Sadly, I am really disappointed by this book - and the worst thing is that I know I would have loved it back when I first started reading YA books. However, as time has passed, I've become a more critical reader and that leaves me with no choice but to say that this novel is very problematic.
Five Feet Apart follows Stella and Will - Stella lives with CF, with her lung capacity at 35%, waiting for a lung transplant. She's incredibly meticulous about her treatments, and has developed an app for people with chronic illnesses so they don't forget to take their medication. Will (also living with a chronic illness) is a rebel, refusing treatment and dying (hah) to be eighteen so he can finally do his own thing - i.e. get out of the hospital and live a short life on his own terms. Sounds like the perfect premise for an epic love story, right?
No. I knew that this was insta-lovey, and I could have dealt with that if these two at least had some personality - spoiler alert, they don't. Will likes to draw and Stella makes Youtube videos. That's it. They felt so one-dimensional and static, and I wished for some sort of character development, but the only one we get is that they both want to be a better person because they fall madly in love with each other (so madly that they actually risk dying by being too close).
Stella is basically a Type A, goody two shoes who sacrifices her own feelings for the good of her parents being happy - or happyish, at least. Will is the rebel that's actually just a rude, ignorant and ungrateful guy which, yes, I would've dug back when every other YA novel had those bad boys - you know, before guys actually got some depth and character development beyond blue eyes, black hair and a killer jawline in YA.
Obviously I cannot speak for the chronic illness representation, but it was very - let's say conveniently placed. They cough at random moments to remind the reader that they're actually sick, but then evidently stop so they can flirt with each other. I learned a bit about CF, but it's still a mystery to me after reading this book.
Further, let me just say that I am completely sick of LGBTQ+ characters being included in YA novels only to serve a purpose (that purpose does not end well for young Poe) and to make the protagonists have an epiphany of what they need to fix in their own lives. At this point in time, this just isn't acceptable anymore. If you only put LGBTQ+ individuals in your book so you can claim the rep, then just don't.
The writing wasn't really my style. I could tell that this was a screenplay first (and I bet it will work great as an adaptation) and it felt immature and all over the place at times. Also corny. So corny. And melodramatic.
Anyways, despite all my ranting, I still believe that the movie will turn out to be a great hit - it encapsulates everything that made YA appealing to me in the beginning stages - an unlikely romance, forbidden love, and a storyline that tugs on your heartstrings (if you ignore all the inconsistencies and just, you know, not cringe at the fact that they're madly in love after speaking to each other twice and that they also have the subtlety of a bomb.)

Stella has cystic fibrosis and whilst in hospital for yet more treatment she meets Will. Will also has cystic fibrosis with the added complication of
B. cepacia which means they can not touch or even be within 6 feet of each other.
“Lighten up, Stella,” I say, sauntering to the door. “It’s just life. It’ll be over before we know it.”

finished this in just a few hours - the characters are all lovable and the story explained in a way which had me gripped from the start. I’m not going to lie I had a lump in my chest a couple of times and I’m not a “cryer”
Some aspects were a little cringy but I honestly didn’t care!
Loved it 💕

Stella and Will are two Cystic Fibrosis patients and are forbidden from doing a lot of things. For example, according to the rules,they have to maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet between them .However,Stella refuses to let her disease take control over every aspect of her life so she takes back a feet: meaning she keeps a distance of five feet from Will even though they both want no distance between them.

It's a tale of forbidden love and not letting your disease control you, especially a deadly disease such as CF.

I enjoyed reading it and look forward to seeing the movie.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC!

I was entertained while reading this, but I didn’t feel as engaged/attached as I would have wanted to! I am really curious about the movie though :)

Stella and Will both suffer from cystic fibrosis and they meet in a local hospital where the rules are that patients suffering from this disease need to keep the distance of 6 feet between each other otherwise they can easily catch infection and die. Stella wants to live very badly, she believes that her parents' happiness depends on her. Will has lost his hope a long time ago and he would rather live normal life even if it means that it's going to be a short one. But Stella has a great impact on people surrounding her and soon she also gets to Will, too.
It's a book about forbidden love, about the loss of loved ones and not being able to do things that people normally do without any restraints (like touching or hugging). I laughed and cired throughout the whole book and it stayed with me for a quite a long time (major book hangover!). I haven't read such a moving and witty book in a while. I loved every bit of it (maybe apart from the rather open ending). The book is strictly based on the screenplay so if you can't wait to see the movie on 22nd of March 2019 go to the nearest bookshop and grab your copy!