Review: Finding Mr. Brightside by Jay Clark

Finding Mr. Brightside by Jay Clark

Publisher-Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Released- March 24th 2015

Pre-Order- Amazon / B & N

Abram and Juliette know each other. They’ve lived down the street from each other their whole lives. But they don’t really know each other—at least, not until Juliette’s mom and Abram’s dad have a torrid affair that culminates in a deadly car crash. Sharing the same subdivision is uncomfortable, to say the least. They don’t speak.Fast-forward to the neighborhood pharmacy, a few months later. Abram decides to say hello. Then he decides to invite her to Taco Bell. To her surprise as well as his, she agrees. And the real love story begins.

My Thoughts: 

Finding Mr. Brightside, is a touching and emotional story about two people who go through the motions of losing a loved one, but it goes a little deeper then grief, see Abram and Juliette may live on the same block and go to the same school but they don't really know each other well, and yet they share a very tragic connection. Abram's dad and Juliette's mother was having an affair and while that should be bad enough, a car accident took them away from their families and leaving in it's wake mixed feelings of betrayal and lost.

Wow, am I ever in love with the way Clark writes! Seriously, it's very strong and punches out some of the best dialogue and inner thought process that makes this so meaningful and thought provoking. Underneath this is a very sad and bitter story but the way Clark delivers this was surprisingly light and amusing given the complex situation. With an almost desperate-dry humor, witty moments and an adorable love story, I found this to be so refreshing different and what I loved about this book the most. I mean, how do you try to have a friendship with a person that reminds you of what you lost and yet is the only person that understands the pain and confusion you feel? 

Abram and Juliette  were such amazing characters. Realistic, likeable and easy to connect with. Abram has a wonderfully optimistic outlook on life and a confident spirit. He just has this way about him that accepts things for what they are. He doesn't need to fight his ghosts, even though they are still apart of him a year after the death of his father. Juliette on the other hand is a little more cynical, jaded, messed up and needs that push to bring her out of the dark.  I love that we have this in both of their perspectives, I loved being inside both their heads and seeing what the other thinks and feels. I also love the gradual but inevitable pull the two have with one another. At first it was an awkward encounter, then morbid curiosity, then finding comfort in just existing in the same space which leads to a strange but natural friendship. They test each others comfort levels, give that push when the time calls for it and try to help one another with they're reliance on medicating. But throughout all the confusion and mess that is their lives they find a genuine relationship that is so utterly adorable and incredibly sweet. They're good together, need each other, a brightside that allows them to remember the good and the ugly but finally be able to let go and move on from darker days. Beautifully done!

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