When I began reading this book, I was just expecting a sweet, fluffy little YA romance. And for the first couple chapters, I got pretty much what I expected. But as I continued to read, this book really crept into my heart. I ended up thoroughly engaged in this book.

I really enjoyed the characters and the friendships in this book. The friendships of the girls, in particular, seemed very genuine and authentic. I also liked their dynamic with the boys and the fact they could all be friends without a bunch of angst drama...Okay, there is a LITTLE angst toward the end, but this is YA we're talking about. Angst drama is almost a pre-requisite.

I also like the fact that all of the characters are, at their core, good people. I've read so many books recently where the characters are so unlikable. Now, I don't need to like every character in a story, but feeling some sort of a connection or at least empathy is nice...so I actually CARE what happens to them.

The romance was very sweet. I also liked the fact that it wasn't insta-lovey and super intense. It was built on friendship, which resonated with me on a very personal level.

This book also does a good job dealing with grief and the aftermath of a traumatic event. Again, I've used this word a couple of times in this interview, but it felt very authentic to me.

I guess that is what I take away from this book. It has authenticity. It has truth. It isn't ostentatious or pretentious. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read another from Emery Lord.