"Hilarious, heart-warming and beautifully unexpected a real keeper" * Lisa Williamson * "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 "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 "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 Nielsens 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 novels 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 Rowells Eleanor And Park will love it." * Red Magazine Online *
