This is one of the best depections of anxiety that I have ever read. Jessa’s thoughts are invasive and controlling-- physically represented by lower-case italics that interject her conversations and several daily activities.

All too often, YA treats mental illeness like something that can be ‘cured.’ Like throwing the two love interests together will ‘fix’ them and everyone will be magically happy. Not here. Jessa previously tried to move past her struggles by throwing herself into her relationship, sacrifcing part of her identity in doing so. This was a really strong plot point, and handled very well.

I really enjoyed most of the characters! Marshall is fun, with creative outlooks on life. Struggling with a heart-condition since birth (that left him without symptoms) he has a completely different definition of what it means to be ‘sick” and it lead to interesting discussions.

Marshall’s sister, Hannah, was also a very interesting character. Devoted entirely to her piano studies, she quickly has to reevaluate her goals and what she’s willing to do to get there. I also appreciated the large amount of focus on Jessa/Hannah's friendship, instead of just focusing on Jessa’s romantic relationship.

Cons:

That ending was disappointing.

Suddenly everything turned into a Hallmark special? With all this talk of souls and miracles and everything magically working out?

It just felt like a cop-out to me, and the heavily spiritual themes overshadowed the previous character development. Jessa no longer had to find strength inside herself, as the universe handled things for her.

With so many interesting characters and dynamics, I don’t understand why Jessa’s relationship with her mother was completely glossed over? There are references to Jessa not getting along with her new stepfamily, and wishing she belonged, but nothing where she ever tries to work this out. It almost seemed an easy way to write her mother and old life out?

Thanks to NetGalley and Three Saints Press for the opportunity to read and review All Things New by Lauren Miller. Jessa struggles with anxiety and panic attacks. She can’t seem to deal with life very well. After her accident, she’s dealing with so much more than she was before, plus the scars on her face. She refuses to talk about why she’s angry with Wren or anything that’s bothering her. Jessa agrees to move to Colorado with her dad and attend an art school. She makes some friends and builds a relationship with her dad while learning to deal with the aftermath of the accident. Along with her anxiety and scars, Jessa sees bruises and scars on people even though their faces are blemish free. She realizes that she’s hallucinating and her mind is seeing what isn’t there. Jessa works on her confidence, the relationship with her father and building friendships and trust in others. As she’s doing these things, Jessa grows and understands more than the eye can see. 4 stars for this eye-opening realistic fiction novel for young adult readers!
I received a complimentary copy of this book for voluntary consideration.

This was an absolutely incredible book, different from the others I have read by Ms. Miller but no less amazing. In fact, it may be the best she's written yet.

Ms. Miller portrayed anxiety and panic attacks with unflinching honesty but also with utmost empathy. I am not one who has suffered panic attacks my entire life, but there were a few years after my sister was killed that I would have a panic attack anytime I heard police or ambulance sirens, loud noises (like gunshots), or other triggers. I can say honestly that Ms. Miller nailed the feelings, the terror, the concern that you're "going crazy," etc.

On top of the authenticity, the characters are written with such care and love it is impossible not to be on their side. Jessa was complicated and conflicted and oh so real, and Marshall was darling. I have to say a special note about Jessa's dad, who was absolutely incredible. I love the fact that he's in the book and plays such a big role, and the fact that he's written as a "real" parent, as opposed to an ideal that pretty much never happens in real life. He is tough yet kind, strict yet loving, and ultimately exists to lift up Jessa and let her fly on her own.

I love everything about this book and highly recommend it!!

Jessa Gray was used to hiding her anxiety, pretending to be brave and in control. Her boyfriend Wren was enough for him, didn’t make any other real connection except her mother, who didn’t know how to deal with her. When an unfortunate accident left her grasping for air and bruised and scarred, her world of pretense and lies crumbled. Unstable, fragile Barbie soon became broken and wounded.

After the accident, Jessa’s brain was affected so much, she could no longer picture anything with her mind. Closing her eyes, she couldn’t see anything, couldn’t even imagine a thing. When she open them, she saw scars on other people’s faces, bruises, wounds, disfigurement. In her own terms, she hallucinated.

Moving and settling in to her father’s place might just be the change she needed to deal with her hallucinations and panic attacks. Jessa met and made new friends with twins, Hannah and Marshall, two distinct personalities, each with his own burden to bear.

I totally get why other people didn’t seem to get a grasp of the story with the heroine always controlling her emotions and not accepting the reality of her scarred situation. If you would have asked me to read this three years ago, I wouldn’t be able to understand anything, too. But after I’ve read so much about panic attacks and learned about mental disorders from various channels, I finally have better concept of people dealing with this mental and emotional health issues. I’m also glad I was able to read this book during the World Mental Health day a week ago, it even made me more aware of this disorders and helped me understand the depressed even more.

I hurt a lot as much as Jessa did. It may have been painful to see everything with her eyes and not with her mind, but I believed it was even more painful to see everyone’s scars right in front of you. I thought she was a strong girl, especially when she finally admitted she needed help, she acknowledged her fears and had joined a group that doesn’t judge nor ridicule her imperfections. The depiction of Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray was a genius idea, perfect and on-point. This book by Lauren Miller was splendidly written and heartbreakingly beautiful. Cut right through my heart, drove it like a race car and plummeted it to a deep ravine. Her harrowing journey to recovery was definitely something to read and think about!

This wasn't my favourite book by the author but I did enjoy it. I think anxiety is hard to write and I was feeling the angst I needed which I appreciated. It was quite an interesting and thought provoking read that I would recommend!

A teen suffering from generalized anxiety disorder must deal with the condition head on after moving to a new town. She fights for normalcy as she deals with a new school and friends along with her estranged father, and she re-learns the definitions of beauty and acceptance as she also re-learns how to view herself. Author Lauren Miller gives YA readers a touching novel that deals with the realities of today in a refreshing manner in her latest book All Things New.

On the surface 17-year-old Jessa Gray looks like other kids. She’s dating a star athlete, and she keeps up with the latest fashions so that she presents herself as the perfect girlfriend. But Jessa’s hiding a secret: she suffers from generalized anxiety disorder, which manifests itself in panic attacks. She’s tried to explain to her boyfriend what she experiences, but he’s losing his patience. When Jessa sees him with someone else, she knows she doesn’t need to waste her own patience on him anymore.

She doesn’t even have time to absorb the full impact of his infidelity when she gets into a car accident that leaves her with major injuries, including a brain condition called aphantasia that prevents her mind from creating images. Her divorced parents can’t agree on how to handle her recovery, and in an act of desperation Jessa accepts her father’s proposal: to leave sunny L.A. behind and move to Denver with him. It’s what she’s wanted all along, ever since the divorce, but Jessa’s also still pretty angry at her dad. When she needed him most he left the family; now he wants to make amends? The alternative is to stay in Los Angeles with her mother, stepfather, and half twin brothers, though, and they’re too busy being a family on their own to worry about her. So Denver it is.

Her anxiety threatens to crush her in her new school, but then Jessa meets Hannah. Just like that, she has a new friend. It’s been a long time since Jessa’s been able to call anyone a friend, and before long Hannah introduces Jessa to her twin brother, Marshall. The three hit it off as if they’ve known each other for years.

It doesn’t hurt that Marshall is funny and cute and calls Jessa’s bluff on a regular basis about hiding behind her condition without making her feel like some kind of freak. He challenges her to see herself as he and Hannah and her other new friends see her. When another emergency springs up and Jessa’s the only one available to help, she will have to fight through her old definition of normal in order to come out on the other side.

Author Lauren Miller creates characters that her target audience will recognize, because they’ve most likely seen the same types of kids walking the halls at their own schools. With a teenage protagonist, Miller makes mental health issues more accessible and more real. Jessa’s struggles become magnified by her anxiety and the mask she must maintain to hide that anxiety. As the book progresses, however, Jessa becomes bolder, and readers may find themselves emboldened to allow their own masks to slip more often thanks to Jessa’s increasing confidence.

Even in a first-person narrative that can turn biting or sarcastic, Miller manages to create sympathy for Jessa. The supporting characters help maintain that sympathy while managing to generate some for themselves. Hannah, an accomplished pianist, deals with high levels of stress about her career as a musician. Marshall must face the realities of life with a heart defect. The brother and sister provide Jessa with the perfect foils because of their own imperfections, and Jessa learns that even people who don’t have generalized anxiety disorder struggle. That’s a lesson any teen can take to heart: everyone has to fight a battle of some type every single day.

Ultimately Jessa’s story allows for the acceptance of grace for one’s self as well as for others. I recommend readers Binge All Things New by Lauren Miller.

I am very torn on this book. I want to give it two stars - because there were a few things that really really bothered me - but at the same time, I think this is an important story that a lot of kids need to read (to know they aren't alone) so I'm bumping a star up just for that.

So, first things first. This is a story about anxiety and panic attacks. I like that Jessa's anxiety and panic has a clear starting point but a very fuzzy why. Because a lot of time, kids can't name why they are suddenly anxious. The point that pushes them could be a small blip to others but large to them.

Both of my kids suffer from anxiety. I think this is a big part of kids' world these days - between the need to be perfect, to achieve and to have acceptance through social media outlets (which will never happen because of trolls and bullies). So this story hits close to home for me and I think it's good for teens to read about someone else who has anxiety and to read about someone who's like you. Like the story says, to name the dragon for what it is and let it out.

However, here are my hang ups.
I didn't like the religious slant it took. I'm glad the theme didn't tip to "you would suffer a mental illness if you had more God in your life" but it was a little too close for my liking and I think this will turn many teens off (and isn't a clear hope or planned outcome for many.)

I also was pulling my hair out at all the typos. I don't typically notice them unless they are affecting my reading but these definitely were. There were words missing from sentences at least 10 times. There were parentheses missing sporadically from conversation threads. It halted my reading too many times and was overly frustrating.

But I'm giving it 3 stars because it tackles anxiety and pressures and stress and I think there need to be more books out there like this.

This story is about a high school girl who has a car accident and the traumatic experience changes her life and how she perceives herself. She already has a panic disorder that was brought on earlier in her life at the time her parents divorced. Now things are worse and she goes to live with her dad. It is hard starting over with new friends though. This story is a great book to read to open discussions about panic disorders, physical appearances and perceptions, relationships, prescription medicine abuse, obsessions, and attitudes.

I think this book would be great in a high school library and I think many students would enjoy reading it. In fact, there may be many who could relate to some of the characters in the story and not feel so all alone. Maybe by reading this book, many can get comfort and possibly be willing to seek help if they aren’t already getting it.

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion. I could not get through 20% of this book. The main character was so annoying and immature.

I have been waiting 3 years for this book. I mean not this book in particularly, but just another book by Lauren Miller. I’m a Lauren Miller fangirl. I know it, she knows it, people that follow my reading know it. Ever since I read Parallel for the first time 4 years ago I have been a champion of all books Lauren Miller. I will tell anyone and everyone to read her books. With that in mind imagine how happy I was when I learned about All Things New. I was warned that it was very different from Miller’s other two books and I may not love it as much. Well guess what? That warning was wrong. All Things New was AMAZING! It was a book I needed without knowing I needed it.

All Things New is about Jessa, a quiet 17 year-old that has been plagued by anxiety for many years. She has done everything in her power to hide the panic attacks and fears she has and she does so successfully everything changes. Jessa gets in a terrible accident and all of a sudden she sees scars and wounds on people. The thing about these scars and wounds? They don’t exist. They are projections in Jessa mind. When Jessa moves in with her dad and starts a new life, meeting adorable Marshall in the process, she must find answers to why she is seeing things and figure out how to heal herself in the process.

This book! I seriously loved this book. What I loved most about All Things New, Marshall aside (we will get to him and Jessa later), is the message I found in it through Jessa and the scars she was seeing. The thing is, we all hide scars. We all have things that hurt us or weigh on us that people just don’t know about in everyday life. Jessa was rare and she was able to see those struggles through the manifestation she developed. She may have been seeing wounds on the outside, but really she was seeing what was happening on the inside, the hurt people were feeling in everyday life. That right there is what made All Things New so amazing and important. Jessa was hurt and angry buy what happened and how her life was and this “power” showed her she was not alone.

But she really wasn’t alone. There was Marshall. Oh adorable, lovable, genuine Marshall. He is probably one of the best characters I have read in a long time. He was insanely perfect in his flawed way and he was exactly what Jessa needed. He brought a humor out that was timed perfectly and he was just a great guy. He didn’t make Jessa feel anything she wasn’t ready to feel. He was just there for her. He listened to her and they formed a bond. It was all 100% swoon-worthy.

All I can tell you about All Things New, well that I didn’t say above, is you need to read it. There is something magical about Miller’s storytelling and Jessa’s story. It isn’t your typical mental health story, but it’s important all the same. It’s about healing and how we make ourselves heal and that is something everyone should know is possible. Well done Lauren, well done. Now write me another book.

"Crazy can’t hurt this bad. Crazy can’t be this much work."- Jessa

Jesse Gray's story is anything but a fairytale, but maybe she can get some reprieve at the end... after learning and fighting to live.

"The soul doesn’t put itself on display, which is kind of the magic in it."- Jessa

This story touched me on so many levels. I can relate to both Jess and Marshall. I've battled with both their battles. I understand. And maybe that's why I couldn't put this book down.

"here I go down circle road strong and hopeful hearted through the dust and wind up just exactly where I started"

Jessa has been battling sever anxiety since 7th grade, when her life changed drastically. One faithful night will put her on the path to hopefully learn to live and cope with her anxieties. And also bring Marshall and Hannah into her life. Friends, real friends.

". . all of me is broken. Literally. All of me. My brain, my heart— My face.”- Jessa

Everyone is facing a battle that the others don't know about. We're all fighting. How we fight these battles is what sets us apart.

I absolutely adore Marshall's character. He brought the comic relief this book needed. He was lovable, friendly and funny, with his own battle.

This book is so much more, but telling you would reveal this amazing story, and I think everyone needs to read it. Absolutely read this story!

I would love a follow up book. There is more we need to know, about after. What happen with this? Did she find out who white coat was. And so much more. Please follow up with these characters!

I absolutely loved Parallel. Even though I knew this would be much different, I was still eager to read it. Glad I did! I found it a little slow at times, but Miller did a great job with keeping me interested.

I received this book through NetGallery in exchanged for an honest review. Thank you to Three Saints Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review All Things New!
What I love most about Lauren Miller’s first few chapters are Jessa’s narrative is chaotic and she often misinterprets the situations. .. Full review is on my blog link below.
https://bookworm2405.blogspot.co.uk/

Not terrible, just sort of forgettable. It was pretty obvious what was going on with the scars Jessa was seeing on faces. That exploration was intriguing but ultimately shallow. It was decent to read one but I wouldn't bother with it a second time.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

That being said, unfortunately I did not enjoy this book. The main character has terrible anxiety issues and they seem to be the main focus of this book. She has a wreck after she finds out her boyfriend has been cheating on her. After her wreck, her face is terribly scarred, which just adds to her anxiety.

I couldn't finish the book because it just seemed like the same scenario on repeat.

A couldnt put it down kind of book. It didnt go the way that I thought it would. Very good.

Jessa has been dealing with anxiety attacks on her own with her boyfriend until he wasn't there any more. When an accident leaves her with a brain injury and scars her father makes an offer for her to come live with him. It seems she didn't come out unscathed from the accident not only does she have scars but seems to be having hallucinations with those around her seeing them broken and scarred. Now shes in a new school meeting new people making and a new love interest and still got to learn to get past what happens to her.

Not sure if I ended that description right but I think I'm going to stick to it. After reading this book its beyond me why it took me so long to actually pick it up because now that I've finished reading this I found it to be interesting, unique, unexpected and enjoyable. TBH I think it was the cover that drew me in and after reading the description I was curious how it was going to be. The description sounded generic like plenty books that I've read before but turned out there was clear differences that make this book stand out. It's not the greatest book (don't want to over hype the book) but it was pretty good it hooked me and pretty much wouldn't let me go to the end. There was interesting moments and I loved that this book didn't feel rushed. I loved seeing the progression of Jessa learning and changing over the course of the book and that it wasn't some insta love thing that solved every issue she has (hate when books do that) I loved seeing that slow change and seeing her improve. Overall this book was pretty good and I really enjoyed it.

There's a lot I liked about this book. I loved the main plot concept, and how it deals with mental and physical illnesses in a very tasteful way.
I loved the characters because I related to each of them in different ways. I rooted for Jessa, Hannah, Marshall and the others.
I didn't like the way the book unfolded in the end. I feel like it all became quite moralistic and the spiel felt a lot like something from a self-help book.
It became very cliché and predictable, but then the author left every important question unanswered, which bugs me endlessly.
I loved the right, but I was disappointed with the destination at the end.

A great story but I have problem at the beginning to connect to the story.The first half was ok the rest was pretty good.Also most of the things that happened through the story was predictable.

All Things New follows the story of Jessa, our protagonist, as she attempts to come to terms with the after- effects of a terrifying accident, and the physical and mental scars left behind.

Long story short, I loved this book. It's so sensitively done, it's hard not to and I believe the comparisons with The Fault in Our Stars and All the Bright Place are justified. It tackles several very difficult subjects carefully and beautifully, weaving a sometimes heart-breaking yet hopeful tale that's part love-story part coming-of-age. I'd recommend this to everyone.