Absolute adoration. A remarkable piece of fiction. I'm so mad there's not more. I just wish there were enough books in this series to cover Michael's entire year in Vietnam. (Yes, I know there's a companion and I'm infinitely stoked to read it.) I just don't want this series to be over because goddamn Ellen Emerson White can write.

I don't know how to wax poet about how fantastic this is. The characters are all awesome. Real and funny and so likeable. The relationships are great. She's writes the best friendships of almost any author I know, and the romance is so small. Like it's not overblown dramatic love, it's people who like each other and feel attraction, and maybe it's okay that it's not more because it makes them happy.

Her writing itself just speaks to my soul. I don't know what it is about her style, but it's so casual and personable and adds so much to the story. It makes me just like her. Like I read this, and I like her. And I like this people. And I'm so happy to be here reading it, until it's over and I'm wishing there's more. I don't think I've ever finished a single one of her books and not wished there was more.

I also love the way she structures her plots. They're kind of plotless, in a way. Plenty of dramatic things happen, but the crux of the plot is just people living their lives. It's less structured than most books I read.

This review is basically just all of her books not this specific one, but this book epitomizes all of this. It's fantastic. She's fantastic. Read this series or anything else by her.