Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Offer ends May 1st, 2024 11:59PM GMT. Terms and conditions apply.
£7.99/month after 3 months. Renews automatically.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Holding Up the Universe cover art

Holding Up the Universe

By: Jennifer Niven
Narrated by: Jorjeana Marie,Robbie Daymond
Get this deal Try for £0.00

Pay £99p/month. After 3 months pay £7.99/month. Renews automatically. See terms for eligibility.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

All the Bright Places cover art
How It Feels to Float cover art
Breathing Underwater cover art
If He Had Been with Me cover art
Noggin cover art
Side Effects May Vary cover art
The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza cover art
Everything, Everything cover art
Things We Never Got Over cover art
The Fault in Our Stars cover art
All the Ugly and Wonderful Things cover art
Bruiser cover art
Faking Normal cover art
Twisted Love cover art
Good Enough: A Novel cover art
Denton Little's Deathdate cover art

Summary

From the author of the New York Times best-seller All the Bright Places comes a heart-wrenching story about what it means to see someone - and love someone - for who they truly are.

Everyone thinks they know Libby Strout, the girl once dubbed "America's Fattest Teen". But no one's taken the time to look past her weight to get to know who she really is. Following her mom's death, she's been picking up the pieces in the privacy of her home, dealing with her heartbroken father and her own grief. Now Libby's ready: for high school, for new friends, for love, and for every possibility life has to offer. In that moment I know the part I want to play here at MVB High. I want to be the girl who can do anything.

Everyone thinks they know Jack Masselin, too. Yes, he's got swagger, but he's also mastered the impossible art of giving people what they want, of fitting in. What no one knows is that Jack has a newly acquired secret: He can't recognize faces. Even his own brothers are strangers to him. He's the guy who can reengineer and rebuild anything in new and badass ways, but he can't understand what's going on with the inner workings of his brain. So he tells himself to play it cool: Be charming. Be hilarious. Don't get too close to anyone.

Until he meets Libby. When the two get 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 feel. Because sometimes when you meet someone, it changes the world, theirs and yours.

Jennifer Niven delivers another poignant, exhilarating love story about finding that person who sees you for who you are - and seeing them right back.

©2016 Jennifer Niven (P)2016 Listening Library

Critic reviews

"[Niven] creates two indelible characters and a heart-stopping romance." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Written in short chapters of alternating perspectives, this is a thoughtful exploration of identity and self-acceptance, with commentary on overcoming adversities that will hit close to home." ( School Library Journal)

What listeners say about Holding Up the Universe

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    101
  • 4 Stars
    43
  • 3 Stars
    20
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    4
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    105
  • 4 Stars
    45
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    98
  • 4 Stars
    35
  • 3 Stars
    17
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    4

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Wonderfully written

I was a little apprehensive about reading this book because I'd seen quite a few bad reviews however I really enjoyed this book and thought it was a rather moving story.
the characters were engaging and unique (how many characters have you read about having prosopagnosia?)
I would recommend you give it a go.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Highly recommend!

I heard mixed reviews so I read it unsure what to expect but it was an excellent read! Highly recommend it

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

amazing

it was amazing and i just wish it went on longer i was in love with the story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

You are wanted - loved holding up the universe

I loved this book, so easy to listen to, heartwrenching but at the same time feelgood. I laughed and cried at times, so many important messages in a great little story. I loved the characters and quite honestly will always wonder how they're doing I feel I know them. I guess we are them in ways.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

LOVE THIS BOOK!

This book makes me feel so happy and warm love it! Definitely recommend to anyone

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Cute teenage love

Cute and stunning story about a fat girl and boy with special needs falling in love. Well written, little bit predictable, but still adorable.
Perfect for teenagers (although I’m 27 and still reasonably liked it)

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed the story but the book kept skipping

Had to return in the end. I've never had a problem with any other audible book like this. It kept skipping and missing bits out

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Surprisingly real

I didn't know what I was going to make of this one, but it was good. It was gritty, and real. The characters are complex, and three dimensional, and the little details make it. The relationship Jack has with his younger brother, Dusty, is one of my favourite things.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Just gorgeous.

Loved it. It took me a few days because it was my bedtime book of choice and I kept snoozing, but it's a beautiful story, well narrated.. A proper heart warmer.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Holding up the universe

My first impression was that the female narrator was to cherry and a little bit squeaky but as it went on it was fine and I actually think it suits the character well. Overall it was very enjoyable and easy going although at times I felt like it needed a little more excitement, I love the way Jennifer Niven always has unique characters never have I ever come across a book with a character who has face blindness it definitely shines a light onto the challenges that come with the disorder, also the way that Libby Strout was overweight and how Jack always had to search deeper into someone and how he doesn’t obviously judge a book by the cover as he can’t. Overall I love the characters and book just felt like it was a bit slow at times.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!