I really liked this story. The characters are very real, like they could be any kid anywhere. It's not the normal kind of story I read, which may well be part of the reason I liked it so much. The whole thing has that gritty, modern feel, and is really realistic. 
 It's told in alternating, first person POV's. One is Lucy. I really enjoyed her character. She *felt* like a teenager, the way she talked, the things she thought about. And her obsession with the elusive *Shadow* sounded just like so many teenage girls who are obsessed with a boy or celebrity. 
 The second POV is Ed (Shadow). Even though Lucy doesn't know he is Shadow, we know right away. I think I enjoyed Ed's POV more than Lucy's. I tend to be attracted to the more tortured characters in books, and Ed was definitely that. 
 The author did a spectacular job distinguishing the voices of the two narrators. Even without the names at the top of the chapter I would have known immediately whose head I was in. The writing was lyrical and gorgeous, something I strive for as a writer myself. Though I did find myself getting lost in the words some. Perhaps it was a little overdone in that regard. The words should never distract us from the story. Also, I started getting a little impatient and bored with the flashbacks. There were multiple times when I groaned to myself at another flashback because I didn't want to leave the present. 
 I left this book with a slight taste of disappointment because it didn't end up being as romantic as I went into it thinking it was. But it was still wonderful, and a day later I'm still thinking about the characters and their lives. That's definitely the sign of a good book.