REVIEW: Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult


Publisher: Simon & Schuster

ISBN: 1534437355

Format: Hardback, Paperback, E-Book,
Audio-Book

Release Date: 20th November 2019


Links: Goodreads, Amazon.com, Indigo,
B&N, Book Depository


Rating: 9/10


Synopsis:

Can you love someone you can never touch?

Stella Grant likes to be in control—even though her totally out of control lungs have sent her in and out of the hospital most of her life. At this point, what Stella needs to control most is keeping herself away from anyone or anything that might pass along an infection and jeopardize the possibility of a lung transplant. Six feet apart. No exceptions.

The only thing Will Newman wants to be in control of is getting out of this hospital. He couldn’t care less about his treatments, or a fancy new clinical drug trial. Soon, he’ll turn eighteen and then he’ll be able to unplug all these machines and actually go see the world, not just its hospitals.

Will’s exactly what Stella needs to stay away from. If he so much as breathes on Stella she could lose her spot on the transplant list. Either one of them could die. The only way to stay alive is to stay apart. But suddenly six feet doesn’t feel like safety. It feels like punishment.

What if they could steal back just a little bit of the space their broken lungs have stolen from them? Would five feet apart really be so dangerous if it stops their hearts from breaking too?

Review:



*I received a copy of this book from Indigo Books & Music Inc. 
in exchange for an honest review*

This book was a heartfelt and endearing story and I couldn't put it down. 

This story follows Stella and Will, two characters who are both going through health difficulties. The two just want an escape but Stella has to stay six feet apart to stay on the transplant list. Suddenly six feet apart seems like a punishment and not a safety measure.

This book immediately got my attention with its beautiful cover and gripping storyline. The story was touching and heartbreaking and I felt attached to the characters and their stories.

The book switches between Stella's and Will's profile. The two are both struggling with cystic fibrosis (CF). Stella shares her struggles on YouTube and she is very caring. She wants Will to be more serious about his health. Will in particular was a great character. He doesn't care about his health (despite a stronger form of CF that means he cannot be in contact with another CF person) and often rejects possible treatments. He has the most character development and changes his perspectives as the story progresses. However, the relationship that builds between the two helps them break out of their shell. Will learns that he should be more serious about his health, and Stella learns to live more in the moment.

The two make some decisions in the book that can be seen as questionable but I loved their journey together. Stella and Will's relationship was endearing and slow building. I rooted for the two throughout the book and I loved their interactions with one another.

What I really enjoyed is how it educates on the struggles and medical treatments for cystic fibrosis. I learned a lot that I hadn't known before including the different treatments and an in-depth look into the struggles that people face.

The plot was fantastic. I never knew what was going to happen to the characters; would they beat CF diagnoses? Would they come together? I had no idea where the book would end, but I ended up loving it. It is very much open-ended in that you don't know exactly where the characters journey leads. 

I cannot wait to see the film adaption of this book in 2019 and I really hope that it does the book justice. 

Rachael Lippincott is a wonderful writer. The story was heartwarming, endearing and I didn't want the book to end. Fans of The Fault in the Stars are going to love this book.