Optimists Die First

Optimists Die First Synopsis

Ever since tragedy struck her family, Petula has learned to see danger everywhere - whether it's crossing the road or eating a poached egg. Petula's determined not to let her guard down, even if this means allowing herself to be ruled by anxiety and grief, and losing her best friend. Then Jacob walks into her therapy group. Strikingly tall and confident, he's survived a different kind of disaster and still come out smiling. At first Petula is repelled by his optimism, yet even she can't deny their chemistry together. But optimism is blind - and so is love. What will happen if Petula gives in to both?

A love story for cynics from the acclaimed author of 2015’s must-read teen novel, We Are All Made of Molecules.

Optimists Die First Reader Reviews

Teens/YA's love to read and so in addition to the review by one of the Lovereading4kids editorial experts some of our Lovereading4kids Reader Review Panel members were also lucky enough to read and review this title. Click here to read their full reviews.

• Kyra - 'I read this in two hours as I was utterly entranced by the moving story that Susin Nielsen crafted - I fell deeply in love with this book and I'm sure you will too!'
• Rebekah Marsh, age 14 - 'The book enlightened me on how we may judge people at first, but we may not appreciate their unique personality until we get to know them as a true person.'
• Izzy Read, age 16  - 'Optimists Die First is foremost a tale of guilt and forgiveness...It is to the point but messy in a way that replicates life perfectly.'
• Jenny Duffy - 'Nielsin writes with warmth and sensitivity, creating relationships that are believable and nuanced...It’s a book I couldn’t stop thinking about..But seriously, Optimists Die First features a re-enactment of Wuthering Heights starring cats, how could I not love it?!'    
• Rosa Boran - 'This is a wonderful novel.  I read it in one sitting...There is tragedy but Nielson sweetens it with laugh out loud moments and a great understanding of what it is to be a teenager.'
• Emily Price, age 14 - 'I could not put this book down! It was such a good read and an unexpected ending. Overall a brilliant book and highly recommended.'
• Jess Kenny - 'This is a very moving book, which has you on the edge of your seat. I loved it!'
• Dani, age 25 - 'Optimists Die First was a mixed experience for me...while it had some very funny moments and an odd array of characters, I wasn’t really able to connect with the book as much as I’d have liked.' 
• Francesca Hughes - 'This book was a quirky, original page-turner. It was my first Susin Nielsen read and it won't be my last.'
• Year 10 pupil from Dormston School - 'I loved the book because it shows you that happiness can be found in the darkest of times.'
• Humaira - 'Optimists Die First just got better and better as I read on...It was hilarious. It was Sweet. It was a beautiful book about Loss, Love and Taking a leap of faith.'
• Maddy Faulkner, age 14 - 'Nelson writes with warmth, humour, empathy and with startling truth..You become familiar and grow to like each character in a way never experienced before.'  

Optimists Die First Press Reviews

Hilarious, heart-warming and beautifully unexpected - a real keeper Lisa Williamson, author of The Art of Being Normal

I fell for Optimists Die First like I was curled up with a familiar favourite - offbeat charm, with a bittersweet romance at its sorrowful heart. -- Harriet Reuter Hapgood, author of The Square Root of Summer

Optimists Die First will make you feel bigger in every way. Bigger in courage to face a dangerous world; bigger in feeling; bigger in love; bigger in your ability to put yourself back together after something that should break you; and yes, bigger in optimism -- Jeff Zentner, author of The Serpent King

Grief and guilt permeate Nielsen's empathic and deeply moving story, balanced by sharply funny narration and dialogue. Publishers Weekly, starred review

Nielsen writes with sensitivity, empathy, and humour Kirkus, starred review

The novel's greatest strength is its handling of the characters very real burdens with sympathy, wit, and not an ounce of melodrama. Nielsen excels at depicting troubled, clever teenagers Starred review, School Library Journal

Nielsen has such a gift for creating authentic teenagers... Infused with offbeat humour, this is a book with a great voice and a big, big heart -- Fiona Noble The Bookseller

Optimists Die First confirms what I already knew: Susin Nielsen is one of my favourite writers Phil Earle, author of Being Billy

Susin Nielsen has produced a richly comic story featuring a cast of mismatched, engaging characters -- Marilyn Brocklehurst  Guardian, The Best New Children's Books supplement

Entertaining but also poignant -- Claire Hennessy   Irish Times

One of the most talented teen writers working today   BookTrust

Grief and guilt permeate Nielsen's empathic and deeply moving story, balanced by sharply funny narration and dialogue.    Publishers Weekly, starred review

The novel's greatest strength is its handling of the characters very real burdens with sympathy, wit, and not an ounce of melodrama. Nielsen excels at depicting troubled, clever teenagers  Starred review, School Library Journal

Optimists Die First is both funny and heartbreaking. Fans of Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor And Park will love it.  Red Magazine Online

Nielsen has a pitch-perfect ear for the dialogue of the unconventional, the betrayed, the guilty   Books for Keeps

Book Information

About Susin Nielsen

Susin Nielsen got her start feeding cast and crew on the popular television series, Degrassi Junior High. They hated her food, but they saw a spark in her writing. Nielsen went on to pen sixteen episodes of the hit TV show. Since then, Nielsen has written for many Canadian TV series. Nielsen's first two young adult novels, Word Nerd and Dear George Clooney: Please Marry My Mom, received critical acclaim and multiple Young Readers' Choice Awards. The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen won the prestigious Governor General's Literary Award, the Canadian Library Association's Children's Book of the Year and ...

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