My book review of ‘Five Feet Apart’ written by Rachael Lippincott, Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis.

In my view

This novel is about three young people who fight against Cystic Fibrosis. Frequently called ‘CF’ in the book. Cystic Fibrosis is chronic hereditary disorder that can be very life-threatening because it affects the lungs and some other organs and systems. The body produces a thick mucus that affects the lungs and is also a threat to the pancreas. This novel is fictional, though mostly inspired on a true story and two examples of types of the disease. In general it gives an idea of how cystic fibrosis impacts the life of children, young adults, their families and the hospitals they frequently visit or stay at.

As mentioned halfway the previous paragraph: this story is just an example that in one way highlights some specific cases and in the other way tries to find the connecting wires where every person affected with cystic fibrosis has to deal with. And I think that besides the two examples, it succeeded in the most core message of the novel.
It is life as it is: a part of happiness and a part of sadness. A part of jokes and jolliness and a part of routine and strictness to stay alive. A part of life changing decisions and a part of luck and gratefulness. A part of fighting and a part of letting go. And the part of never ever giving up!

Cystic fibrosis is a complex disease and the types and severity of symptoms can differ widely from person to person. Many different factors, such as age of diagnosis, can affect an individual’s health and the course of the disease.

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (source link)

A couple of decades ago the lifespan of living with this disease was quite short, as in: maybe you became a young-adult but probably not. Nowadays the healthcare is way better. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (United States) keeps track of many researches for this disease and possible drugs that are developed. The last couple of years there are more breakthroughs and try-outs on the road to be able to some day cure people with cystic fibrosis completely.

More than half of the cystic fibrosis population is over 18.

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (source link)

Style

I really liked the writing style but I did not realize that until the last part. In the beginning of the book the writing style was vivid, full of thoughts of the main characters Stella and Will. But it was also somewhat equalised, because the different emotions that the story evokes – especially the theme of the novel is not that far from reality – were not that far apart. The last part of the book, and hereby I mean the last quarter, had more distance in the different emotions.

The writing style of the book went on a journey – just like the emotions – as an echo. It started small, a few emotions and a small distance, a bit slowy pace. And ended up big, many changing emotions and a bigger distance than ever before in the book, a quick pace but also the feeling of peacefulness. It ended like a ‘wow’ with nothing to say, not even that word and just being speechless and accept being speechless.

In the end it nearly read like a thriller, but then instead of being afraid of something bad by another person or so… it was worrying about the main characters. Their fight to survive the disease and overcome bumps – well let’s say giant rocks – on their road.

This is one of the few books I have read in my life so far that leaves me speechless.

Characters

The book has three main characters in my opinion. Because they all play a significant role and most of all a significant meaning in the way they live their lives and fight the disease. All in their own way and all with their own very different – but by Cystic Fibrosis so similar in fate – characteristics. At a sudden point they all accept that without a new pair of lungs – even if that is possible, which is hard – they have a shorter than average life expectancy. The main characters are Stella, Will and Poe. They are around the same age but have their own life story.

The book is adapted into a film of the same title.

Book Facts:

Title: Five Feet Apart
Author: Rachael Lippincott / Mikki Daughtry / Tobias Iaconis
Genre: Young Adult / Literature
ISBN: 9781471182310
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Year 1st edition & read edition: 2018
Year read: 2020
Original title & language: Five Feet Apart [EN]
Read language: English
Pages: 276
Rating: 9 / 10 stars
Filmed: Yes!

I hope you like the book too. It is worth to read it! I am not telling about the story too much, you have to read the book yourself and make your own opinion.

Enjoy reading!

Loves from Sophie