Five Feet Apart ~ Rachael Lippincott
I picked up Five Feet Apart recently in a local supermarket. I was intrigued as I had seen the trailer for the movie so thought I’d give the book a go. It was not until I had finished the book and read the afterword, (yes, I am one of those people who literally read every page in a book😂) that I realised that the book is actually an adaptation of the screenplay. So, Five Feet Apart was also intended to be a film first which I thought was quite interesting. Off of the top of my head, I cannot think of another book like this, that I have read recently as it is usually the other way round. Book to Film adaptation. However, I have yet to see the movie directed by Justin Baldoni so cannot say whether it’s a complete replica of the film.
Five Feet Apart follows two teenagers, Stella and Will, who both have Cystic Fibrosis. The book highlights their journey through treatment, finding love and ultimately the uncertainty of their futures. Although they are both CFers they are fighting their own individual battles. Stella is a stickler for the rules. She follows her treatment plan religiously. With only 35% lung capacity she is desperate to get to the top of the transplant list. So, when she meets fellow CFer Will on her latest stay on hospital she cannot help but be put on edge by the fact he is a massive rule breaker and not taking his mandatory drugs. One of the biggest rules is that CFers must stay 6 feet apart from each other because they can catch each other’s bacteria. Something that Will isn’t very good at sticking to. He has given up on the little bit of life he has left. However, Will’s situation is slightly different from Stella’s. Will will never have the chance to have new lungs, due to contracting B.cepacia which on makes his CF worse due to being drug-resistant and highly contagious to fellow CFers.
Both fighting for the carefree life, we see the ups and downs as their friendship blossoms and the heartbreaking decisions they have to make along the way.
Going into this book I was worried it would be another Everything, Everything or The Fault In Our Stars. Two books I’m not massively fond of. But I was pleasantly surprised by this book. By being told in alternating chapters you see both sides of the story. Both Stella and Will’s reactions and emotions to each situation and seen throughout. They both have very different voices so the change in the narrative does not get confusing and only develops the story further.
Although both main characters have CF, something I will never understand the ramifications of, they are still very relatable characters. They are just two ‘normal’ teenagers deep down who have dreams and goals they want to achieve, places they want to go.
The story shows the importance of human touch within a relationship something they are deprived of. Also, a major theme is the pressures in which a terminal illness puts on a family and the missing out on ‘normal’ teenage activities. Lippincott writes so honestly about the struggles with both family and friends. Although, not a unique storyline, Lippincott manages to portray the recklessness of teen love and produces diverse characters which I think many could relate to.
The YA tear jerker feels a little predictable at times but still an enjoyable and somewhat easy read overall. I give Five Feet Apart ⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars.
M🌸
