When I first met Reggie, this is the image that popped into my head:
Reggie was angsty and wore an armor of sarcasm. She struggled to see the good in anything, and she was battling with ghosts from her past. She found a perfect foil in Snake. Snake, though also clinically depressed, was trying to have experiences and connect with people. He was "bearable" in Reggie's eyes, and that was a good start. The first part of the book was filled with a lot of great banter and fun world observations.
Me during the first part of the book
But as Snake's and Reggie's relationship grows, Reggie revealed the triggers for her depression, and the heavier stuff sort of just keeps coming after that.
Me for a good part of the second half of the book
Romeo and Juliet meets Rosemary's Baby drama
I really loved Reggie and Snake together, but I have the admit, the Carla part was a little weird for me. It was an interesting complication, and I thought the relationship between Carla and Reggie brought something to the story, but from a romance POV, it was a little weird.
Hate. Apparently, it was my predominant behavior. I was hating again. But, for once, I wasn't hating him. I was hating the absence of him
I have read some reviews where people found the characters unlikable, but I liked them. Reggie wore this I-hate-the-world veneer, but we saw the softer sides of her. And Snake was flawed, but he was trying to be better, and make choices based on the right reasons. Reggie, Snake, Carla, and even Reggie's mom all experienced personal growth. They changed for the good over the course of the story, and I thought Taylor did a admirable job getting them there.
"Keep staring and I'll punch you in the jaw," I warned.
"I'm guessing you've never had a boyfriend." He smiled, "Guys stare."
"I've had a boyfriend, thank you. He didn't stare."
"Then he wasted his moments."
Overall: A very enjoyable read told by smart and snarky characters with struggles I could relate to.