** spoiler alert ** 
 I've done it, I've made the jump from Rainbow adult fiction to Rainbow ya fic. 
 I have to say that I preferred the adult novels to this, but I didn't dislike this book. It was much heavier than the adult books were, which was surprising to me. I assumed that by moving down to the teen novels I'd be getting more bubblegum plot lines and instead I got hit in the face with domestic abuse. 
 I loved the central relationship between Eleanor and Park. It gave me butterflies, it gave me goosebumps, it gave me all the feels. At one point, when they first begin holding hands I had to stop reading and just hug the book because that first rush of first love was just so real coming through the text. 
 The bullying, ah, the bullying. I've been there, Eleanor, I wish I'd had half of your strength. She is stoic, she holds her head up, she doesn't want a hero, she just wants to be left alone. As someone who also had her clothes stolen during gym class, I felt that Rainbow really *got it*. She captured the shame and the discomfort and the uncaring of the authority figures (the gym teacher). She writes these really authentic scenes that pull you in, no matter what genre she's in. 
 I loved the dialogue so much here. I'd be laughing out loud and I just had to read it to my husband. I think what Rainbow did best here were her characters, who were wholly identifiable by their personalities. 
 I was super uncomfortable with the domestic violence which I suppose is fitting. This wasn't hidden away back story of an abused character, this was in your face day to day , walking on eggshells to avoid the screaming and crying. It was hard for me to read, and I think that's really a testament to the writing. 
 The only reason this didn't get the full 5 stars was because of that ending. Why? Why?! I needed more. I needed to KNOW that something more was going to happen. Maybe not a forever, but a right now. I feel like a sequel would be a bad idea, I just wanted a chapter more here. 
 Overall I'd recommend it if you can handle the heavy stuff, and if you're ready for a take your breath away love story.