cindy's Reviews > Above All Else

I really wanted to like this book. I even feel apologetic now, as I sit here and say that I've made it as far as I can: 43%. There are a few things that I liked, but the overwhelming majority of my thoughts are negative. I'll explain in detail below why I stopped the book despite wanting so badly to enjoy it.

Positive:
- World building! The suffocating air, the altitude, the bad decision of looking down, letting the dizziness from the height overwhelm them, the adrenaline as their hands shake on a particularly slippery edge. The imagery is more than decent, and although I've never climbed before, I feel that I do have a pretty good idea now of why I never will. :P *shudders*

Negatives:
- I don't know if it's just because it was an advance copy I received, but the formatting was *so* messed up. Paragraphs jumbled together, some spaced out too far, and the chapters didn't even start correctly. Words were separated from their start, and although I tried to look past it, this deceptively small detail made the reading experience a lot more difficult for me.
- Lack of character development. I loved the concept (who can say no to an intimidating adventure and challenge?), but the execution of the characters made it confusing. I was frequently conflicted about where the characters stood. Sometimes they wanted to climb, but other times, they didn't. I couldn't tell what their motivations were, and as a result, I couldn't connect to them.
- A random relationship? There was also a sudden relationship that blossomed (or more like, exploded) in the middle of nowhere. Even though readers can occasionally appreciate a spontaneous romance, Tate and Rose's relationship felt forced and extremely uncomfortable. There was seemingly no attraction to begin with, and then all of a sudden it seemed like they were thrown at each other as a coverup for the lack of development in their characters. Fact: They were better as friends.
- This reason is probably why I can't continue reading: The writing style is very elementary. If this book is meant for YA, which it is, there should be a lot more sophistication in the scenery, movement, and dialogue of the characters. It's lacking in all of those fields. When I read a book, I want to be immersed in the story, not cringing because of some strange dialogue choices or misplaced tenses. It eventually got to the point that I couldn't look past the writing and began to fix the sentences in my head instead of actually investing myself in Tate and Rose's story!

Conclusion:
I think this book would have worked SO much better had it been marketed towards a middle grade audience. The writing is clear but inelegant for the more advanced reader, and the concept could be extremely interesting and marketable if only the execution were smoother.

Would I recommend this book?
Honestly? Not really. I don't think you'd be missing much. If Levy were to release a new and revised version of the story, where things are a little cleaner and the character development is a bit stronger, I would be more than willing to give this story another chance.