--- product_id: 76236285 title: "Holding Up the Universe" price: "£7.45" currency: GBP in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/76236285-holding-up-the-universe store_origin: GB region: United Kingdom --- # 4.4/5 from 6,159 readers Top #31 in YA Self-Esteem Ranked #43,369 Bestseller Holding Up the Universe **Price:** £7.45 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 📖 Feel seen, feel inspired — the YA novel everyone’s talking about! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Holding Up the Universe - **How much does it cost?** £7.45 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.uk](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/76236285-holding-up-the-universe) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Hope Beyond the Page:** A narrative that challenges stigma without tragedy—perfect for mindful readers. - • **Award-Worthy Bestseller:** Join thousands who rated this empowering YA novel 4.4 stars and counting. - • **Authentic Voices, Real Impact:** Dive into a story that tackles body image and mental health with raw honesty. - • **Perfect for the Thoughtful Millennial:** Ideal for book lovers craving meaningful, socially conscious fiction. - • **Relatable Characters, Unforgettable Journey:** Experience Libby and Jack’s transformative story of acceptance and resilience. ## Overview Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven is a critically acclaimed young adult novel exploring themes of identity, acceptance, and mental health. With a 4.4-star rating from over 6,000 readers and top rankings in self-esteem and family fiction categories, this bestseller offers a heartfelt, authentic narrative about two teens overcoming stigma and finding connection. ## Description Gorgeously written and oh-so-deeply felt - Nicola Yoon, author of Everything Everything and The Sun is Also a Star From the author of the New York Times bestseller All the Bright Places comes a heart-wrenching story about what it means to see (and love) someone for who they truly are. Everyone thinks they know Libby Strout. I know the part I want to play here at MVB High. I want to be the girl who can do anything. Once dubed 'America's Fattest Teen', she is only seen for her weight. Not the girl underneath. Since her mum's death she's been picking up the pieces in private, alone with her heartbroken father. But now, Libby is ready. She's ready for high school, for new friends, for love and for every possibility life has to offer. Everyone thinks they know Jack Masselin too. Be charming. Be hilarious. Don't get too close to anyone. Yes, he's got swagger, but he's also mastered the art of fitting in. What no one knows is that Jack has a secret: he can't recognize faces. Even his own brothers are strangers to him. He's the guy who can re-engineer and rebuild anything, but he can't understand what's going on with the inner workings of his own brain. When Jack and Libby meet, they discover that the more time they spend together, the less alone they feel. Review: A refreshing read from a trusted author - #BookReview ~ Name of the book: Holding Up The Universe Author: Jennifer Niven (@jenniferniven ) My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5/5 ~ I picked this book up because Jennifer Niven had my heart when I read All The Bright Places all those years ago. If you asked me to pick out a reason as to why I love her work, it would be because she writes about things that matter and she writes it in a way that make them matter to YOU. I had ATBP when I had no clue about mental health disorders and I still felt it. That's what good writing does to you. Makes you feel what you cannot. ~ Coming back to Holding Up The Universe, I loved it for two reasons: the characters and the character development. This book is about Libby Strout and Jack Masselin. Libby Strout is America's fattest teen and Jack Masselin has prosopagnosia (face blindness). Their story is naked and vulnerable because you'll feel the humiliation and you'll feel the struggle. Libby and Jack have a rough start but they're both compassionate, both outlaws so they fall for each other. There's sunshine and roses until there isn't. ~ Through Jack I could only imagine how difficult it would be not to remember faces and not recognize people except by identifiers. When Jack says "You deserve to be seen" I know he means it. Libby is brave and Libby will take you out. She's the kind of character we all wish we knew because she fight body shaming. At one point Libby says "My only crime was that I was fat" and that's the best line in the book. This book made me hopeful, made me think that there is an end to bullying and body shaming and all the horrible things people do to feel about themselves. Hope is what takes us forward. ~ Things I liked: 📚Characters - real, naked, lovable 📚Focused on character development than plot 📚Seeing through Jack's eyes 📚Realistic, nondramatic situations that'll feel natural 📚Didn't end in suicide and that brought hope (mental health books can have an impact without the characters dying) ~ Things I didn't like: 📚The fact that it probably could have had a little more story to it but that's find ~Do I recommend? Yes! If you like reading about things that matter, then yes. Review: A review for an awesome book - This book made me laugh and cry. It dealt with so many issues that I was able to relate to and know many other people can too. I was practically hooked to the book till I turned the very last page; took a moment to separate my reality with that of the book's. Jennifer Niven is a gr8 writer. I personally wouldn't place her anywhere below John Green. Overall it was an amazing read that I would totally recommend. ## Features - PUFFIN, A great option for a Book Lover - Ideal for a bookworm - Comes in Good condition ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #43,369 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #26 in Fiction About Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance for Young Adults #31 in Books on Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance for Young Adults #69 in Fiction About Family for Young Adults | | Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 6,159 Reviews | ## Images ![Holding Up the Universe - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81YxdTklRLL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A refreshing read from a trusted author *by A***R on 10 July 2019* #BookReview ~ Name of the book: Holding Up The Universe Author: Jennifer Niven (@jenniferniven ) My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5/5 ~ I picked this book up because Jennifer Niven had my heart when I read All The Bright Places all those years ago. If you asked me to pick out a reason as to why I love her work, it would be because she writes about things that matter and she writes it in a way that make them matter to YOU. I had ATBP when I had no clue about mental health disorders and I still felt it. That's what good writing does to you. Makes you feel what you cannot. ~ Coming back to Holding Up The Universe, I loved it for two reasons: the characters and the character development. This book is about Libby Strout and Jack Masselin. Libby Strout is America's fattest teen and Jack Masselin has prosopagnosia (face blindness). Their story is naked and vulnerable because you'll feel the humiliation and you'll feel the struggle. Libby and Jack have a rough start but they're both compassionate, both outlaws so they fall for each other. There's sunshine and roses until there isn't. ~ Through Jack I could only imagine how difficult it would be not to remember faces and not recognize people except by identifiers. When Jack says "You deserve to be seen" I know he means it. Libby is brave and Libby will take you out. She's the kind of character we all wish we knew because she fight body shaming. At one point Libby says "My only crime was that I was fat" and that's the best line in the book. This book made me hopeful, made me think that there is an end to bullying and body shaming and all the horrible things people do to feel about themselves. Hope is what takes us forward. ~ Things I liked: 📚Characters - real, naked, lovable 📚Focused on character development than plot 📚Seeing through Jack's eyes 📚Realistic, nondramatic situations that'll feel natural 📚Didn't end in suicide and that brought hope (mental health books can have an impact without the characters dying) ~ Things I didn't like: 📚The fact that it probably could have had a little more story to it but that's find ~Do I recommend? Yes! If you like reading about things that matter, then yes. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A review for an awesome book *by S***A on 16 March 2021* This book made me laugh and cry. It dealt with so many issues that I was able to relate to and know many other people can too. I was practically hooked to the book till I turned the very last page; took a moment to separate my reality with that of the book's. Jennifer Niven is a gr8 writer. I personally wouldn't place her anywhere below John Green. Overall it was an amazing read that I would totally recommend. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ MUST READ AAAHH *by D***R on 17 March 2017* Oh Jen, Jen, Jen! Thank you for this brilliant work of art that the teenager world needs so desperately. But not just the teenager world, i think everyone needs to grasp the importance of this book. Holding up the universe is fantastic book written in dual perspectives (which does not make it hard to follow one bit, that is in itself is a miracle!) that follow the story of two people Libby and Jack, (Characters that have been written so thoughtfully) who are learning the deal with their own difficulties in well, growing up. It's a wonderful story on finding your identity and knowing THAT YOU ARE LOVED AND WANTED! Must must must read! ## Frequently Bought Together - Holding Up The Universe - Every Last Word - All the Bright Places --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/76236285-holding-up-the-universe](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/76236285-holding-up-the-universe) --- *Product available on Desertcart United Kingdom* *Store origin: GB* *Last updated: 2026-07-01*