"If God makes all our faces, did he laugh when he made me?" 
 well, that was unexpectedly wonderful. 
 First up, I want to say that even though this is marketed as romance first it is so much more than that. 
 The first half of the book definitely led up more to the romance, but in the second half... the second half of this book could have earned five stars. 
 And so, my fellow readers, I will focus this review on the second half because that is what I will remember. 
 "Shakespeare said, 'the robbed that smiles steals something from the thief." 
 Fern's neighbour/cousin/best friend has Duchennes muscular dystrophy, it causes progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. Most kids with it are unable to walk by 12 and the average life expectancy today is 26 years old. 
 The love and care in this book surrounding Bailey and his illness was just beautiful to see! Bailey himself was a phenomenon. He was so wise and sweet, eager to be a part of things however he could without being bitter about the life he was given. 
 "Do you think there's any way someone like Ambrose could fall in love with someone like me?"... 
 "Only if he's lucky." 
 "Oh, Bailey." Fern shook her head, but loved him for saying it...and even more for meaning it." 
 A main theme in the book was how beauty isn't everything. And how it feels when you are not beautiful, and overlooked. 
 "Sometimes a beautiful face is false advertising." 
 "If Bailey had been born without MD, he wouldn't be Bailey. The Bailey who is smart and sensitive, and seems to understand so many things we don't. You might have looked right past Bailey if he'd grown up healthy, wrestling on his dad's team, acting like every other guy you've ever known. A big part of the reason Bailey is so special is because life has sculpted him into something amazing . . . maybe not on the outside, but on the inside. On the inside, Bailey looks like Michelangelo's David. And when I look at him, and when you look at him, that's what we see." 
 And I know religious content always makes people uncomfortable - myself included, even though I am not shy about my faith (I think no one wants it forced on them or to be preached to). 
 But the religious content here is very light, and completely in context. They are dealing with loss and questioning the 'why's' of life. 
 "There's a lot I don't understand... but not understanding is better than not believing" 
 There were just so many beautiful messages in this book and I don't really know how to adequately convey how much this book meant to me. 
 I cried the last 15% of the book. It was just so touching. 
 Even though I felt like the first half was more YA than NA, the second half was just so great. 
 A memorable read. 
 "Victory is in the battle."