From the bestselling author of Whisper Me This comes a haunting and lyrical novel about the promises we make and the forgiveness we need when we break them.One tragic twist of fate destroyed Braden Healey’s hands, his musical career, and his family. Now, unable to play, adrift in an alcoholic daze, and with only fragmented memories of his past, Braden wants desperately to escape the darkness of … escape the darkness of the last eleven years.
When his ex-wife and son are killed in a car accident, Braden returns home, hoping to forge a relationship with his troubled seventeen-year-old daughter, Allie. But how can he hope to rescue her from the curse that seems to shadow his family?
Ophelia “Phee” MacPhee, granddaughter of the eccentric old man who sold Braden his cello, believes the curse is real. She swore an oath to her dying grandfather that she would ensure Braden plays the cello as long as he lives. But he can’t play, and as the shadows deepen and Phee finds herself falling for Braden, she’ll do anything to save him. It will take a miracle of forgiveness and love to bring all three of them back to the healing power of music.
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A little magic, love and music.
I loved this fantastical story of magic and music! The characters were believable and easy to feel for. Their individual tragedies kept me loving every page.
From the first pages of this beautifully haunting novel, you’re drawn into the lives of the main characters on an intensely personal level that refuses to let you go, and that intensity only builds as you continue this uniquely emotional and suspenseful novel. The author presents us with characters that are extremely well developed, showing their strengths and their weaknesses, their good sides and their bad sides.
This novel deals with loss, grief, rage, abandonment, guilt, alcoholism, and suicide and also about compassion, patience, empathy, and honesty in dealing with hurt from any life “dynamite” situation. So many words come to mind to describe this incredible novel, just I choose to simply ask that that you read Ms. King’s novel to enjoy its truly miraculous flavor. Kudos, Ms. Kerry Anne King!
There was so much to love about this book! The cast is broken, flawed but irresistibly lovable. Their passions send sparks flying from the page. Love, loss, redemption–it has it all. Makes me want to take up the cello. Or not (-: A must read!
In my opinion, Kerry Anne King did a great job with this book! I thought it was a very unique plot (possibly cursed musical instruments?!) and I really enjoyed the characters. The author did a great job painting a picture of the anguished former cellist, Braden, and the mysterious luthier, Phee. The story kept my attention throughout and completely surprised me toward the end.
This is a story that took me into a book that is written with words but drew me into it with the power of music at it’s core. Music is a universal language and speaks to the heart, mind and soul. This book did just that for me. I fell into the pages like I would at a symphony as a maestro conducts the orchestra to create magic and an experience in melodies and notes. It is a book that has a story that captivated me and kept me reading. Just as a great musical piece draws me to listen, this book drew me to turn the pages. I love the inscription at the beginning of the book: “Without music, life would be a mistake.”-Friedrich Nietzsche”
The characters in this book are complicated but ones I found I connected to. Ophelia “Phee” MacPhee is a young eighteen year old girl and she inherits her grandfather’s luthier business. As he’s dying he has her promise to make sure Braden Healey, a young man he sold a cello to when she was young, play the cello or else a curse would cause terrible things to happen. Braden has a “contract between him and the cello, an idiot piece of paper he’d signed when he was still a child-rambling on about a curse that would befall him if he didn’t play.”
Braden Healey has a secret even he doesn’t remember after a terrible accident. He can no longer play the cello because of the injury to his hands. He loved the cello and it was a part of him. He has a daughter, Allie, who loves the cello herself but life is turning tragic, her father has left her family when she needed him and now she is finding acceptance in all the wrong people, places and things. She’s rebelling and wants her father only until she’s “of age” and can be on her own.
The cello….it speaks, lures, draws these people to herself. It’s like she has life, a soul. and the characters depend on her to breathe. Phee, Braden and Allie each have a connection to the cello in their own unique and intimate ways. How can these people find healing for all the hurts they have endured? Is it possible for the cello to mend the brokenness and pieces they each find their lives in?
This book looks at some very difficult subjects that cause divisions and hurt in families. Kerry Anne King addresses these issues in a sensitive and compassionate approach through the characters. It’s a story about accepting mistakes, forgiveness of themselves and each other, supporting through love and devotion, and one of never giving up. Through hardships and addictions, loss of trust and forgiveness, fear of failure and then finding love, this book took me on the emotional “concert” of the character’s journey. I felt that if I closed my eyes and just listened, I would hear the cello calling along with Phee, Braden and Allie. This book is marvelously and beautifully written. The passages are musical artwork in written words. Music penetrates deeply and so does love. This is found in “Everything You Are” written by the very talented story creator, Kerry Anne King. I highly recommend this book!
Wonderful book. Everything You Are by Kerry Ann King is a story of a horrible accident that leaves one person dead and one person with neuropathy from frostbite in his hands. Braden Healey’s life is disrupted when he loses the ability to play his cello and must give up his career as a cellist. This accident shatters his family. Even though Braden can’t remember the accident he blames himself. He starts drinking heavily. Fast forward eleven years. Braden’s ex-wife and son are killed in an auto accident and his older daughter Allie needs him. At least she does for 6 more months. Then there is Phee or Ophelia McPhee. She is a luthier. Her grandfather has made a cello which is now owned by Braden. But Phee thinks that cello carries a curse and must be played by Braden or something bad will happen. There is a lot of tragedy, sorrow and hurt in this book but thanks to Phee and the cello there is magic and happiness as well. I would highly recommend it.
#kerryanneking#everythingyouare#netgalley#tragedy#alcoholism#musician#cello#amnesia#frostbite#neuropathy#attemptedsucide#magic
I can’t say enough good things about Every Thing You Are. The characters are wonderful and I really cared what happened to them. The cello – it was a character all on its own and what a great addition it made to this great book.
Phee was fantastic as was her dog and the smile I got on my face every time the dog had to get into the little VW. The story of Braden and Allie finding their way back to each other was heartwarming and I rooted for them the entire time.
If you enjoy women’s fiction, a light touch of paranormal or just a darn good story, this is the book for you.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for granting an ARC at my request. Thoughts in this review are my own.
-DESCRIPTION-
Braden is a cellist that is desperately attempting to deal with the fate of losing loved ones to a car accident, his relationship with his daughter, the use of his hands being ripped away.
-THOUGHTS-
1. This book will spark your interest and hold it throughout the book. King’s writing has a wonderful flow and you won’t be able to stop turning the pages.
2. I love characters that I can relate to. Ones that are flawed and perfectly imperfect. Every Thing You Are doesn’t disappoint when it comes to relatable and realistic characters.
3. If you’re a music lover…and who isn’t?…then this book is for you!
-SIMILAR RECOMMENDED READS-
Ask Again, Yes
Daisy Jones & the Six
The Silver Star
Can A Story About Music Pack a Punch? Because this one does. This is the story of a musician who truly lives for his music, his daughter who inherits his passion, the luthier that maintains the cello they love… and the mystical cello itself that seems to have a soul of its own. It is a story of lost virginity and teenage suicidal tendencies and death – lots and lots of death, and all of its fallout on the living. It is a story of alcoholism, with some strong commentary about the effectiveness of Alcoholics Anonymous and an idea that just might work a bit better. And it is a story of the love that connects it all, that consumes it all. That makes you give… every thing you are. Very much recommended.
Real and raw, King’s Everything You Are is a gorgeous tale of life told between those lines too often blurred. Love and sorrow, regret and hope are woven into every aspect of the story by music — not just any music, but the magical kind that leaves both creator and listener, for better or worse, irrevocably changed.
A cast of intriguing characters, a touch of magic, and musical mystery, and the gritty truth of human beings coping with life and all its challenges. A winning combination.
Music, family, and forgiveness are at the heart of this novel. The characters are well-written and flawed; the storyline was unusual and tinged with magical realism. There was so much more to this novel, touching on alcoholism, suicide, grief, and how they came together. The magic of the music and the story, as well as curiosity about the cello and the curse, will keep you turning pages. I loved these characters, and my heart broke for Allie and all she was going through. The quirkiness of the secondary characters and the way they integrated into the story was expertly done.
This is a beautiful novel that will give you all the feels. This was my first novel by Kerry Anne King and it did not disappoint.
#EverythingYouAre #KerryAnneKing #LakeUnionPublishing #NetGalley
Everything You Are is a fresh, imaginative story about the power of dreams and our hunger to be who we really are. Kerry Anne King orchestrates a fluid, emotional, and wholly original tale of families, secrets, and the power of our gifts to free us. I loved every magical word.
I absolutely loved this book and it’s storyline so much I find any words I write will not be good enough! Each character And the story line was so relatable and truly things that happen to us that change our lives forever. This book was filled with so many emotions I could not put it down. I was on the edge of my seat and at times I. Tears! I was routing for all these characters to find the light in the darkness that comes with grief, anger, sadness and the fight to live again for so many of these characters!! The pure passion and emotion in this amazing book says a lot for this author and I will look forward to any thing of her books I have yet to read!!! Loved this tear jerker!!! A must read!!!
Everything You Are is a perfect blend of family relationships, addiction, tragedy and a touch of magic. I was pulled into the story from the first page and had a hard time putting it down. I can’t wait to read Kerry Anne King’s next one!
A very haunting and inspirational book with a touch of magic thrown in. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end and kept turning the pages to see what would happen next. I strongly recommend this 5 star book by a wonderful author.
Thank you to Kerry Anne King, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for granting me an arc at my request. All thoughts on this review are my own and are voluntary.
Finished the audiobook today and I’m having a hard time putting in words how good it is! I feel that it crosses many genres and topics for discussion! I highly recommend this book
Loved it!!!!
Kerry Anne King does it again…amazing story of magic,love, music,friendship, tragedy,loss and forgiveness. Braden is a famous cellist turned alcoholic after tragic event leaves him with damaged hands, losing his life as he knew it, along with his family.Another freak accident kills his son and ex-wife leaving his daughter. He pulls it together to try and care for his daughter, she is bitter and grieving. This is how Phee finds them. Phee is the Luthier who cares for his Cello. Her grandfather built it and sold it along with agreement to Braden, he must play it or tragedy will befall him and his family. Is the curse the cause or just circumstance? Sounds depressing and sad but is so much more than that. The love and magic just shine thru. As with her other books you just need to read it to understand why it is just a great story
Music Literally Soothes the Soul
For Mature Readers
Substance abuse
Unglorified sex in limited detail
Strong language, but not without reason
A touch of the supernatural
Chapters in this story alternate from main characters Braden to Phee, to Allie’s point of view, and it works.
Allie’s mother and brother have been killed in an auto accident. Her long-absent alcoholic father returns after the funeral.
With the help of Phee and a cello with a soul Bradon stumbles through the process of reclaiming not only his daughter’s love, trust, and in fact her very life-threatening, but also his own.
Not only did the cello have a soul, but so does the story.
Recommended
I loved this book. It’s nice for a while to believe in magic!
This is about a magic Cello and the relationship with its owner, Braden, who has played it since he was 12.. He has a signed agreement he will take care of it and play it until his death. There is a curse for not holding up this contract. Now, Braden, after a fulfilling family life and career, has injured his hands and can no longer play his beautiful cello. His world implodes. Can it truly be from the curse? Ophelia McPhees believes in the curse. She inherited the business from her grandfather that was in charge of keeping track of these very special instruments. Now her job will be to convince Braden into picking up the instrument and playing again so he can lift the curse. Little did she know she would fall for him in the process!
What a beautifully written book. I love when a book draws me in and envelops me. The characters were charming and flawed and heart breaking….right down to the cello who seemed to be its own character!if you like books about magic and music and faith and love, this is a must read! 5 stars!