When the World Tips Over by Jandy Nelson is one of the best books I've read in a long long time.
This was such a well written family drama with multiple POVs.
She has just written such a beautiful and magical story that I just devoured.

Thank You NetGalley and Dial Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

When the World Tips Over is a magical, character-driven novel from the other of I'll Give You the Sun. 

WHAT I LIKED 

- The characters were so raw and genuine and special. I adored them all. 

- I loved threads of magic that were woven throughout the story, and I was so happy with the way everything connected in the end. 

- There were so many sensitive and insightful lines of writing that made me go back and reread. The emotion behind the narrative was incredibly strong. 

WHAT DIDN'T WORK FOR ME 

- The story was told through multiple viewpoints and in a variety of methods (storytelling, letters, dreams, emails, family histories, inner monologues, etc.) It all jumbled together a bit for me, making the book feel slightly repetitive and as if it was much, much longer than it was.

The intricate plotlines, retrospective sequences, and enduring romantic themes contribute to the story's depth and complexity.

When the World Tips Over by Jandy Nelson is a lengthy young adult family drama.

The Fall children, twelve-year-old Dizzy, seventeen-year-old Miles, and nineteen-year-old Wynton have all dealt with their father’s disappearance in different ways. Dizzy, who never met her father, is struggling with the loss of a dear friendship. She also sees ghosts, but no one believes her. Miles is the perfect child who is successful academically and in sports. But he is faltering under the weight of family expectations and depression. He also has a wonderful telepathic relationship with a neighbor’s dog. Wynton is a gifted violin player but he also drinks too much and gets into trouble. His latest antics landed him in jail temporarily much this their mother Bernadette's dismay.

Mysterious rainbow-haired newcomer Cassidy alters the three Fall children’s lives in different but uplifting ways. Her story is beautifully interwoven throughout the novel as she helps the kids in different ways. Cassidy’s story arc is a little sad as her chapters detail her tumultuous childhood and unexpected intersection with the Fall family.

When the World Tips Over is a marvelous young adult novel. The characters are interesting with unique traits and background that add to their appeal. The storyline is engaging but is sometimes a little slow. The magical realism elements are subtle and quite enjoyable. Jandy Nelson brings this charming young adult novel to a satisfying conclusion.

This one took me awhile to get my bearings. It felt sort of chaotic, and at first I didn't know what kind of book I was reading: fantasy, contemporary YA, etc. The changing narratives also just put me really off-kilter. I did ultimately get into it, maybe around the 1/3-50% point. I enjoyed it, and liked the story. At times I thought, "This is amazing!" and at others, I just wanted the (very long) book to be over. I've had "I'll Give You The Sun" on my list forever, and I do still want to read that one. I think this could use a little more editing.

Stories and more stories. Nelson invokes biblical stories (Cain and Abel--and the town is named Paradise Springs and the family's name is Fall), Sheherazade's Arabian Nights, fairy tales (Sleeping Beauty) and Steinbeck's East of Eden in her story of pairs of brothers and the women (and men) who love them over several generations of a wine-making family in Northern California. She uses a heavy dose of magical realism here as well. At its heart though, this is not a love story, though the tone is romantic, but rather a story about the power of love and hope to thrive despite secrets, betrayals, and even death. The story provides multiple points of view but primarily those of four teenagers, three siblings, Dizzy (a nerdy and awkward adolescent who is dealing with being rejected by her childhood friend), Miles (called Perfect, who is gay but closeted and whose outward achievements hide a miserable and lonely teen) and Wynton (a genius on the violin who can't help but screw up) all named for famous jazz trumpeters, and the resilient and brave Cassidy Snow (raised by a neo-hippy single mother who has her own issues). Cassidy ends up changing the lives of everyone she meets while on her own search for who she is..

Nelson's book is long (maybe a bit more editing to keep the flow) but well-written and it takes its time in working out the many secrets, betrayals, and conflicts between the various characters. Except for the couple of truly evil characters (they seem right out of fairy tales), Nelson encourages the reader to avoid judging any of the characters--as in real life, people often surprise us. The book was a joy to read and she wrote characters who are flawed but whom you care about. I think I would have liked it better without the magical elements (certain characters have a glow, various characters have synesthesia) and coincidences abound. The success of the story depends on the reader buying the concept of destiny/fate/beshert. That said, the ending feels earned and realistic and leaves you wanting chocolate souffles and pinot noir!

My thanks to NetGalley and Dial Bools/Penguin Random House for the ARC of "When The World Tips Over" in exchange for an honest review.
I don't think I've ever used the world 'overwhelming' in a posted review, but I might as well start with this one. What a sprawling, wondrous, heartfelt, saga Jendy Nelson conjures up here. It's a lengthy but fascinating feast of star-crossed love, painful truths told as fabulist tall tales and family histories afflicted with biblical-level tragedy. I don't know when I've come across a novel whose richly imagined storytelling and prose makes you ache for every character in it.
In Northern California's wine growing country, the three siblings of the Fall family have come asunder, torn by their beloved father's unexplained disappearance from their lives. Quirky 12 year old Lizzie, a social outcast, sees ghosts sometimes. 17 year old 'Perfect' MIles is so secretly miserable, he's ready to resign the role of his family and community's 'Golden Boy'.. And 19 year old Wynton, brilliant musician and self destructive bad boy, seems destined for a path of either great fame or total doom......maybe both.
Into each of their lives, comes a beautiful, almost other-worldly girl with rainbow colored hair. The two Fall brothers and their little sister find themselves entranced and enchanted by their encounters with her. And they will indeed be forever changed when the rainbow girl's backstory unfolds for the reader, an epic road trip filled with joy, cruelty, heartbreak and a stunning reveal which I certainly won't breathe a word about here.
While I realize that the dives into magical realism may not be to everyone's taste, there's so much to absorb, experience and savor in this book that you can't help but surrender yourself to it and let all the emotion wash over you. Anyone searching for a read to lose themselves in totally.......I'd say look no farther.

Wow. What a compelling read.
This story reminded me of an 80's or 90's coming of age film. There was so much imagination, character growth, allegories, and of course the awkwardness of growing up in a confusing and sometimes painful world. I was so invested in these characters. I could not wait to find out what was going to happen and how it all connected. It was a great read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an e-arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

TW: child loss, sexual assault, neglect, abuse

How do you even describe a book like this? At its core, this is a multigenerational family story about bravery, about finding yourself, about survival, about betrayal, innocence and love. In this book we follow the three Fall siblings as they each come in to contact with a magical rainbow-haired girl and unravel the mysteries of their past amidst a personal tragedy. The story is complicated and full of heartfelt moments, lyrical and gorgeous writing, and even a sprinkle of magical realism.

I wish I could describe the way reading this book made me feel, but I’ll just say this: there’s something so uniquely special about this story. I devoured each and every word like they were candy. I took my time reading because I wanted to savor every word and drown in this story. I wish I could erase it from my brain and read it again for the first time.

Everything about this book from the characters (Dizzy’s innocence! Miles’ struggles! Wynton’s desire for love!) to the setting (a magical Northern California wine country town) to the magical moments (a dog that can talk directly into people’s heads!) was perfection.

Jandy Nelson’s first book in 10 years is a triumph and absolutely worth the wait. I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time and keep these characters in a special place in my heart.

Safe to say this book WILL be in my top 5 of the year!

Publication: September 24th, 2024

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

When the World Tips Over by Jandy Nelson is a beautifully written, emotional story about loss, healing, and self-discovery. The characters feel real, and their journeys move, even if the pacing sometimes feels uneven. Nelson’s lyrical prose and exploration of family and love left a lasting impression, Overall, it's a touching, magical realism, and every theme. I can't wait for the audiobook

I think high schoolers will enjoy this story

Thank You Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was another wonderful story by Jandy Nelson. It is bold for a YA—touching on topics few would—and better for it. A delight that will be taking high schools by storm.

I am a big fan of "I'll give you the sun" and was excited to read Jandy Nelson's newest book. A lot of the themes were the same, but none of the characters felt rehashed or too similar to those from IGYTS. However, I felt that there were so many different threads and stories that tied together that I didn't get enough time with any one character to really get a sense of who they were, or to get invested in their stories. I think the book would have been stronger if one or two (or three maybe) of the threads was dropped and we could have focused more on fleshing out the remaining plots. This might be a book I would enjoy more on re-reads, when I have more of an idea what happened and focus more on the details, but ultimately I think the number of plot lines made the story a mit muddled as a whole and decreased my connection with any given character.

I really enjoyed this story. It was tender, raw and real while also being lighthearted and unique. It is a multi-layered story with multiple timelines and viewpoints. There seemed to be a lot going on at once but it was all blended well so it didn’t feel too overwhelming. The characters were interesting and unique and it was easy to feel compassion and love for each of them throughout the story. There is a bit of a magical thread through the story which isn’t always my favorite but it ended up adding to the story in this case.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

Jandy Nelson's When the World Tips Over is a beautifully crafted and deeply emotional exploration of family, loss, and the complexities of identity. Set in the scorching wine country of Northern California, the story of the Fall siblings—Dizzy, Miles, and Wynton—pulls readers into a world where the sun burns bright, and the winds stir not just the landscape but their fractured lives. Each sibling is compelling in their own way: Dizzy, with her cake-baking and spirit-seeing ways; Miles, the brilliant but lost 17-year-old; and Wynton, whose talent and ambition teeter dangerously close to self-destruction.

The arrival of a mysterious, rainbow-haired girl triggers a chain of events that forces the Falls to confront their unresolved grief and deep-seated fears. Nelson weaves together a multi-layered tale filled with road trips, family curses, and love in all its messy, magical forms. While the narrative can feel almost too intricate at times, it shines through with its luminous prose and emotionally resonant characters. When the World Tips Over is a hauntingly beautiful journey through a family's broken past and their desperate search for redemption, earning it a well-deserved 4 stars.

Whimsical, magical tale. Beautifully written family drama and heartache, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I’ll be ordering my own copy. Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the advance reader copy.

🌈When The World Tips Over🌈
Author: Jandy Nelson
Pub Date: September 24, 2024

Thank you @penguinteen #partner for the gifted copy of this book!

This was a first time for me reading this author and I will definitely be back for more! In this book we learn that the Fall Father has disappeared which left their family in a state of despair. Dizzy fall, his daughter, is trying to move on with life. She’s a quirky 12 year old who is into baking and sees ghosts. Most of the time she’s lost in her own thoughts about becoming the heroine in a romance novel 😂. Miles, the son, is a handsome smart dog lover seems to have it all but deep down is feeling helpless. Wynton, the oldest son, is a talented violinist who quite possibly may be on the fast track to shattering his life. Then out of the blue a rainbow hair girl appears and changes the course of all of their lives.

This was such a well written family drama with multiple timelines and also POV’s. I think my favorite character was Dizzy as I just loved who she was and her ability to see spirits. Her one of a kind personality gave her a special place in my heart. 🫶This book was definitely a little complex at times and I mention that because I am not sure if audio would work as well here. I did enjoy all of the family secrets, lies and betrayals and felt like each of their stories was extremely entertaining and kept me engaged the whole way through! Can we also just talk about the cover?! 🌈 It’s so bright and happy! Makes me want to stare at it all day! I have more Jandy books on my shelf and this book definitely made me excited to read more!

A journey through time from the beginning of the Fall family and all the loss, grief, love, loneliness, and even a curse between the Fall's brothers that follow them until present day. A really great tale about family, forgiviness and love above all, even if it's not always both ways.

I’ve been trying to get into this one for a few days and it’s just not for me.
It’s very confusing in my opinion and I don’t have any attachments to the characters. I’m about 25% through and I won’t be finishing it..

I had really high hopes for this since I usually LOVE these kind of YA books but this one just fell flat to me,

Thank you for the opportunity.

I think whimsical is the perfect word for this book. Dual timelines, family, drama, heartache, love, it had all the feels. I’ve been waiting a long time for this authors next book and this one did not disappoint!

Thank you for the Advance reader copy provided by Penguin Group and NetGalley!

It’s been a while since Jandy Nelson’s last book, but believe me when I tell you, her newest book is well worth the wait. With When The World Tips Over, she weaves together a heartfelt and sometimes fantastical tale of family, identity, love and loss. I loved the multiple POVS, timelines and the generational saga that’s sprinkled throughout. I found myself loving every single character, but it was Cassidy and Miles who really stole the show. This is a VERY detail oriented book so you really do need to pay attention because in the end, it all comes together full circle is the most beautiful way. I’m just so blown away by this book and these characters. Stories like these are why YA will always be my favorite genre.
Mini spoiler: nothing bad happens to the dog!
CW: violence, mention of animal death, injury, mental illness, sexual assault, child abuse, child neglect

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review