A. B. Rutledge

I received the e-arc from Houghton Mifflin, Harcourt Children's Book Group, thank you!

Warning, the book, however most of the plot is being set in Iceland, it doesn't focus on travel, it is about curing the depression and finding sexuality, finding ways how to be with someone else and see life again, however weird it may seem for someone outside.

This young adult novel tells about Miles, who lands in Iceland, being sent there by his two moms and doesn't know what to do there for a whole month. He has no plan, and suffers from terrible yet-lag. He is suffering long term by loosing his girlfriend who is in coma for over a year now, trying to kill herself. He deals with stages of loss, anger, love and in the middle - being a teenager himself, trying to deal cool and make sense of his life and the purpose.

This is a debut novel by author, a plot that covers very uncommon topics such as bisexuality from a guys perspective, finding what he likes and getting involved in careless actions, because, he hasn't learned to think ahead..he explores sex and sexuality with random people. I come across a new term called "demi".

Miles writes letters to Vivian, his lost girlfriend, he tells his journey and daily life in quite a detail, they were a great couple with little bohemian lifestyle living in a camp on their own, the story mentions the other side points of view, where girl's parents haven't been so supportive about their relationship, listening what their daughter wanted to be and now, when she basically tried to make a suicide, they ended up having a case with Miles and whole court case. Isn't that enough for people to deal with loss itself?

I saw the book representing a decent amount of depression, when main character, Miles, isn't aware of his attitude, he is present but without an effort about his life. Having mentioned depression, it isn't easy read. I found the best way to read it, leaving days in between.
This plot remind me of another book: After the After by Marty Gregor, which on the other hand does not mention gay or bisexual topics, but holds similar motion.

There's saying what happens in..., stays in..., same could be told about Miles, except, is it? During his stay in Iceland, he faces for the first time- being away from home, having to choose and think of something else except his girlfriend. This is where I could not believe one may holds no knowledge of buying some sort of grocery items for his meal, keeping in account he was living in a camp on a van.. The the whole trip is a treat by his mum, so it's not as he has to pay from his own pocket, but.... loosing credit card and getting robbed is one way what may happen to Miles. Thankfully in the hotel where he is staying there's front representative Oscar, who is very, very attractive and helpful and feels sorry for Miles. He let's him tag along and travel with him.… (meer)