I read this book a year ago, and I did not understand it. I did not get it. I was confused, but I liked it. I had decided at the end, that it was a good book that left with a sincere feeling of contentment. 
 Now, I have reread this book. The second time, I got it. I understood it and again, I was left with feelings of contentment and of sorrow. 
 This time, the whole essence of the book hit me with full force. The true meaning of the book, the facts of life and death. How the people with life are the ones that can die and the ones that are prematurely rotting are the ones who will be left behind in life. The truth that love can be harsh, and because of it, we'll be left at 7-11's and it will bad, but it will still be better than the other alternatives. And the thing it spoke to me above all else, is that I am insanely blessed and did nothing to deserve what I have, but I have it. 
 I'm not going to say that this book was perfect. It wasn't. It was melodramatic and at times I wanted to bash my head against my bed frame because of the sentimentality and sappiness of the thing. I'm not going to say that I loved Taylor, because that would be a big lie. She frustrated me at times, and I wanted to shake her. I wanted her to stop expecting more, and be open with what she really wanted. She was annoying, but very real and I don't think any other narrator would have delivered the story this well. 
 But I loved this book. And I loved the interwoven story of Webb, Tate, Narnie, Fitz, and Jude. I loved Raffy, Ben, Chaz, and Jessa. I eventually warmed up to Jonah. 
 This book will probably leave me in an emotional mess for the next for weeks. When I sit down with my Mama for tea, I'll probably start crying. And on Fridays, when life is almost perfect, I'll probably feel tears in my eyes at how everything is just right and how it probably shouldn't be, because we're not the most amazing people who deserve the love and gentleness that our family has to offer.