When We Collided

By Emery Lord

Seventeen year old Jonah Daniels has lived in Verona Cove, California, his whole life, and only one thing has ever changed: his father used to be alive, and now he's not. Now Jonah must numbly take care of his family as they reel from their tragedy. Cue next change: Vivi Alexander, new girl in town.

Vivi is in love with life. A gorgeous and unfiltered hurricane of thoughts and feelings. She seems like she's from another planet as she transforms Jonah's family and changes his life. But there are always consequences when worlds collide …

A fierce and beautiful love story with a difference, When We Collided will thrill fans of All the Bright Places and I'll Give You the Sun.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
• Release date: Apr 7, 2016
• ISBN: 9781408870624

Emery Lord

Emery Lord is the author of Open Road Summer, The Start of Me and You, and When We Collided. She lives in a pink row house in Cincinnati, with a husband, two rescue dogs, and a closet full of impractical shoes. www.emerylord.com Twitter: @emerylord

Reviews for When We Collided

[olegalca · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Usually I don't like books that switch between two or more characters in first person, but this one was very good. The change in perspectives really highlighted the difference between Vivi and Jonah.

[jenn88-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Jonah Daniels is a seventeen-year-old who has a passion for cooking and is following in his father's footsteps. But with his father's sudden death six months ago, he has more on his plate than just black cherry cobbler. His mother has withdrawn from her family. She spends all her time in her bedroom while Jonah and his two older siblings look after their three younger siblings.

Vivi Alexander and her mother are staying in Verona Cove for the summer. Vivi is a vivacious sixteen-year-old who loves art and fashion. And Jonah Daniels. But her world is not all twinkle lights and glitter. She's been keeping something from Jonah and it takes something extreme for him to find out what it is.

The cover is lovely. The title is great. All the characters in this book were phenomenal, but I fell in love with Vivi. I loved her personality and her story. I don't have a word for the author's writing, it was soooo good! It was an honest and realistic portrayal of someone living with mental illness first-hand as well as someone living with a loved one who is suffering. You can't help but root for these two to find happiness. I loved everything about this book!

[mjspear_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Vivian (Vivi) and Jonah meet in a summer resort community. A typical summer romance is given new life when the two principles are less-than-whole themselves. Jonah is one of 6 children; his father is dead and his mother paralyzed with depression. He works two jobs and minds the "littles" (his 3 youngest sibs) all the while protecting his mother. Vivi is bipolar; she throws away her lithium, and is ignoring (outrunning) her past. (In a manic high she sleeps with her best friend's boyfriend and acts out a party). At first J is drawn to V's energy and spontaneity but as her mania escalates he is bewildered and helpless. After a life-changing incident, she finally confesses her mood disorder and begins to face her problems. Realistic -- at times, chilling -- portrayal of mania, Vivi is deftly drawn. Jonah. for this reader, was less believable: a bit too good to be true. Nonetheless, like bees to honey, teens -- especially girls -- will be drawn to this romance/drama.

[penguinasana · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What a terrific read! Telling a compelling story from dual points of view is difficult - often it only works well for one character and not the other. Not so with this book. I found myself drawn into the story and the perspectives of both main characters. A sweet love story that also gives a very accurate depiction of mental illness, all wrapped up with a satisfying and realistic ending. Can't wait to read more from Emery Lord.

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

So I came into this book biased, because I almost never enjoy books with more than one narrator. I usually find myself really enjoying one point of view and not really caring for the other. Which is what happened here, where I wanted to stay with Jonah and his family, not bounce back to Vivi.
One of my favorite parts of Lord's writing - and I love her first two books - is the sense of community. The close and fierce friendships and family bonds are missing in this one, as Jonah becomes wrapped up in Vivi. The other characters fall to the wayside and aren't developed at all.
It's still a quick and engaging read, with the lovely writing I've come to expect from Lord, but it wasn't my favorite.

[brandileigh2003 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I wanted to read When We Collided because I really like the sound of the two main characters. Plus, I really have thoroughly enjoyed her other two books, and hoped for more of the same. Vivi sounded like a girl with a lot of energy and someone so bubbly and such a charismatic personality Jonah is kind of the opposite he is very responsible taking care of his younger siblings along with his two older because his dad died and his mom has been pretty depressed. She stays in bed and Jonah describes her as breakable and he imagines that she has to remind herself to breathe after their loss. I like the sound of the small town they live in and it sounds so idealistic and homie and a place that I would love to visit and also love to live in. The theme of family and friendship both played pretty heavily into this one, all themes that I appreciate and like to read about. I am endeared to Jonah with how much responsibility he takes in and the extreme love he has for his family. I can also tell the stress it puts on him because caring for kids on the level he does just isn't supposed to be on his shoulders. It is told in dual perspective and that really add something to it because we get to see Vivi and Jonah's reactions to things and what they think about the other. we get two contrasting personalities and opinions about things and we get to see their romance building and also as we read the character development and everything from their past that eventually catches up to both of them. Not that far in the you begin to realize that Vivi has some issues of her owN. she described it as she got really low and then she got really high as far as her moods go awhile back. Then she had a conversation with her mom about the fact that she had lost some weight and that made her mom suspicious that she wasn't taking her medicine like she needs to be, since side effects for psych meds can cause weight gain. Mental illness is an issue that is very important to me because I deal with bipolar with hypomania and anxiety and I've been on all kinds of medication for it and I was able to relate with her on all new levels. I began to a suspect that's what she struggled with. she was bubbly and friendly and anything because she was experiencing her high/manic part of the disease she's very talkative and friendly and all those things could have just been her personalities but we also see her throwing out her medication and the synopsis also talks about her descent into risky behavior and that sounds like the beginnings of the swings from manic to depressive. I love the scenes where Jonah and Vivi were getting to know each other it's so sweet. Vivi brings a intensity to everything, for example of she believes in reincarnation and she told things about her past life and how it relates to who she is today. The things she said about Jonah totally makes sense to his personality she said that he was a tree in a previous life and that is why he's so steady and how he wants to shelter the little ones. The scenes with Jonah's sibling are so well written. It is so realistic how they still bicker and give each other a hard time but at the end of the day they're really there for each other. I love that he treats his younger siblings with respect and he plays with them and sacrifices things to help them with their homework and take care of them. They all look up to him and love him for it. I love seeing vivi with the youngest Leah, she was able to bring out this younger part of herself to really understand and she really give her time to her, she listens to her and really enjoys playing with her. this brought out a good side of Leah because she had been pretty withdrawn and not talking much and Jonah and the rest of the siblings love to see her just kind of blossom under the attention of Vivi. Leah began to talk and light up again. Even though with a synopsis and knowing her history with mental illness when Vivi started going downhill it was hard To read. I have grown to care about her a lot and seeing so much of myself and some of her manic behavior was difficult. Its been a battle for me to stay on my meds and I knew that she wasn't staying on her on her mood stabilizers so I knew it was going to go downhill. and even though I have hypo-mania which means that my highs aren't quite as high and my impulsiveness and rashness and talk a mile a minute isn't as bad as someone with full out bipolar disorder like Vivi, it was an emotional train wreck I couldn't stop watching. Even knowing how much it upset Jonah because he had no clue about the manic depression. He must have had a clue with the way she acted around Jonahs mom and the understanding of how she might be feeling that she's dealt with mental illness but Jonah didn't know about her other side. She was danger seeking, in full out creative mode.and it hurt Jonah's feelings when he tried to talk to her about what he was going through and she couldn't focus on him or what he was saying. I could tell as the book was coming to a close that the ending was going to be hard but I really respected it. I don't want to give any spoilers but I love that VIVI made decisions for herself and for her mental health and based on what she really needed even though it was a very hard choice to make. she knew that she was giving up a lot but looking forward to gaining a lot. I like the way that it shows that mental illness doesn't have to have some huge tragic and that there are good days and there are bad days there are good decisions and then there's a very bad decisions and sometimes you get hurt sometimes the people around you get hurt. I like seeing slow and gradual change and jones mom and her eventual of decisions. I like with Vivi how she had to come to accept what was going on with her and that she eventually decided that other people can come to her that they could see that she's dealing with a mental illness but still love her and still see the good parts in her and forgive her for when things go wrong. One of the messages that I took away from this book is that mental illness needs to be talked about more. That those who are suffering should look around them and see who is holding out of hand or who has offered to help and accept that help. for those who are suffering to also give that whenever they aren't the ones having a hard time that they can look for someone else who is struggling because they've been there they know the signs. and for those who are not struggling with the mental illness to realize that it is a disease that there's going to be relapses that there's going to be hard days but the treasure of the good days and to be there for other people.Source: Bloomsbury via NetgalleyDisclaimer: I received this book as an ARC (advanced review copy). I am not paid for this review, and my opinions in this review are mine, and are not effected by the book being free.Bottom Line: Beautiful characters with big problems. This is the YA contemporary that stands out and that the other kids are trying to be like.

[brainannex · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A love story to be sure, but not only a love story about two people, but a story about loving yourself.

[shannonrose4 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

brilliantly crafted, heartbreaking beautiful, I have never read something that took on the details of grief, love and mental illness with so much thoughtfulness, understanding and hope. Simply stunning.

[readingbeader · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a beautiful depiction of coping with grief and mental illness by two high school kids who fall in love during the summer. They support each other even though they don't understand everything that is happening. I loved this book, it made me cry at the end, bittersweet tears. Perfect ending though. Once again, Emery Lord reeled me into a fascinating world.

[King Nessah · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I fell in love with Jonah Daniels, we all need that kind of love

[heatherlinc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is not your normal YA romance. Vivi lives with bipolar disorder and Jonah is struggling with the sudden death of his father. Despite everything, these two young people fall in love in the midst of chaos and help each other grow stronger. "When We Collided" is told from alternating perspectives. I loved Jonah and his rambunctious family. They all had strong personalities and their interactions are delightful. Jonah's grief is heart-breaking as he battles to take care of his younger siblings and keep the family business running. Vivi, on the other hand is a bit too full-on for most of the book. She is spontaneous, selfish, flawed and irresponsible. I know her manic behaviour is a part of her illness but, like Jonah, there were times she swept me away with her exuberance leaving me gasping and confused. Although, I found Vivi and Jonah's insta-romance unbelievable, this was a touching, refreshing read, bringing to light an important mental health issue.

[beth.clarke · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is perfect for high school students trying to understand mental illness better. Vivi has bipolar disorder and Jonah is mourning the loss of his father. Although very different problems, this book shows the struggles that come along with issues such as these. It's fast paced and a bit of a mystery. One I'll be recommending to high school students.

[anyanwubutler · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When Vivi comes to Verona Cove, a very small town on the Northern California coast for the summer, she’s already had a bipolar episode. Jonah has always lived in Verona Cove, but he’s dealing with his father’s death, his mother’s grief and taking care of his younger brothers and sisters. Vivi and Jonah fall in love, but they don’t tell each other what’s going on with them. That’s realistic; I get why they fall for each other so quickly. It’s a novel that many will see themselves and their loved ones in. I received this from Goodreads and the publisher Bloomsbury on 5.2.16.

[edgoldberg · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When We Collided by Emery Lord begins with Vivi throwing her pill over the cliff into the ocean and carving “Vivi Was Here” in an old tree trunk. From this beginning we, the readers, are waiting for the inevitable crash in Vivi’s life because we can make an educated guess as to what that pill was supposed to do.Vivi should stand for vivacious (which according to the Merriam Webster dictionary derives from the Latin verb vivere or ‘to live’). She is the embodiment of it: sparkling, effervescent and spontaneous. And exactly the opposite of Jonah who, eight months after his father’s unexpected death, is trying with his two older siblings to keep the family of seven together. His mother stays in bed mostly. The ‘littles’ need to be dressed, fed, taken to school. Yet somehow this unlikely couple seems to work, partly because Vivi has seen some dark days.Vivi is new to Verona Cove, having come from Seattle to spend the summer, and she loves it. It is a quaint little town; one you can really feel at home in, and Vivi wastes no time making her “Vivi Was Here” mark on the town. She inserts herself into the breakfast routine of loner police officer Hayashi while deciding to try the coffee shop breakfast menu in alphabetical order. She gets a job at the local potter’s shop. She envelopes Jonah’s family, having a profound impact on little Leah. Yet we know, the edge of the cliff is approaching.Narrated in alternating first person chapters by Vivi and Jonah, When We Collided is the story of a remarkable girl and her impact on those around her. While having a major romantic element as do all of Emery Lord’s books, it also has a serious side to it as well, and in her Author’s Note at the end of When We Collided, Lord talks about mental illness, personalizes it, and provides relevant resources.Emery Lord is part of my triumvirate of teen romance novelists, in the partnership of Sarah Dessen and Morgan Matson. So I would heartily suggest you read Open Road Summer and The Start of Me and You. And in her author bio at the end of the book, she says she lives with a blind beagle and a spaniel, so she obviously loves dogs. My kind of person.On a side note, Matson has a new book out entitled The Unexpected Everything. So there you have it. Your summer reading list has a great beginning.

[susan.macura · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a compelling story about two teens that meet, fall in love but have too many complications to make it work at the time. Jonah, along with his two older siblings, is trying to do well in school while also trying to work and care for his three younger siblings after his father died unexpectedly and his mother has shut herself in her bedroom, suffering from too much grief and depression to cope with the real world. By chance Jonah meets Vivi who brings a lot of light and energy into his life and his family’s life. What Jonah does not know is that Vivi is bi-polar and has not been taking her meds as prescribed. This leads to a painful event that shows the two that sometimes we have to deal with our own issues before we can help others. This book is a realistic look at mental illness in our society.