Other Breakable Things

The plot of this book was amazingly executed, and the story was so very well thought out and developed that nothing was out of place and there was a single word out of place. There were no unnecessary lines and nothing that made it feel as if the story where dragging on. The characters of Evelyn and Luc where developed so organically that I couldn't help but give this story a five out of five rating. I will for sure be picking up a copy of this book for myself and for any of my friends that love to read. If this author duo ever comes out with anything in the future, together or on their own, I will most certainly be picking it up automatically no matter what, and I am very interested in reading any of their existing work.

Three years ago, a terrible accident for a girl saved Luc's life and provided him with a much needed heart to prolong his life.
Now, he finds out the heart is starting to fail and so he needs another transplant. Yet after the anguish of waiting before, he's now contemplating euthanasia, so he can die on his own terms and not his body's terms.

Evelyn, has returned home to their town after her mum took her off to live with her new boyfriend at the time. Evelyn missed seeing Luc and is happy to be back and so they slowly start to hang out again. She is aware there's something wrong with Luc but is not entirely sure what exactly is wrong with him. We also learn her mum's boyfriend used to abuse her and Luc is whom she chooses to confide in about this.

Luc enlists Evelyn to accompany him on an adventure as he wants to go and look into euthanasia but lives away from the area they are located. He plans the trip with interests of Evelyn's interwoven and we see from the split narrative point of view just how much he grows to care for her more despite him growing weaker as the book goes on. He still plans on killing himself, yet Evelyn is obviously emotional when she finds tabs open on his phone about euthanasia, pill bottles and a business card too all to do with a specific drug. The couple really care for each other so much that Luc wants to make sure Evelyn is looked after when he's gone so calls his parents to make them promise so.

A running theme through the book also linking them is the butterflies Luc collects and also wants to see in the conservation building when they're travelling but they have to break in as it was shut. Luc also buys Evelyn a butterfly necklace, another reminder of him for her to keep. Evelyn makes a lot of origami animals such as the crane from the cover of the book, she states in the book it helps her stay calm and keeps her hands busy but also again, it's symbolic as she does make a lot of them around Luc, nervous at first in their feelings but less so as we go on.

This book was beautifully crafted and reminiscent of Morgan Matson's novel, Amy and Roger's Epic Detour which I love!

It dealt with the topic of euthanasia and transplants seriously and showed the toll it takes on everyone, how one life can have a ripple effect on so many others one way or another.

If you like books with adventure, love and an interest in health issue storylines, this is your book!

Thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

“Other Breakable Things” absolutely wrecked me- it’s a beautiful and heartwrenching story about Evelyn and Luc. The book begins when Evelyn returns to town after leaving Arizona, where she and her mother lived with her mother’s boyfriend. Her best friend, Luc, has not been great about staying in touch, but Evelyn is eager to see if they are/can still be friends. Luc is suffering after his heart transplant years ago- it seems his body is rejecting the heart. He feels that it would be easier on Evelyn if they weren’t friends to save her the heartbreak when he dies.

Everything changes when Evelyn finds out her mother wants to go back to her boyfriend in Arizona. Evelyn feels like she finally got away, and since her mother always treats her like the second choice, Evelyn is not sure if her mother will believe her about what her boyfriend has been doing to Evelyn. Unsure of what else to do, she runs to Luc for comfort. Luc invites her on a roadtrip to Oregon that he had been considering- Oregon allows euthanasia. Luc is keeping his heart condition from Evelyn, though she knows that something is going on. Evelyn is a lover of origami and suggests that he fold a thousand paper cranes.

Their trip takes many unexpected and lovely turns as they both learn more about the other and what it means to be alive. This book was absolutely beautiful and I loved it. Both Evelyn and Luc were so real and incredibly well crafted. The alternating viewpoints between the two was a perfect way to tell this story of young love and life. I absolutely could not put it down and loved every second of this book- it’s such a poignant and beautiful story. I’m not sure I can write how amazing this book is, but I highly recommend it.

There are some really big themes here- sexual assault, euthanasia/suicide, running away, etc.- and as a warning, it will absolutely make you feel some big emotions- heartbreak, sadness, happiness/joy. However, it’s really a fantastically well-crafted story and I wouldn’t change a word of it. Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

A gorgeous book that reminds us to live our life to the fullest and love to until your heart is full.