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Virginia Ronan � Herondale �'s Reviews > Five Feet Apart
Five Feet Apart
by
by
”Everyone in this world is breathing borrowed air.�
I thought long and hard about how to review “Five Feet Apart� and to be entirely honest I still haven’t found an answer... yet. I’m aware that opinions tend to differ when it comes to books like this one and there will always be as many pros as cons. On the one hand I think it’s important to raise awareness for diseases like CF and on the other hand I know that a kind of forbidden love sob story might not be the right way to do so.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that it’s up to me how to take this story though. I could say it’s unrealistic that two people with CF fall in love, I could say that the reality of living with CF was romanticized by the MCs love story. If I knew more about CF I would probably also say that the rep wasn’t accurate. But neither of those things is the reason why this book exists. It wants to raise awareness and it did/does! So from that kind of perspective “Five Feet Apart� did exactly what it was supposed to do!
”And I realize I’m doing the one thing I’ve told myself this whole time I wouldn’t do. I’m wanting something I can never have.�
If I take a closer look at the love story between Stella and Will I’ve to say that it worked for me. I mean just think about it, they both had to deal with CF their entire lives and they might have friends at school and outside of the hospital, but it’s definitely realistic that they would get to know other patients in their hospital ward. If you’re a teen your first love is all-consuming and yes, it would make you do stupid things. And even this is arguable because let’s face it, other than falling in love with each other Stella and Will never did anything that would have threatened their lives. In fact considering their circumstances they were actually pretty careful. Except, of course, at the ending of the book, but I really can’t blame Stella and Will for their actions. (view spoiler)
When it comes to the characters Stella and Will might have been typical stereotypes. Stella the good girl that went through with her regimen and always did what the doctors told her to do, and Will the rebel who didn’t give a damn about his treatments. The longer you read the more you see that nothing is as black and white as it appears to be though. I loved Will’s hobby of drawing comics, I liked Stella’s YouTube Channel, I enjoyed their interactions with their friends and with each other. Stella’s friendship with Poe was EVERYTHING!!!
”He stands up, stepping toward me and groaning in frustration. “This disease is a fucking prison! I want to hug you.�
I sniff nodding in agreement.
“Pretend I did, okay?� he says. I see he’s blinking back tears too. “And know that I love you. More than food! More than the Colombian national team!�
Those two just broke my heart and mended it at the same time! <333 Their friendship was so natural and mutual. They always made sure that the other was alright and even when they were angry at each other they still tried to find a way to talk it out. I could understand Poe’s fear of a normal relationship, because no matter how much you want to sugarcoat it, in the end his boyfriend would have always had to deal with CF too. There’s a high risk you might lose the person you love and not a lot of people would be willing to take that risk. It’s never fair if the days of the person you love are counted. But people die for various reasons and I speak from experience here when I say that everyone has to decide if it’s worth to take that risk or not. I had both sorts of relationships as a teen. I decided for my bf and knew he probably wouldn’t live all too long (he’s my ex-bf now and still alive and well! <3 And I’m so thankful for that.) And I went into another relationship with a healthy and wonderful boy and he died... I could really relate A LOT to the situation regarding Abby. What I’m trying to say is: No one knows what’s going to happen! All you can do is to live in the moment and to make the best out of it. And that’s exactly what Stella and Will decided to do.
”But now what I want isn’t outside. It’s right here, close enough to touch. But I can’t. I didn’t know it was possible to want something so bad you could feel it in your arms and your legs and in every breath you take.�
To read this book felt like watching the movie and even though they were both good I still think that I liked the movie better. Maybe it’s because the fast pacing of the love story goes better with a movie than it does with a book? In the book the relationship between Stella and Will seemed to be rather insta-lovey whereas it appeared to be a little slower in the movie. I guess that’s due to the fact that there is a lot of time passing in the movie and scenes just fade out while the book makes it a habit to continue with the story without the benefit of having those fade out moments. XD Does that make any sense?! *lol*
As for the ending of the book vs. the movie: I liked the book ending more, because we got to see an epilogue and I really needed that epilogue after watching the movie! (Boy, I didn’t even know how much I needed that epilogue until I read it!! XD) Watching the movie I never got that epilogue and it killed me. Sure it’s still some sort of open ending but with the epilogue I could make some peace. Not that both endings didn’t kill me. They still did! T_T
(view spoiler)
Conclusion:
“Five Feet Apart� is a book about two people that have CF and fall in love with each other, and this even though they both know that they can never have a normal relationship. It’s a beautiful story about love, friendship, hope, fear, despair, anger, weaknesses and responsibility. It’s life-affirming as well as sad. More than anything else it’s human though. An important story that needs to be told, to raise awareness and in order to help people that suffer from CF. I, for my part, am glad that this book exists! =)
___________________________
Okay, I admit it, I saw the movie first and then realized that there is a book as well.
So yes, Cole Sprouse made me want to read this because... well he's Cole Sprouse and he was so amazing in the movie that I cried an ocean when I watched it.
I hope the book is as good as the movie, maybe even better!?
The topic is quite serious so I hope the book is going to do it justice. In my eyes the movie certainly did.
Wish me luck! =)
I thought long and hard about how to review “Five Feet Apart� and to be entirely honest I still haven’t found an answer... yet. I’m aware that opinions tend to differ when it comes to books like this one and there will always be as many pros as cons. On the one hand I think it’s important to raise awareness for diseases like CF and on the other hand I know that a kind of forbidden love sob story might not be the right way to do so.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that it’s up to me how to take this story though. I could say it’s unrealistic that two people with CF fall in love, I could say that the reality of living with CF was romanticized by the MCs love story. If I knew more about CF I would probably also say that the rep wasn’t accurate. But neither of those things is the reason why this book exists. It wants to raise awareness and it did/does! So from that kind of perspective “Five Feet Apart� did exactly what it was supposed to do!
”And I realize I’m doing the one thing I’ve told myself this whole time I wouldn’t do. I’m wanting something I can never have.�
If I take a closer look at the love story between Stella and Will I’ve to say that it worked for me. I mean just think about it, they both had to deal with CF their entire lives and they might have friends at school and outside of the hospital, but it’s definitely realistic that they would get to know other patients in their hospital ward. If you’re a teen your first love is all-consuming and yes, it would make you do stupid things. And even this is arguable because let’s face it, other than falling in love with each other Stella and Will never did anything that would have threatened their lives. In fact considering their circumstances they were actually pretty careful. Except, of course, at the ending of the book, but I really can’t blame Stella and Will for their actions. (view spoiler)
When it comes to the characters Stella and Will might have been typical stereotypes. Stella the good girl that went through with her regimen and always did what the doctors told her to do, and Will the rebel who didn’t give a damn about his treatments. The longer you read the more you see that nothing is as black and white as it appears to be though. I loved Will’s hobby of drawing comics, I liked Stella’s YouTube Channel, I enjoyed their interactions with their friends and with each other. Stella’s friendship with Poe was EVERYTHING!!!
”He stands up, stepping toward me and groaning in frustration. “This disease is a fucking prison! I want to hug you.�
I sniff nodding in agreement.
“Pretend I did, okay?� he says. I see he’s blinking back tears too. “And know that I love you. More than food! More than the Colombian national team!�
Those two just broke my heart and mended it at the same time! <333 Their friendship was so natural and mutual. They always made sure that the other was alright and even when they were angry at each other they still tried to find a way to talk it out. I could understand Poe’s fear of a normal relationship, because no matter how much you want to sugarcoat it, in the end his boyfriend would have always had to deal with CF too. There’s a high risk you might lose the person you love and not a lot of people would be willing to take that risk. It’s never fair if the days of the person you love are counted. But people die for various reasons and I speak from experience here when I say that everyone has to decide if it’s worth to take that risk or not. I had both sorts of relationships as a teen. I decided for my bf and knew he probably wouldn’t live all too long (he’s my ex-bf now and still alive and well! <3 And I’m so thankful for that.) And I went into another relationship with a healthy and wonderful boy and he died... I could really relate A LOT to the situation regarding Abby. What I’m trying to say is: No one knows what’s going to happen! All you can do is to live in the moment and to make the best out of it. And that’s exactly what Stella and Will decided to do.
”But now what I want isn’t outside. It’s right here, close enough to touch. But I can’t. I didn’t know it was possible to want something so bad you could feel it in your arms and your legs and in every breath you take.�
To read this book felt like watching the movie and even though they were both good I still think that I liked the movie better. Maybe it’s because the fast pacing of the love story goes better with a movie than it does with a book? In the book the relationship between Stella and Will seemed to be rather insta-lovey whereas it appeared to be a little slower in the movie. I guess that’s due to the fact that there is a lot of time passing in the movie and scenes just fade out while the book makes it a habit to continue with the story without the benefit of having those fade out moments. XD Does that make any sense?! *lol*
As for the ending of the book vs. the movie: I liked the book ending more, because we got to see an epilogue and I really needed that epilogue after watching the movie! (Boy, I didn’t even know how much I needed that epilogue until I read it!! XD) Watching the movie I never got that epilogue and it killed me. Sure it’s still some sort of open ending but with the epilogue I could make some peace. Not that both endings didn’t kill me. They still did! T_T
(view spoiler)
Conclusion:
“Five Feet Apart� is a book about two people that have CF and fall in love with each other, and this even though they both know that they can never have a normal relationship. It’s a beautiful story about love, friendship, hope, fear, despair, anger, weaknesses and responsibility. It’s life-affirming as well as sad. More than anything else it’s human though. An important story that needs to be told, to raise awareness and in order to help people that suffer from CF. I, for my part, am glad that this book exists! =)
___________________________
Okay, I admit it, I saw the movie first and then realized that there is a book as well.
So yes, Cole Sprouse made me want to read this because... well he's Cole Sprouse and he was so amazing in the movie that I cried an ocean when I watched it.
I hope the book is as good as the movie, maybe even better!?
The topic is quite serious so I hope the book is going to do it justice. In my eyes the movie certainly did.
Wish me luck! =)
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Reading Progress
May 18, 2020
–
Started Reading
May 18, 2020
– Shelved as:
to-read
May 18, 2020
– Shelved
May 20, 2020
–
12.68%
""We have nothing in common."
I wink, having way too much fun pissing her off. "Cold. I like it."
This reads like watching the movie and I'm so here for it! Also Cole Sprouse is such a perfect cast for this! <3 On a more serious note: I already learned more about CF than I did in the movie. Somehow facts stick more with me when I read about them."
page
35
I wink, having way too much fun pissing her off. "Cold. I like it."
This reads like watching the movie and I'm so here for it! Also Cole Sprouse is such a perfect cast for this! <3 On a more serious note: I already learned more about CF than I did in the movie. Somehow facts stick more with me when I read about them."
May 20, 2020
–
25.36%
"As good as every bookish character that's named Will:
stubborn, rebellious, sarcastic, charming, funny, obnoxious and last but not least torn and broken with a carefully hidden heart of gold."
page
70
stubborn, rebellious, sarcastic, charming, funny, obnoxious and last but not least torn and broken with a carefully hidden heart of gold."
May 22, 2020
–
39.49%
""She's bossy."
"Nah, she's a boss," Poe says, and I can tell from the expression on his face that he means it. "She's seen me through thick and thin, man."
I love Stella's and Poe's friendship! They are so close! <333 Reading this makes me want to rewatch the movie! Badly! >_<"
page
109
"Nah, she's a boss," Poe says, and I can tell from the expression on his face that he means it. "She's seen me through thick and thin, man."
I love Stella's and Poe's friendship! They are so close! <333 Reading this makes me want to rewatch the movie! Badly! >_<"
May 23, 2020
–
51.81%
""And I realize I'm doing the one thing I've told myself this whole time I wouldn't do. I'm wanting something I can never have."
This book is at least as sad as the movie. Actually it feels like watching the movie only with a little more background info. Still, Will singing... this scene will always be one of the most adorable moments ever. <333"
page
143
This book is at least as sad as the movie. Actually it feels like watching the movie only with a little more background info. Still, Will singing... this scene will always be one of the most adorable moments ever. <333"
May 24, 2020
–
70.29%
""Death.
That's what I am. That's what I am to Stella."
Aww Will! T_T When I first watched the movie I couldn't even imagine always keeping 6 feet apart with a person you love. Now that Covid-19 hit us and I've been keeping a 6 feet distance not only to my bestie but also to my own parents and sister... Well, I do feel Stella and Will now. >_< Only that it's just temporary for us..."
page
194
That's what I am. That's what I am to Stella."
Aww Will! T_T When I first watched the movie I couldn't even imagine always keeping 6 feet apart with a person you love. Now that Covid-19 hit us and I've been keeping a 6 feet distance not only to my bestie but also to my own parents and sister... Well, I do feel Stella and Will now. >_< Only that it's just temporary for us..."
May 29, 2020
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-22 of 22 (22 new)
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Same!! I loved the movie, learned there was a book, and now I need to read the book 😊 And the cover is so gorgeous that I want a physical copy for my home library 😍
LoverofTBR wrote: "Ahh...Cole Sprouse 😍Good luck and happy reading �"
Exactly! 😍
I love that man! He's so awesome, also in private. His interviews are fun! XD
Thank you! 😊
The book was based on the screenplay, so technically, the script for the movie came before the book. I still read the book first, and I enjoyed them both.
Ɛɾιɳ wrote: "Same!! I loved the movie, learned there was a book, and now I need to read the book 😊 And the cover is so gorgeous that I want a physical copy for my home library 😍"True! The cover is really gorgeous! When I first saw it I was like: Wait! I saw that movie and OMG that cover! *lol*
I read the book first and cried way more during the book instead of the movie haha I hope you like it
Cole was the main reason I went and saw the movie as well. But I ended up loving it. Hope the book is just as good!
Melissa (YA Book Shelf) wrote: "The book was based on the screenplay, so technically, the script for the movie came before the book. I still read the book first, and I enjoyed them both."Really!? I didn't know! XD Well, it's rather rare that a book is written after the screenplay. I'm glad you liked both though! 😊
Red_Queen_Lover wrote: "I read the book first and cried way more during the book instead of the movie haha I hope you like it"I only saw the movie yet so I guess I'll find out if I'll cry even more when I read the book. XD I hope so too but if it's similar to the movie I'm sure I'll like it.
Jenn wrote: "Cole was the main reason I went and saw the movie as well. But I ended up loving it. Hope the book is just as good!"I hope so too! =) And yep, Cole is one of the best reasons to watch a movie! *lol* He's such a great actor and person in general. <3
I did exactly the same and loved it! I like the book ending better :)
Ayten wrote: "I did exactly the same and loved it! I like the book ending better :)"Oh that sounds good! =) The ending of the movie was kind of open and I wished for more closure. Well, maybe the book will give it to me. XD
Ohh. Enjoy! I have yet to read it, and I refuse to watch the movie until I do.I look forward to your update!
Misty wrote: "Ohh. Enjoy! I have yet to read it, and I refuse to watch the movie until I do.I look forward to your update!"
Thank you, Misty! =) I didn't mean to watch the movie before the book but I didn't know there even was a book. *lol* So I'm going to read this now. I hope you'll enjoy both, the book and the movie!
I thought they both sounded like fun.
TMR wrote: "I thought they both sounded like fun."I wouldn't exactly say fun because the topic is too serious for it to be fun but they have their funny moments and they are both good! The book as well as the movie! =)
Arini wrote: "welp i dont remember the ending of the book. i tried recalling it but what came to mind was cole sprouse and haley standing five feet apart in the middle of the street at (what i assume) the ending..."They kind of end the same. Only that the book has an epilogue which I liked. Because the movie ends on such a sad note. 😭
Amazing review! Now I really want to read this ❤️
peachygirl wrote: "Amazing review! Now I really want to read this ❤️"Thank you! =) I hope you'll like the book too!
Ah, tragic and so beautiful. Great job!
Shaina wrote: "Ah, tragic and so beautiful. Great job!"Thank you, Shaina! This book was really good! =) As was the movie.
Good luck and happy reading �