Review: Every Day by David Levithan

Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.

There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.

There is something incredibly special about this book. The premise is unheard of, the main character neither male nor female but simply a soul--a representation of what is ultimately at the heart of all of us. I absolutely adored every single sentence of Every Day, and here's why.

Adolescent protagonist A has never been like everyone else. Every day, A wakes up in the body and life of a different sixteen-year-old. This life is normal, routine--and then everything changes when A meets Rhiannon through the body of her boyfriend Justin. It's tough to sympathize with this couple. I found myself frustrated by Rhiannon's reluctance to leave the real Justin for A, but at the same time, how can one blame her when A doesn't even look like the same person each morning?

It's not often that a book makes me cry, but somewhere in the middle of Every Day, the waterworks began. I was--and still am--amazed by David Levithan's ability to strip away everything unnecessary and explain human nature in such simple terms. A's character contributed to this--never have I seen a character without a gender in YA before. The perspective was entirely refreshing. I loved getting insight as to the lives of teens in unique situations, some similar to my own and others pointedly different.

The only thing I was a little bothered by was the abrupt ending. As much as it worked, I wanted to know more about A's purpose and as far as I know, there is no sequel planned. I definitely hope that changes. There is so much potential within the storyline.

Contemporary fans and even everyone else, make sure to check this book out.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars