It's been years since I read Jamie's Beautiful Disaster. I was very excited to see I was able to read this early in exchange for a honest review.
Jamie really knows how to connect with her readers. I feel like she always shows us true feelings between her characters therefore emotions feel raw and real. This book was no exception. The layout of the book was unique because of the part tit played in the book. Reading this was like reading a great combination of mystery and romance. But lets be real..........THAT ENDING!!! Best ending of a book I've read in a very long time! 4.5 stars without a doubt. Loved this book and would give it to my best friend!

Catherine is so much more than what meets the eye; she a strong, brave, loving, hard-working, intelligent girl who’s world has been flipped upside down. Tragedy seems to always be breaking down her door, all she knows how to do is to keep rolling with the punches. For years she has heard bad things associated with her last name and now she has no one to seek help from when she needs it the most. Elliott’s return lead her to believe there’s help out there, and shows just how far one will go to help someone they love.

Elliott has been spending summers with his aunt and uncle as long as his parents have been together. Tired of fighting and negativity Elliott picks up a camera, focuses on the girl and loses his heart to her. Strong, independent Elliott fights to show Catherine his love and his acceptance. He needs all of his strength to keep Catherine safe and show her the way out. His early years were not enjoyable years and has made him wise beyond his years.

Ms. McGuire has made me want to sit and reread All the Little Lights over and over again. Within the first couple of pages I knew we were in for a ride but I never imagined it would be as crazy and complexed as it is. I felt as if I just watched an illusionist, I sat here half in a trance reading, completely ignoring life around me; and when the last page was read, I was grinning like crazy, knowing I had been duped, but loving every minute of it. Her characters were amazing, so real and raw. Each character pulled some kind of emotion out of me, ranging from anger and revenge to hope and happiness. All the Little Lights is an emotional coaster coming of age story that flows so smoothly, it’s easy to lose track of time. Ms. McGuire is a new to me author but now will be a collections author….I cannot recommend this book enough!!

Wow. Captivating, enthralling read. Couldn't put it down.
It's my first time reading this author definitely won't be the last. Not what I was expecting, that ending OMG!
An enduring love story where there 2 saviors/heros - Catherine and Elliot. A love triangle that involves the past that dictates the future.
So Good! A romantic love story filled with mystery and descriptive qualities that just sends chills up your spine. A story of being a warrior, no one gets left behind.

It’s really difficult for me to review. I hadn’t read a book from this author in quite a few years so I sort of forgot this writing style. It was slow easing into the story. It dragged at times. I would have hopped for a shorter story.

It’s a love story that started at a young age. There is a twist in this story.

Standalone told in a dual POV with an HEA.

When I saw this book, I told myself that I had to start it. I had not read any of Jamie McGuire’s novels yet, but hearing about this one, I was really curious to discover one of her stories.

Catherine is hated since childhood. Her family does not have a good reputation and everyone thinks she’s weird. However, Elliott, this young boy who comes to spend the holidays at his aunt house, is intrigued and dreams of getting to know her. From these holidays comes a nice story of friendship and the beginnings of something else. Yet when Catherine suffers a tragedy, Elliott disappears without a trace, leaving her alone to deal with the consequences. Elliott finally returns 2 years later, but they are very different from the people they were. He is determined to explain himself and to be forgiven. But nothing will be easy especially when you know that the girl hides a secret.

Oh this secret … I confess that I was frustrated all along the novel because I wanted to know and to understand what was going on in this bed and breakfast. I had doubts but nothing was sure and when the revelation occurs then everything becomes clear in relation to the strange behavior of Catherine. However, I had to wait until the end of the story to understand exactly what was happening.

It was an intriguing and different story. I had a good time discovering the characters even though I was often sad to see what they were going through in this small town. It was touching to see how much Elliott wanted to stay with her, to make her understand that she was his world and that he was ready for anything for her. And she was happy to find her friend and see that someone was trying to protect her whatever happens.

This is a story I did not expect, but very intriguing one to discover.

This was the story of Elliot and Catherine. This was definitely not what I was expecting....a very unique storyline! The writing style was amazing and held my attention til the end. I don't want to say a whole lot in fear of giving spoilers. I think it is best to go into this book without too much knowledge of it beforehand. Im glad i read it as it was different from anything i have read lately and one that I will remember for a long time! 3.75 Stars!

It's with a very heavy heart that I have to give this read so a low rating. It's an author I admire and I was really excited when I heard she was writing a YA novel. For me the book didn't get me excited until about 70% into the story. I really loved how the story panned out but it just came way too late. This book could have been so much more if only the main part of the story came into play earlier on in the book. The author hinted early on but it was too vague. The character development was very good but I felt let down with the pace of the story.

I have been struggling with writing this review since I finished this book. I don't want to give anything away about it, and I don't want to come across as "slamming" it. I will do my best to convey why such a low rating for this book.

First, I fell in love with Jamie's books years ago when Beautiful Disaster was released. At some point, my tastes changed in my reading preferences, and I haven't read her in books in years. I was excited to pick back up with this one.

The plot... it's a good plot. One that I would have normally loved. However, the delivery of the story and plot fell off a cliff for me. I found myself rolling my eyes and begging for the story to just move on more than not. It drug. It was repetitive. It was drawn out for way too long. This book would have been much better had it been cut in half.

I honestly didn't like the characters. They were bland and one-dimensional. I just couldn't put myself in their world. 

The twist. If you have read any of the other reviews, you have seen there is a twist. Let me first say, I saw the twist way in the early part of the book. I did question myself from time to time, but I kept going back to what I thought was going to come to be. This, too, was too drawn out. It should have been brought up to another character to make the "mysterious" happenings more believable.

Overall, I am glad I read this book. If for no other reason than to say that even as a fan, I won't always necessarily love everything an author writes.

I love Jamie McGuire as an author so I was eager to read All the Little Lights when I saw it appear on Netgalley.

I'll admit once I start reading it wasn't quite what I was expecting, that isn't to say that that's a bad thing, it was just different.

There is quite a twist in this book which makes reviewing the story quite tricky as it isn't something I'd want to give away as it has a huge impact on the rest of the novel.

What I can say is that you won't be disappointed in the storyline at all.

My only real gripe is with the characters dialogue in places, it didn't give me 'the feels' that I was expecting and therefore didn't really connected as much as I'd like with what was happening to them.

Over all a good read but just a little bit more emotion needed to give it that WOW factor.

I've read several of Jamie McGuire's New Adult books, but to see her publish something young adult was really exciting for me because I tend to like her writing in general and her stories, but I don't really enjoy the descriptive scenes that come with the New Adult genre.

The description of All the Little Lights reminded me of Tillie Cole's A Thousand Boy Kisses. While the two certainly have pieces in common (a friendship from youth that has an undertone of the potential for more, the boy has to leave, and the betrayal of being apart that needs to be reconciled once the two find their way back to each other), plenty was certainly there to separate the two books.

While reading All the Little Lights, I had a lot of questions. Things didn't make a ton of sense in several areas. I wondered if Catherine's big secret would turn out to be something trivial. I didn't understand the guests of the Juniper or their motivations and how they played into the story. Catherine at times mentioned being afraid of certain guests but then at times said there was nothing to be afraid of. She also seemed to like other guests but would at time respond to them with bitterness. I wondered if Jamie McGuire could pull off answering all of my questions in a way that would satisfy me without feeling like a letdown. She really, really did. I was genuinely surprised and enjoyed how everything worked out and revealed itself.

I will say that I had two questions at the end of the book that were left unanswered. I didn't understand Tess as a character really and I wish there'd been some more information concerning her and how she fit in. She felt like either she didn't fully belong in the story or she was left out of a major plot point that she was maybe originally designed to be. Either way, I felt a disconnect there. And then my other question revolved around Catherine's future. I can't go into detail without spoiling certain parts of the book.

Of course, I really enjoyed the romance between Catherine and Elliot. I did roll my eyes at Catherine's "maybe you're better off without me" attitude at times. But overall the two really clung to each other in a way that I loved.

I particularly loved Mrs. Mason and as an adult found the side story between her and Mr. Mason particularly enjoyable and complex.

Favorite quotes:
-"My Uncle John says people can only make us angry if we let them, and if we let them, we give them power."

-You are in control of your emotions. You're in control of your reaction. You can, at any time, change the way you feel.

-It's good, you know, for things not to come easy.

-"You can't get someone out of quicksand if you're stuck in it, too," I said.

All the Little Lights was more than I expected it to be. Maybe I should have seen the big surprise coming, but I totally didn't. I really enjoyed the romance between Elliot and Catherine. I read this one really quickly which is always good. And I was ultimately happy with the way that Jamie McGuire wrapped up this puzzle leaving me with only a couple of questions. All the Little Lights gets 4 Stars. Have you read All the Little Lights? What did you think? Let me know!

“You can’t get someone out of quicksand if you’re stuck in it, too."

I confess, I feel a bit disappointed with this one. I remember liking Beautiful Disaster, so I thought this would follow in that book's footsteps - sadly, it did not.
This by no means follows an extraordinary plot. Boy lives with his aunt for the summer, falls in love with the girl next door, has to leave because his mother doesn't want him to get stuck in a small town, girl resents him and boom - boy comes back in the end. Add a little murder mystery and some very, very slow-burn/instalove tropes, and you get All the Little Lights.

I kept reading on, waiting for the 'oomph' moment, where something, anything would stick out to me about this story. There is a sort of mystery element as the reader comes to wonder what's going on in Catherine's home, but the reveal fell a bit short for me. Without spoiling too much, it painted mental illness in a deviant way which is never enjoyable for me to read. The pacing of the story was also very slow; it takes ages for Catherine and Elliott to be together and then it all happens at once. Their relationship also felt very superficial; Elliott is ready to give up his future for Catherine without them ever really getting to know each other.

Still a nice contemporary story if you need a quick read.

I am a huge fan of Jamie McGuire and I don't think I have ever read a book by her that I didn't enjoy in some way. All the Little Lights is one of those books were when you learn the huge secret at the end it makes you change the way you thought of certain characters. This review is going to short and sweet because I really don't want to give away anything. #nospoilers

 My favorite part of the book was Elliot. He is head strong and determined at such a young age. Elliot's character is just so well written. He isn't perfect, and he has flaws, but he doesn't ignore them, and they help to make him who he is. Catherine took a while to grow on me, she pushed people away and her reasoning was vague at times. She had a huge secret that she's keeping from everyone and it was one that I completely didn't guess.

My biggest complaint with the story was that it felt way too long and dragged at times. Other than that, as a whole it was beautiful written with high emotion and a bit of suspense. I look forward to more of Jamie McGuire's books in the future.

“You can’t get someone out of quicksand if you’re stuck in it, too,”

First, thank you Netgalley for this review copy. All opinions are my own.

Second, when I read the blurb and saw Jamie McGuire is the author, I didn’t hesitate for one second to hit request and I was pleasantly surprised when I got approved, until I started reading it.

This lacked the Oomph that his previous books do and also insta love? Come on. One of the most annoying cliches in young adult books.

I was about to dnf it halfway through but then I read a review on Goodreads that compelled me to power through. I won’t say ‘and am I glad I did” because it was still meh for me but I did start understanding what the heck was going on. The dynamics that were shown here were expertly written. I honestly can say I didn’t know what the secret was. I thought it was ghosts but I do feel that she was old enough to think for herself and tell someone, instead of acting like a child.

I didn’t like how Elliot’s and Catherine’s relationship was portrayed. He seemed like an obsessive and dominating guy. It was wholly unrealistic, I actually rolled my eyes at the letter part(you’ll know what I’m talking about when you get there). I really wanted to love this book but it failed to strike a chord with me. However, I did like the little mystery part the author threw in AND I loved the twist that I didn’t see coming which is why I gave this a 3.5/5 stars.

I haven't read anything by Jamie McGuire since Beautiful Disaster. So I was super excited to see a new release because as problematic as Beautiful Disaster was, it still a favorite of mine and introduced me to the New Adult genre.

I really didn't know what to expect from this one. I didn't really read the blurb and I think it's better that way. There isn't really much I can tell you about the book because it has a plot twist here. The plot twist KNOCKED ME ON MY ASS! I had to put my Kindle down and think about everything I read and started piecing things together.

Jamie did her research here and made something really good. I loved the characters in this book, especially Elliott. He was so sweet and super protective of Catherine. I was always cheering for him. Catherine's story broke my heart. I wanted to jump through the book and be there for her. She hadn't had a easy life and was scared of being stuck in this town and this life forever. She needed someone in her corner and that turned out to be Elliott.

Elliot and Catherine had one of those first loves that stay will with them forever. Even though Elliott wasn't there when tragedy struck Catherine's life, he made sure to come back to her when he could. He taught her how to live again and actually want more.

All in all, this book was great surprise and I really ended up loving it! Definitely pick this up when it comes out!

I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a huge Maddox fan.
I adored a Beautiful Disaster, read it several times.
This was completely different, I didn’t enjoy it, it just wasn’t for me. I was so disappointed and I really struggled to finish it. The characters were so young and it was so slow. I’m sure lots of people would of love it. Just not me.

I will start by saying I received a copy of this book from Net Gallery in exchange for an honest review.

I have read Jamie McGuires’s previous series and loved them. So when I heard about this one I was super excited. I was disappointed. It is nothing like her previous books. The characters are in their teens, it is slow and confusing. This is a book that I wish I could have DNF’ed I wasn’t enjoying it at all. I can’t recommend it, I wish I could.

I'm not normally into contemporary romances. They're not bad by any means, but they usually don't appeal to me. However, every once in a while, a really special book will come along and make me glad I don't overlook this particular sub-genre of romance altogether. Jamie McGuire's All the Little Lights is just such a book. I finished reading it a few hours ago, and I can't wait for everyone I know to go out and buy their own copies of this sweet, compelling love story.

When Elliott and Catherine meet for the first time the summer after their freshman year in high school, they click immediately. Elliott is spending the summer with his aunt and uncle while his parents - who seem to fight far more than they get along - try to get their marriage back on track. He's immediately captivated by Catherine's beauty, but he's also struck by the sadness in her eyes. There's something about her that calls out to him for protection, and Elliott vows to always be there for her no matter what. But Catherine's life is pretty complicated, and she's not sure it's a good idea to make friends with Elliott. After all, she's a total outcast at school, and there's a part of Catherine that prefers to keep it that way. It seems to her that close friendships will just complicate her life further, and she's not sure she's up for that.

Elliott is persistent though, and it doesn't take long for Catherine to succumb to his charms. Soon, the two are inseparable, and Catherine begins to understand that Elliott's friendship might just be the thing that saves her from a life that she's always thought of as pretty bleak. Unfortunately, Elliott's mother comes to collect him several weeks ahead of schedule on the very day Catherine's father suffers a fatal heart attack. Elliott tries to say goodbye to Catherine, but his mother, who has a huge grudge against Catherine's family, refuses to allow it. So, Elliott is forced to leave Catherine behind when she needs him the most.

Two years later, Elliott's parents have divorced, and he's convinced his mother to let him spend his senior year with his aunt and uncle. He's desperate to be reunited with Catherine, but when he is finally able to talk to her again, she seems to want nothing to do with him. The sudden death of her father has plunged Catherine's life into chaos, and she struggles every day to keep her family's bed and breakfast afloat. She knows letting Elliott back into her life would be a huge mistake. He's already walked away from her once, and, if he ever manages to uncover the dark secret she's been hiding for years, she's pretty sure he'll leave her again, so what's the point of giving him the chance to hurt her that way?

As you can probably imagine, Elliott once again manages to break down Catherine's many defenses, and pretty soon, the two of them are dating. Finally, Catherine feels like she has a chance at true happiness, but then, a local girl goes missing and Elliott is implicated in her disappearance. Suddenly, he's a pariah in town and things become very dangerous for both Catherine and Elliott. Will their love survive?

All the Little Lights is a story of first love that manages to be incredibly sweet without being the slightest bit fluffy. In fact, Ms. McGuire tackles some very heavy issues here. Her characters deal with racism, domestic violence, and mental illness, and none of it is glossed over or romanticized. Instead, the author manages to give her readers a glimpse into the day-to-day lives of everyday people who struggle with these things.

The relationship between Catherine and Elliott is amazing. There is absolutely nothing these two won't do for one another, and if the depth of their feelings occasionally comes off as a little over the top, it's easy to push aside any momentary annoyance and remember the heightened emotions of our own first loves. It also helps that neither character is perfect. They both have challenges, and Ms. McGuire does a great job letting readers see both their strengths and their weaknesses.

The novel contains an element of mystery that I really loved. It doesn't shift the focus away from the relationship between Elliott and Catherine, and instead serves to add an extra layer of urgency to their story. I can't say too much about it without spoiling things, but I will say that I was completely surprised by the way things turned out. I'm usually pretty good at figuring things out, but my detection skills failed me here.

All the Little Lights is one of those stories that completely sucks the reader in. It's almost 450 pages, but the book seemed to fly by, and if life hadn't gotten in my way, I would have gladly read it in a single sitting. Have I convinced you to go out and get a copy yet? I certainly hope so. This is a book that will remain with me for a long time to come, and I'm eager for others to get lost in it the way I did.

Buy it at: Amazon/Barnes & Noble/iBooks/Kobo

Oh boy.

So back in 2012-ish I picked up Beautiful Disaster and quite frankly loved every bit of it. I mean yeah, it has flaws but it still won my heart. I also read Walking Disaster - which I also loved - and Beautiful Oblivion that was just meh. When I saw this book up on NetGalley I just had to request an ARC. I got the email that I got approved for it during class and you have no idea how I concealed my excitement.

I frankly had no idea what this book was going to be like. I thought it would be another love story the likes of BD and The Maddox Brothers series. But, it ended up taking me completely off guard.

First off, the Jamie McGuire I knew wrote average romance. But this was something much deeper than your usual romance novel. The writing was so good. It really shows how much she has grown as a writer. Because it wasn't just the writing that felt improved but also the story telling - the entire structure.

I'll put this out there before I say anything else, if you're looking for a fast paced, quick, summer romance this won't be your jam. For one, the book has a relatively slow pace. But from the first page on wards it did nothing but to pull me in till I reached the end. The romance between Catherine and Elliot was real and believable. It was incredibly sweet. But the romance isn't the star of the show. It is the atmosphere of the book. Or more specifically, The Juniper. Which is Catherine's ancestral home - now turned into a B&B.

Yes, that's all I'm going to say because I don't want to ruin it for you. The mystery elements are genuinely chilling and the end reveal got me. I had a few theories but all of them turned out wrong. But apart from this the book also deals with issues like mental health, racism, bullying, murder. It might sound a lot for one book but Jamie McGuire handles it like a pro and does not disappoint. I also loved all the side-characters, they were all fleshed out and I just really liked them.

Safe to say, this book will be staying with me for a long long time.

This E-Arc was provided by Net Galley. This is my honest review.

This book was a young love story at heart. The two main characters Catherine and Elliott found friendship and love at a young age. The story continues with them both facing trials and tribulations with their families. Even with all that they go through their friendship and love grow throughout the book. They grow individually and draw strength from one another. The deepness of their loyalty to one another was admirable to see for kids their age. There was a mystery that kept me turning the pages to find out what was going to happen also. I enjoyed this story and it was very different from other books I've read from Jamie McGuire. I would recommend this book to both teens and adults.

I have not read anything by this author, but in the past I loved everything I had read so decided to read an ARC copy of All the Little Lights. From the beginning I knew this book would be different. That being said, I read the book and it was amazing.

This book tells the story of Elliot Youngblood and Catherine Calhoun. When the story starts they are young and yet despite their differences get on very well. Elliot is visiting his aunt and uncle for the summer, whereas Catherine lives there.

As they get older, things change for both of them, but they still love to be together and at the end of the summer s0mething happens to Catherine that is devastating and changes her life in a drastic way. Elliot goes to see what happens, but his mother had arrived in town and forced him to get in her car and go back home with her. Elliot is desperate to get back to Catherine, but it takes two years for him to get back.

By this time, Catherine is the only person taking care of her mom and her father had passed away the day Elliot had left, so she is all alone. She gets bullied by some of the girls in High School where she goes everyday, and then back to her secret life, because Catherine has a secret she can't tell anyone and that includes Elliot.

This book is so well written, has a great plot and I did not know what was going on until the end. I loved the characters, and they were well developed, their love for each other very touching. All the minor characters were also well developed, and the end result was an awesome read, that I will read again.

This book makes me feel like this is the best book I have read by Jamie McGuire, even though I loved the other ones- this one was special and covers a very important subject. I gave this book 5 Stars!!