As seen on my blog: 
 This was my very first Sarah Dessen book, and as far as first impressions go, I enjoyed her style of writing, and her ability to make her characters seem realistic. 
 I didn't take to Ruby's character at first-but I found that refreshing. I respected her more than I liked her, and I felt like that gave me a strong foundation to build on as she started to evolve. Towards the middle of the book, I moved beyond respect and was leaning more towards admiration. Sarah Dessen managed to create a character that had beyond a valid reason to be completely bitter and cynical, but didn't chose that road. Instead she chose weariness and caution, and even when she began to trust the world she got thrown into, didn't conform to stereotypical "teenage" behaviour. 
 Sarah's writing style is so beautifully not in your face, and I found myself just wanting to stay immersed in the settings she placed her characters in-and I mean the literal, concrete, wood and grass setting that was Ruby's sister's house. There aren't many books that could put me that close to character's heel, physically. I was IN that house with Ruby, I felt that breeze blowing in from balcony, smell the grass and the pond just down below. Oh man, just writing this is putting me right back there-Sarah Dessen is a natural born descriptive artist, and I loved that this book was able to allow me such a feeling. 
 The storyline wasn't anything spectacular, but the quality and care in which she crafted her words made me appreciate the way it played out. There were just enough characters and just the right amount of situations-good and bad-to bring me to the end feeling satisfied. I loved Nate and Olivia's characters-I think they lent a lot to Ruby's mind state, without being too aggressive or unrealistic. 
 I think me and Sarah's books are in the beginning stages of something really great, and I can't wait to pick up another one of her books.