Ah, Truest, how I adored thee. Ah, West, how I relate to thee. See, West is a bit lost in life. Things are okay, not great but not horrible either. She has a boyfriend who's nice enough, her own part-time car detailing gig, and a best friend who just went away to be a camp counselor. She lives with her family- her pastor dad, her kind of push-over mom, and her two siblings (who are adorable, by the by)- in a small Minnesota town, and she's basically floundering. I feel you, West. The struggle is real.
West needs some help with her detailing business, and while she and Pastor Dad are visiting a new family in town, Pastor Dad ends up roping Silas, the new neighbor, to work for her. Neither is thrilled with this arrangement, but it is happening anyway. Of course, they start to become friends, as they end up having a lot in common and introduce each other to new hobbies, books, shows, etc. West ends up befriending Silas's sister Laurel as well, even though Laurel has some secrets of her own.
But Elliott, the boyfriend since elementary school, is not thrilled with any of this. West has all kinds of decisions to make, and it isn't easy. This is where the beauty of the book comes in. Basically, it's so, so real. You have to make choices in life, and you have to live with them. In making them, you often discover who you are and who you want to be.
What else did I like about Truest?
- The characters were multifaceted and phenomenal. This includes West, but is not limited to her. Silas, Elliott, Laurel, the parents, and Gordon, oh my goodness, my love for Gordon knows no bounds. Just read the book to learn all about Gordon, 'kay? But Gordon, who is blind, said this, which basically blew me away:
"'Unfortunately', said Gordon with considerable kindness, 'I don't have the luxury of seeing people's faces, which forces me to see their hearts.'"
- The romance situation is tricky, but not really a typical "triangle". I don't want to say much, but I really think it was handled beautifully.
- My emotions ran the gamut in this book. I laughed out loud. I was angry. I sobbed. I smiled. I swooned a lot. Again, like real life, Truest shows the ups and downs of real life. West goes through it all during the course of this book, from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows and everywhere in between. She learns, and she grows into a better version of herself. It's quite breathtaking, really.
- Yes, there is religion in this book, which scares a lot of people (present company included!) but it is done is wonderfully. Even though West's father is a pastor, there is absolutely nothing being preached or forced down the reader's throat. It's just his occupation, and a part of their family's identity, not their entire existence.
- There were so many other relationships featured other than romantic ones. West coming to terms with her best friend's absence, finding a friend in Laurel, navigating friendships with past romantic interests, and a lot of trying to wrestle with family interactions and dynamics. The parents in this book, both West's and Silas and Laurel's, and even Elliott's, were ever present. Definitely no Parent-in-YA Syndrome in this book! The families were absolutely far from perfect, but they were present, and their struggles were completely realistic.
Bottom Line: There's not a thing I didn't like about Truest. It's about love, loss, friendships, family, growing up, finding yourself... it's about life. Truest is a stunning debut, and one of the rare books that I know I'll be rereading in the future.
*Copy provided by publisher for review
**Quote taken from uncorrected proof subject to change