beth's bookshelf

Colorful language, references to sexuality and body parts, rude banter -- if hanging out with 18-year-olds sounds unappealing, this book will not sit well with you. It didn't distract me from Nastya/Emilia/Sunshine & Josh's story, which was so much more. Like them, I feel like I have gone on a journey, been broken down and pieced back together.

Books like this are exactly why I love reading so much: the way an author can make a group of people feel like family temporarily, the way characters can get under my skin until I care what happens to them and root for their well-being, the way I can understand their crazy connections even though it's unlike anything I've ever felt. It's hard to believe it's not real and that these people don't exist somewhere, building beautiful furniture together.

What a gifted person it takes to write this story. I am really glad it's not my story but I feel changed even having read it. And for me, that is a 5-star book.