HomeRomanceHolding Up the Universe

Cover of Holding Up the Universe

Romance · 2016 · PG-13

Holding Up the Universe

by Jennifer Niven

The girl who was once America's fattest teen, and the boy who can't recognize faces

For14+GenreRomanceLength391 pagesRead time~10 hoursCommunity ratings0

This analysis was generated by AI from publicly available reader reviews, literary criticism, and book discussions. It has not been verified by a BookLens community reviewer and may contain errors. Be the first to verify →

Content snapshot

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What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.

Violence

Barely any

Bullying and some physical confrontation; no serious violence

Language

Some

Moderate language appropriate for the contemporary YA register

Sexual Content

Barely any

Romantic content between teen characters handled at YA level

Substance Use

None

No substance use

Emotional Intensity

Some

Body image, grief over a parent's death, and the psychological cost of being publicly mocked are handled with emotional honesty

What this book is about

Jennifer Niven's YA novel follows Libby Strout, who was famously extricated from her house after her mother's death caused her weight to spiral, and Jack Masselin, who has prosopagnosia — he can't recognize faces, even his own family's. Their unlikely connection begins with a cruel prank and grows into something more. The novel deals with body image, bullying, grief, and learning to be seen. Similar in tone to Niven's All the Bright Places but less darkness-heavy. Appropriate for the YA audience it targets.

Notes for sensitive readers

Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.

Body shaming and bullying depicted in detail

Grief over parental death

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