This book broke me. Seriously. I'm currently sitting at my dining room table, a shattered mess of something that resembled what used to be human. This book was beautiful. Poignant. Heartbreaking. Oh my God - so heartbreaking. Sugar has spent most of her teenage life being the object of ridicule and torment - not just from her peers in high school, but also from her own family - the ones who should've been the ones to protect her. Her mother, beyond overweight and bed-ridden from her weight, health and mental problems lays on the criticism thick; calling her fat, stupid - telling her she can't be with her only friend because she'll turn into a slut, so on and so forth. Her brother Skunk is just so fucking appalling, it was hard to believe that someone could be so cruel and ugly. Between her school and the mess that is her home, Sugar strives to get through the days the best way she knows how: eating. Each time she eats, she feels guilty, but can't seem to help or to stop herself - it's the only way to make her feel better when things are going down. And they're always going down, it seems. 
 Then, she meets Even Anderson. His name is supposed to be Evan, but due to his father's illiteracy, his name was misspelled on his birth certificate, and he chose to stick with it no matter how odd the name might sound. From the moment she meets Even, Sugar's entire universe has changed dramatically. He shows her compassion, makes her feel like it's okay to be who she is. He doesn't see what others see; and instead, he chooses to see the most beautiful parts that make Sugar who she is. He brings her out of her shell, brings her outside in the world and reminds her that there's more out there than just her crappy little town where everyone side-eyes her and makes comments about her weight. Despite people's efforts to keep them apart, Even and Sugar stay together - going on adventures, learning things about each other that no one else knows; and they share the same dream of getting out of dodge. Naturally, Sugar needs a little bit more persuading, since she's convinced that her mama needs her at home - because without Sugar, who's going to take care of her? Not Skunk. 
 About halfway through the book, the story took a turn that shocked me. I mean, there have been plenty of books that have surprised the hell out me, but this was the first time that something actually made my mouth hang open and gasp. I cried. I really did. I cried for Sugar, for Even - for all the things that could never come to pass. I WAS A FREAKING MESS. People's actions through this sad time in the book sickened me and I was glad that by the end of the book, Sugar seemed to have gotten away from all the things that could have killed her. She chose to step away from all the emotional, verbal, physical and mental abuse and I was freaking proud of her for that. MY GOD. If Sugar was in physical form in front of me right now, I would hug her and hug her and hug her until she popped. After the book ended, I had to stop for a moment and take a deep breath, gather my emotions back together and remember that I was no longer in the book. But Jesus, this book was so freaking good.