novel took a while to get into and I almost quit several times. Also, it was LONG - around 550 pages - and I felt like it could have been shortened quite a bit.

I did love the characters, especially the Fall children, Wynton, Miles, and Dizzy, but ultimately I don’t think this book was for me. Nelson weaves fairytale/fantasy into the story which I’m sure was supposed to be fun and whimsical, but honestly left me feeling confused half the time 😅

If you’re a huge Nelson fan, maybe you’ll love this one? I can’t speak to that, as this was my first one.

"When the World Tips Over" by Jandy Nelson is a book that left me with mixed feelings. While Nelson’s signature lyrical prose and rich, sensory descriptions are present, the story itself felt a bit too chaotic and overstuffed for my taste. The characters, though intriguing, seemed to be drowning in a sea of melodrama and mystical elements that didn’t quite mesh together. Dizzy's spirit-seeing and cake-baking quirks, Miles' quest for love, and Wynton’s musical ambitions all felt like they belonged in separate novels. The introduction of the rainbow-haired girl, meant to be a catalyst, added to the confusion rather than clarifying the plot. Despite the beautiful writing and some poignant moments, the book’s sprawling narrative and convoluted subplots left me feeling more exhausted than enchanted. It’s an okay read, but not quite the masterpiece I was hoping for. 🌈📖

This book simply wasn’t for me. “When the World Tips Over” is a family drama told from the perspectives of the Fall children. And while the children are fascinating and the drama was interesting, the way this was written didn’t work for me. Magical realism is hit or miss and this one was a miss. I found myself bored and flipping through just hoping to get to the good part, and it never came.

Thanks Net Galley and Penguin for the eARC.

My absolute favorite book so far this year!!! I wish it didn’t have to be labeled YA though. I’m 67 years old and found it to be a treasure filled with so many wonderful ideas and storylines. All the amazing characters!!! Such voices!!! Bits of heartbreak and bits of magic. Such is life. Can’t wait to purchase a hardcover and add it to my favorites shelf. So well done.

This is a tale of family spanning generations, revealing family stories, secrets, tragedies, and the struggles of dysfunctional relationships and parental abandonment. It delves into the discovery of hidden truths and the journey to find a family that accepts, understands, and loves you for who you are.

The narrative is a blend of intense, heartbreaking, and heartwarming moments. It traverses various themes, some of which are unveiled through letters from the past. Having some letters from my grandparents, I understand their significance and the sense of connection they provide.

This story weaves together the lives of people connected by blood, marriage, love, or deep friendship. It spans many years, exploring the repercussions of abandonment and the joy of finding a place to call home.