Summary: A wonderfully unique young adult love story about a teen that wakes up in a different body every day.
I love original ideas. And Every Day by David Levithan is an original idea. The main character, who has named himself “A”, wakes up every day in a different body. Every day A has to figure out who he is and how to relate. He has done this from his earliest memory.
Throughout the book A is male, female,a depressed and suicidal girl, supermodel looking girl, illegal immigrant girl, overweight boy, drug addict, alcoholic, poor, rich, gay, straight, transgendered. The book clearly is trying to deal with both identity and the way that others perceive you.
What really drives the story is that A falls in love. And now he does everything he can to fine Rhiannon. And Rhiannon has to get over the very large hurdle of never knowing who A is going to be, or where he is going to turn up or if a plan that they make will work out.
I read enough that I sometimes feel like a good original idea is enough to justify reading a book. Many original ideas are not well carried through. I really like the idea of the book. And I like the ending of the book more than I thought I would about half way through.
In someways it is reminiscent of The Time Traveler’s Wife, which I love. Both books deal with unusual situations between two lovers (albeit a young adult and an adult book.) But Every Day is much more focused on what it means to be in a body and what it does to the host body and the power of the body against the mind.
If there is a weakness it is that Levithan feels like he is trying too hard to be accepting of LGBTQ relationships. There is really no way to do the book without that discussion and I think that part of the book is worth exploring. But it also feels a bit forced.
However, this is a unique book that is worth reading. There is also a free short story on Amazon and a 50 page novella that also is a companion to the book. I have not read the sequel.
Every Day by David Levithan Purchase Links: Hardcover, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook, Paperback (pre-order)