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Jun 22, 2013ychi rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
The concept of bad-boy meets (relatively-)good-girl is developed well in this story; their personal troubles are what bring them closer together as they lean on each other, a tried-and-true romance tactic that is wielded excellently here with the dual POVs. Another aspect of the romance very much appreciated by moi was that once Echo and Noah got serious about each other, they didn't play games. They spoke to each other seriously, they communicated, and that one misunderstanding was resolved very quickly (or else I would've thrown a tantrum, because I detest misunderstandings used as plot devices :P). In essence, there wasn't too much angst related to the relationship, and because the reader sees them confronting their personal problems together, it's easy to grow to cheer for them. Something else--there is a lot of drama. Echo struggles with her new stepmother, her therapy sessions, her sometimes-friends and her idea of normalcy; Noah's dealing with the foster care system, his counseling sessions and his stoner friends. But I do believe it's all dealt with reasonably; realistic solutions are presented (e.g. Echo decides to leave town for a while to give her stepmother some space). Both Noah and Echo exhibit growth, and in this character-driven novel, that's really all we need.