Everyting Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves
ARC from Avid Square Press, Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for an honest review
Book Blurb:
Travis is Death in the modern world. He wears jeans and a T-shirt and lives in a small, grey town. His job is to offer people comfort in their final hours of life. He’s stoic, gentle, and a little naive, despite everything he knows. He’s young and handsome, despite who he is. Each death he witnesses is meaningful to him; he listens, never judges, and most importantly, never tries to change anyone’s fate. He knows that every life must eventually end to maintain the balance of the universe and he respects the cycle. Then he meets Dalia, a midwife, and her boisterous eight-year-old daughter Layla, who live across the hall. As Dalia and Layla come to embrace Travis, it becomes more difficult to maintain the detachment that’s allowed him to function for so long. Their time together teaches him what’s truly important in life—and what might be irrevocably lost in death.
My Review: 4.5 stars
Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves was a beautiful look into the many griefs we endure regarding death. This book broke my heart and for those who’ve recently lost someone, this book could be either comforting or triggering.
Travis, who is Death in disguise, has a job to do. He consoles and stands by in these powerful moments before each death. We witness his many “clients” and listens to their regrets or joys they have lived. Travis lived as a loner, but when he meets a single mom and her two kids, he begins to fall a little bit in love himself. The ending had me in tears but as emotional as this book was, I still think it was incredibly beautiful.
