Quick Spotlight/Review: Everyday by David Levithan

Egmont, August 2013

Every day I am someone else.

I am myself – I know I am myself – but I am also someone else.

It has always been like this.

Each morning, A wakes up in a different body. There’s never any warning about who it will be, but A is used to that. Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

And that’s fine – until 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 – every day . . .

I did not know what to expect when I picked up this book. I found the blurb for it very intriguing. A wakes up in a different body, in a new location every day. He has no say in where he goes, who he becomes. He is only there a day and he moves on. It’s his consciousness but a stranger’s body. This was such a great idea to me. I wish I had come up with it.

I find the idea that this kid has a say in people’s lives but doesn’t get to stick around to see the result of his decisions in that one day fascinating. How a decision he makes can affect the person he is ‘visiting.’ Also, I would have loved to know where these people go when they have been replaced by A.

A seems to accept his life, until he meets Rhiannon. Then he is trying to control something he can’t control whilst making sure he is not discovered. The plot is just fantastic. It has a Quantum Leap feel to it (I adored Quantum Leap.)

I got so drawn into A’s story. A isn’t a person, there is no specific gender. He forms an attachment to Rhiannon from a moment in time and it is a very powerful idea. He has spent so long trying not to get attached to anyone but he didn’t count on meeting her. This story has a lovely romantic feel.

This book is marketed as a YA novel. However, I enjoyed it very much and got a lot from it. It’s original and compelling. If you’re looking for a quirky tale that is a little different, this will be perfect for you.

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.