WOW. I absolutely did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did, but it was amazing. While it took a little while for me to get into the action, Ruby was a sympathetic and relatable protagonist (though I will say that the "I'm a monster" thing is so overdone and I find it a little bit annoying in characters who aren't Bellamy Blake) and I loved her and her friends so much. I've always enjoyed a good roadtrip/fugitive story, and I can hardly imagine a better adventure squad than Ruby, Liam, Chubs, and Zu.

Zu was so important to me: not just as a small child you wanted to protect (though she certainly was that), but also as an Asian character with her own backstory and motivations, aka great rep. I hope we get to learn more about her, and that she and Ruby cross paths again soon.

Liam ... where to start? "He looped his own towel around my waist and drew me to his side. 'That was the Liam Stewart way of saying, Hi, darlin', missed you something fierce. Oh, wow, bad enough to make you cry?'" He's sweet and noble and protective, but flawed and human and therefore so lovable. You could see it coming from a mile away, but his relationship with Ruby was so well-developed and I was definitely invested. *cries because of the ending* May they meet again.

And Clancy — damn. I love a bit of darkness in books, and it's so awesome that it was made clear what a manipulative little piece of shit he was. Again, not really a twist but something that was thoroughly explored and clearly so, so wrong. I definitely applaud the fact that he wasn't made out as the classic tragic misunderstood antihero with daddy issues that justify his immorality — no, his actions were not excused and I feel so vindicated.

In conclusion — great characters and a fascinating world that I definitely want to keep exploring. Can't wait to see how their story continues!