I made sure to read her first book before reading this one, even though they are not connected. I love her style and this was a great story.

tldr: I adored this book. Relatable characters and engaging storytelling mechanisms, 4.5*

I stayed up late last night rambling sporadically in my Pages app trying to write a Real Review™️ for this, but writing in any way other than stream-of-consciousness makes my brain short circuit. Hopefully this review is somewhere between that and something of actual form/substance, but I’m giving up on trying to achieve the latter. I also don’t know how to talk about what I loved most about this book without heavily spoiling it, so maybe that will come once the book is officially released.

When the World Tips Over opens with twelve-year-old Dizzy Fall having been “divorced” by her best friend, being bullied at school, and then narrowly avoiding being run over by a truck thanks to a rainbow-haired angel (Dizzy’s word for her) who throws her out of harm’s way. These first couple chapters admittedly had me nervous. The book felt very middle grade at this point due to the child POV (which I didn’t yet know was not the only POV), the writing (fitting for said child POV but not pleasant to read as an adult), and the “fantasia” of it all. By the end of Dizzy’s next chapter, though, my nervousness began to make way for intrigue as her family was introduced and tensions among them rapidly escalated. And then just a couple pages into Miles’s first POV chapter, I became properly hooked.
I can’t get into what I loved so much about Miles right now, since that would involve spoilers and because Goodreads reviews are public and I don’t need people I know irl potentially reading certain things about me, but I will say that I related to Miles a shocking amount. Things I have felt but could never properly verbalize or admit were explored here in such a validating and comforting way. Miles’s journey was the highlight of the novel for me.
As for the other characters, they mostly felt just as real as Miles, which is a feat given the aforementioned “fantasia” of it all. There’s Cassidy, the rainbow-haired girl, who wound up being my second favorite character and much more thoroughly developed than I thought she was going to be. And there’s Dizzy, who was maybe the least consequential character, but I found her quest for “pertinent information regarding existence” relatable and endearing, and eventually I realized her middle-grade-coded POV was effective in lightening the load of some of the heavier moments/themes. Wynton, Dizzy and Miles’s older brother, was kind of robbed of a proper POV, but I still got a lot out of his limited time on page. Then there’s the parents of these kids; they are all incredibly flawed people who made some appalling decisions, but we’re also shown enough of their coming of age to understand why they made those decisions. It’s like when you get to hear your own parents’ origin stories and it suddenly becomes a lot harder to hate them; they’re just like us for real!
While the characters are by far the thing I love most about WTWTO, the story itself deserves some praise too. I was kept engrossed by the gradual reveals of “pertinent information regarding [the Falls’] existence,” given to us mainly in the form of fairytales/fables; the kinda-sorta mixed media; the variety of POVs (in terms of both format and character); and the mildly fantastical, deterministic nature of everything that happens. That magical element added a welcome level of intrigue to what might otherwise have been a standard generational trauma tale. I didn’t love every instance of magic, but I did appreciate that each of the kids had a unique quirk and the ways in which their quirks occasionally intertwined; one of these abilities was utilized in a very clever way that I didn’t see coming. And while the ending was kind of also the climax of the book, which is rarely my ideal, (almost) every character had a complete arc. Their stories were tied up beautifully in a rainbow-colored bow just before–some during!–that big ending.
Gushing aside, I do have some minor complaints I guess. First, the writing, while often pretty/poetic/poignant, has its fair share of grimace-inducing attempts to be Quirky™️ (e.g. there’s a character who’s supposed to be sooooo hot but dresses like Patrick Stump in the 2000s, and he doesn’t have the excuse of being like 40 years old or living in the 2000s). But that’s more of a general YA problem, I don’t really hold it against this book. Secondly, some of the characters in the mythologized family history tales felt cartoonishly villainous, and while that is clearly just the nature of the storytelling techniques used in those parts, I would have liked if they’d been given some of the nuance the present-day characters received. And that’s all I can think to complain about LMAO. Love when the shortest part of my review is the criticisms! Usually I can yap with ease about all the elements of a story that didn’t work for me, so this is a welcome anomaly.
Now, who would I recommend this to? Obviously, anyone who loved Nelson’s previous work(s) should find something to love here too. This story is similar to I’ll Give You the Sun in its themes and some of its character arcs, just with an expanded cast of characters and maybe a bit more focus on plot and worldbuilding. Though I will say if you had a problem with the bold metaphors in that book, those have been taken to the next level toward actual magical realism (for lack of a better term, sorry) in this book, so beware. I’d also recommend this to anyone who loves a coming of age story, who sometimes (or always) feels like they’re locked away in a room inside themselves, whose family struggles to openly communicate their feelings, who has experienced anything, really. There are a lot of relatable topics covered here! I guess I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone who completely hates YA, or anyone who might not be in the mood for a feel-good read, or anyone who likes their stories to be firmly grounded in reality. Also content warnings for homophobia, bullying, brief SA, drug and alcohol use/abuse, abusive parents, and mostly-off-page physical violence

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the eARC. I know this was made available to anyone with a NG account, but still it feels so special to receive an early release in any way, and I’m so glad this was my first ever NetGalley read. Also, any quotes I used in this review are not from the final version of the book

"I think it’s possible to live our lives without believing in destiny, without feeling it at work in the choices we make, or the choices that are made for us. But it feels impossible to tell the story of our lives without it. Stories give our lives structure, and that structure is destiny."

I have read and loved both of Jandy Nelson's books. But the last one came out ten years ago when I was reading more Young Adult so I wasn't sure I would love this one as much.

But I am so glad to say that I was completely wrong.

The thing that's so amazing about this book is that on the surface, there's nothing special about the book. It's about a family with three kids. They are each struggling in their own way. The dad has left. The kids are struggling. And then one of them has an accident.

That's pretty much the story.

But of course that's not it. Because Jandy Nelson wrote this book and she's nothing short of magic. Her writing is nothing short of magic. This book is poetry. It's weaves into your soul just the same way all her stories do. It makes you feel deeply and it makes you fall in love with each of the characters. It makes you realize people are complex and so beautiful and so flawed all at the same time.

"I do believe now that when the world tips over, joy spills out with all the sorrow. But you have to look for it."

And it gives you hope. It always gives you hope.

Yet again, she made me love her book with all my heart and soul. It was worth the wait.

with gratitude to netgalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

When the World Tips Over is a classic Jandy Nelson story, packed to the brim with a cast of wacky and unique characters who all bring their own unique sense of self and damaged pasts together to propel the story forward.

The first thing I will say is this story made me feel insanely emotional, in fact I think I was brought to tears by every piece of writing from Bernadette's point of view. There was a lot of raw emotion in the story and it was written in a skilful manner that tore at my heart. Additionally, the mode of writing really propelled the story along, through letters, emails, transcripts and the like, it made the story really interesting to read and changed things up a lot. The plot of the story was wild, the connections and the twists and turns were insane. I didn't see any of them coming and I feel like they fried my brain a little bit.

I really enjoyed this novel, each character had a really personal struggle. I wish I had a little bit more closure on each of the characters at the end, I would've liked a little more time with all the Falls, just to make sure they were ok, because quite frankly I feel like they've been through enough.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Teen for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review, these thoughts are all my own.

first thank you to netgalley and penguin random house for the advanced reader copy 🤸✨

I enjoyed I’ll Give You the Sun, but I definitely gave up on another book by Jandy Nelson once we hit the 6 year mark. So, I was pleasantly surprised when this showed up as an upcoming release!

When the World Tips Over is a magical realist family saga (think East of Eden but with actual curses). Over the course of the book, families hurt each other and reunite all with the crackle of magic in the background.

Does that sound like a lot? Yes, and you can painfully tell on the page. The book is very, very messy, and it was hard for me to keep the stories straight. As a result, also, the characters are pretty shallow — especially Cassidy, who, despite a tragic backstory, is clearly a manic pixie dream girl. The romantic partnerships are also similarly superficial, which is a result of both insta love tropes and invocation of fate as a reason to be together (I.e., we are meant to be!). This tries to eschew the typical foundation of intimacy — time — but instead I kept asking why these characters were drawn to each other and why they should be together in the first place. And I ended the novel without that question answered. For a book that is 528 pages, there was definitely space for character development (other than for Miles and Wynton!)

I have always loved Jandy Nelson’s writing because it is so vivid. Her writing style is just like the covers of her books; it’s as if she can capture the world in technicolor. But without a semi-organized plot to back it up, her novel strays into the direction of purple prose and gets lost among the weeds. She is incapable of writing a purely bad novel — this one alone caused me to feel more than I had in weeks — but I left wondering what or who this was all for. Family sagas are often beautiful, interconnected stories. Without a strong direction (or at least a semblance of one), however, they just end up confusing.

Jandy Nelson's writes books in a the most addictive way. I was so excited to read this book when I first heard about it because I loved "I'll give you the sun." I read it when it first came out as a teenager and it exposed me to so many different levels of YA books. It was the "New Adult" genre before there was a New Adult genre. I ended up feeling the same about this book! I I simply devoured it. This is a long book, and the pacing at the beginning is a little slow which caught me off guard at first, but eventually I couldn't put it down. Nelson's writing is very lyrical and creates wonderful images of the characters. It's whimsical and my favorite part of reading this book. It did take me awhile to form my thoughts and opinions after reading it because that. There is a very large cast of characters to keep track of but you can't help but be interested and in love with every single one. I think the plot is a little scattered at times because of this, but I'd rather have great writing and solid characters over a smooth plot. Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader’s e-book copy of When the World Tips Over by Jandy Nelson.

5/5 stars. This book was beautiful. Compelling character, an inticing story and some of the prettiest prose I have read this year. I LOVED this. Thank you NetGalley for the arc, I am so lucky to have been able to read this! Everyone go read it when it comes out!!

I might be able to put more coherent thoughts together later, but WOW has Jandy Nelson done it again. Jandy Nelson is masterful storyteller with such a distinct writing style that scratches my brain in just the right way.

Felix says he moves into books when he reads them and that's what it felt like experiencing this book. These characters are so vivid and complete, and I selfishly want more of them (even though this book is already 500 pages!)

OMG. How I loved this book. I feel beyond lucky to be able to have been able to read this. (Especially since I requested this on a whim after seeing people talk about being excited for it.)

This was told in such a unique and fun way. The characters were so vivid and distinct. Perfect Miles. The Rainbow Haired Girl. DIZZY. I was hooked from the beginning.

This story covers so many vast topics and is done beautifully. The Silent World. The Gloom Room. It was just *chefs kiss*

This book is not going to be for everyone. Magical Realism aside, I think some might struggle with how the “family curse” played into the last two generations. It does feel a tiny bit like a scapegoat to try to explain some things.

I believe that Jandy Nelson is one of the most important YA authors of this generation. To be able to write such complex, compelling, and unique stories, but make them feel universal to all is can’t be an easy feat, yet she makes it seem just that. I’ll never not recommend I’ll Give You the Sun and I’m so excited to add this to the list. Absolutely beautiful! I am in awe.

I really enjoyed this story and the uniqueness of each character. The magical realism was very beautifully written - some of my favorite parts were the "in the time of forever" tales. The addition of elements like personalized letters to tell the story kept my interest through some of the longer chapters. With that being said, there were several points in the book regarding family history and keeping track of lineage that muddled my brain a bit. I felt the ending was a bit drawn out, however, the writing was so well done I often did not mind. An overall lovely story of family, love, and forgiveness.

Many thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

The writing of this book, the collage style that slowly unfurls, kept me intrigued from the very beginning. I loved that different parallels and connections woven throughout the book!

I have been waiting for the next Jandy Nelson novel and this did not disapoint! Oh my gosh the magic that is on every page, even when there is heartbreak you can still feel it buzzing. Each layer of every family members' story is so poignant and connected lyrically, I never wanted it to end!

When the World Tips Over was so incredibly worth the wait! An intriguing tale of siblings who have a very complicated past and an overwhelmingly enthralling future. This book is a winding journey through generations of the enchanting Fall family, Nelson does a beautiful job of putting into perspective the tragedy, secrets and dysfunction that define people’s lives and ultimately make them who they are. This is a beautiful story of family and how we find acceptance and a place to call home. Highly, highly recommend.

nobody writes about hating everything and loving everything and doing art and living life and family and romance and identity and everything in the world that's good like jandy nelson!

and this one does all of that and adds family drama and road trips and colorful rvs and mythology and souffles and immortal dogs and wine into the mix. so. even better.

this took a long time to win me over, and i really didn't care for this "dave" character or the multitudinous outs given to a variety of characters who abandoned their various children or some certain genetic plot twists or some characters' endings or lack thereof, and i've come to accept that nothing on god's great green earth will capture the magic that i'll give you the sun did, but the long and short of it is that this was worth the wait.

which is saying a lot, because the wait was without exaggeration 10 years.

This book started slowly for me, but after my initial struggles, I could not put it down. It is the story of a family going back many decades during which an alleged “Cain and Abel” curse first took hold. The current day children, Dizzy, Miles, and Wynton, deal with the loss of a father, sibling jealousy, misunderstandings, and self discovery. Cassidy, a young girl with an unhappy upbringing, magically appears in the family’s lives. Who is she and how does she fit in?

This book is more than your typical family drama. The author makes the reading experience even better by adding a bit of mystery for the reader to solve, with some magical realism to add to the intrigue. And then there’s Sandro, the dog. He’s the funniest, most sarcastic, and best friend a boy could ever ask for.

Thanks so much NetGalley and Penguin Random House for letting me read this ARC. I see that this author has two previous successful books which I will definitely be checking out.

This was a 'couldn't put it down' read! Love, secrets and enchantment... plot twists I tried to anticipate but didn't. Characters I grew to really care about in all their imperfections. It is a great look at trauma, including intergenerational, and how it impacts the choices we make and how we interpret the actions and intentions of those around us. It reminds us that in our darkest hours, we must find a way to reach out to those closest to us. Silence and isolation never heal. The book is full of people with complicated relationships and flawed lives... it is only when they reach out to one another and accept love that healing begins.

I will read anything Jandy Nelson writes, and getting to read an ARC of this was like getting everything off my Christmas list. No one knows how to write a broken family like Nelson does. I love how every character in this novel, including (and maybe most prominently) the dog, seemed to jump right off the page. Everyone featured in this story was incredibly realistic to me, and their struggles were genuine even when the perspective shifted from chapter to chapter. I loved following each character's journey of understanding themselves, of course, but more than that, I loved seeing how each character fit into the bigger puzzle piece, Paradise Springs. My favorite part was the characters and the personal narratives they had to live, discard, and revise throughout the novel.

My only qualm with this book is the number of stories that were told at one time. I know that many of the characters, especially the ghosts, are meant to be seen as a fairy tale to build up a complex family's setting and history, but it became too much at times. Marigold + Cassidy, the original Falls, and the current Falls all could have had personal novellas with how much content there was in this novel and while I liked learning about these characters, I struggled to see how all of their stories intertwined cohesively at the end. Don't get me wrong, I still cried at the closing chapter, but that had more to do with Nelson's phenomenal writing than with the conclusion of the stories. It felt like shoving 5 pounds of something into a 1-pound box in many chapters, which I didn't love.

I'm so thankful I got to read this ARC and am so grateful Jandy Nelson is putting stories like this out into the world. Although I didn't love every part of this novel, I would still recommend it to readers young and old because I think it sheds light on a lot of difficult yet heartwarming topics.

The characters are fantastic and the story is well written. It's a long book and the pacing could have been better at the start but overall, I enjoyed it. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Jandy Nelson, author of, I’ll Give You the Sun is finally back!

She has threaded together an enchanting story of the Fall siblings - three kids living in California dreaming of better times and of their missing father.
All three are simply amazing and unique and all three have ground breaking experiences with a mystery girl when she arrives in town.

Who is this mystery girl? and how will she change everyone's lives? This simple story premise belies rivalries,curses,love stories, friendships
and magic, the kind of magic only Jandy Nelson can bring! #penguingroup #whentheworldtipsover #jandynelson