This novel tells the story of two girls who must navigate their feelings for one another and life in a small, conservative New Mexico town. A lyrical and moving coming- of-age love story.

Extremely depressing and hopeless. Too many issues in one story with little resolution. ( )

Sigh *** This book gutted me... It was filled with tragedy and hate, but somehow finished off as a heart breaking and beautiful story. The tough topics were quick to pull me in and the character development held my attention long after the final page.

Mara is a girl living in a tough world. Her momma is a drunk, her daddy is abusive, and her brother is special because of a family incident. While she tries to find beauty in all of the ugly, she also faces inner battles. Her mind knows feelings for a girl are wrong, but her heart just can't say no. When her secret is found out, her world becomes a game of cat and mouse. The preacher's son uses pictures to his advantage and in the end gets what he wants.

I really cannot put into words how much impact this book had on my emotions. I went from stomach sickness to swooning. My heart ached so many times and my mind raced to figure out the conclusion. I wanted a happy ending for Mara, but I also craved happiness for Iggy. To me, it was a no win situation. I wanted more then what could happen. I never expected the ending though and gosh did it rock my world. I'm still baffled and a tad sad.

I think this one should be a mandatory read for all ages. It touches on bullying, stereotypes, family struggles, rape, religious beliefs, LGBT, and true love. It wasn't an easy book to read, but it packed a hard punch. I feel extremely blessed to have indulged in such an impactful read and I hope you all check it out too! ( )

A strong portrayal of life in an abusive household, the book loses some points for the flatness of the romantic story line. Excluding Mara's love interest, the characters are vivid and memorable, down to her friend Henry's father, who sprays everyone and everything he meets with bleach. Author Tawni Waters powerfully portrays the terror of living with a father who can go from laughter to violent rage within seconds, although the extent of suffering the protagonist experiences can feel excessive and unbearable.

Heartbreaking and gorgeous. Not an easy read but really a great story of love and tenacity. ( )