This is one of those stories that I had heard a lot of hype about so I was expecting something amazing. Unfortunately, for me at least, this book fell a bit short. It sounded like such a promising concept; a teenage girl so allergic to the world that she is unable to leave her home without dying. There is literally so much you can do with this, so many massive concepts that could be explored. And yet, all this book decides to do is walk the same well-worn path of the majority of young adult contemporary romances that have come before it. Disappointing. 
 That being said, I do think the contemporary romance aspects to this novel were quite beautiful, and genuinely strong enough to really stand out as a favourite for contemporary fans. It will undoubtedly appeal to lovers of books by other popular YA authors such as John Green, Jandy Nelson, Gayle Forman and Jennifer Niven. The lyrical prose is beautiful and engaging, interspersed with pages of artwork, IM chats, handwritten lists and poetry that really enhance the characterisation and journey of the protagonist as well as help to explore the changing nature of the relationships in the book. There is an honesty and richness to the main character's emotions that is incredibly heartbreaking and compelling; you can literally feel her isolation and yearning. While I tend to think that the romantic relationship developed rapidly bordering on instalove, this does make sense from the perspective of the incredibly sheltered main character. I thought the relationship was cute and sweet, I enjoyed their interactions and their conversations felt quite authentic, but unfortunately the male love-interest felt more like a one dimensional cardboard cut-out of a character. It is clear that he exists only as that idealised dream boy rather than a realistic person, designed purposefully to provide impetus and assist the main character on her metaphorical journey in the story. 
 Unfortunately the biggest disappointment in this book is the way in which the author handled the medical condition which provides the backdrop for the entire novel, as well as the weak and watered down conclusion. There are so many plot holes and inconsistencies to these components of the story that I just found it all so contrived and unbelievable. This novel exemplifies exactly why I dislike the deus ex machina as a plot device, it essentially derails all of the stories internal logic and turns an otherwise interesting concept into something bland and implausible. While I'm sure many will enjoy the resolution and unexpected twists in the plot, I felt that this aspect let down the otherwise strong contemporary components. 
 3.5 stars (though I can see why this is fast becoming a favourite for other readers)