Genre:Crime, drama and romance
Rating:10
This heartbreaking story is about two families who live in New England suburbia and who have raised their families next door to each other for 18 years. The book begins with a tragic event, a suicide, and what happens following gives great insight into how people react to sadness and grief. The book surrounds Emily and Chris, 18 year-old lovers who have grown up next to each other since they were born.
This book is written in two sections: Then (detailing Emily and Chris as they grew up) and Now (what happens after the event). The characters seem extremely real, and each deals with what happens in a different and unique way. I don't want to say too much and give away what happens in the book, but there was never a time in the book where I felt like I was reading filler or I was going through a "slow" spot. However, I do love crime shows and mysteries, so that may be part of the reason why I like this book so much.
I think that this is an important book to for people to read. Suicide is something that is far too prevalent in our society, and sadly in our schools. At the end of the book all of the questions are not answered, and the people who are left behind are impacted more than could be imagined. Relationships and entire families are destroyed, even for those whose child did not kill themselves. I will definitely be recommending this book to students. It deals with the issue of suicide well, I think, and has a beautiful story to accompany it.
