What Beauty There Is Paperback – April 18, 2023

I am a complete and utter wreck. I don't know how I'm supposed to go on. I knew from the blurb that this book was going to be tough, but I didn't know just how brutal it would be. I almost stopped reading before I even really got started, but for Jack and Matty, like Jack and Matty, I had to keep going.This story tore my heart apart, but it stole it as well. Jack and Matty own that battered and bruised organ and I don't care if I ever get it back. This book will haunt me for a very long time. It will be joining my favorites on a very special shelf.It's hard to believe this is Cory Anderson's first book. I'm so blown away by the writing and the story. What Beauty There Is is a stunning, poignant, and powerful debut novel and I cannot wait to read more by this author.

I really enjoyed this book. The writing was descriptive and rich. It set the dark tone of the book from the first page and captured the rural town feel that was important to the story. This book deals with so many significant issues like addiction and mental health. I felt for the characters and rooted for Jack, Matty, and Ava. Matty was my favorite character and I just wanted to protect him from all the bad. I feel like we don't get to know Jack or Ava that well in terms of personality but that didn't prevent me from worrying and caring about them. One thing I didn't love while I was reading was Ava and Jack's relationship which felt like insta love and love based on physical appearances. However, as the book progressed there was more insight into Jack's feelings. Reflecting now, I better understand why Jack has feelings for Ava. While it was a little slow in the beginning and middle, the last half was fast-paced and had me on the edge of my seat. The build up of suspense was amazing. Overall, this was a great debut YA thriller.

Book was delivered quickly only the cover was ripped but it could be worse.

Such a fantastic book. Highly recommended for teens

I rarely buy books new, but I not only ordered a copy for myself, I also got one for a family member. It's a beautiful story about family and the lengths we will go to protect them.Well written with interesting and likeable characters. Surprise ending, wow. I could not put it down.

"His touch like a bright, yellow day. I am holding his hand. What Beauty there is in this world."Thank you, Roaring Brook Press, and Bookishfirst for a finished copy in exchange for an honest review!In the beginning, there is no beauty in Jack, Matty, and Ava’s life. Jack is searching his home for his mother and finds her in the last place he would guess she would be in. He walks into a room where his mother has hanged herself. Jake buries her in the frozen Idaho ground in the middle of winter and tells his little brother Matty that she has gone on a trip. This beginning had my heart pulled tight. To imagine that happening is so sad and the writing is almost poetic drawing out so many emotions. I had the sense that Jack was just going through the process without truly feeling the loss of his mother. His focus is on protecting his brother and keeping him out of foster care. Their father is in prison for some horrible crimes so Jack hides himself and Matty in order to keep him safe.Throughout the book, Jack is protecting his brother with the little money they have. The power has been cut on their house and they have been told they have to move out in 2 days because it is being auctioned off. I had to keep reminding myself that Jack is only 17 because at points he seems so much younger and in others, he seems so much older. At such a young age he has to deal with so much tragedy.I thought the book had a nice pace. It was fast and a lot of things happen that keeps the book moving forward. I was on the edge of my seat a few times. Jack has to deal with the people who are trying to find the money his father hid also. This of course gets him into a lot of different tense situations. Then we have Ava who is the daughter of Jack’s father’s partner. Jack does not know who Ava really is but even with Ava’s background, she does her best to help Jack and Matty.I think I would have liked to see a little more development in Jack and Ava’s relationship. There isn’t a lot between them, and the book doesn’t develop their relationship very much. I can tell the book is trying to build their relationship off of the trials they are going through, but they hardly talk and so for me, there needs to be something else to build their relationship on.The beginning of each chapter had a section told from the first-person point of view of Ava. It was basically like a narration of her leading us through the story and telling us her thoughts on events. Some people have said they don’t like this but I actually found this to be a unique touch that helped build the tension through foreshadowing. I found it very engaging and it made me want to read because it starts the chapter off by telling you just enough without the actual information, so I wanted to read on.I have to say the ending left me a little confused and wondering a lot of different things. The ending left me needing more and I need clarification, so I am eagerly waiting for the next book. This type of book isn’t really the writing and plot that I would think of being a series, but I guess it is.

This book! I loved everything about it. The haunting setting and the characters that captured my heart. The story was gorgeous and so was the language. If I could give it more stars, I would.

Fans of Cormac McCarthy will be on familiar ground with this book. There are whiffs of The Crossing (two young brothers in an epic flight from danger) and, even more so, No Country For Old Men. Was it any coincidence that the evil Bardem is so much like the bad guy in that novel (who was played in the movie by Javier . . . Bardem?). Overall it was a good read and an engaging one. The plot points were well crafted for effect. Every surprise turn comes as really no surprise, but that's okay, this is YA. The trick ending was a thumbs down. (She's blue, she's face-down in the snow when they find her, don't pretend she's not really dead.) I wish she'd had the courage to go with a sad ending and leave it at that.

It made me cry, it made me feel everything

Had to read to the end once I had started. A very unusual read but I enjoyed the story. Clever.

What Beauty There Is works to keep you reading that ‘just one more chapter,’ which in turn means you’ll end up pretty much devouring this book in a matter of days – for me it was two days, but had I have been able to sit and read this book without stopping, I would have done!I found it was so easy to become invested in these two boys, Jack and his little brother Matty, from the very start of the book. Struggling to survive each day and subject to one of the most heart-breaking and traumatic living situations possible for their age, it wasn't hard to imagine the stress and sheer terrifying responsibility that Jack had weighing on his shoulders.Yet, despite the bleakest of family situations, Jack is an instantly likable character who you find yourself championing (alongside Matty and Ava) throughout the entire book.The writing style of What Beauty There Is remains fluid and compelling from start to end and the pacing is spot-on throughout. As a reader, you feel you are with the brothers every step of the way as circumstances build to terrifying levels. Overall, the entire structure and construction of this book are perfect!It’s remarkable to discover this is a debut novel for it is written with so much confidence.Though I think this book is marketed towards the YA market, I think those older than this reading group will enjoy it this just as much. Reading this as a mother, I just wanted to reach into the book and give both the brothers and Ava a big hug. But, I can also see that this book will work perfectly for the YA group that are looking for a more intelligent read and one that doesn’t shy away from some of the darker elements of the character's unfortunate circumstances.As for the ending, once again Anderson credits the YA audience with intelligence and doesn’t offer a happy ever after finishing, as such. However, it is a satisfying conclusion to a book that is almost perfect in every way.(I could also see this being effortlessly adapted for the screen)An outstanding read, I can’t rate this book highly enough. What’s more, I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up another book written by this author in the future.

This is such a beautifully written story and one that I found very hard to put down even for a moment.Jack has to make a decision, either get what meagre belongings he has left and with his brother try to make a life of their own. Their father is in prison, their mother has gone. Their father has not seen either of the boys for years, but Jack does decide to go and visit him to see if his father will finally stand up and help them. Such a simple decision but one that kickstarts events that will have the boys in danger.Ava, a new girl at school. A loner and one who can stand up for herself. Her father has taught her survival skills, to be independent and not to fall for anyone. Keep her heart and feelings closed off. A simple act sees her start to look at things slightly differently.This is such a beautiful story and one that is full of intrigue and danger for various reasons. The author has really captured the dangerous atmosphere in which the characters find themselves. The characters are not sure who they can trust, but they do realise the sense of doing the right thing. For Jack, his priority is his younger brother Matty, everything that Jack does is for the good of Matty and for a better future for him.There is danger at every turn for the characters and the author does this with at times almost lyrical writing. The words just flow wonderfully and even though this is a young adult book, I, an older reader adored it.This is a story that readers of contemporary fiction, family drama and young adult stories. It is a gorgeous story that is heartbreaking and very poignant. It is one I would definitely recommend.

Aimed at the Young Adult age, this book could be enjoyed by older – it’s been a long time since I was a young adult and I have read it! This is a dark thriller following the story of Jack who is left to care for his brother when his mother dies. Needing money and not finding a job, Jack has to make money by other means, which turns out to be dangerous. It was a bit of a slow starter, but the pace picked up as the book moves on. Whilst it was a thriller, it was at times quite a sad story, particularly for the two brothers. It is aimed at 12-17 years, but I would recommend towards the top of that age as it does have some topics which some of the younger ones may find difficult. Overall, it was a very dark, tense read but enjoyable and I would recommend.