by Krystal Sutherland
“Henry Page has never been in love. He fancies himself a hopeless romantic, but the slo-mo, heart palpitating, can't-eat-can't-sleep kind of love that he's been hoping for just hasn't been in the cards for him-at least not yet. Instead, he's been happy to focus on his grades, on getting into a semi-decent college and finally becoming editor of his school newspaper. Then Grace Town walks into his first period class on the third Tuesday of senior year and he knows everything's about to change.
Grace isn't who Henry pictured as his dream girl-she walks with a cane, wears over-sized boys' clothes, and rarely seems to shower. But when Grace and Henry are both chosen to edit the school paper, he quickly finds himself falling for her. It's obvious there's something broken about Grace, but it seems to make her even more beautiful to Henry, and he wants nothing more than to help her put the pieces back together again. And yet, this isn't your average story of boy meets girl. Krystal Sutherland's brilliant debut is equal parts wit and heartbreak, a potent reminder of the bittersweet bliss that is first love.”
Read. This. Book.
I purchased a copy for my personal library. I had so many laugh-out-loud moments with this book. The protagonist (in my mind) bore a strong resemblance to what I imagined someone I know to be like in High School - and in speaking with him after he read the book, he agreed there were many similarities between himself and the main character.
I loved the main cast of characters. I loved their obvious love for each other and I loved their irreverent behavior towards each other that affirmed that love. I especially loved the reference to Kintsukuroi - broken things mended back together using precious metals in the seams; making something broken more beautiful than when it was whole. I felt Kintsukuroi was a backdrop for the story itself.
This book started out as a light-hearted love story that grew deeper, delving into the pain of loss and the search for redemption. The further I read and learned about the tragedy Grace endured and as the story was slowly revealed, it ended with how we individually reach for redemption - sometimes achieving it, sometimes not, but we each take our own path and redemption occurs in its' own time.
I will be re-reading this story and I hope you will pick it up as well.
Heidi Y.