Jaya Mackenzie is grappling with the heavy weight of loss and confusion. Her mother has passed away, her ex-girlfriend disappeared without a trace, and the world is in chaos as angels fall from the sky at breakneck speeds, dying upon impact. Meanwhile, her father’s obsession with capturing one of these celestial beings pulls the family to Edinburgh, where he becomes increasingly consumed with his quest. Was he chasing fame, money, or the hope of seeing his deceased wife again? Jaya isn’t sure, but she knows one thing for certain: her father’s mania has left her and her sister, Rania, lost in the shuffle. While Rania has found solace in helping their father, Jaya is repulsed by the commodification of the Beings. These creatures are sentient, likely with homes and feelings of their own, and the search for them feels dehumanizing. As Jaya struggles to find her place in her family and the world, she stumbles upon a restaurant in Edinburgh that goes against her values, and two teens who were protesting in front of it. Soon her life takes a turn when a live angel falls right at her feet. This encounter forces Jaya to confront her moral dilemmas and the complicated question of who she can trust—certainly not her father, who would stop at nothing to capture the Being. But in her efforts to protect the creature, Jaya finds a connection with Allie, a vibrant girl with cystic fibrosis, who challenges Jaya’s view of love and life.
The novel takes a deep look at grief, loss, and belief, using the fallen angels as a lens through which to explore these universal themes. Jaya is a compelling protagonist—sarcastic and tough, yet with a deeply caring heart. Despite her initial reluctance to engage with the craze surrounding the Beings, she finds herself caught in a whirlwind of events that force her to reevaluate what matters most to her. As she navigates her father’s obsession and her conflicting feelings about her family, Jaya also grapples with her grief over the loss of her mother, the disappearance and reappearance of her ex-girlfriend, and the complex, fluctuating nature of her relationships.
What I particularly enjoyed was how the novel doesn’t just present the Beings as a mysterious phenomenon; it also uses their existence as a metaphor for deeper emotional questions. The Beings’ fall from the sky disrupts everyone’s lives, believers and skeptics alike. This instability challenges the characters to reflect on what is important in their own lives. The symbolism surrounding the Beings brings up larger themes of existential questions, the fleeting nature of life, and our search for meaning in the unknown. As Jaya navigates these questions, she also experiences a transformative personal journey, questioning her identity and coming to terms with her complicated feelings toward her family.
Cameron’s writing shines when it comes to character development. The secondary characters, from Jaya’s father to the quirky landlady Shona, feel fully realized, with their own strengths and flaws. The diversity in the novel is also worth noting—Jaya is half-Indian, and the book features a beautifully depicted f/f relationship, along with a bisexual side character. But it’s not just about representation; these characters are more than just their identities. Allie, for instance, is a character whose illness doesn’t define her, and her presence in the story offers a refreshing departure from the “sick-lit” trope. Allie’s cystic fibrosis isn’t what the book is about; rather, she is a well-rounded individual with her own dreams, struggles, and desires, much like any other character.
The portrayal of love, particularly the relationship between Jaya and Allie, feels authentic and free of stereotypes. It’s about two people finding each other, not about battling societal expectations or dealing with “issues”—a refreshing portrayal of LGBTQ+ love in YA. Similarly, Jaya’s journey with her father, as she navigates the complexities of his obsession, is beautifully drawn. The tension between wanting to support her father and protect the Being is heartbreaking, as Jaya struggles with loyalty, guilt, and the weight of her father’s unspoken expectations.
Ultimately, Out of the Blue is about belief—not just in angels or the supernatural, but in the everyday act of living with uncertainty. It’s about accepting that some things cannot be controlled, and learning to make peace with that. The novel is beautiful and rich with symbolism, portraying life in all its messy, grey complexity. Sophie Cameron’s debut is a poignant exploration of loss, identity, and what it means to live in a world where everything is constantly shifting. It’s a must-read for anyone who loves thoughtful, emotionally rich stories.
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