There's a reason Alice didn't take a boyfriend down the rabbit hole with her (besides the fact that she was like 7): he would have held her back, constantly pushing her behind him and generally treating her like she was a helpless maiden. Enter Jeb, main character Alyssa's crush and "best friend." 
 During the entirety of his time in Wonderland, he treats Alyssa like a child, questioning her every choice and acting like he knows better, despite the fact that at every turn Alyssa demonstrates comfort and inside knowledge about Wonderland. 
 What could be an interesting journey into the haunting land that's "cursed" her family line is instead wasted by Alyssa's constant thoughts about Jeb. Once Morpheus enters the picture, Alyssa is practically nonexistent - the two men argue over each other about her, mostly to do with Jeb's insane jealousy, ordering Morpheus not to touch Alyssa - and that spunky "skater girl" becomes a helpless fluttering little moth. Even when Alyssa is annoyed with Morpheus, she lets Jeb pick her battles and just sits back, probably just admiring Jeb, every other thought falling out of her head. 
 The story picks up once Alyssa gets rid of - er, Jeb leaves - the narrative and we start to see how she handles Wonderland unencumbered. But it's too little too late. I honestly think Jeb was unnecessary. Alyssa has reason enough to want to return home - her mother, her father, her female best friend with whom she literally has one conversation (about boys, go figure) but never thinks about again. We get enough sexual tension with Morpheus. So, this is yet another teen trilogy with a heroine and two love interests - one who is a childhood friend and crush, the other a mysterious new guy who's a little morally questionable. Sound familiar? 
 Jeb eventually repents his over controlling behavior, but even that confession is super controlled and on his terms. Alyssa's initial journey would have been so much better without this dead weight tag along. 
 I like what Howard did with Wonderland and how creepy the characters and atmosphere were, along with the constant battle between sanity and madness. There were also quite a few good twists and turns. 
 But since Jeb is in book two (and apparently three if that's his handsome-but-annoying mug on the cover) I'm not sure whether I want to continue with this series.