Going into this book was a bit daunting, because it just so happens to be hugely popular in my bookish circles ... and I'm psyched to say that it did not disappoint! (But I will also say that I don't think it resonated with me as strongly as I've seen it affect others.) 
 In my opinion, Heather Demetrios does a really good job painting the lives of those living in a "blink and you'll miss it" town quite well, especially for those of us that grew up in a fairly large city and attended a high school (one of 11 in the city) that had over 2000 students in it. It's hard to imagine living somewhere that gives you so few options to get out, and I like that books like this exist to help teenagers (and adults) travel to somewhere outside of their own experiences. It's also a perfect example of how it's not just fantasy books that can show us worlds and people that are unfamiliar to us; contemporary novels can do the same thing. 
 I really liked Skylar as a MC, and thought she was portrayed really honestly. She's not perfect, she's had a hard life, she doesn't always say the right things or do the right things, but she's clearly trying to do the best she can for herself and those that she loves. I liked her relationship with Josh a lot, and especially loved that Josh was also not at all perfect. It gave their relationship complexity and believability, and I was definitely here for it. 
 Lastly, I really appreciated the inclusion of Josh's short chapters and the care that Demetrios took while writing them. They felt unflinchingly real and honest, and as the daughter/cousin/granddaughter/friend of both active duty and retired service members, they felt really necessary to truly understanding Josh and what he went through.