** spoiler alert ** 
 This review is pretty spoiler heavy, in fact it's less a review and more a series of incoherent ramblings that I felt the need to write down. 
 I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, all I knew was it was about two half siblings and their friend and the relationship that develops between all three. And I'm glad that's all I knew, as it meant I didn't know where the story was heading, in fact I feel like the blurb gives too much away. 
 In terms of the characters, Ash could have used a bit more development and her feelings towards Chance could have used some elaboration. The way she just accepts that Hunter and Chance are together felt a little odd, like she wasn't entirely comfortable with it but was acknowledging the story wasn't really hers, that she was just an observer. Seeing as half the book is from her point of view, this didn't really ring true to me. It felt like her feelings towards Chance were little more than a schoolgirl crush, but she kind of hints that it was more than that only for her to tell Hunter that she's okay with him and Chance. Overall I found her likeable and supportive, but very much a secondary character. 
 I found Hunter's journey an interesting one. I could sympathise with his confusing feelings, his unwillingness to even acknowledge them and finally his acceptance. It's interesting that he never really comes out as gay or bisexual and I think that's okay because he's coming to terms with his sexuality as he's ready. Even though Hunter admits he loves Chance, he still seems to be holding back as he never really delves into physical attraction. The love that Hunter feels doesn't even seem to be an overtly sexual in nature, which may have been a combination of Hunter not quite being ready to open up entirely and knowing deep down that he can't be with someone who isn't really there. He almost seems to be in love with the concept of Chance, not necessarily the reality of it all. And as Chance says in the final chapter "All dreams must be set aside eventually. Reality sets in." 
 There's an interesting scene where Ash asks Hunter about his feelings towards Chance. He dances around the issue saying that he doesn't really know Chance as most of what he's told them is made up of lies and that he can't be with someone who refuses to grow up. Ash feels that Hunter is rationalising his feelings as usual. This is partly true, but I feel that Hunter suspects deep down that it can't possibly work and he's just doing his best to avoid having his heart broken or delving into a very confusing and scary part of himself he might not be ready to face. 
 So, then there's Chance. God Damned Chance, with his startling green eyes, natural good looks and effortless charm. With a character like this it can be hard balancing him between being likeable and sympathetic or kind of a selfish dick. Kelley York does a good job of this, although at times I felt like his home-life was a little extreme almost like she was ticking all the boxes. Living in a trailer park, never gets new toys or even clothing, abusive piece of shit father, weak fearful mother. But I suppose there are kids out there in those situations, kids who come to school covered in bruises, claiming they fell and then quickly changing the subject. Kids who have crappy home-lives and make up lies so they can pretend, just for a little while that life isn't as horribly cruel as it seems. So for the most part it felt real, and I was willing to forgive his erratic behaviour. The horror Hunter, Ash and their Dad felt when they realised was particularly heartbreaking as they'd all suspected to some extent but had no idea how bad it really was. 
 After I'd finished, I was left wondering whether Chance really was in love with Hunter or whether he also was merely in love with the idea of Hunter, with the life and family he desperately wanted to have. He'd built the person he was around the person he wanted to be. Even Hunter somewhat ironically questions it when Chance says he loves him. "You don't love me... If you did there wouldn't be all these secrets." 
 It's kind of difficult for me to write about the way it ends. I'm usually one who likes the bitter-sweet or downer endings, but in this case I realise I desperately wanted it all to work out for Chance and Hunter because I felt a lot of sympathy for them both... and because I realised halfway through that they weren't going to get it. Ash jinxed everyone by saying "We're so close to a happy ending." Chance later sealed their fate with "There is no happy ending after this." Way to rub it in, Chance. 
 Chance leaves because he has to, either he can't face the consequences of what he's done or it truly is a selfless act of not wanting to drag down the only people who love him. And I almost hate him for it. He managed to get Hunter to admit his feelings and rescue him from certain death, to get Hunter's hopes up believing that they were going to get a happy ending, all knowing that it was never going to happen. It feels like he discards Hunter because he no longer needs him. Like having Hunter's love was his end goal and it allowed him to finally grow up and be his own person. It was like a Catch-22 situation where Chance couldn't grow up without Hunter's love, but in getting that love it drove him away. Even without the death of Chance's mother I don't think he was going to stay. It's funny, the whole book followed Hunter being too scared to admit his feelings, but that whole time it seemed Chance was afraid. Afraid of gaining Hunter's love because it meant he could lose it. Chance even muses that perhaps he'd subconsciously sabotaged his own happiness because he didn't believe he deserved it. 
 I think that's the most heartbreaking part of it. Chance's admission to himself, "Let's face the cold hard facts, I'm not worthy to be a part of their lives." And I think that's what bothers me the most, that even with Hunter's love, he still believed he was the piece of shit his father accused him of being. It's tragically sad. As far as Chance is concerned the message of the book is no matter what you do, who you love, who loves you, if you come from shit that's all you'll ever be. So that's where we leave him. Alone, penniless, knowing that he has no future. 
 And that's why I can't say I loved the book. I don't mind an 'Unhappily Ever After' ending, but in this case it felt unresolved. That's not to say it's a bad ending, if anything it reflects the reality that Chance mentions in the final chapter. I just wish it didn't leave me feeling infinitely sad. 
 "Even the stars are lies."