Latest Read: Only Everything by Kieran Scott

Only Everything (True Love, #1) by Kieran Scott
Publication date: May 6, 2014
Publisher: Simon & Schuster for Young Readers
Category: Young Adult - Contemporary/Mythology
Source: Borrowed from Estelle (Thanks!)
Summary: When Eros (aka Cupid) is expelled from Olympus for defying Zeus after falling in love with Orion, she is banished to what she believes to be hell. We call it New Jersey. If she ever wants to go back to the comforts of her old life, she will have to find love for three couples without using her powers. Eros, now calling herself True, identifies her first project in Charlie, who isnew at school and eager to break out of his old image of band geek. He falls in with the right crowd on his first day but music is still his passion. Katrina is floundering after the death of her father and takes refuge with a boy who, while not entirely supportive, will be there when she needs him, unlike her mother. Too bad True thinks any girl Charlie talks to is perfect for him. Can she get out of her own way and help Charlie and Katrina connect, or will she be stuck in New Jersey forever? (Adapted goodreads.com)

The good

Only Everything is probably not a book I would normally pick up. But thanks to encouragement from a friend (*cough* Estelle *cough*), I’m glad I did! It’s Greek mythology, contemporary and a lot of laughs all rolled into one. In Kieran Scott’s novel, Eros better known as Cupid, is actually a girl and not the chubby cherub we’re all used to picturing. She’s banished from Olympus for defying Zeus when she falls in love with Orion and gets sent to Earth. Specifically New Jersey (loved that tidbit!). Zeus is holding Orion hostage until Cupid, who renames herself as True on Earth, can find true love for three couples without using her powers. She’s been doing this for centuries! Should be easy, right?

Watching True navigate through high school and the life of a normal teenage girl was the cause of much of my laughter. She’s so headstrong, loud and utterly clueless. When you’re a goddess, you don’t have to worry about money or clothes. She has 100% relied on her powers for everything. Which is why True currently has no insight into human nature, hates technology and has no sense of fashion. In spite of this, she finds her first true love project in Charlie, a fellow new student at school. Even as True gets to work on him and matches him up with different girls, he can’t stop thinking another girl True befriends (sort of?) named Katrina. The book is told from their three point-of-views and we learn a lot about what makes each of them tick.

In True’s chapters we learn about her struggles as a human but also the story of how she and Orion fell in love. In Charlie’s we learn about the pressure from his dad to be an athlete like his brothers instead of a musician. He wants to fit in and be popular and make his dad proud. Something anyone can relate to. For Katrina, she’s been grieving the loss of her father and trying to get back to the girl she was before he died. The academically-ambitious girl with good grades and a love of books. But it’s hard when her mom barely talks to her, her friends are flaky and her boyfriend is not exactly the nice guy. I liked that the story wasn’t just about getting Charlie and Katrina together but also overcoming their personal struggles, becoming friends with True and each other.

(No) reservations

It ends on a cliffhanger! But it’s the kind that had me clamoring for more. I also want to know who True’s next victims.. err couple is.

Do I recommend?

I do! It’s a fun, engaging book and I plan on continuing the series.

Happy reading!