Actual rating 4.5 stars. 
 I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Jay Asher, and the publisher, Razorbill, for this opportunity. 
 So I somehow managed to begin this book without being spoiled by any of the hype surrounding it and the TV adaptation, and had only the vaguest idea of the story-line. For that reason I am not going to begin this review with a synopsis as I believe it greatly enhanced my reading of this not to know any particulars concerning the plot. If you are only the lucky unspoiled people, yet to read this book, I'd suggest you try and do the same. What I will divulge is that this book seems to have had such a great emotional impact on the unaware, like myself, that I believe explains the early hype and rave reviews and some of the later disappointed ones. 
 The premise for this book is heartbreaking enough, but when combined with the method of narrative I found it made for almost unbearably sad reading, in some parts. Knowing the ultimate ending at the beginning of the book I thought was a ballsy move by the author, as it could have ruined some of the tension for the reader. As it is, I felt it added to the emotional impact of the novel and made every one of the protagonists' situations and feelings that much more intense. 
 I really appreciated that the tragic subject matter was broached in such a sensitive yet illuminating way. It really highlighted a situation that is real-life for many individuals and, I believe, is what made this book have such wide-spread acclaim.