Let me start by saying this book had me in a chokehold—partly because I couldn't decide if I loved or hated it. The slow start almost made me ditch it (who has time for confusing character introductions?), but something about Bess and Joni's messy friendship kept me hooked.

The middle section? Absolute fire. I was reading during my lunch breaks, ignoring my coffee going cold, because the tension between the girls—especially that pivotal summer when everything unraveled—felt so visceral. That scene where they're arguing on the cliff? My Kindle almost slipped from my sweaty palms.

But here's the rub: that ending. Imagine waiting for a dessert you've been craving, only to get a single unripe berry. The unresolved threads left me pacing my apartment at midnight, texting my book club in ALL CAPS. Was it intentionally ambiguous or just lazy writing? I'm still debating.

Would I recommend it? Surprisingly, yes—but with caveats. This isn't your typical Reese's Book Club feel-good pick. It's more like peeking into someone's private diary where the last few pages are torn out. Frustrating? Absolutely. Memorable? Unfortunately so.