2020: This novel kept me engaged and interested the whole way through. It was early on that I decided that I did not care what other crazy was going on, but I was on Team Emira. And thank goodness, because there’s a lot of crazy that comes up in this.

At times, the book reads like a trashy beach novel - lots of “she did what?!” and high school misunderstandings - but Reid crafts a smartly layered tale that kept me on my toes. I started off on an even 50/50 spilt with the two main characters, between whose perspectives Reid effortlessly shifts. But the stronger and more sure of herself Emira grows, the lower Alix sinks, until the white privilege just oozes off the page. Have we seen a more stomach clenching dinner since Meredith Grey proclaimed “Perfect Penny killed my husband”?! Also, who else almost choked when she was complaining about being 5’ 10” and 140 lbs (shoutout to my other tall ladies out there, a reminder that Alix is CRAZY)

My biggest questions at the end include: how on earth is Tamara still friends with Alix (or Rachel for that matter?!) Did Emira ever see the video clip of Peter’s (which was awful and excuse me, but how did he not see ANY repercussions from that?! Oh yeah #whiteprivilege) and at what age does Briar become president of the United States?