“It’s the idea that we should approach each other with open hearts and reveal our authentic selves through precious truths.”
When Miri, Soleil and Penny, three girls obsessed with the novel Undertow and their new friend Jonah get the opportunity to meet the author, they jump at the chance. They can’t believe their luck once Undertow’s author, Fatima Ro, allows them into her life and hooks them on her theory of human connections through being raw and using precious truths to really connect with another person. However, this charming and charismatic author may be more to the eye as a year later, her new novel The Absolution of Brady Stevenson depicts these teens’ lives and all their secrets that leads to disastrous consequences.
Miri is the girl who is already obsessed but takes this obsession with Fatima and her philosophy to a whole new level as she almost creates a cult full of other fans (or should we say disciples) to spread the message of using ‘precious truths’. Named Marni in the Fatima’s new novel, she encompasses a fan and is described as having become a clone as she remains so dedicated to Fatima despite all the events that have occurred.
Penny is the rich girl, whose home hosts the girls’ lavish party lifestyle yet who always feels invisible and unknown to everyone. She tries her hardest to be seen by Fatima Ro, and her obsession lies in getting recognition and attention.
Soleil is a passionate girl, who’s naïve and trusting personality makes her closer to Fatima, who nudges her try to find out more about the mysterious Jonah who harbors enough secrets for the girls to always wonder “WWJ” (What’s with Jonah?).
As the book progresses, this story sucks you in and is so addictive you can’t put it down as you read on to find out what secrets Fatima revealed in her book about Jonah that leaves him in hospital after its published, and why the teens are either so defensive or so angry at her. Jonah’s past slowly becomes more evident as you try to piece together the puzzle pieces and why his behaviour and Brady’s is the way it is as he tries to find whether absolution is possible.
There isn’t much else to say before we enter into spoiler territory! Sorry!
Each character is written quite well and is distinctive in their personalities. The mixed media format of this book is a bit confusing at first but it becomes enthralling as it’s written through interviews, text messages, journal entries and excerpts of Fatima’s new novel. The excerpts from the new novel themselves become so fluid with the current interviews that it’s unbelievable to think that Fatima didn’t just use their lives as inspirations but wrote it out completely and published it with only a slight change of names.
Fatima’s character was so mysterious and charming. Although it seemed like these teens were getting to know her, her subtle manipulation to get so much information and secrets out of them has you almost wondering whether she’s really manipulating them at all, or if she’s actually genuine.
“What’s cooler than owning the scene? Disowning the scene.”
This book was so cleverly written and incorporates many different and interesting themes such as redemption, forgiveness, toxic relationships and the psychology behind mob mentality, cults and grief-coping strategies.
The story is suspenseful and addictive, but yet confusing and leaves you with more questions than answers as the ending is anti-climactic at best. Readers will probably be left wondering who Fatima Ro really was.
Were her intentions good or purely for her career? Did she really care about these girls or only about Jonah because of his character potential? Was she really using her writing and her books to make herself feel better by rewriting history or was it really because it was a story to allow forgiveness and redemption?
There are so many questions that it’s obvious that this is written amazingly well just by the fact that it’s thought provoking and leaves you wanting more. More answers, explanations and theories. It almost wants you to create a fan club like Miri’s and analyse every line to find the real meaning and intentions of this book (or would that be too much book inception?).
This book was provocative, original, addictive and so enjoyable to read. If you’re looking for a fast, suspenseful thriller, All of This is True is perfect for you!
All of This is True is available now on Amazon, Book Depository, or other book retailers and it is out in Australia & New Zealand on May 31st. Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing for providing The Nerd Daily with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis | Goodreads
Miri Tan loved the book Undertow like it was a living being. So when she and her friends went to a book signing to meet the author, Fatima Ro, they concocted a plan to get close to her, even if her friends won’t admit it now. As for Jonah, well—Miri knows none of that was Fatima’s fault.
Soleil Johnston wanted to be a writer herself one day. When she and her friends started hanging out with her favorite author, Fatima Ro, she couldn’t believe their luck—especially when Jonah Nicholls started hanging out with them, too. Now, looking back, Soleil can’t believe she let Fatima manipulate her and Jonah like that. She can’t believe that she got used for a book.
Penny Panzarella was more than the materialistic party girl everyone at the Graham School thought she was. She desperately wanted Fatima Ro to see that, and she saw her chance when Fatima asked the girls to be transparent with her. If only she’d known what would happen when Fatima learned Jonah’s secret. If only she’d known that the line between fiction and truth was more complicated than any of them imagined…
