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All the Ugly and Wonderful Things

A Novel

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About this listen

A beautiful and provocative love story between two unlikely people and the hard-won relationship that elevates them above the Midwestern meth lab backdrop of their lives.

As the daughter of a drug dealer, Wavy knows not to trust people, not even her own parents. It's safer to keep her mouth shut and stay out of sight.

Struggling to raise her little brother, Donal, eight-year-old Wavy is the only responsible adult around. Obsessed with the constellations, she finds peace in the starry night sky above the fields behind her house until one night her stargazing causes an accident. After witnessing his motorcycle wreck, she forms an unusual friendship with one of her father's thugs, Kellen, a tattooed ex-con with a heart of gold.

By the time Wavy is a teenager, her relationship with Kellen is the only tender thing in a brutal world of addicts and debauchery. When tragedy rips Wavy's family apart, a well-meaning aunt steps in, and what is beautiful to Wavy looks ugly under the scrutiny of the outside world.

A powerful novel you won't soon forget, Bryn Greenwood's All the Ugly and Wonderful Things challenges all we know and believe about love.

©2016 Bryn Greenwood (P)2016 Audible, Inc. Coming of Age Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt Scary Romance

What the critics say

"Jorjeana Marie was meant to narrate this gripping story, which takes place in meth country in the Midwest. Neglected, abused 8-year-old Wavy Quinn is stargazing when she unintentionally causes Jesse Joe Kellen, an ex-con employee of her drug-dealing dad, to crash his motorcycle. Marie grippingly portrays this troubled pair who befriend each other after Wavy saves his life. Things come to a head when their relationship is misunderstood. In addition to deftly presenting the lead characters, Marie perfectly renders Wavy's adorable little brother and beloved grandmother. Some chapters are written from other characters' viewpoints over a period of 15 years, and Marie presents those flawlessly as well. Listeners will be eager to hear what happens next, always rooting for Wavy and Kellen." ( AudioFile Magazine)
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this was a powerful novel however the graphical details at times were very difficulty digest.

tough story to finish

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I understand many people consider the story dirty, inappropriate; I too struggled with some parts of the story, having a little girl of my own I am in no way to accept some of the details. but I honestly think the story line is not to expose youth sexuality, it is not to normalize it. in fact, the uncomfortableness forces us to look at the real issue here. why was there nobody else for wavy when she needed someone she can trust and love her. we can be as judgy as all we want, the fact is that we are all the self righteous aunt that she has, who really thinks of nothing but how to make herself feel better about the situation. nobody really listened to wavy, really try to understand her. I'm in no way to say her relationship with Kellen was right, normal, and OK. nothing is normal about it, but nothing is normal about how wavy is. the saddest part of the story is truly what the title says: the relationship is considered so ugly, disgusting, and yet you can't deny it is the most wonderful part between the two of them. what does it say about their life. how do we have the right to even take that away from them? do we have more to offer to them? again, truth is that nobody has given a crap about them, and yet we had the nerve to judge.

the narrator is amazing. I've listen to her a few times and she is by far my favorite.

the title cannot be more fitting

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What a wonderful story of a world few of us could imagine. The ending is Perfect and getting there is a ride.

Twists I didn’t see coming

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This is a very messed-up romance book. I loved every second of it. It made my heart hurt. I want to read it again soon and really absorb every word. If you can stomach the subject matter, it will blow your mind.

My new favorite romance

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This book is captivating. At times I felt incredibly uncomfortable. Other times I felt happy, heartbroken, shocked, angry. This book is not for everyone, but it is for those who enjoy a twisted and unusual love story.

Other reviews claimed this book was muddled and hard to follow with the many different narratives but Jorjeana Marie did a wonderful job creating a clear distinction between each character. I will definitely be looking for more books from this author and this narrator.

The name says it all!

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