In Jennifer Niven's heartfelt novel, 'Holding Up the Universe,' readers are introduced to Libby Strout, once known as 'America's Fattest Teen,' who is making a courageous return to high school after years of homeschooling. She's ready to face the world, but the world isn't always ready for her. Simultaneously, we meet Jack Masselin, a popular and seemingly perfect boy who secretly struggles with prosopagnosia, or face blindness. When a cruel prank brings them together, an unexpected connection blossoms. This moving story explores themes of body image, identity, acceptance, and the challenges of seeing beyond superficial appearances. Niven masterfully crafts a narrative that encourages empathy and reminds us that everyone is carrying their own unique universe of secrets and struggles, waiting to be understood.