So, here’s the thing. If you should know anything about me, it’s that in the 9th grade, I was the biggest John and Hank Green stan to ever exist. I owned 2 SIGNED The Fault in Our Stars posters, DFTBA t-shirts, Crash Course posters, etc– literally anything off the DFTBA website, I had considered buying. When Hank released his book, I went to Target, picked up this book and dropped it in my cart alongside a pack of sour gummies.
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing is about April May, a twenty something girl, who stumbles upon a giant, alien sculpture that she names a “Carl.” She finds herself at the center of this mystery and with the help of her friends, investigates the strange new workings that the Carls have brought with them. The book focuses on fame, friendship, and what it means to be human.
Although I bought the book last fall when it was released, it took me awhile to dive deep into this novel but once the book picks up, it’s worth the read. I loved how complicated and relatable April May was. At many points in the book, you are cringing, nervous, and excited for April May. You’re almost screaming to yourself “Noooo, April May. Don’t do that!! Why are you doing that??” But at the same time, I probably would make the same decisions and have the same thoughts and feelings. It felt a little bit like I was being exposed to my messy self and while that may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it was oddly refreshing.
I will always be honest with you guys; this book isn’t a literary achievement. It did not profoundly affect me nor leave me speechless. However, it was so much fun reading this book. So many science fiction books are on the heavier side and this book was so light hearted and easy to read. It felt like I was being taken on an adventure with my friends and there were parts I enjoyed and parts that I didn’t.
So, to those of you, looking for a fun read, check this book out. In the meantime, I will be eagerly awaiting the sequel.