Okay, so I FINALLY read this book after seeing it everywhere for years. Why did I wait so long? This story hit me like a ton of emotional bricks (in the best way possible).

First off - Ari and Dante's friendship feels so real it hurts. That awkward teenage phase where you don't understand yourself or anyone around you? Check. Parents who mean well but don't quite get it? Double check. That one friend who changes everything? Ohhhh yes.

The writing style is deceptively simple - short chapters that pack massive emotional punches. One minute I'm laughing at their pool antics, next minute I'm wiping tears because dang, these boys put my whole teenage experience into words I never had.

Special shoutout to the parents in this story too! Usually YA parents are either dead or useless, but these actually try (and sometimes fail) to understand their kids. The dad's PTSD storyline especially got to me.

400 pages flew by faster than my last Amazon impulse buy. Now excuse me while I immediately download the sequel because THAT ENDING?! Benjamin Alire Sáenz owes me therapy money.