The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them—a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: in one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra’s knee, his athletic career, and his social life.

No longer a front-runner for Homecoming King, Ezra finds himself at the table of misfits, where he encounters new girl Cassidy Thorpe. Cassidy is unlike anyone Ezra’s ever met, achingly effortless, fiercely intelligent, and determined to bring Ezra along on her endless adventures.

But as Ezra dives into his new studies, new friendships, and new love, he learns that some people, like books, are easy to misread. And now he must consider: if one’s singular tragedy has already hit and everything after it has mattered quite a bit, what happens when more misfortune strikes?

Robyn Schneider’s The Beginning of Everything is a lyrical, witty, and heart-wrenching novel about how difficult it is to play the part that people expect, and how new beginnings can stem from abrupt and tragic endings.

Goodreads Summary



Ezra used to be the guy who had it all.  He was hot - dating the best looking girl in town, and was
a talented tennis player; Ezra was a shoo-in for homecoming king.  That was Ezra’s life before his
girlfriend cheated on him and his leg was shattered in a car accident.  Now, Ezra is broken and trying to find his identity.  Ezra used to be king of the popular kids, but he now sits with misfits, walks with a cane, and joined the debate team.  There is a new girl at school, too.  She is unlike anyone he has ever known and Ezra finds her irresistible.  Cassidy is a debate star with secrets and a brokenness of her own that she tries to hide.  The two fall into a romance they did not expect to find.

Schneider’s portrayal of a golden boy who fell from grace seems inaccurate to me.  People love
to read about boys finding themselves and learning from bad experiences though, so I suppose
Schneider’s novel will please most readers.  I did not particularly like Schneider’s writing style; it seemed posed and fake.  Overall, the plot was interesting, and the characters were unique.  The Beginning of Everything was not my cup of tea, but other readers may find the book uplifting and different from other coming of age novels.

2.5 stars

"Reviewed by Chelsea"

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