Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Perhaps I was in the wrong mindset to read this book, but to me, this book felt like it was all over the place and the characters were hard to keep track of. I was dissappointed as this was one of the books I was looking forward to most in the fall of 2024. I will try this book again at a later date and see if it sparks my interest. It could just very well be that it didn't work for me as I was slightly older than the intended audience for this novel. I also don't think the book was awful...it just wasn't as good as I was expecting.

Many thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Children for the eARC.

What a unique heartbreaking book. I loved all of the POVs, I loved each of these characters and was so engrossed the entire time. Dizzy’s internal monologue may be the best of all time. What a book.

FIVE STARS
Ok wow this book. It started slow and ended up taking me a while to get through. The pace slowed and then would pick up. It was really interesting the way it was told. There were multiple POVs and one person who connected them all together.
I really just sort of fell in love with it and want to re-read asap.

When the World Tips Over is a young adult contemporary novel about siblings grappling with connection and acceptance, with elements of magical realism woven throughout.

Dizzy, Miles, and Wynton Fall are still dealing with the abandonment of their father, Leo, more than a decade earlier. Meanwhile, a young girl named Cassidy has been growing up on the backroads of California, traveling in a yellow RV called “Sadie Mae” with her free-spirited mother. As she enters her teen years, the challenges of being out of school, isolated from peers, and dealing with her mother’s mental health begin to weigh on her. She longs for stability and a true home. When Cassidy crosses paths with each of the Fall siblings, she brings them together in unexpected ways, becoming a catalyst for revealing long-held secrets.

When the World Tips Over explores a family cursed over generations by animosity between brothers, secrets, and betrayal. Yet, at its core, it is also about the deep love within families and how the universe can unexpectedly bring people together. I love Jandy Nelson’s writing—the depth and beauty of her characters truly shine through.

3.5 stars:

I loved “I’ll give you the Sun” and so was excited to be able to read the Advanced Reader copy of “ When the World Tips Over”. While this is billed as YA – it may be too heavy for a YA reader but I think 17/18 and up would be fine. While the book is a little chaotic- I did love the magical realism and the characters. It is a little long and the first half went a little slower than the 2nd half. Even with all that- I would read anything that Jandy Nelson writes. Thank you to Dial/Penguin Group and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy!

Thank you so so much to Penguin Teen / Dial Books for the arc, this book is now out!
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A tender and lovingly given 5 stars. This book was magical. I have memories of reading parts of I'll Give You The Sun back in late middle school and having really enjoyed it and overall with Gen Z I feel as Jandy Nelson's work particularly IGYTS was really important to those of us who grew up chronically online. This book will be no different to those same people should they pick it up as well as the young adults of today. At the beginning I struggled to really sink my teeth into the story but overtime in the most gentle manner these characters and their story really started to creep on me. I was a bit confused at first but the payoff was so so worth it. This story is so incredibly special and singular but also relatable to the overall human condition and how challenging it can be to be yourself, to show that you love your family in challenging situations etc etc. The characters were all so real to me and I feel as though every person who picks this up will find themselves in one if not multiple of the characters. How lucky are we to have such talented minds like Nelson that create such wonderful stories. I am just so over the moon about this one and I really hope it makes it into the hands of young adults who I know this will be a life raft for. This book and it's story for all the messy parts of life and how all in all there is beauty and love to be found.

As much as I loved, with all my heart, Nelson’s previous book I’ll Give You the Sun, this new one, after a ten year wait, was disappointing. Yes, it had the beautiful writing, the magical realism, compelling and wonderful characters, but geez, the plot meandered all over the place. It felt like there were multiple books in this one book, and it was at least 150 pages too long. It ended up being a slog, even tho the ending was beautiful.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for early access to this book in exchange for my honest feedback!

Not entirely sure how to say how this book made me feel… I had a range of emotions throughout this whole story!

The way all of the characters shined is something that stands out the most to me and the lengths they (Miles and Dizzy in particular) are willing to go literally for the sake of their family I found really touching.

I wish Marigold as a character would’ve had a more complete ending; while I understand why it wasn’t the case I (like Cassidy) would’ve preferred that for closure’s sake or to just understand Marigold’s perspective in her making that choice.

Wow. I don't think I realized how much I missed the quirky and emotional worlds of Jandy Nelson, but I did. I really did. The Fall family saga is a beautiful and delicate combination of heart and nuance. I would recommend this to anyone not just the demographic its directed towards. I might also have a bias because California is my home and I'm always in love with stories set there.

SYNOPSIS
- We meet the three Fall siblings (Dizzy, Miles, & Wynton) in Paradise Springs, California. They are raised by their mom, a chef, as their dad disappeared over 10 years ago.
- A mysterious rainbow-haired girl, Cassidy, appears & changes the siblings’ lives.

MY THOUGHTS
- Alternating POVs (Dizzy, Miles, Wynton, & Cassidy). I particularly loved Cassidy’s portions.
- Lots of back story & we get to learn about the past. We even get to learn about past generations to dig deeper into our characters.
- Excellent character development.
- Soo much I loved about this book. The writing is exquisite & lyrical, and I savored every word.
- Masterfully plotted & incredible story.
- Nelson is skilled at balancing serious and heartbreaking with humor and relief throughout the book.
- Magical realism, sibling rivalry, family secrets, complicated families, generational trauma.
- The dog is such a good character 🐶
- Loved the areas this book touches on - grief, coming of age, coping with loss, connections
- After finishing, I was shocked to see this book is marketed for YA! I’m in mid-30s, and I think the book is excellent at any age.
- The characters are all flawed, but extremely endearing.
- This book captures how truly messy & beautiful & heartbreaking life is.
- Incredible ending.

TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️wow, that was one hell of a book… in the best of ways.

Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Dial Books for this digital ARC in exchanges for an honest review. This book is out now.

I definitely liked some parts of the book, but in the end, it doesn't even matter because this didn't really stick with me. I liked the writing a lot, the many run on sentences and endless paragraphs full of questions, the gorgeous descriptions of the different settings. I liked the characters, though I feel like some of them take up more than their fair share of time (Cassidy). I also feel like some of the character arcs weren't finished properly? Like Miles, who was shown to have pretty debilitating depression, suddenly felt better after talking to a stranger for one afternoon and then falling in love with a guy that he has known for two days? I guess I just wished his journey had more to do with accepting himself than by being saved by these two perfect, quirky beings. Even Dizzy's ending with her friend felt a bit unsatisfying, and I wished she would define herself beyond her relationships. Did meeting her father and reuniting with her friend somehow cure her anxiety? I really wish the connections between the siblings were explored more, considering all that was set up (the romance book, feeling like they are the wrong "species", synesthesia, their unique magical abilities, how incredibly horny they all are). I loved catching these similarities while reading but it feels like these ideas were dropped by the end without proper resolution.

My interest in Cassidy definitely waned as the book continued. Although her story was heartbreaking to read at points, I just think it takes up way too much time. She's definitely the main character here, and I can't help but feel like the synopsis misrepresented what the book is about. I also kind of wish she was actually magical, because the way the Fall siblings are all captivated by her felt a bit over the top. Just because someone is technically your sibling doesn't mean you'll fell magically drawn to them. I would understand if it was just on Cassidy's side, considering she knew all along that they were related, but the way the three siblings are obsessed with her so immediately felt unwarranted.

There is not a single good adult in this book and I don't think any of them face the consequences they should. The mom being in love with both brothers (to the point where she was consistently cheating on the one she's married to with his brother) came out of nowhere and I hated every second of it: "...I revealed that there might be room in my heart in this new way for both of them." What the fuck. Why, just why. Marigold is awful, Dave's quasi redemption felt unnecessary, and Theo (who also cheats???) doesn't do anything to justify his years of abandonment. What is the message here? That people are imperfect? That love conquers all? That it's just destiny? I don't know, I just feel like they all needed to make more amends before being forgiven.

The family curse felt too drawn out, especially because we don't get much of how it's manifested in Wynton and Miles. Maybe it's just me but I feel like it should have been Dizzy, not Cassidy, who was ultimately able to bring the brothers together and break the curse.

Cassidy and Wynton, oh boy. I was rooting for them at the start because of their inexplicable, destined-to-be connection. But then the question of incest was raised? I know that they're not technically siblings and that they're not related by blood, but it's still weird. The author also just keeps bringing up the fact that DON'T WORRY THEY'RE NOT SIBLINGS over and over and over and I just wish this was not a question we had to ask. Having Cassidy begging that Wynton is not her brother and constantly reassuring him in his coma that no, it's okay they can still get married because they're not technically related was just weird: "I tell myself again and again: We are not related!". This is weird behavior, even if it's not illegal. I just think even the question of incest should be kept out of romantic relationships.

The pacing was off, there are too many characters, and the ending was so abrupt. I can't help but think of how tight of a story I'll Give You the Sun has compared to the scale and subsequent messiness found in this book. Definitely some cool ideas but unfortunately this did not do it for me.

This was my first book by the author but now I am very excited to read the author’s previous works.

This one started out slow for me but around the 15% mark, I didn’t want to put it down. The chapters on Cassidy really drew me in and made me feel invested in the story. I loved the magical elements in this books but if you don’t like magic in books, don’t let this detour you. They are minimal and don’t take up much of the storyline.

I just loved this book so much. It’s hard to put into words what I loved about it but it just really worked for me. I loved the characters and the writing and after finishing the ebook I immediately the ordered the physical.

I think if you like family dramas and great character development, you will enjoy this one. The alternating POV kept me turning the pages.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

I’ll Give You the Sun is one of my forever favorite books, so I was really excited to read another from Jandy Nelson. This one didn’t hit the mark for me like I’ll Give You the Sun did, and I think it’s because it read (to me) more YA than I was anticipating. I still think this is a really solid YA novel that many people will love and cherish, just not me personally!

My first Jandy Nelson read, and I totally get the hype now. This heart breaking and inspiring magical realism novel is told through a mix of multiple POV chapters, letters, and news clippings.
I highly recommend this novel to lovers of contemporary fiction and fantasy alike.

Jandy Nelson’s novels are distinctively “Jandy Nelson” because of her voice, the poetic word choice, the rich sibling relationships, and the little sprinkle of whimsy she gives her stories. WHEN THE WORLD TIPS OVER is an epic family story. It took me a bit to settle into it and then I could not quit reading. I needed to know how all the pieces fit together—and several of them were unexpected. Saying too much about the book feels spoilery, so I won’t do that. However, I do have to say Dizzy is one of my all-time favorite characters. She stole the whole novel with her wholly original outlook and antics. I hope someday she gets her own YA novel.

This is a different kind of story that left me bewildered for a while until it started to make sense. It jumps around from a variety of points of view between the siblings in the Fall family and Cassidy. The Falls live in Paradise Springs in California wine country and Cassidy is roaming around in a mobile home with her mother. Theo Fall disappeared from the life of his family before the youngest, Dizzy, was born, and they have been coping with that ever since. This story is hard to write about without spoiling it.

This story explores the messiness of family dynamics and how that shapes these characters. It is an odd journey that I feel will stick with me.

I'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN is one of my all-time favorites and I waited nearly 10 years for Jandy Nelson's follow-up. And here it is! And… my feelings are a little mixed. WHEN THE WORLD TIPS OVER is still better than most books, but there's one major caveat.

Dripping in whimsy and magical realism, the novel tells the story of the three Fall siblings— Wynton, Miles, and Dizzy— and Cassidy, the newcomer who turns their life upside down. Wynton, a self-destructive wreck with rare, powerful musical talent. Miles, the “perfect” son with a secret ripping through his soul. Dizzy, an awkward preteen outcast trying to manage her life after losing her best friend to middle school politics. Their mother has tenuously held the family together since their father skipped town and disappeared just before Dizzy's birth, but when rainbow-haired Cassidy finds her way to their seemingly enchanted town, everything starts to break open.

Jandy Nelson is a five-star writer. Dreamy, lyrical, and mesmerizing. I love the storytelling's BIG FISH energy and I got sucked in by the characters and narrative so quickly! Several moments tie back to the strange magical energy of the town without going full fantasy: For instance, Dizzy can see spirits in the vineyard behind their home and Miles <i>really understands</i> dogs. There's also a lot of generational backstory-turned-folklore slowly dispersed. In a lesser writer's hands, these elements would feel cringey (okay, sometimes they still do feel a bit odd in the moment,) but Jandy's storytelling integrates those odds and ends very well.

I love the slow burn storytelling and careful unfolding of every element. I didn't always love all the characters, but their flaws are what made the story and I appreciated them all (though I feel like Jandy went a little too hard with Wynton. I sometimes found him exhausting.) And I DID love some characters, particularly Miles and Felix. The ending was a bit too sudden for my tastes given all the buildup, but it was satisfying all the same and I know I'll remember and think about this book for a long time.

BUT it has a fatal flaw: Major moments where the characters go "It’s okay! It's not weird!" regarding a certain reveal. And... yes, it is. A novel shouldn't have to work so hard to convince me that something is safe and acceptable. It's, I daresay, a little uncomfortable. It feels squicky despite some technicalities and I can't get my head around it, so I have to lower the rating accordingly. Yes, I *am* being the most vague I can possibly be.

Here's hoping the wait for the next Jandy novel is less than 10 years! Fingers crossed!

I dint think I could do this book justice in describing it. It was magical and colorful and full of family secrets and longing. I think it should be read by just diving in without reading summary or reviews.

My brain is a jumble of thoughts as I write this because I want to express to you how wonderful Jandy Nelson’s When the World Tips Over is; how delighted it made me feel; how I never wanted to put it down and yet wanted to put it down so that I could lengthen a journey that I was savoring so very much. I don’t think I have ever experienced these sensations with a novel of 528 pages–the kind where you lose track of how many pages are in front of you or behind you, as you you merge into the deliciously enchanted reading realm.

Dizzy Fall is different. For her, scents equal colors. And she sees ghosts around the family’s property, mute ghosts who never tell her their story. Because she is different (and so extraordinary), she’s bullied at school which almost results in tragedy, but she’s saved by a rainbow-haired angel who disappears. But then the angel visits her brother, Perfect Miles and neighbor dog, Sandro. Perfect Miles, who really isn’t perfect and who knows that the truth of just how imperfect he is is about to be known shortly, finds his gloomy feelings replaced by hope after talking to the rainbow-haired girl. And then on what might become the very worst night, the angel interacts with their older brother, Wynton. Maybe the rainbow-haired girl holds the key to everything or maybe she’s just an integral part of a larger story.

Stories within stories woven like fairytales blending reality with seeming mythical elements. Jandy Nelson has done something extraordinary here. Her words are magic dust across pages. Truths burgeon, forming a book that dispenses quotable (but not trite) quotes every few pages. Character’s stories entwine to show inevitable interconnectedness. A rainbow of human emotions surge over pages. Is repeating history a curse or inescapable unless something is learned?

If only time stopped here. If only.
If only we could have joys without sorrows, blessings without curses.

If there is one thing I’d disagree with, it’s that When the World Tips Over has been placed in the YA category, which might cause some readers to have different expectations or, worse, to not read it at all. The focus might be on the younger characters but the themes are all-encompassing, the writing so smart that it transcends genre-categorization–in my opinion (which is obviously what this whole review is, haha, but I hope it becomes yours 😉 ).

And lastly, Jandy Nelson does what we all wish we could do: find a way for a dog to live forever. 💖🐶

Highly recommended.

Thank you to Dial Books for sending me a copy.