Review: Everything That Makes You by Moriah McStay

One girl. Two stories. Meet Fiona Doyle. The thick ridges of scar tissue on her face are from an accident twelve years ago. Fiona has notebooks full of songs she’s written about her frustrations, her dreams, and about her massive crush on beautiful uber-jock Trent McKinnon. If she can’t even find the courage to look Trent straight in his beautiful blue eyes, she sure isn’t brave enough to play or sing any of her songs in public. But something’s changing in Fiona. She can’t be defined by her scars anymore.

And what if there hadn’t been an accident? Meet Fi Doyle. Fi is the top-rated female high school lacrosse player in the state, heading straight to Northwestern on a full ride. She’s got more important things to deal with than her best friend Trent McKinnon, who’s been different ever since the kiss. When her luck goes south, even lacrosse can’t define her anymore. When you’ve always been the best at something, one dumb move can screw everything up. Can Fi fight back?

Hasn’t everyone wondered what if? In this daring debut novel, Moriah McStay gives us the rare opportunity to see what might have happened if things were different. Maybe luck determines our paths. But maybe it’s who we are that determines our luck.

Hardcover, 352 pages

Expected publication: March 17th 2015 by Katherine Tegen Books

Terri's Thoughts

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.  The expected publication date is March 17th 2015.

As soon as I read the synopsis for this book I just knew that I had to read it.  What an amazing concept, telling two stories about the same person based on if one incident occurred or did not.  There are so many possibilities with this approach.

What was so compelling for me was that although two very different stories unfolded, many aspects of what occurred overlapped.  Maybe I am thinking too deep on this but it tells you that you can only control so much of your destiny.  Sometimes things or people are meant to happen and you really do not have a say in it.  Perhaps there is a much bigger power at play, maybe it is just coincidence...either way very interesting.

I enjoyed the fact that both stories had a very sweet love story tied in with completely different endings.  I was equally invested in both stories and Fiona's insecurities with both.  In one minute I was caught up in Fiona's story and the next it was Fi.  Both stories offered great supporting characters and equally interesting and worth love matches.  I loved how I got two books in one with this concept.

I don't really want to regurgitate what happens.  I will say that this is a YA book that I really really enjoyed.  I think this will appeal to the general female teen audience and those like me who may be just a little bit older than that.  It is sweet, it is sad, it is hopeful and it is interesting.  All things that make up a great story.

I would not hesitate to recommend this book to anyone.  I find it hard to believe that this is a debut novel as you could not tell by reading.  If McStay would like to do future work in the same concept I will be the first in line to read it.

About the Author

Moriah McStay grew up in Memphis, TN, where she acquired a come-and-go drawl and a lifelong love of cowboy boots and fried pickles. She attended Northwestern University and the University of Chicago. Two graduate degrees and seven jobs later, she finally figured out what she wants to be when she grows up.

EVERYTHING THAT MAKES YOU is her first novel, and she's probably at home right now working on another one.

Website: http://moriahmcstay.com

Twitter:  moriahmcstay