I have to thank Suzana for bringing me to this book. Because like Max Vincent or "Heathcliff" as he's affectionately known, I think I would've done a whole lot of wandering, before I realized this perfection was in front of my eyes. 
 I love this book. No bones about. 
 The heroine is very philosophical, and since I'm a very philosophical person in general, it was a marriage made in heaven. I'm all about abstract connotations, and seeing how shoes symbolize everything about a person - whether they're staying or going. Repaired over and over again or brand new - wow. Hawthorne (or Clare) has been through more than the average person - and like me, older than her years. Her relationship with Uncle Gregor reduced me to tears at two points in the book. The first time when he passed away into a coma, whilst Clare and Max danced in front of him, and the second, when she went to visit his grave with "Mams" ashes. 
 Clare is a very unique YA protagonist, and I suspect a heroine, not everyone is appreciating as much as they should. 
 Most people would be screaming, "Why is she letting him go? Again?" (in reference to Max) and she lets him go at least twice throughout the plot. Never pins expectations on the male lead or tries to tie him down - which I suspect many women wouldn't understand. Surely love is about fighting for it, till the very last breath? Holding on, and not letting go? So why is this book telling me, that love should involve letting go? 
 The thing about this book, is that it treats subjects like love and death with maturity. 
 The author has a deep understanding of what love is - you should never hold someone back - you should let them go if they want to leave - and if your love is meant to be, then he (or she) will always find their way back to you. Love is different from responsibilities, highlighted nicely by her absentee parents. They left responsibility behind when they abandoned their daughter. Max didn't leave any responsibility behind, only love which he carried - which is the key difference. What does this mean? That love shouldn't be born out of responsibility? Powerful message. 
 I appreciated their separations - particularly because Clare is a woman who understands the philosophy of free-sprit and the worse thing you can do is pin it down - she is self-effacing and utterly in tune with the universe. Seriously. People like Clare are rare! (Heehee, that rhymed.) 
 One minor point: 
 The author backtracked on herself. There is a point where Heathcliff teaches Clare to drive, asking if it's her first time, and she doesn't reply leaving us to assume it is...but a couple of chapters later, it's revealed she has a license already?! Minor editing error? What's going on there. 
 The writing was beautiful. One of my favourite YA's published this year I think.