3.5 starsI have a hard time rating this one because nothing really happens besides some mild angst on Dade's part and a brief scene at the end of the book. I also hated the ending but after I got into the story, I didn't really want to stop reading it.
I loved the characters. Well most of them. Dade is funny in a sarcastic, somewhat mellow, what-do-I-do-now type of way and I liked that. Lucy, Dade's lesbian friend, brought Dade out of his shell and made him into a funny, likable person. Alex was my favorite, though. He's the typical bad boy, I guess you could call him. He finished high school but never went to college, he works at a crappy restaurant and he sells weed to stuck-up preppy kids. But, he likes Dade and helps Dade come to terms with being gay and is ultimately Dade's first love and Alex loves him right back. It's kinda sweet.
I think my main problem with this book is the ending. I'm a lover of HEA's and this doesn't have an HEA or HFN. At least not one romantically linked. In fact, the main couple don't end up together at all. After that scene I mentioned earlier, Dade breaks it off with Alex and then leaves Cedarville for college and doesn't see Alex again after that. There's not even any indication Dade will ever return to Cedarville or to Alex. There were some parts of the book which were just there that didn't add to the story at all and just made me do a 'WTF?' moment thinking of what the point of putting it in the book was. Other than that, the book was good. Nothing really happens but it still holds your attention.
I heard there was going to be a sequel one day and I honestly hope the sequel is about Alex and Dade reconnecting after Dade is out of college, or even during college, because if it's about Dade and someone else I'm not sure if I'll read it because I really liked Alex and I think they should end up together. Lol
Overall, this was a well-written, good YA novel. Recommended.
