The Rest Of Us Just Live Here

By Patrick Ness

What if you aren’t the Chosen One?

The one who’s supposed to fight the zombies, or the soul-eating ghosts, or whatever the heck this new thing is, with the blue lights and the death?

What if you’re like Mikey? Who just wants to graduate and go to prom and maybe finally work up the courage to ask Henna out before someone goes and blows up the high school. Again.

Because sometimes there are problems bigger than this week’s end of the world, and sometimes you just have to find the extraordinary in your ordinary life.

Even if your best friend is worshipped by mountain lions.

Award-winning writer Patrick Ness’s bold and irreverent novel powerfully reminds us that there are many different types of remarkable

About the author
Patrick Ness, an award-winning novelist, has written for England’s Radio 4 and Sunday Telegraph and is a literary critic for The Guardian. He has written many books, including the Chaos Walking Trilogy, The Crash of Hennington, Topics About Which I Know Nothing, and A Monster Calls.
He has won numerous awards, including the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, the Booktrust Teenage Prize, and the Costa Children’s Book Award. Born in Virginia, he currently lives in London.

• Language: English
• Publisher: StreetLib
• Release date: Nov 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9780062403162

Patrick Ness

Patrick Ness is the author of seven novels and a short-story collection. His five novels for teenagers have won the Carnegie Medal twice, the Costa Children's Fiction Prize, and has been shortlisted for the LA Times Book Prize and the Arthur C Clarke Award. Patrick's works have been translated into 25 languages and have sold over a million copies worldwide. Born in America, he lives in London.

Reviews for The Rest Of Us Just Live Here

[moniquesnyman-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

What makes one life more extraordinary than another? This is the question Patrick Ness asks his readers in his newest novel, The Rest Of Us Just Live Here. When a small town is under attack (again), by some or other weird supernatural stuff, Mikey and his friends are not called in to help. They're just the ordinary kids who watch the indie kids face off against the threat. That's kind of how the world works. Well, it used to work that way until a few weeks before the end of high school, when that weird stuff started to affect the ordinary kids' lives too. When the indie kids started dying one after the other, and Mikey's life began to implode, and prom was in sight, things just spiraled out of control. His OCD, and his sister's eating disorder, and his parents' disinterest ... well, everything just got out of hand.

The Rest Of Us Just Live Here is a great read and is perfect to get someone who loves themselves some YA this holiday season. I loved the character development, and how real the story was, even with the out-of-this-world plot. That said, Patrick Ness has been coined as one of the best YA writers of our generation, so you know you'll buy quality when you buy this book.

One thing I think the author inadvertently did (or I hope he did), was mock the independent YA industry with his 'story within a story' approach. The 'indie kids', as I've mentioned previously, are all called Finn or some other weird name, and they all seem to fall into this 'save the world' category. There's a definite mocking of YA cliches, which I don't mind really, but I really do hope Patrick Ness didn't do it to make fun of indie authors ... But, I'll admit I got a good giggle out of it every now and then.

It's a pretty good book, definitely worth a read. I still need to read the Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness (it's scheduled for my December Read-A-Thon), so then I'll be able to get a better feel for the author's style. So, stay tuned for my thoughts on that ...

[infjsarah · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really like Patrick Ness's writing and this was no exception. He creates characters with heart and puts them in an offkilter world in some way.

[kthxy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did, but well, that's what happened: I liked it a lot. It's not the best book I have ever read, but I enjoyed the story and the characters thoroughly.

It's not just a story about the people who have to watch and wait and wonder while the heros go save the world. It's not just a story about mentally ill teenagers being there for each other in a scarily supernatural world. It's both, and that combination works out great. I cared deeply for all the main characters.

I really like how the distinction of indie kids versus everyone else doesn't quite hold up, too. And that Mike doesn't let Jared magic-heal his OCD, at least not yet, not while he can handle it with non-magic means.

[starla_aurora · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I am super excited to discuss this book in book-club. (Also excited that I am 3 months ahead on book club reads). This is a funny yet touching read on what would usually be the teens in the background of the other popular YA novels. "Everyone has their thing".

[thewallflower-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

All the characters here are broken. And thus, interesting. But this is not a fantasy novel. This is a standard YA novel with real-life problems. Non-real elements are minor and don't affect the plot.Something's going on in the background of said plot. Something "Harry Potter" or "Buffy" involving a Big Bad and Apocalypses. But that's not what the story is about. This is about the extras that end up in the B-roll, when the cameras pan over the ambulances. Who are those people?One is gay. One is going to a war-torn third world country after graduation. One is a recovering anorexic. And one (the main character) has a compulsion disorder. There is magic in the world, but no one is using it. No one wants to. They've seen what happens to the kids who do. They're stressing about college, graduation, dating, whether he-likes-her-but-does-she-like-me. It's nice to see a deconstruction of the hero's journey, but hard to do well. This one does. The style reminds me of John Green writing a Harry Potter background character or A.S. King ("Please Ignore Vera Dietz").

[kwadyko · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

OK...I've had a a few days to digest this book, so I think I am ready to write the review.3.5 StarsI am really torn about how I feel about this book because I feel like it could have definitely taken a more interesting route had it gotten more in depth about the immortals and the past events that Mickey's mom survived...I found myself way more interested in that than the day-to-day with the normal kids.Also, the blurbs from the "Indie" kids were weird and had no real context since no details were really given about that world, so while listening to the audio it was really confusing at first. It took me forever to connect with the book, and like I said previously, I was more interested in the paranormal/fantasy aspects mentioned, but not detailed in the book.I didn't hate the book, but it definitely didn't make a great impression.#punkrocklibrarian #overdrive #audiobook #goodreads

[alsparks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Mike has anxiety issues. His mom is into politics. Dad is an alcoholic. Older sister survived briefly dying as a result of anorexia. They are trying to keep things normal for young sis. But then there are strange events in and around town with immortals, gods, and blue lights. All they want to do is get to graduation. Centers around trying to grow up normal in strange times. Wasn't my favorite book but kept me interested.

[herschelian · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

If it hadn't been selected for my next Bookclub discussion, I would probably have given up reading this book quite early on as much of it just escaped me. There is a reason for it being classified as YA fiction, and obviously in my late 60s I am just too old and out of the whole 'Buffy' loop which has created many YA tropes. To be honest though, thinking back to my own reading when in the 'YA' demographic, I can't say it would have particularly appealed to me then either. Back in those distant times the YA genre didn't really exist (although Puffin books, the children's book arm of Penguin Books, did venture into the teenage market with Peacock Books which was quite successful).This book is about a group of young friends who are in the final weeks of their high-school careers and about to graduate and go off to college. They are defined as the 'ordinary kids' as opposed to the 'indie kids'. They knuckle down to homework, have after school jobs, participate in school sports, go to the Prom etc. The 'indie kids' are the kids perceived as too cool to be involved in anything so mundane (for some reason I imagined them as Goths or Punks). The main story revolves round the interconnected lives of Henna, Jared, Mel, Mikey, Nathan and their families. One has OCD, one is recovering from anorexia, one is gay, one is bi-racial. All a little bit 'meh'.Parallel to this is a story about an indie girl called Satchel and various indie boys called Finn and their war with other worldly characters who are trying to damage and destroy everything. Sometimes the two stories intertwine or collide.I found it irritating and could not suspend my disbelief - maybe I just don't get it, whatever 'it' is. So I read it right to the banal end, and have done my Bookclub duty.

[laura.w.douglas · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this weird little book. There are all these young adult novels about vampires, ghost, aliens, in other end of the world creatures. However, what to the regular people do while the world is ending? That's the idea behind this book. And I enjoyed it.

[gretchening · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Smart, funny, satisfying, and heartfelt, this is a winning YA novel that manages to give its diverse teen characters plenty of room to be relatable and real without over-dramatizing them or feeling didactic. These kids grapple with a lot of issues, but this isn't an Issues book. Importantly, it's very much about kids who have already been living through tough concerns (the end of the world barely registers, after overbearing parents, mental illness, eating disorders, queerness, and of course, love). These are kids who love each other even though they're still figuring out what that means, who accept and support each other and *choose* each other every day. The contrast between their everyday problems against the backdrop of what's going on with the Chosen Ones (hilariously summarized events introduce each chapter) is pitch perfect. This is a good one if you loved Buffy and Harry Potter but are sick of investing in their many knockoffs. It's also great for any teenager who is done with being looked down on. I read this in a couple of days because I feel in love with the characters that much.

[brakketh-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An enjoyable and well written novel about the experiences of the 'normal' people in a town that is continually overrun by disasters, I especially enjoyed the non-judgemental approach to characters sexuality.

[shannonrose4 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Truly an amazing read. Definitely a conversation starter as this senior year/final summer together with friends touches on so many important topics with good humor. A gem of a book, that I know I'll be thinking about often.

[mrnattania72 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

From the author of Moster Calls is a teen story with a slight twist of the Supernatural. This story of seniors iabout to depart on their own is not only a realistic approach on their lives, but is funny, heart warming and a trip down memory lane ( for this reader) trying to pinpoint their sexual identity. It was a really captivating story, and I don't enjoy Realistic Fiction.

[kittycunningh-815148 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is delightful. It's the story that happens to the kids that AREN'T saving the world from the latest apocalypse.

[elenaj-147457 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's kind of mean-spirited in its parody of typical teen urban fantasy novels, which is a bit odd in an otherwise compassionate and warm story. It's a quick read, and the plot held my attention well, although the resolution faltered a bit.

[mrnattania · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

From the author of Moster Calls is a teen story with a slight twist of the Supernatural. This story of seniors iabout to depart on their own is not only a realistic approach on their lives, but is funny, heart warming and a trip down memory lane ( for this reader) trying to pinpoint their sexual identity. It was a really captivating story, and I don't enjoy Realistic Fiction.

[kale.dyer · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An enjoyable and well written novel about the experiences of the 'normal' people in a town that is continually overrun by disasters, I especially enjoyed the non-judgemental approach to characters sexuality.

[kaethe_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What's going on in the background while The Chosen One is busy saving the world? Brilliant, hilarious, and one of the best books of the year.

Library copy

[krizia_lazaro_3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was okay, it was not that memorable. I just like the concept of a story within a story, some people are the chosen one and some people just live their ordinary lives. Nice concept but I think it can be improved on.

[goldengrove_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

'The Rest of Us Just Live Here' is a satirical take on the 'paranormal + pesky kids' trope. What happens to the un-chosen ones while all the supernatural action is going on? Quite a lot, actually. Here they are, dealing with real teenage troubles: difficult parents; falling in love; emotions generally; eating disorders. Patrick Ness can certainly write, and he portrays the messy, complicated inner life of his teenage protagonists very well. The trouble is, the satire is just a little top heavy, and it turns the novel into one-joke-stretched-too-thin. I enjoyed reading it, I can imagine my students enjoying it, but I don't think it's his best work.(But I must admit I laughed at his accuracy when, just after finishing The Rest of Us, I catalogued a new book for my school Library in which the heroine, newly arrived in her town, is visited at night by the mysterious new boy at school - the darkly handsome Finn...)

[dcoward_6 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Each chapter of this book starts with a paragraph about a group of teens chosen to fight paranormal forces in a small town in an amusing parody of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But then the book moves to a group of everyday teens coming of age with more realistic problems, including OCD, parental expectations, and anorexia. I loved the diverse characters and the juxtaposition of the crazy paranormal events with the real problems of growing up.

[erika.d · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

My first Patrick Ness book and I was disappointed. I'm not into the paranormal topics and didn't like the whining characters.

[ewyatt_16 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Mike and Mel are in their last year of high school. They live in a town where the indie kids regularly are in mortal danger and have to deal with the supernatural. I wanted to like this book more than I did. It certainly had its share of beautifully written passages. Each chapter started with a snippet of the supernatural action happening in the Washington town and then it jumped into Mike's story of dealing with OCD, his family, and navigating his feelings of inadequacy and longing.

[readerspeak_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Because this book takes place on the periphery of the action, it was slower than I have come to expect from a Patrick Ness YA novel. That being said, of course this quiet story is beautifully told. There are some great lines in the book, so profound. I liked the characters so much, how the friendships evolve and Mikey's thoughts about himself, his mom, his friends.

[ellsbethb · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like the premise of this book and I think a lot of high school students would enjoy it.

[davido1103 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another superb book by Patrick Ness. Some kids are The Chosen, or are destined to save the planet, but, as the title says, the rest of us just live here, and this is a lovely book about them...

[mamzel_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A group of seniors are rapidly approaching the end of their high school years with various levels of trepidation. Mike has OCD and his repetitive behavior is worsening. His friend, Jared, helps him when he gets caught in a loop of washing, counting, or whatever. Jared is part God and has a healing power. His older sister, Mel, almost died from anorexia and is now the same year as he is. Henna has a religious mother and Finnish father and is nervous about their planned summer trip to the Central African Republic to minister but they have just broken out in war. So we have a very interesting group of kids who have lived through zombies, flesh-eating ghosts and now some weird blue light resurrection thing is going on but our friends are only peripherally affected by it. We follow it through the chapter headings. (Interesting format) It's like watching one of those movies where the lead characters are having a conversation oblivious to the chaos that is erupting around them. Good fun!

[foggidawn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In a world where terrible and extraordinary things happen on a fairly regular basis, Mikey and his friends are perfectly normal (well, mostly). While kids with names like Kerouac and Satchel are saving the world from invaders from another dimension, Mikey and his friends just want to make it to graduation. Of course, being perfectly normal doesn’t protect you from becoming collateral damage when weird things start to happen...This book was a lot of fun to read. It takes on the tropes of the genre in a tongue-in-cheek way (my favorite line was a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Fault in Our Stars reference about the time, a few years ago, when all of the special kids were beautifully dying of cancer). Perfect for the reader who has read one too many books about very special teenagers saving the world.

[rivkat_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The conceit is that the indie kids (the Buffys, Bellas, and other special teens) are having their own world-ending/saving drama, while the narrator Michael (who suffers from an anxiety disorder/OCD) and his sisters and friends are just living their own lives, largely ignorant of the forces threatening the town but occasionally threatened by them anyway. Each chapter summarizes what’s going on with the indie kids, then turns to the dramatis personae of this particular story, which does feature a half-god best friend, but most of his issues are about leaving his single father home alone when he goes to college and about finding a nice boy to date. It was well-executed, so if the idea appeals, it’s worth checking out.

[srsharms · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book is an answer to the question: what would the story have been if we had followed the fictional life of Random Extra #2 on the set of Buffy the Vampire Slayer at the end of season 3? It's a question I find myself asking more than once with shows like Buffy or Smallville, and in some ways it was lovely to see Ness tackle it. And yet...it's not a story that gripped me hard, as with his previous books. It sort of makes you realize WHY Joss Whedon etc. never writes an episode for Random Extra #2 — we'd like it fine because it's in the hands of a good writer, but it's still rather...uneventful and staid. Overall, a light-hearted, at times surprisingly touching effort, but not necessarily a memorable one.