A Book To Read "EVERY DAY"

Everybody has certainties and uncertainties. But in Every Day by David Levithan, the author highlights the question that’s never asked but always feared: what if the only thing you are certain of is impossible due to uncertainty?

“Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.” So begins the synopsis of Every Day. Protagonist “A” is gifted - or cursed? - to not have a life of his own. Since they were born, they have resided in somebody else’s life. Every morning they wake up in somebody else’s body and lives their life for a day. Girl or boy, schooled or homeschooled, single or dating, A has experienced it all. They are used to it, and knows that they cannot get too attached to anyone, because they will never be part of their life again: they will just wake up as somebody else the following day. Despite the uncertainty of who they will be tomorrow or what life they will have to lead, they are certain that they can find a way to ignore the loneliness and detachment to a “real” life.

Until they wake up in the body of Justin and meet Justin’s girlfriend Rhiannon.

All of a sudden, A is certain of something - Rhiannon is the one that A wants to spend the rest of their life with. However, only one thing stands in their way - once A departs Justin’s body, they will never be able to reside in the body of Rhiannon’s boyfriend ever again. Besides, it’s not like they will ever be able to meet Rhiannon as themselves…the uncertainty of where they will be, who they will be the next day is too much to commit themselves to a lasting relationship.

But A is certain that Rhiannon is the one for them.

A must find a way to defy the odds they have been stuck with their entire life and find a way to be with her. They have to try everything - from travelling long distances just to see her again to actually changing the course of the life of the person whose body they are residing in - but the only way to be with Rhiannon is to tell her the truth about themselves and their temporality.

The only problem is, how can you tell someone the truth about yourself if you’re uncertain about who you truly are?

I LOVED this book. It was amazing to see how A navigated his problems and attempted to find a way to make things work for them and his future. I loved how despite all the odds being pitted against them, they still found the strength to try to turn their life around.

It was also great to see a gender-neutral character in A. There is not enough LGBTQ+ representation in the media, so it was incredible to read a book with a character who does not identify with one specific gender. Because A can wake up in any body, be it male or female, they consider themselves to be gender-neutral, which is fantastic for LGBTQ+ representation in modern popular culture. One small step from David Levithan…that will hopefully lead to one giant step for acceptance and representation of the LGBTQ+ community!

Plus…THERE’S A SEQUEL COMING OUT!! Which I just discovered three days ago! Yes, yes, YES!!!

I wish I could read this book over and over again. This is a definite read for anybody who’s ever had an uncertainty about their life, who’s ever felt like they don’t belong, or who’s ever needed proof that they, not fate, are in control of their own life. I believe that everyone should read this fantastic novel…whether they read it once...or Every Day.