All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Book Summer (Via Goodreads): In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.

Book Trailer:



Book Review:
This was the first book I have read by Zevin, and I have to say, I was blown away! Zevin's voice was colorful and refreshing. I loved, loved the main character Anya. She is flawed, responsible, loving, and always tries to do the right thing. Her family "mob" background was original and engaging. I loved how she interacted with different family members and family acquaintances. Really, all of the characters were superb. The romance was realistic and endearing, and not too overpowering. There was very little I didn't like about this book! I couldn't help but furiously turn the pages, eager to know more. Overall, I highly enjoyed this story, and look forward to the sequel! Ganrielle Zevin is now on my author TBR list! :)

Favorite Quote:

“Tragedy is when someone ends up dead. Everything else is just a bump in the road. For the record, that was something Daddy used to say.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
This is definitely not my favorite cover. For one, it lacks color. Two, because of the font and the majority of writing on the cover, I thought this was a self-help book for teens until I started reading reviews. For what it's worth, I like the chocolate heart! Also, once you remove the jacket, the actual book cover is made to look like a Balanchine chocolate bar, which is beyond awesome! :)

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