I don't know if these are represented realistically, but they're just parts of the bigger character: Mikey's also jealous, has arguments with his friends, thinks he's in love with Henna. I wrote that as a list, but really when you read the book, it's not a book of labels. Mikey's family is kind of dysfunctional: his mother is a politician, people are trying to exploit his older sister's weight problems, Mikey himself has OCD. It was hilarious and I loved it in every way possible.įor me, it was the characters that brought this book to life. Whilst all these indie kids run around trying to save the world, Mikey's just attending school and feeling jealous and attending pseudo-One Direction concerts with his little sister. There are people named Kerouac and Wisconsin, and a number of boys professing their undying love for Satchel not long after meeting her. Each chapter begins with a snippet telling us about the actual chosen one, Satchel, and her 'indie kid' friends. They've lived through several 'apocalypses' that may or may not be gently poking fun at some popular YA books (vampires, zombies, Gods and Goddesses). The Rest of Us Just Live Here is the story of Mikey and his friends, who are pretty much just trying to graduate high school. But let's not forget that The Rest of Us Just Live Here wasn't something that burst into existence during that week.

He has written an actual, full-length YA novel that embodies all the great things about the hashtag. But never fear! For those missing the joy of #VeryRealisticYA, Patrick Ness has come to the rescue.

The rest of us just live here plot