I'd heard good things - had a bit of a wait at my library to get both the audio and kindle copy (I like to have both formats). A bit more sexual than I'm now comfortable with (there was a time I sought out some steamy, now it just feels cringe). Beyond a couple sex scenes (which not as explicit as some, those who like "smutty" probably wouldn't even consider this that), there was a lot of talk about sex - two timelines, so much of in the past/younger ... and again, as I've aged, reading about 17 year olds having sex just feels icky. Profanity (x42).

Overall though, I actually got into this story. There was a time I even got emotional. 

I liked their "favorite word?" exchanges ... I can't even clarify a favorite color, haven't ever thought about a favorite WORD - and yet, there are words I notice. Deign, Dias, Roiled ... and some words I actively dislike, especially when overused (smirk).  Reminded me a little of [book:Mordacious|30367410] which also had a 'word' theme in the book (about the zombie apocalypse). 

There were two timelines, the present and the past. Both from Macy's POV. I liked that the present was written in present tense, and the past was written in past tense. There were headers (in the Kindle copy ... not in audio, more on that later) giving the NOW // THEN and the date, but I don't always stop at the end of a chapter (life happens) and so the tense was very helpful when jumping back in to remember if it was the past or the present.  

I think I struggled most at about 75% in ... SPOILER

Macy and Elliot have just had sex, reuniting after 11+ years of no contact and both of them breaking up with their current relationships. The whole book has been building to the "something" that happened that broke their teenage romance up. I get a little annoyed when the "something" is alluded to almost every chapter and so slow to reveal ... as was the case here. So we find out Elliot cheated-ish ... what Macy saw, Elliot's side, which she never heard because they never spoke again ... and it wasn't just because of that. But because Macy's dad was killed in a car accident, which happened pretty much because of the situation. It all felt just a little manipulative and frustrating - the back in forth in time, the slooooow reveal, the miscommunications. It's chap41, right after they have sex and Elliot is basically (while still inside her, the book points out) saying how long it took him to want anyone else, Macy's mind is "a little like being in the eye of a tornado. All around me thing are happening, but inside my head, it's so quiet" and then Elliot "Oh my God, I just realized what I've said." And I'm left thinking, "what, what did you say? what does any of this mean". The next chapter is the past, where we relive Macy pretty much getting drunkenly proposed to over the phone, driving up to find Elliot naked with another girl. So yeah Elliot, apparently it didn't take you long to want someone else. Shift back to the present, again, just moment post-sex, Elliot gives his side (drunk, I thought it was you. My personal disgust at drinking inserted here). Macy "Metal screeches against asphalt in my ears" ... she's practicing her breathing, trying to calm down AND ELLIOT JUST WALKS AWAY. Really???? At this point I hated Elliot so much I wondered if he had set the whole thing up just to mess with Macy and be "the one who walked away" this time.  That abrupt change shifting all my feelings for Elliot to negative, and I checked out. That he saw her at the house and came over ... and then they FINALLY talk about what happened after ... that she had supposed to check in with her dad, she didn't, he came up, they were returning home when there was a car accident and he died.  The "metal screeching" ... from the previous "now" chapter had foreshadowed enough that I then knew what had happened and was expecting it (it was still super sad, I'll admit I cried a little bit)

So here was a MAJOR FRUSTRATION ... which isn't really the writing, but the production of the audiobook, moving between formats. As mentioned above in my spoiler, Elliot says "I just realized what I said." and the chapter ends on this cliffhanger, because apparently he said something awful/profound. Um ... what did he say? I went to rewind my audiobook just a bit to relisten and must have bumped something, because I lost my place. AND THE AUDIOBOOK TABLE OF CONTENTS IS PRETTY MUCH USELESS. It's just Now  Then  Now  Then ... no dates. I had the Kindle copy and was able to flip through and figure out that it had been Chapter 41, Now: Sunday December 31, that's where I was at. Then Chapter 42: Then: January 1 Eleven Years Ago. I swear it took me 20 minutes (seems like Libby likes to take her time when you are impatiently trying out chapters attempting to find your spot) trying out all the chapters around where I thought I might be, listening for the date given in audio at the start of the chapter, then skipping ahead when it wasn't the right one. Seriously, SO frustrating! A TOC is supposed to be helpful. If there are chapter#s (which, they weren't give in the book - chronological chapter numbers are helpful!) put them in the TOC, if there are headers which include dates, POVS, locations, put that in the table of contents! And make the TOC the SAME for audio and kindle, and YES, include a TOC for the print book too (I didn't have a copy of the print book to check, but it seems like 95% of today's print books don't bother with a TOC).  Yes, I'm a TOC snob, and if can absolutely affect my enjoyment and reflection of a book. 

I was able to get into the story,  remember the characters and situation. Conversational and easy to read/listen to. Nothing super profound (those moments when I want to stop listening, find my place in the kindle copy and make highlights/notes ... and good thing since moving between formats was not user friendly here). Not really one I'd recommend to family/friends due to the content (profanity and sex). I liked the title tie-in. My audio and Kindle copy had two different covers too, which again contributed to the lack of continuity between formats.