3.5 stars from me. As a whole, I thought the plot was a touch on the formulaic side. There were no surprise turns. It was a simple, good-natured, sweet story. 
 What makes the book likeable is the characters. Erik is very nuanced. While he is typically reclusive in some respects, he is unique in others. He is not good with crowds or noise. He definitely doesn't like being touched. So roping him into a romantic relationship takes some finesse. Rue has a million-dollar personality, very opposite of Erik. He isn't looking for a relationship. He's looking for a ticket out of Delaware, preferably to California. And he has the connections to do it. He's trying to go, not trying to find reasons to stay. Sooner or later, those collide. 
 Alice is a sweetie. I won't say she steals the show--I think Erik does--but I do think she is as integral to them as Dusty, Rue's best friend, is. Both characters add something to the story. 
 Looking forward to reading the sequels.