3.5*
True story, I needed this book from the minute I saw the cover. But I am so glad that I read it, for much more than the outside! Ari's story was a lovely one of trying to pull herself out of depression, and regain her life, all while navigating family, friends, love, and life.
Things I Loved:
- The depiction of Ari's depression and mental health. Ari had been having a really bad time, but things had been slowly getting better. This wasn't a "quick fix" situation, but we start the story after Ari had been seeing someone to help with her mental illness. She still had moments of ups and downs, and still was feeling the pull of her depression all the time. It was portrayed as a constant struggle, and I liked that level of accuracy.
- The friendships! While there is a romantic storyline in the book, I liked the friendship element even more. When Ari begins to see Camden, she also ends up befriending his friends. I think it was great to see Ari not just as a tagalong of Camden, but an actual friend in the group. She also has a best friend from pre-Camden, which is nice. It's fun seeing her try to juggle the friend groups, just like any teen would.
- Family dynamics play a huge role. I daresay we are seeing more of the family involvement in YA, lately, and I LOVE IT. Ari's family is both messy and wonderful. Her stepdad is the actual best. I love him and I am so glad that he was in Ari's life. Ari's mom isn't the best support figure, so I was glad she had the stepfather to help her along. And she has a sister, who she loves, but is also annoyed by from time to time, which is so realistic, of course.
- The realism of the relationship. Camden was in no way sent in to "fix" Ari. Or she him. Basically, they have some... interesting (and at times, troubling) dynamics, but I liked that he wasn't just some plot device thrown in to "make Ari not depressed".
- The fandom/cosplay. Gah, this was fun! There was this show, Silver Arrow, which had been around forever, and then there was a reboot... anyway, as it turned out, Ari had been a huge fan forever, and then so were Camden and his gang, so they got to do all kinds of fun fandom things, and dressed up as characters and such. It was just a fun addition to the story, and I liked that the show had a meaning to Ari behind just liking it.
What I didn't:
- I do wish a bit more of the story had been devoted to Ari's recovery. Granted, I understand that not all of a story needs to revolve around the depression, but since she wasn't really doing great, I think there could have been a bit more exploration in the way of treatment.
- While I don't think that Camden and Ari's relationship was portrayed irresponsibly, I just didn't love it. At first it was cute, but then as the book progressed, I wanted Ari to ditch him and go cosplay with her new friends. Is that bad?
Bottom Line: Overall, a really sweet story about family, friendship, and first loves. I would have liked a bit more emphasis on Ari getting treatment, but I think that her depression was accurately portrayed.
*Copy provided by publisher for review