I didn't know this was a book until after I saw the movie and absolutely loved it. I loved the characters and how they learn from each other. I loved the subtle coming of age feel. However, while I was reading the book I found I liked Sutter's voice and even the basis of his philosophy but I hated the choices he made and the stupidity of the life he led. Drinking while driving a kid around in the front seat for hours...NO! Then he gets Aimee into all this, has self doubts, hurts her and confuses her into a life of teen drinking all day every day so her schoolwork is affected. Not to mention Aimee has made stupid decisions in the past...but that is the past. At the end you think everything will be resolved nicely but the only character who grows is Aimee and she does that by leaving the life she was introduced to by Sutter and going back to the life she led before him. Sutter doesn't change at all in this book and he is the main character! The book is from his point of view!! No growth. None whatsoever. The movie set up a different and better ending where Sutter realizes what he is missing and gains insight on hinself aka "character growth." I much rather prefer the movie as it is an improved enlightenment of what the book was trying, yet failed, to acomplish.