I absolutely adored this book when I was in high school. There was something about the cheesiness and the very high school rebellion of the main character that struck a chord with me as a teenager. I remembered it as one of my favorites, but honestly I wasn't expecting it to hold up as an adult. And I was kind of right, although also a little more disappointed than I wanted to be.

This book is honestly kind of shallow. That's what hit me the most on this reread. There are a lot of difficult topics (cancer and grief to name two), but they don't feel developed at all. Just kind of thrown in for the big emotional impact, but also it completely misses the mark when there isn't any real feeling behind it. Like the characters will freak out over a big event not because it matters, but because they need an excuse to go running after each other to have that big moment.

I also didn't think the relationship between the main character and the cop boyfriend was well developed at all. It was kind of gross to me that he was in a position of authority over her (as a cop who arrested her) and she was a minor, even if the age difference was only about two years. It was more the principle behind it and gave me a bit of a squick feeling throughout the whole book. I don't think it would have had the actual relationship been more developed.

And not really a fan of her writing style at all. I didn't hate it, but it did make me cringe on occasion (like when she "heard" John blush). But not terrible. I read it in like a day because it still gave me a little bit of that excitement I got when I was 14. Maybe that was entirely nostalgia, or maybe there is a little something here that I enjoy. Who knows, but I'm not sorry I bought myself a copy and I'll be keeping it even if I don't reread this again for a very long time.

I dunno, I loved this when I was like 14 and I feel like that's the age range I would recommend it for. It's rebellious in that stupid teenage way that made me so happy at the time (she has blue hair guys, omfg blue hair!!! how super rebellious and cool and anti-establishment), and I think it's easier to ignore a lot of the bigger issues when you're that age.