Something truly special.

I'm not sure what I expected going into this book - I love Adam Silvera and knew without a doubt I'd love this novel- I meant I had no idea what to really expect from the story. I kind of want into it blind considering how much I loved the authors other work but I didn't expect the story to hit so deep. Although the story is fiction, the events (minus the mind altering clinic) are no doubt very real to some people and that hit me hard. A young boy, growing up in a rough part of Queens, who can't be himself for fear of his life. That they are people out there who attribute listening to "Girl songs" or playing female superheroes on a video game to being gay baffles me, but I know for a fact this is a reality a lot of young LGBT men and women face.

I feel like I should warn you there is a few undertones of suicide so if that is a trigger for you then this book is not for you. But it is also a really touching story of friendship, family, trust and self discovery.

In terms of the story (I'll try to keep it spoiler free) it was beautifully written and flowed really quick. This wasn't your typical coming of age novel in the traditional sense. I thought it be about someone who got their mind altered to be straight ( did not see the twist coming) but it was so much more. We follow Aaron, who is sixteen and growing up in Queens, trying to keep his life together with his friends and girlfriend after his dad's suicide, but then he meets a new guy called Thomas and out of nowhere everything he thought he thought he knew about himself for certain begins to change. Money struggles, teenage angst colliding headfirst with the reality of the adult world.

I feel like this was an incredibly important book for anyone because it showcases the fact that everyone can be unhappy to a certain degree, and we all struggle, but it's okay not to be okay. But it is important that you trust your friends and family and talk to them. Because even if you could get your mind altered, all the trauma, pain, heartache, scraped knees and broken bones also does with love, friendship, laughter and great memories, and all of it together makes you who you are, and that the only one capable of making yourself happy is you. Memories can be painful but they are important.

I loved this book so much. It made me laugh and tear up and I tore through page after page and I highly recommend this to anyone. It's not as doom and gloom as I make it out to be, it's more a happy story than not. (Ha see what I did there?) And once again Adam Silvera has shown me why he is one of my favorite authors who I hold with such a high regard.