Review Detail

Youve been living under a rock if you havent heard about this yet. Theres a whole blog dedicated to it, a ginormous contest going on, and most bloggers have at least talked about it in one form or another, usually to gush about how much they love it. Lets just say that Ive already jumped on the bandwagon.

The characters in this were some of the most dimensional ones youll ever find. Not only did they each have their own personalities and quirks but their interactions and relationships with each other were incredible. By far, my favorite character was Guy, who is not only the most sensitive guy Ive read about but also one of the most realistic. Everyone should aim to have someone as supportive and down-to-earth as him in their lives. The relationship Willow had with her brother was also a favorite part of this novel for me. I dont have an older brother (or sister) so Ive never been in a similar situation but to me, it just felt so natural and as I was reading, I kept hoping for a turning point in their relationship and when it finally happened, I felt it was perfect.

Cutting is, obviously, a main point of this novel but I dont want that to sway anyone from reading this. Yes, its there, and yes, theres some pretty intimate scenes where she does cut herself but the cutting could very easily be replaced with a number of other things (bingeing, purging, crying, and other methods of self-harm come to mind). This isnt a story about Oh, poor me. I lost my parents and now I cut myself. Its about loss, love, and how sometimes it takes a little push from a stranger to overcome your greatest fears.

Nothing else I say can ever come close to doing this book justice. Its one of the best books Ive ever read and by far the best book Ive read since reviewing. I first read this around Christmas and its stuck with me so much that Ive even reread it a few times. I really cant think of anything I didnt like in this (though the tense its written in did take some getting used to) and Im recommending it to anyone and everyone. Put it this way - Ive got the ARC but Im still buying myself another copy so why shouldnt you?