★ 4.5 / 5

I never thought in a million years that I would review a Jandy Nelson book. In 2014 I'll Give You the Sun had a powerful effect on my mental health and reading journey. I had just started consuming tons of books due to school problems, and when I went to the bookstore with my mom to find some more books to fill my free time, I stumbled across that colorful beauty. To this day, I credit I'll Give You the Sun as one of the books that kickstarted my love of reading beyond Percy Jackson and The Hunger Games. To now be in 2024, 10 years older, with When the World Tips Over in my hands—that's an indescribable feeling.

When the World Tips Over is an enigmatic enchantment of a book. It's contemporary fiction for young adults, but Jandy manages to naturally blend in a complicated magic system linked to the Fall family and a potential curse on them. Readers will flip back and forth between the Fall siblings' POVs along with a rainbow-haired girl named Cassidy Snow, who we learn more about later on. The Fall siblings are struggling to cope with a particular struggle—Dizzy lost her best friend Lizard to the popular kids, Miles is depressed and not the perfect child his siblings claim him to be, and Wynton is a struggling musician—but all of them share the pain/insecurity of their father Theo Fall running out on them after being pronounced dead mere hours before. This abandonment by their father spearheads the family even years later (Dizzy and Miles hardly even remember their dad), and the Fall siblings mother Bernadette leaves a plate out for Theo every night after her work at the restaurant because she still loves him. But once Cassidy comes to town, her presence upsets this ticking time bomb lifestyle for the Falls, and they're all forced to reckon with their family history beyond even Theo Fall due to the curse.

First, I need to talk about the family. Jandy Nelson creates such a complicated, fascinating family history. I loved the flashbacks to the Fall family before they even arrived in the states all the way to modern day. It created this great foundation for world building since I'd finish a chapter about ancestors starting the wine business and then read about their descendants seconds later. I don't know if this story could have hit me in the heart as much as it did without those moments. I felt like a kid at story time during those flashbacks because of the shift in tone and topic. I'm also a huge history fan, so I loved getting these contrasts of ancestors and descendants. Then, when the reveals begin in the second half of the book, they're enhanced by this detailed family history because of our knowledge from the first half. I didn't even realize the reveal for Cassidy until her truth was staring me straight in the face, but it made perfect sense due to the build-up Jandy wrote. The same goes for Wynton too. Going back, I'll skim a few lines here and there and find the hints towards his reveal from the start of the book. Wynton himself even subconsciously worries about it—is insecure about his identity. Initially, I didn't expect the story to focus on Cassidy and Wynton because Miles and Dizzy are the most frequent POVs at the start, but the build to these two being the core story of this family was so satisfying.

So, who's my favorite POV/character? It's a tie between Miles and Cassidy. Not only are both the reader-type characters but they each differ greatly from their families, essentially the odd one out of the bunch. Their willingness to acknowledge those differences is startling at times but also very self-reflective. Cassidy grows more-so in the flashbacks during her storytelling to Wynton; whereas, Miles growth happens on the page as he deals with the current family issue and eventually the hunt for his dad. Both of them reveal some pretty harsh truths from their past and current selves, but it made them even more human because we're prone to mistakes and cruelty, especially as teenagers. A lot of authors try hard to explain their characters' flaws or mistakes away, but Jandy Nelson is not one of them. She forces us to confront the characters' issues along with some of ours that mirror their actions. I think that's particularly why I adored these two because they are unapologetically themselves. I only wish they could've had more time together on page because I loved them together and separate. Also, I think a lot of teens and adults will see themselves reflected back in these two due to their abandonment and identity insecurities.

Spoilers below:
The biggest surprise of this book was the reveal about Theo Fall, Clive Fall, and Bernadette Fournier. I already knew at this point that Cassidy was the daughter of Theo Fall and Cassidy's mother Mary "Marigold" Snow. I was a bit blindsided by the possible incest reveal (Cassidy and Wynton being possible siblings brought me straight back to 2013 me while reading City of Bones haha), so I wasn't analyzing their family trees as much as I should've been. What I didn't quite realize was that Bernadette would be in a love triangle between the non-related Fall siblings Theo and Clive. I subconsciously knew this curse of two brothers always fighting would apply to Theo and Clive, but it didn't actually click in my brain till their story is told. I wasn't expecting the parents to influence the story to THAT level because Bernadette has an affair with Clive throughout her marriage to Theo. Wynton is Clive's biological son, and Dizzy and Miles are Theo's children—confirmed through their genetic synesthesia from Theo. I was STUNNED at this reveal. Wynton's loneliness and desire to make Dizzy "his" sibling over Miles made even more sense. All of the Fall siblings (not including Cassidy) miss their father Theo, but Wynton feels it deeper because he desperately hopes with his whole heart that Theo is his biologically dad. He rejects Clive as his bio dad even after walking in on Bernadette and Clive as a kid. He then tells Theo, which leads to Theo being pronounced dead due to the shock and then leaving Paradise Springs. Theo believed Bernadette and Clive wanted to be together, and none of the kids were his, so he got out of the picture. Obviously, that's not the case, but it makes Wynton feel like he caused everything from him being a product of the affair to Theo's reason for leaving. Part of the reason Wynton plays violin is because of his idolization of Theo from when he was a kid, so it only is salt in the wounds to find this out as a reader. It's truly masterfully connected to see the depth of Wynton's guilt, and I believe that only prolongs his coma after being hit by a car because he doesn't have closure or peace within himself.

Overall, I freaking adored this story from every drop of drama and humor to the family moments. I still cannot believe I finished it. I'm hoping Jandy will write another book sooner than 10 years because I'm already shifting to reread her previous two books.

Thank you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jandy, how I’ve missed you!!! I still think about IGYTS on a regular basis, so after YEARS AND YEARS, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her newest story. While I didn’t love this quite as much as IGYTS, it was still so magical and beautiful. Nelson is a master at capturing emotion and the beauty of the world. There were times I found the pacing off or a little slow, but at the same time, there were even more moments that took my breath away. I fell in love with the Fall family and all of their oddities — I’d love to see this play out on a screen, actually. I’m not sure this book will be for everyone, but that’s okay. I know I will be thinking about it for a while.

Bumping this up to a 4.5 for the ✨magic✨

When The World Tips Over
Jandy Nelson
The Falls live in Paradise Springs, California. The Falls lost their father in a drowning accident. The wound in their heart is still healing. Dizzy is twelve years old. She has a unique personality and talent; she has synesthesia, she sees voices in color, and she sees spirits. Dizzy is learning to bake cakes A girl with rainbow colored hair, Cassidy, came to town in time to save Dizzy’s life; she pushed her out of the way when a truck came speeding at her. The Cassidy saved Dizzy and then disappeared. Dizzy thinks the girl is an angel.
Cassidy appeared again, this time to Miles; he is the genius of the family, the perfect student, the athlete and depressed. Miles is gay but has only told his gay dog, Sandro. He spended time talking to Cassidy; he confided in her concerning his brother Wynton (the bully).
Eighteen-year-old Wynton is struggling with the death of his father. Wynton is a violin prodigy. He is in trouble more often than not. He and the rainbow-colored hair girl had met previously and had already formed a special bond.
This book is confusing. The curse gave the adults an excuse for their behavior. Most of the story was told from Miles and Dizzy’s point of view. The characters were well fleshed out. However, they were not likable. Dizzy was twelve years old. On the one hand she comes across as much younger on the other why mention sexual experience or lack of concerning a twelve-year-old child. Cassidy was interesting. Sandro stole the show! He was my favorite character. The ending left a lot to be desired.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy for review.

Read When the World Tips Over if you . . .
- Get fully immersed in stories
- Can see words or sounds in color
- Believe food can instantly transport you
- Savor the books you love
- Create playlists for books
- Enjoy multiple perspective books
- Find unique writing style to be your jam
- Wouldn’t mind living in an RV
- Have sibling rivalry

This is my favorite Jandy Nelson book yet—which is saying a lot because I LOVED I’ll Give You the Sun.

A book fully worth the wait!! thank you to NetGalley for the arc! truthfully a more perfect coming of age novel could not have been written here! the characters are so complex, the plot twists so insane, and the storyline is so sweet there is just TOO much to love! This is one of the only dual POV books where I have cared equally about each of the characters and thought that each POV added tremendously to the story. I cannot wrap my head around the complexity and beauty of this book! Highly HIGHLY recommend checking it out when it comes out on September 24th, 2024!!

Infused with magic and braiding together multiple timelines, Jandy Nelson's When the World Tips Over is a rich, complex story about family. Apart from Nelson's gorgeous prose, the story really shines thanks to its characters. Dizzy's and Miles' POVs are especially great. Did I love it as much as Nelson's other books? Not quite. But fans of those books will definitely enjoy this one.

When the World Tips Over tells multiple stories over several generations leaving the reader wondering how all of the characters are connected. It took me a while to “get into” this story as I wasn’t quite sure where the author was taking us with unconnected character and supernatural sightings. Ultimately I really enjoyed it and how the stories intertwined at the end.

I absolutely adored "I'll Give You the Sun" so I was excited to get an arc for this book. This author is such a good storyteller developing complex characters and plot lines that make you feel something. This one was no exception. Some parts feel a little younger than YA, but other parts make more sense for why it's a YA vs. middle school/high school vibes. I really enjoyed the magical realism aspect of this book though the back story was a little drawn out.

This book had a large goal, and accomplished most of it, some parts more than others. There's something for almost everyone and I guarantee you'll find someone you relate to or know someone similar to one of the characters. These are my favorite type of books.

Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and author for this arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: It’s Jandy Nelson’s world and we’re just living in it. If you like magical realism, family bonds, secrets, identity, and loss—love and devastation revealed via the most intricate and intimate storytelling—she’s your gal. I’ve been waiting for this book for literally eight years, and it was worth my patience (even if, sorry, nothing will ever compare to I’ll Give You the Sun)!

In World, we meet the Fall siblings, who live in CA wine country. Their lives are forever altered after a rainbow-haired girl shows up—is she an angel? A saint? A normal teenager? Regardless, her presence will disrupt their lives and simultaneously reveal a multigenerational family history that will dramatically impact their understandings of themselves and one another.

As with Nelson’s other books, the POV in World changes often, so although I was worried about a more Middle Grade vibe, it quickly veered into (and ultimately remained in) YA territory. There’s something so exquisite about her magical realism. I don’t know that I’ve read anything like it. It’s truly poetry, and it’s worth slowing down to read and digest each sentence. Her books are meant to be savored as much as Bernadette’s delicacies (read the book to get this reference lol).

In short, as with all of Nelson’s writing, this is a book where you have to jump in, fully committed, and let her magic take you somewhere you couldn’t possibly imagine. Personally speaking, World still won’t replace her first two novels in my heart, in part because I wanted more from certain characters, and because I felt like I was juggling a few too many narratives (even though the length helped with that, and even though they all came together beautifully). But if I’d never read her work before, it’d be a 6/5 star rating, so I guess I’ll settle with 5/5 stars.

While I still love Nelson’s writing as much as I remember, I found the plotting of this one to be a bit. . . all over the place. The introduction of Cassidy as a conduit for the stories and an additionally long backstory made it feel like there was way too much going on. The magical realism aspect of this book was really sweet and I did enjoy the family history, but it felt like a lot of it got muddled in the mother and father and uncle’s generation, because it kind of just felt like they sucked in ways that didn’t really relate to the curse? Or maybe the curse was just really well flashed out in the written historical parts and not in the present? There were just some things that felt a bit unforgivably cruel, both done to the parents and to the children that I couldn’t really get over and feel happy about the reunion? I know that was part of the point, but I just. . . didn’t feel bad for any of them so it didn’t work.

That being said, I loved all of the kids. Dizzy and Miles with Sandro were my favorite points-of-view and I really loved the inner turmoil that came from this inability to communicate between Miles and his brother, Wynton. I find myself wishing that Cassidy’s story, which honestly felt out of left field for a lot of the book to me, was less of a focal point and Dizzy, Wynton, and Miles’s story were more at the forefront. There was just so much that could be done with that family dynamic that I felt there was some wasted potential. Part of that may have been due to the fact that it felt as if I was dropped into the middle of the story instead of at the beginning of one. Even with that the case, I did find a lot of this book to be compelling and even grew to love Cassidy’s story, even though I do wish it didn’t fill up the majority of the book, but that could be an expectations thing. I probably would’ve liked it more if I knew she would be the main focus and not the thing that happened to the family.

When I liked this book, I really liked it, but there were a lot of times that I was just. . . eugh. While I enjoyed the curse in the history, I found that it felt like a way to excuse pretty much every adult of their terrible behavior in the present day and found their mother’s past to be just. . . weird in a way that wasn’t explained or justified well. Or really led up to in any way? I just wish it was more believable, because I was just left a bit annoyed instead of understanding. Additionally, I found that the curse was used a lot to talk about how one relationship was definitely not incest and I’m just at a point in life where if I have to listen to a long section of text about how them getting together isn’t incest, I’m not really interested anymore (sorry Clary and Jace, but you are a thing of the past). My last issue was that there was a really odd one off about a bisexual person’s past relationships that felt like it added to a pretty harmful bisexual stereotype and rubbed me the wrong way. I hope they change this part in the final copy, because it really was unnecessary and only added that being with a man and a woman is the perfect situation for a bisexual, which pissed me off.

While I really wanted to love this, the pacing was a little too off, and there were too many small issues that became bigger as the story went on. I did actually really like the ending and message of the book, I just wish that it was done a little bit better. I also loved the history of the town and was pleasantly surprised with the magic that filled the pages.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader’s copy
book release date: September 24, 2024

I have written many book reviews over the years, but none have been as hard to write as this one. How can you accurately put into words how beautiful, thought provoking, and poignant this book is? Truly, Jandy Nelson has outdone herself. This is one of the best books I have ever read.



My best piece of advice: go into this one blind and let it simmer.



When the World Tips Over has one of the best and most unique cast of characters I’ve ever met! There’s Dizzy (the youngest child who is always unapologetically herself); Miles (the middle child, feeling the pressure of being perfect while stifling his true self); and Wynton (the oldest and protector of the family, silently battling his demons all on his own). Finally, there’s Cassidy, the mysterious, rainbow-haired girl who comes into their lives at just the right time.



At the heart of it all is the story: of love, loss, friendship, and above all, family. If there’s one thing I’ve come to expect from a Jandy Nelson novel, aside from beautiful prose, it is a deep reflection of familial and sibling relationships. This book has that in spades. It is slow-paced, poetic, whimsical, and kept me waiting in bated breath for what happened next.



I am honestly heartbroken that I cannot read this book for the very first time again.



Do yourself a favor this fall: preorder or request this book from your library. You can thank me later!



Thank you so much to Netgalley and Dial Books for the ARC!

Jandy Nelson writes the most engaging YA books. I was so excited to see her coming out with When the World Tips Over. I enjoyed the magical realism of the story, and while it definitely veered into cheesy at times, I overall enjoyed the story and characters. It probably could have been shortened by 50+ pages, but by the end I didn’t mind hanging with the Fall family a little longer.

The story starts with a rainbow-haired young girl’s appearance in Paradise Springs, a dreamy town in Northern California. This mysterious teenage girl touches the lives of three siblings. Then the rainbow-haired girl meets Perfect Miles: the brainiac, golden boy of the family who never does anything wrong. He’s a great athlete, an A-student, the most popular boy at school, but he has secrets. He’s gay but hasn’t come out, he’s depressed, and he only shares his feelings with his also depressed queer dog, Sandro, who has a sarcastic sense of humor and suicidal tendencies. But a tragedy strikes, and the entire family falls to pieces, with their secrets, betrayals, lies, regrets, and fears. This is a long book, and the pacing at the beginning is a little slow, but you won’t want to put it down. Many thanks Netgalley!

This was the most unique book I've read in awhile! It was delightfully quirky a la Little Miss Sunshine. At first I wasn't really sure if I liked it that much because it was SO quirky but ultimate I enjoyed the oddities and all that the characters learned in their path to growth

I could not get into this one. I gave it 25% but I was completely lost and not invested in all. I didn’t know what was happening half the time, and the other half I just didn’t care?
I absolutely loved Nelson’s first book, so will give this one a try another time, but for right now unfortunately it’s a DNF for me…

When the World Tips Over is a beautifully written, long, meandering book about the Fall family. First, we meet Dizzy Fall. A quirky, lovable, uber-smart tween. Dizzy has two older brothers, Miles and Wynton, and the three live with their single mother, Bernadette, who is a renowned chef.

Turns out their dad skipped town years ago. No one knows where he went or has heard from him since. Each Fall seems damaged by this abandonment, processing it in very different ways. Miles has become Perfect Miles: handsome, athletic, great in school and all-around star. Wynton has become a drug addict. While Wynton plays enchanting music on the violin, his proclivity for trouble has prevented him from growing further. And then there’s Dizzy. Like a lot of youngest siblings, Dizzy is eager to be liked and cool.

I loved the writing. I highlighted a dozen passages for the richness of their description. And, the writing is slow. It’s a long book and even as I crept closer to the end, I wasn’t 100% sure where the story was going. Would there be a true climax? A point? Or was it just a family drama with a few elements of magic realism sprinkled in? It did get there, but not in a strong way, which is the reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5.

Overall, loved this book and have enjoyed other Jandy Nelson reads. Definitely recommend. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Like many, I have wanted to read Jandy Nelson’s third book for a DECADE. I can’t even describe how let down I feel. Nelson’s writing style is still as good as her first two, and her characters are BRILLIANT and very huggable, but the story…she completely lost me. It was too out there for me to fully immerse myself in. Still, I’m not giving up on this author because I still want her words to sing in my heart like no other can. It was just a one-off for me, and I hope to be in the minority.

WHEN THE WORLD TIPS OVER
by Jandy Nelson
published on 9/24/2024*
*THANKFUL to @penguinteen and @netgalley for the early access (all quotes from uncorrected proof)

•💅🏼💅🏼💅🏼💅🏼💅🏼 ( 5️⃣ manis) •

“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.”

Hi friends 👋🏻 — I am super excited about the phenomenal new novel from @jandy.nelson! WTWTO is an intricate and luminous look at a family’s complicated past (and present) framed through the power of storytelling, memory, & a touch of magic and mystery (swipe for a synopsis from the publisher). ✨⚡️💥

Nelson very cleverly explores these themes while challenging herself to bring us a dynamically structured & compelling narrative. The prose is gorgeous, the characters are complex & the plot keeps you flipping page after page after page. The WIDE variety of structural devices Nelson uses showcases the importance of storytelling to the overall arc, while never feeling convoluted. She brings us to connections without spoon-feeding the reader, which is a quality I adore in quality YA literature. 📚

“If people bear the trauma of their ancestors, doesn’t it follow they also bear their rhapsodies? …If there are family curses that drop through time, mustn’t there also be family blessings that do the same? …I do believe now that when the world tips over, joy spills out with all the sorrow.” 🌈🌪️😪🥰

There is so much emotional depth in this book. I felt very connected to so many of the characters’ experiences, & the queer representation and identities throughout the novel. I can’t wait to discuss this book with more of the bookish community when it’s published this September! It is highly recommended by moi. I think this would make for a superb audiobook experience if that’s made available! 🎧

If you haven’t read Nelson’s I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN, it’s one of my most beloved books, and I also suggest picking that one up while you wait for your world to be tipped over on 9/24/24 🌏🌈

Jandy Nelson’s new YA novel, When The World Tips Over, delivers all of the feels, fun, emotion, and magic that her readers expect. The Fall family reeks of dysfunction — a father who walked out on them years ago, a mother who cannot face the truth, always in trouble oldest brother, Wynton, perfect middle son, Miles, and nerdy youngest, Dizzy — but a difficult past haunts them. When a mysterious young woman enters their lives, the truth begins to crash in for all of them. Although at times the story drags a bit, Nelson’s writing and character development shine making it more than worthwhile. (FYI —Nelson tackles a lot of issues in this book, drinking, abuse, cheating, sex, etc., that may not be suitable for younger readers.)

Thank you NetGalley and The publisher for an eARC of this novel!

“No one could explain this. A real love story is not falling in love once, but again and again through all sorts of incarnations Theirs was a real love story”

If there is anything that Jandy Nelson can do, she can write a perfect world wind cacophony of characters. Her characters are anything but 1 dimensional or ordinary. They are alive and filled with life and bright bright color. She knows how to create live with words. You root for the characters and your heart stalls when something happens to your favorite. I think my favorite part is how anyone can find something to relate within her stories. Between Dizzy, Wynton, Cassidy, and Miles one can find a glimmer of relatability.

When the world tips of swirls family of the blood and found kind, friendship, parental support and unsupport, love of all kinds. I think this a perfect book for young adults who are trying to find themselves or have already done so.

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