It has been 8 hours. 
 8 hours since I finished reading this insanely tragic but utterly compelling book. Let me just say this-right from the start I knew that I was in for a ride. It was Christmas eve and I wanted to have something good to read to pass the hours (I know that's kinda sad but everyone was blasting every single television in the house so I wanted some kind of reprieve.) and I came upon this book in Goodreads. I took one look at the ratings, purchased an online copy and read. And read. And read. 
 HOLY FRIG THAT WAS INSANE!!!!!! 
 I can't even begin to write how my emotions were wrung dry by this book. The start wasn't particularly special but for some reason I was hooked, probably because the style of writing was interesting. Will was ASJLAJSLAJSAJSAKJSK. I loved his dialogue with Clark and I felt the slow progression of their attachment. It was so natural, so believable, that I was so involved in their story by the last few pages. I'm not a fan of insta-love and this was so not that. I BELIEVED EVERYTHING. 
 Beyond the romance, however, lay the true heart of this book. I've read tons of romance novels but nothing made me think as much about life as this novel. It was the character development that really drove the story, how the characters changed one another just by saying a few words that truly meant something. 
 My heart broke with simple words: 
 "I just ... want to be a man who has been to a concert with a girl in a red dress. Just for a few minutes more. " -Will 
 Huge issues were present in this book but they were elegantly handled and I never once felt like the author was trying to impose her beliefs on me. The story, after all, is also about choice - of taking charge of our own life and making the most out of it. 
 I felt that this novel was cathartic - life changing. I know that those are huge words to use for fiction but that is how I feel right now, 8 hours after finishing the novel and bawling my eyes off.