More like 2.5 stars...This one was interesting and had some potential, but overall was just kind of meh. First, while it was set in the 1990s, it seemed the only discernible reason for doing so was so that the main characters would have a harder time communicating once Oliver left for New York. It felt like a plot device decision, and was only cemented in the story by occasionally tossing in references to things like VHS tapes or a discman.Plus, the author also didn't quite have enough character development for me to be fully invested in Althea or Oliver...it was hard to know if Althea's behavior was normal (drinking, partying, lying to her father and taking off for New York, ect) or symptoms of issues within her relationships (her changing feelings for Oliver, her the ridiculous "hand off" parenting approach of her single father...).Again, not a bad book and it will definitely find readers that like it, but overall a lot of little things kept it from really coming together. I just couldn't finish this book. I read halfway and I stopped because I just COULDN'T. Althea is an annoying character who always complains about how she's different from the others because her mother ran out on her despite her vast amount of privilege for being a rich, white girl. Also the rape was rape. Call a spade a spade. Even though Oliver knew it was rape, his friend at he sleep clinic tries to convince him otherwise! It's all okay because all teenage boys want is sex right? Well that's not the case with everyone, and for someone to tell Oliver "You have a beautiful girl who slept with you and it's all okay," was super annoying to me. I might try to actually finish this book later in the month but not now. Gave it two stars because I actually really liked the writing style. Stopped at page 210.
