I was not expecting this to live up to the hype after having read and only mildly liked Malibu Rising, but it absolutely does.

I had seen the buzz for this book everywhere and decided against picking it up because it's not the kind of story I'm typically looking for. I'm so glad this was sent to me in a book box so I had a chance to try it out! I would have missed out on a really touching story.

Maddie might be one of my favorite book characters of all time. She is aggressively relatable to me as a fellow late bloomer. She is also so funny. The number of times she consulted with Google made me laugh out loud, because it is exactly what I do every time I face a social dilemma. I just love her so much, along with all her friends and family.

I loved how the writing style was so simple, but did not sacrifice meaning to be so. So many times while I was reading, I had to stop and go, "how did she pluck those words directly from my brain?"

What I enjoyed the most, though, is that my life is completely different from Maddie's, but every thought she had rang so true. It really proves how there are so many events and milestones that we as humans all experience together, no matter our differing circumstances.

This was a real treat. Very different from what I would have picked for myself, and I am so happy for that!

While this book was definitely written for the younger side of YA audiences and is definitely not for my demographic, this was still cute. It was lighthearted wish-fulfillment. It also dealt with grief in a surprisingly touching manner.

I don't see myself remembering much about it in the future, but while I was reading, I had a good time.

It was very obvious, however, that this author was writing gay teenagers from an adult woman perspective. I would not call this an "authentic" experience. I would definitely recommend any Own Voices book over this one if someone were to ask me.

From the moment I met Holland, I knew he would be my favorite. It took 3 books, but we got there.

This book honestly disgusted me in multiple ways. I am afraid of any young people who will come away from this book thinking that this is the correct way to help people with severe mental illness. And I'm not sure why an intern at a psych hospital falling in love with a patient under his care is anything less than creepy.

The only redeeming factor is that this book is fast paced and keeps you hooked. Means it was out of my life faster.

Funny how I've read two books this year from authors who have previously worked in psych hospitals, and both of them had the least realistic portrayals of mental illness I've ever read.