3.5*
This was cute. I think that people who are a little more ride-or-die contemporary fans will probably appreciate it even more than I did, so keep that in mind. Still, I liked that it explored the different lives of these four friends as they navigated the highs and lows of high school, family, romance, and of course, their relationships with each other. So let us dive into what I enjoyed versus what I didn't as much!
The Stuff I Liked:
- •Obviously, the aforementioned relationships. Seeing a bunch of friends who are truly decent people and who want the best for each other is refreshing. No toxicity, no awfulness. They had ups and downs, sure, but there is no question that they all loved each other deeply and would move heaven and earth for each other. That's rare, and I like it.
- •Everything about Lee's story. She was really my favorite character, probably because her story gave me so many feels. There was a medical issue, the loss of a parent, a really complex relationship with her dad, and my favorite romance in the book.
- •Loads of realistically portrayed diversity. This was really awesome- I loved how the characters were all grappling a bit with their identities as Latinx young adults. And not just their own thoughts on their identities, but also their families' expectations. There was also gay and bisexual rep, and I loved how damn healthy Nora and Beth's relationship was. It may be one of the healthiest romances I have ever read about in a YA book, honestly.
- Great mental health portrayal. I liked that Jess was such a perfectionist, so adamant about dismissing her issues at first, because it seemed very honest. Truly, I feel like a lot of young people (or old people, tbh) can relate to this- a feeling of "failing" because they have actual human limits and needs. I think the author handled it very well, too.
The Stuff I Didn't:
- •It felt a little longer than it needed to be. Some of the stories, especially in the beginning-middle, dragged a bit. I even considered putting the book down. I am glad I didn't, though. It was worth it in the end, but I don't know if readers who are more likely to DNF would make it to those parts? I actually ended up rounding my rating up, because I did end up liking so much of the story in the end. But it took me a hot second to really care about the characters (other than Lee) and you know, actually feel stuff, though I definitely did by the end. So even though it is my only gripe, it's sort of an important one.
Bottom Line: Lots of great stuff, though a draggy start. Absolutely worth it in the end, and I think huge contemporary fans will gobble this one up.