User blog:Alyssaldunlap/Five Feet Apart Review

Can you love someone you are forbidden to touch? Five Feet Apart was written by author Rachael Lippincott, an English graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, in November of 2018. This story goes in depth of the lives two chronically ill patients, Stella and Will, who have fell victim to cystic fibrosis, a disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breathe over time. Their high risk of infection requires that the two must stay six feet apart from each other at all times. Despite the mandated distance, the two support each other and eventually fall in love. In attempt to reclaim at least one thing life has taken away from them, they take back one foot of space in between them, staying five feet apart instead. Five Feet Apart is a bittersweet read that I enjoyed because of the admirable characters, the attention grabbing setting, and the interesting and amazing conflict. As included in Five Feet Apart, confident, spontaneous characters were a strong component in my overall enjoyment of this read. In the novel, my favorite character is Stella as she portrays an energetic and positive character despite her condition and consequences. Stella Grant, diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at a young age, has been in and out of hospitals for treatments a majority of her lifetime. A rule follower and control freak, Stella is a very responsible patient who is always sure to take her medications on time and maintain her treatment regimen. The exact opposite, Will Newman is a careless rule breaker who is completely uninterested in treatments and his main focus is on freedom away from the hospital. For example, on page 24 Will states “I come face-to-face with the empty sockets of the skull drawing on my door, an oxygen mask slung over its mouth, with the words”Abandon all hope, ua who enter here” written under it” which portrays his negative attitude. Some reasoning behind Will’s attitude, his problem is far worse than Stella’s as he has contracted B.Cepacia, a condition that will deplete his lungs completely, and makes him ineligible for a new lung transplant, leaving Will hopeless. Other important characters include Poe, Stella’s best friend and fellow cystic fibrosis victim, and Barb, Stella’s favorite nurse who has taken care of her for as long as she has been in and out of hospitals. One thing that I did not expect was how the author made the main characters share so much compassion, love and happiness with each other although they were unable to touch, nonetheless complete a simple gesture such as a hug.

Furthermore, the setting of Five Feet Apart particularly comforted me as the book describes it as homely and satisfying. Most of the novel takes place in Saint Grace’s Hospital, where Stella and Will are both patients. Stella has attended this hospital ever since she was a little girl and most of the staff is like family to her. Over the course of their romance, Will and Stella visit the NICU, the hospital pool, and the hospital gym. One of my most favorite places visited by the two is the NICU as Stella goes here to admire the fresh lungs of the babies and this soon becomes a favorite place of Will’s as well. I also enjoyed the parts of the novel that took place in the gym because this is where Will and Stella become a lot closer as Will draws Stella, one of his favorite hobbies. A quote that supports and exemplifies the closening of their relationship is when the author includes this line during Stellas point of view says “Do I need to pose or anything? I ask, my hand reaching up as I fix my hair. I strike a dramatic pose, which makes him laugh”, while Will is drawing Stella in the gym. One thing I did not expect pertaining to this literary element is how the hospital was filled with loving people and carried a positive vibe whereas most hospitals are dreary and upsetting.

Lastly, the most interesting literary element in my opinion, the troublesome yet heartwarming conflict. Love stories always have a reason to keep the couple apart, but in Stella and Will’s case, it actually means apart as the were required to stay 5 feet apart at all times. This conflict I find this conflict extremely interesting as the couple are deeply in love yet are forbidden to touch, five feet apart at all times. This conflict was very emotional and tugged at my heart as it was difficult to see two people who were so madly in love, not be able to fulfill their relationship to the fullest because of their illnesses. I did not expect from this literary element for two people who are forbidden to touch, and are also complete opposites, to fall in love.

Overall, Five Feet Apart is a bittersweet read that I enjoyed because of the admirable characters, the attention grabbing setting, and the interesting and amazing conflict. People who enjoy heartwarming reads will find happiness upon reading this novel. These readers will appreciate the heartwarming message behind the novel Five Feet Apart. Readers who prefer happy endings may not enjoy this book fully. Although most scenes are filled with positivity, few scenes towards the ending may upset readers. I believe that this book could become well known because it is a very popular type of plot that occurs, although I do not believe there will be a sequel.