This takes places during a pivotal time in both Ben and Lala's lives. It is the summer before Ben is moving to San Diego for college. He got a full scholarship and is leaving behind his friends, family and the town he grew up in. Not just moving away from the town but the whole town is shutting down. Ben is worried and feeling some regret leaving his brother and now jobless father. Lala is nearing the age of 18 and the time of her arranged marriage. She loves her family but doesn't want to marry or follow the gypsy way of life anymore. 
 Ben is spending his last days of summer with his friends Pete and Hog Boy. For a going away gift they take him to the fortune telling gypsies where he meets Lala. Lala is exotic and perspective and like no one Ben has met before. She feels magical to him. It is easy to see why he would fall so easily and quickly for her. Ben is also feeling a lot of guilt about leaving. He wants to protect his gay brother from being picked on and he is worried about his now jobless family and also feels bad for the friends he is leaving behind. Going away to college is such an exciting yet scary time in life. I felt all those feelings perfectly from Ben as well as how it would be so sad to see the town you grew up in abandoned. 
 Lala loves her family and sisters but there are things she questions about her lifestyle and upcoming arranged marriage. The alternating dual POVs were so well written. I really got to understand the history of both characters and see both sides of the story unfolding without it ever feeling like things were repeating which sometimes happens with a dual POV. Lala is drawn to Ben who comes back to see her again. While getting ice cream with her family she makes a life changing decision to leave with Ben and get to know him. He is so different from what she grew up with. I learned a lot of interesting facts about gypsy culture I never knew. Also the summer ends with the Burning Man Festival that Ben and Lala attend. The settings were detailed so well that I could feel the summer heat. 
 Ben and Lala just got together but as I mentioned this is such a pivotal time in their lives. Ben has to go to college. This is his big chance. But Lala just left her family for the chance to be free and not tied down by marriage. So should she begin her new life by following Ben? Or start by living free? Not a perfect romantic ending but I think a realistic ending. So many readers complain about female characters that follow boys blinding so I think many readers will appreciate the girl power ending. It did leave me a little sad and think 4 stars for this one but the beautiful high quality writing really made me think this deserves a full 5 stars. It was different from anything else I've read and I really enjoyed the characters and story. 
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 "And yet here I was, wedged between Pete and Hog Boy in a tent that hadn't been here last week on the side of Highway 447, across from a girl who seemed magical to me, who seemed able to look inside my soul." 
 "It didn't matter what I had thought before about fate, about God, about magic. Lala White had appeared in the desert for a reason. She was meant for me. No matter what the cost."