Ace McConville

This book changed my life. Before We All Looked Up, I was mainly into classical literature, and romance novels. Once I began reading this book, I could not put it down. I felt so involved in these character’s lives and stories, and had so much empathy for everything they were experiencing. Wallach creates characters that are going through relatable life and social issues, however he keeps the readers engaged by providing entertaining stories and train of thoughts for each character. While all of them differ greatly in personalities and what they are dealing with in life, they have a deep understanding of one another for the mental mindset they each live with daily. When the news hits that the world is coming to an end, they push to have the best life for themselves and everyone else because they know that they should enjoy the time they have left, rather than love in fear and anxiety as they had spent their whole lives leading up to the asteroid. The first 75% of the novel is a beautiful exploration of the human psyche and building trust with people who finally want and care to understand you. The last hundred pages or so take a dramatic turn for the worse, however the writing is remarkable. Wallace tugs at your hesrtstrings, while also providing a very harsh realism of society without a form of government. If we lack consequences, we struggle to put ourselves in other’s shoes and feel a stronger urge to do what makes us feel alive, even if it hurts another. Having no consequences separates the true good of heart people from the ones who show respect and care only to gain themselves something in return. The ending is not solidified, which is one of my favorite parts of the story. It leaves the reader with the opportunity to create their own resolution that fits their own interpretation. Based on the last photo in the book, I believe that the asteroid did hit, and the book was about learning to appreciate the good things in life before it’s too late. It’s also a review at how we act towards others when we think we will get out of the situation with no negative reproductions. This has been my favorite book since the year it came out, and I have not read anything since that has made me feel quite so strongly.