Oh, my! It was worth the 10-year wait since the publication of my all-time favorite young adult book, I’ll Give You the Sun, to finally read Jandy Nelson’s new book, When the World Tips Over. Other than excellent writing, I had no idea what to expect and never could have anticipated this tear-inducing, heartbreaking, romantic, redemptive family saga full of magical realism, sibling rivalry, and fanciful storytelling. Like its predecessor, a central theme is the way children cope with the loss of a parent, whether through death, abandonment or mental illness. It’s also vaguely reminiscent of Esquival’s Like Water for Chocolate minus the overwhelming tragedy. That’s not to say that this story is a happy one.
In its 500+ pages, there’s plenty of space for Nelson to weave a tale that gives sufficient attention to all of the characters and their lives, both separate from each other and in the ways they intermingle. She successfully juggles the various timelines and multiple POVs; handles multiple traumatic, potentially triggering events with sensitivity; describes the impact her characters’ bad decisions have on people around them while still not seeming to judge them harshly; introduces ghosts and curses without them seeming fantastical; and paves the way for a very dysfunctional family to come together and begin to heal following a near-tragedy. I found the idea of nature vs. nurture very interesting, especially how genetics can have a profound impact on someone’s life in both positive and negatives ways (whether it’s synesthesia, sexual orientation, musical talent, etc.), and appreciated how Nelson handled queer characters and their navigation of their sexuality and gender identity in the face of adversity. The exploration of love in all its forms (e.g., familial, platonic, romantic) is a thread that runs throughout the story, and is a potent motivator for many characters.
There are so many emotional highs and lows in this story. I actually cried in the first chapter and several other times throughout, but there was never a feeling of hopelessness. Of course, I also thought how much this family (especially the children) could benefit from therapy. Having a dog you can talk with telepathically is not a healthy coping mechanism! A quote near the end, which references the title, pretty much sums it up: “I do believe now that when the world tips over, joy spills out with all the sorrow.”
Although this is billed as a young adult novel, I want to emphasize that the number of triggers is very high, so this would be most appropriate for older teens, young adults and adults. It’s an unforgettable story that deserves all the awards and accolades I suspect it will receive. Highly recommended!
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Dial Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
If you don't want to see the triggers in case you consider them spoilers, don't read beyond this point.
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Tags and Triggers: #FamilySaga, #Curses, #StarCrossedLovers, #LGBTQ, #California, #Vineyards, #Brothers, #Musicians, #Synesthesia, #Infidelity, #Neglect, #Abandonment, #DomesticViolence, #SexualAssault, #Death, #Grief, #YALit, #YoungAdult, #Romance, #MultipleTimelines, #MultiplePOV, #Tearjerker, #Soulmates, #DysfunctionalFamily, #LoveAtFirstSight, #Family, #Depression, #MentalIllness, #Addiction, #Alcoholism, #SingleParent, #AccidentalPregnancy, #Abuse, #ChildAbuse, #Trauma, #CleanRomance, #LoveTriangle, #ForbiddenLove, #Dogs, #MMRomance, #GayRomance, #Bullying, #Guilt, #Wineries, #Stepsiblings, #LiteraryFiction, #RoadTrip, #MagicalRealism, #Chefs, #Paranormal, #SexualAbuse, #Ghosts, #Adultery, #OralStorytelling, #Coming-of-Age, #Bildungsroman, #Diaries, #Dreams
