Late to the Party

by Kelly Quindlen

[Sam@WLABB]

This summer Codi was feeling restless. She was thinking about all the things she had never done, and was itching to gather some new experiences. Though she wholeheartedly loved her two best friends, she felt boxed in by their perception of her, and began keeping secrets from them. Was this the end of a long and storied friendship or would her best friends accept that she was evolving?

• Pro: It's so normal to feel like you are outgrowing your life, and I thought Quindlen did an incredible job exploring the idea. She also deftly brought me into Codi's head, and I had a good understanding of the whys, as well as the emotions she was experiencing.

• Pro: The friendship between Codi and Ricky was so unexpected and so wonderful. They had such a symbiotic relationship. They each gave in equal amounts to one another, and I was happy to see them growing together.

• Pro: Codi had been missing the close bond she once shared with her brother, and it warmed my heart to see them renew that bond. When they finally broke down and had that heart to heart, they realized they were harboring quite a few misconceptions about the other, which were so easily dispelled via open and honest communication.

• Pro: Though it was great to see Codi experiencing so many new things, and feeling like she found her people, she was sometimes inconsiderate. It was good that she was called out on this behavior, but even better that she learned from and atoned for it.

• Pro: The schism between the trio was somewhat painful, but it seemed like such an important part of their journey. It was a cataclysmic event, which ignited their personal evolution, and I think all three emerged a better version of themselves.

• Pro: I can't even tell you how much I smiled as I got to observe those early stirrings of like and attraction between Codi and her love interest, and I was miles of smiles, when they finally got together.

Overall: A journey of self-discovery, which was heartwarming, fun, honest, and oh-so-messy.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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