A New York Situations Bestseller

From the writer of the New York Times bestseller All the Bright Places comes a heart-wrenching story about what it means to find out someone-and love someone-for who they are.

Everyone thinks they find out Libby Strout, the girl once dubbed “America’s Fattest Teen.” But no one’s taken the time to look past her excess weight to get to know who she really is. Pursuing her mom’s loss of life, she’s been picking up the parts in the privacy of her house, coping with her about Holding Up the Universe heartbroken father and her very own grief. Right now, Libby’s ready: for senior high school, for new friends, for like, and for each and every POSSIBILITY LIFE PROVIDES. In that moment, I understand the part I want to play at MVB Great. I want to be the lady who can perform anything.

Everyone thinks they know Jack Masselin, too. Yes, he’s got swagger, but he’s also perfected the impossible art of giving people what they need, of fitted in. What nobody knows is that Jack includes a newly acquired key: he can’t recognize faces. Also his personal brothers are strangers to him. He’s the man who can re-engineer and rebuild anything in fresh and bad-ass methods, but he can’t understand what’s happening with the inner workings of his brain. Therefore he tells himself to try out it cool: Be wonderful. Be hilarious. Don’t get too near anyone.

Until he matches Libby. When the two obtain tangled up in a cruel high school game-which lands them in group counseling and community service-Libby and Jack are both pissed, and then surprised. Because the more time they spend together, the less alone they experience . . Because sometimes when you meet someone, it changes the globe, theirs and yours.

Jennifer Niven delivers another poignant, exhilarating like story about finding that person who sees you for who all you are-and viewing them back.

‘Niven is adept at creating personas. . . . [Libby’s] courage and body-positivity alllow for a joyful reading encounter.’ –The New York Times

“Holding Up the Universe . . . taps in to the universal have to be comprehended. To be wanted. And that’s why is it such a remarkable read.” -TeenVogue.com, “As to why New Book SUPPORTING the Universe Is the Next The Mistake in Our Stars”

‘Want a like story that will give you all of the feels? . . . You’ll significantly melt!’ -Seventeen Magazine