Review: All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood

Published: August 9, 2016

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books

Format: via audiobook

Rating: 4.5/5

Synopsis

As the daughter of a meth dealer, Wavy knows not to trust people, not even her own parents. Struggling to raise her little brother, eight-year-old Wavy is the only responsible "adult" around. She finds peace in the starry Midwestern night sky above the fields behind her house. One night everything changes when she witnesses one of her father's thugs, Kellen, a tattooed ex-con with a heart of gold, wreck his motorcycle. What follows is a powerful and shocking love story between two unlikely people that asks tough questions, reminding us of all the ugly and wonderful things that life has to offer.

My Thoughts

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things is the heartbreaking tale of Wavy who for all her life has had it rough. Her mother has mental issues and her father sells drugs, so when one of her father's associates takes an interest in her who would've thought it would have taken the turn that it did.

Kellen is an ex-con who isn't at all what he looks like. He is a big guy but he is nice and kind when he wants and he feels bad for Wavy, so he takes it upon himself to care for her and be there for her since no one else does. He makes sure she goes to school and that she has what she needs but slowly over the years he falls in love with her and this is where things get...uncomfortable. Especially since he’s known Wavy since she was young and he is older than her. Kellen’s intentions were never to fall in love with Wavy like that but over time his feelings for her become real. 

This is where things get iffy in this book. I see how people can be uncomfortable with this book since they met when Wavy is a child, but in my mind, I never got the feeling that Kellen went into this situation having any ill intentions with Wavy. I honestly felt he felt sorry for her and felt like someone had to look out for this kid and someone had to be there for her since no one was there for him. He saw her life and how it could end up and he didn't want that for her. While I know some see their relationship later seemed icky I didn't see it as him being a pervert from the start.

This novel can be controversial without a doubt but I really did enjoy this storyline. I see two lost people who are brought together for a reason. While this relationship is the main focus of the book I also enjoyed the storyline with Wavy’s aunt and cousin and how they all have issues in the family that they dealing with. All the Ugly and Wonderful Things is a great novel with a storyline that might make you uncomfortable but one that will have you thinking about this novel way after the last page is turned.