Book Review: We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach

Goodreads Description:

Before the asteroid we let ourselves be defined by labels:
The athlete, the outcast, the slacker, the overachiever. 

But then we all looked up and everything changed. 

They said it would be here in two months. That gave us two months to leave our labels behind. Two months to become something bigger than what we'd been, something that would last even after the end. 

Two months to really live

Title: We All Looked Up
Author: Tommy Wallach
Genre: Contemporary
Format: Paperback. Arc

Pages: 370 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Source: ARC was received in exchanged for an honest review from the publisher.

I was intrigue with this book when I first got it but it took me a couple of tries to actually finish it.

The Plot

What do you do if an asteroid is heading towards Earth and you only have 7 weeks to live? Do you go on with life like everything is normal? Sit there and wait for the asteroid to hit? or what about abandoning your label and live your life to the fullest?

With the end of the world happening, we follow the lives of four high school senior who were defined by their labels abandoning the stereotype as they live their last days of their lives.

 Characters/Narrative

Multiple POV are usually a hit or a miss for me. I was not a fan of the multiple POV at the start but it's something I grew to enjoy when reading this. Also with FOUR different characters we get four very different opinions on what's going on and were easily distinguish with their different personality. 

At first the cast of characters looked like your stereotype one dimensional high school students but as the end of the world begins they abandon their labels and developed for the better as they become . This book is filled with character and relationship development I enjoyed especially when the characters and their story intertwine with each other. 

Anita's my favorite character followed by Eliza then Andy and Peter. I mostly like Anita on how she handles the situation thrown at them positively and maturely as well as her growing as a character. Eliza is another favorite especially on how her story progress as she followed her passion of photography and put it to use to rebuild her reputation with taking photos of humanities reaction to the end of the world.

Writing

The writing was my favorite part of the book. Its a story of 'what if'' and makes me question and maybe even doubt about life and the things we do. I really enjoy how provoking and philosophical the book become especially in the event of something similar to an asteroid were to happen how will people react.

I love the concept of the story! Its the breakfast club meets the end of the world reminding me a bit of Melissa Kell's 'The Incredible Adventure of Cinnamon Girl'. Also the story was more of a coming of age as each of the characters get push out of their comfort zone to take a leap into living the life they always wanted.

Books with a music element thrown in are usually a love/hate but for this book I love the music element which makes sense since the author is also a musician.While I have yet to check out the companion soundtrack to the book I do like how they talk about music especially how it bonded Anita and Andy's relationship.

Romance take the back seat in this book till the later part of book and while it was kinda force and sudden, it suited the situation they were going trough with the apocalypse,so better get together now than maybe never. Also this book dealt with the sex situations honestly and positively especially with Andy who's obsess with getting laid before the end of the world and Eliza who owes up to her actions.

There are also some side plot of complicated family and friendship, being in the wrong crowd, breakups and in Eliza's case bullying and slut shaming.

While the pacing of the book was a bit draggy and as I mentioned had a hard time getting myself connection with the book, after about three 'chapters' I finally am enjoying what I'm reading. Along with the multiple point of view there is a 'countdown' to when the asteroid is estimated to hit instead of the traditional chapters which I thought was a fun addition to the book.

The tone of the story is dark and hopeless it still have its lighter and maybe even an optimistic side to the situation as people loosen up and celebrate their lives while our four main characters figure out what they really want in their lives.

Overall

I really like how smart and provoking this book is and was intrigued till the end. I also like how it concluded where it gave an ambiguous ending leaving us for the readers to imagine what happen next which suits the the story. 

Check this book out if you like a provoking and bittersweet story with an edgy dark twist as well as a cast of realistic character with very diverse personalities.