Unfortunately, I really disliked the main character - simultaneously too perfect and TSTL. Circuitous and not-altogether creative plot, too many misused references (including a ton of spoilers! Seriously, not okay). Plus,

Spoiler

Caleb deserved better

, though in all honesty he wasn't that great.

Not a very imaginative Cinderella adaptation; plot seemed to consist of petty, trivial happenings blown out of proportion. Also, I'm really not into having religion crammed down my throat while I'm trying to enjoy a story.

Another love triangle? No thanks. And seriously, Cole was super annoying for half the book. I liked the

Spoiler

Ali/Cole/Gavin DNA connection

though, and I enjoyed the badass-female scenes.

Maybe it's the break I took between this book and its predecessor leading me to lose the "flow" of the series, but I just didn't like this installment as much as the ones that came before.

I've always wished I could be as adventurous as Margo Roth Spiegelman. Loved the road trip and hunting down clues before that. Great themes, absolutely adored this better use of the manic pixie dream girl trope. Incredible writing, awesome friendships; the kind of story I could (and will) read over and over again.

Not quite on the same level as Paper Towns, but I really liked this one. Colin may not have been the most likable protagonist, but he was pretty relatable; on the other hand, it was hard not to like Lindsay.

I didn't feel that Ginny had very much personality of her own, but I loved some of the people she met, and I really enjoyed exploring all those places in Europe.

3.5 stars

"I love making plans with you because it feels like we can do anything. Like our lives are these amazing adventures where anything can happen and we'll never be limited by stupid shit like jobs and student loans and, like, jury duty. Like we can just be spontaneous forever. And free."

I love Nina LaCour's soft sapphic stories, so maybe I was always headed for disappointment because this is certainly not that. Don't get me wrong, it's still an interesting read with evocative coming-of-age themes, and I love the idea of a group of friends on a road trip/band tour, a last hurrah before they split up to enter the next stages of their lives (college/travel/last year of high school without the others) — though I'm not totally sold on the main romance, as much as I love childhood-best-friends-to-lovers as a trope.

So maybe it's partly that I'm just not in the right headspace, but this just wasn't as emotionally resonant as I was hoping for. Not a half bad read, though.

content warnings:

Spoiler

nongraphic sexual content

rep:

Spoiler

major character with anxiety, minor M/M relationship

-----------
CONVERSION: 9.4 / 15 = 3.5 stars

Prose: 6 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 7 / 10
Emotional Impact: 5 / 10
Development / Flow: 6 / 10
Setting: 8 / 10

Diversity & Social Themes: N/A
Intellectual Engagement: 2 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 3 / 5
Rereadability: 4 / 5
Memorability: 3 / 5