What is Every Day about?

• Unique Being's Journey: Every Day follows A, a being who wakes up in a different person's body each day, navigating the complexities of life and identity.
• Unexpected Love Story: A's life changes when they fall in love with Rhiannon while inhabiting the body of Justin, leading to a desire for connection and a challenge to their transient existence.
• Exploration of Identity: The story explores themes of identity, love, and the human condition through A's unique perspective, as they grapple with the limitations of their existence and the desire for a meaningful relationship.

Why should I read Every Day?

• Unique Premise: The novel offers a thought-provoking exploration of identity and love through a unique premise, challenging readers to consider the essence of self and the nature of connection.
• Emotional Depth: Every Day delves into complex emotions, from the joy of connection to the pain of separation, creating a deeply moving and resonant reading experience.
• Philosophical Questions: The story raises profound philosophical questions about the human condition, the nature of love, and the importance of empathy, making it a compelling read for those seeking more than just a simple love story.

What is the background of Every Day?

• No Specific Time/Place: The story is set in a contemporary, unspecified location, focusing on the universal experiences of adolescence and love rather than a particular historical or cultural context.
• Focus on Internal Conflict: The background is primarily internal, exploring A's psychological and emotional journey as they navigate their unique existence and the challenges of forming relationships.
• Emphasis on Human Connection: The lack of a specific background allows the story to emphasize the universal aspects of human connection, making it relatable to a wide range of readers regardless of their cultural or geographical background.

What are the most memorable quotes in Every Day?

• "We all want everything to be okay.": This quote highlights the universal desire for normalcy and stability, a theme that resonates throughout the novel as A and Rhiannon grapple with their impossible situation.
• "I am a drifter, and as lonely as that can be, it is also remarkably freeing.": This quote encapsulates A's acceptance of their transient existence, showcasing the complex emotions of loneliness and freedom that define their unique perspective.
• "The moment you fall in love feels like it has centuries behind it, generations—all of them rearranging themselves so that this precise, remarkable intersection could happen.": This quote captures the overwhelming and timeless feeling of falling in love, emphasizing the profound connection between A and Rhiannon.

What writing style, narrative choices, and literary techniques does David Levithan use?

• First-Person Perspective: The novel is narrated in the first person by A, providing an intimate and introspective view of their thoughts, feelings, and experiences, allowing readers to connect deeply with their unique perspective.
• Simple and Direct Prose: Levithan employs a straightforward and accessible writing style, making the complex themes and emotions of the story relatable to a wide range of readers, while also using vivid imagery to enhance the emotional impact.
• Focus on Internal Monologue: The narrative often delves into A's internal monologues, exploring their philosophical musings and emotional struggles, which adds depth to the character and enhances the reader's understanding of their unique perspective.

Hidden Details & Subtle Connections

What are some minor details that add significant meaning?

• Cities on Rhiannon's Shoes: The inked cities on Rhiannon's Converse symbolize her desire for escape and her hidden creativity, which A notices and appreciates, highlighting their connection beyond the surface.
• Justin's Obnoxious Music: Justin's preference for loud and obnoxious music reveals his lack of depth and self-awareness, contrasting sharply with A's introspective nature and highlighting why Rhiannon feels unseen by him.
• The Make-Out Blanket: The "make-out blanket" in Justin's car, buried under "guy crap," symbolizes the superficiality of his relationship with Rhiannon, contrasting with the genuine connection A seeks with her.

What are some subtle foreshadowing and callbacks?

• The Song "If I Only Could": The recurring song, "If I Only Could," foreshadows A's desire to change their situation and make a deal with fate to stay with Rhiannon, highlighting the impossibility of their love.
• The Tree Climbing Story: A's story about climbing a tree as a child foreshadows their desire for a unique perspective and a sense of belonging, which they find with Rhiannon, but also highlights their inherent loneliness.
• Rhiannon's Mother-Daughter Fashion Show: Rhiannon's story about the fashion show mirrors her desire for a break from the ordinary and a moment of genuine connection, which she finds with A, but also highlights her longing for a stable relationship.

What are some unexpected character connections?

• Nathan and A's Shared Experience: Nathan's experience of being "possessed" by A creates an unexpected connection between them, highlighting the ethical dilemmas of A's existence and the impact on those whose bodies they inhabit.
• Reverend Poole's Knowledge: Reverend Poole's knowledge of A's condition reveals a hidden world of individuals with similar experiences, suggesting a larger, more complex reality beyond A's understanding.
• Owen and Leslie's Sibling Dynamic: The sibling dynamic between Owen and Leslie, while seemingly minor, reveals the complexities of family relationships and the ways in which individuals can both support and betray each other, mirroring A's own struggles with connection.

Who are the most significant supporting characters?

• Carrie: As Leslie's best friend, Carrie provides a glimpse into the social dynamics of high school and the importance of friendship, highlighting the connections A often misses in their transient existence.
• Owen: Leslie's brother, Owen, serves as a foil to A, showcasing the struggles of adolescence and the consequences of poor choices, while also revealing the complexities of family relationships.
• Reverend Poole: Poole's character introduces a darker, more sinister element to the story, challenging A's understanding of their own existence and raising questions about the nature of good and evil.

Psychological, Emotional, & Relational Analysis

What are some unspoken motivations of the characters?

• A's Desire for Permanence: A's unspoken motivation is to find a way to stay in one body and have a lasting relationship with Rhiannon, driven by their longing for connection and stability.
• Rhiannon's Fear of Instability: Rhiannon's unspoken motivation is to protect herself from the emotional turmoil of an impossible relationship, leading her to prioritize her own well-being over her feelings for A.
• Justin's Insecurity: Justin's unspoken motivation is to maintain control and validation through his relationship with Rhiannon, revealing his deep-seated insecurities and lack of genuine connection.

What psychological complexities do the characters exhibit?

• A's Existential Crisis: A exhibits a complex psychological struggle with their transient existence, grappling with feelings of loneliness, isolation, and a longing for a sense of self and belonging.
• Rhiannon's Internal Conflict: Rhiannon displays a complex internal conflict between her love for A and her desire for a normal life, highlighting the challenges of balancing personal desires with societal expectations.
• Nathan's Identity Crisis: Nathan's experience of being "possessed" by A leads to an identity crisis, as he struggles to reconcile his own sense of self with the unsettling reality of A's existence.

What are the major emotional turning points?

• The Day at the Beach: The day A and Rhiannon spend at the beach is a major emotional turning point, solidifying their connection and highlighting the depth of their feelings for each other, while also setting up the inevitable heartbreak.
• The Revelation to Rhiannon: A's revelation to Rhiannon about their true nature is a major emotional turning point, forcing her to confront the impossible reality of their relationship and leading to her eventual decision to end it.
• The Encounter with Poole: A's encounter with Reverend Poole is a major emotional turning point, as it introduces a darker, more sinister element to the story and forces A to confront the ethical implications of their existence.

How do relationship dynamics evolve?

• A and Rhiannon's Connection: The relationship between A and Rhiannon evolves from a chance encounter to a deep, emotional connection, highlighting the power of love to transcend physical boundaries, but also the limitations of an impossible relationship.
• Rhiannon and Justin's Disconnect: The relationship between Rhiannon and Justin deteriorates as she becomes more aware of his lack of depth and their inability to connect on a meaningful level, ultimately leading to their breakup.
• A and Nathan's Uneasy Alliance: The relationship between A and Nathan evolves from a shared experience of possession to an uneasy alliance, as they grapple with the implications of A's existence and the impact on their lives.

Interpretation & Debate

Which parts of the story remain ambiguous or open-ended?

• The Origin of A's Condition: The origin of A's ability to switch bodies remains ambiguous, leaving readers to speculate about the nature of their existence and the forces that govern it.
• The Existence of Others Like A: The possibility of others like A, as suggested by Reverend Poole, remains open-ended, leaving readers to wonder about the larger world beyond A's immediate experience.
• The Nature of A's Future: A's future remains open-ended, leaving readers to speculate about their ultimate fate and whether they will ever find a way to reconcile their transient existence with their desire for connection.

What are some debatable, controversial scenes or moments in Every Day?

• A's Manipulation of Justin's Life: A's decision to inhabit Justin's body and pursue a relationship with Rhiannon raises ethical dilemmas about consent and the impact on those whose lives are briefly shared.
• A's Interference in Other Lives: A's actions, such as driving Amy Tran's car or using Nathan's email, raise questions about the extent to which they should interfere in the lives of others, even with good intentions.
• The Ending's Ambiguity: The ending, where A decides to leave Rhiannon and explore the possibility of others like them, can be seen as both hopeful and heartbreaking, sparking debate about the nature of love and the possibility of a happy ending.

Every Day Ending Explained: How It Ends & What It Means

• A's Acceptance of Transience: The ending sees A accepting their transient existence and choosing to leave Rhiannon, recognizing the impossibility of a stable relationship and prioritizing her well-being.
• A's Search for Answers: A's decision to leave is also driven by a desire to explore the possibility of others like them, suggesting a larger world beyond their immediate experience and a hope for a deeper understanding of their condition.
• Bittersweet Conclusion: The ending is bittersweet, highlighting the power of love and connection while also acknowledging the limitations of an impossible relationship, leaving readers with a sense of both hope and heartbreak.