I don't think this book quite holds up to how much I loved in it high school, but Jeffrey Eugenides does have a wonderful writing style. He's so descriptive, but everyone has a purpose and I love it. I also adore the perspective of the boys, and how it's clear they're so wrong about so much when it comes to the girls. All the information is third hand and decades old and entirely unreliable.

The main issue is the male gaze, which is honestly undeniable. I read a lot of this book actively trying to make it seem intentional, but I don't think it was. There's too much that just doesn't work, which is disappointing. But I still think that made it much more palatable to me and I still enjoy this book so much, even for its flaws.