One thing I've learned as a student and then a teacher of high school students-- the high school experience differs vastly depending upon the person. Some of my former students read this book and disliked it. I suspect it could be because the experience didn't ring true to their own. For me, however, I was thrust back into my own high school life while reading this book. 
 The good: 
 * the main character. Yes, she's not a great person, but that's okay. She's confused and flawed. That's fine, because most high school girls are exactly that. 
 * the high school atmosphere. I read many reviews, asking why Paige hadn't learned from her mistakes, and I had to laugh. To me, it was simple-- she's a high school kid. The parties, the peer pressure, the fights-- all of it was close to my school experience. It was like going back in time. 
 The bad: 
 * Paige's mother and Stella Austin. If there are characters to truly dislike in this book, it would be these two women. I cringed every single time I read about them. I'm glad my own mother wasn't demanding in the ways these women were throughout the novel. 
 * the "gay" thing: It did feel pretty contrived to me. The reactions to a gay teacher in a small town school seemed plausible, but the events that surrounded it, not as much. 
 The in-between: 
 * the ending: It was exactly what I was hoping for, and yet, I wasn't happy with it. It felt forced in some ways. 
 Overall, a quick read that I enjoyed.