Book Review: Chaos Theory by Nic Stone
I’m gonna preface this by saying that I love Nic Stone and have read many of her books (including Dear Martin and Jackpot). My review of Nic Stone’s Chaos Theory will most definitely tell you how much I really love this author and her unique voice. YA romance ahead with plenty of mental health rep!
Book Information
Andy Criddle is trying to get past his grief. His method of getting past it? Alcohol, and lots of it. His pain outweighs any risks he takes, but he holds his secrets and fears close to him where no one can see them.
Shelbi has secrets of her own. She doesn’t hang out with people her age for good reason. She never wants to get close to anyone. But when she meets Andy and sees him as he spirals, she can’t help but to try and help him get through it.
As the two grow closer, they must decide if they’re willing to open up their hearts, tell their secrets, and heal from the pain of their pasts.
Review | Heidi Dischler
So, I want to start out by saying that I received an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy for those of you new to the term) ofChaos Theory by Nic Stone through NetGalley. I’d like to thank the publisher, Random House Children’s, for the chance to read this before it is released in stores. I can genuinely say that I have enjoyed all of Nic Stone’s novels and Chaos Theory is no exception.
Oddly enough, this book has a lot, but still… not a lot. It’s kind of hard to describe, but I absolutely loved the representation for mental health (although, I would’ve liked a little more from Shelbi on how it impacts her life and the daily symptoms that she faces). I also really appreciated the alcoholism that Andy Walter Criddle faced. It makes these two very common problems (mental health and alcoholism, that is) relatable and able to be sympathized with, which is what any good problem novel should do. Now, back to it being a lot but not a lot: it’s a lot with its representation (a lot in a good way, obviously), but still not a lot in story. It’s very simplistic, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Now, to get to the actual story itself: this is 100% a romance novel. A cutesy, mostly wholesome teenage romance that I fell in love with. Those “new” love feelings are so precious and Nic Stone encapsulated them perfectly. Shelbi and Walter had so much chemistry that I probably smiled like an idiot in public while reading this book. It’s the mundanity of this novel that makes it so relatable. First loves. Heartbreak. Trauma. So much that goes into forming a person and making a life. I really enjoyed it, and Nic Stone’s unique writing style made it great.
With her writing style, you see a lot of modernization on the page. I want to remind everyone that I read an ARC, so not everything I read is necessarily in the novel the way that I read it. However, the text formatting, the emojis, the use of language as it would literally be used by teens, all of it put together in this novel made it firmly situated in its YA genre. You were never guessing whether or not this novel should be YA or New Adult (still not sure if this is even a thing?) or General Adult. Stone knows her audience and it shows. So, if you like YA, highly highly recommend picking this book up.
Overall, Shelbi and Walter’s journey through navigating their own problems and becoming friends was just the lighthearted romance that I needed in my life. Sometimes, when you have a million and one different things going on around you, all you need is to pick up a good book and get thoroughly and invigoratingly lost in it. Chaos Theory helped me to lose myself, and when I finished it? It reminded me of all of the instances in my young adult life that made me me.
Source: ARC from NetGalley
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