Publishing Date: July 7th, 2015
Page Count: 320
Source: BEA 2015
Format: Paperback ARC
Description from Goodreads.com:
Pitched as Gone Girl meets Thirteen Reasons Why
June barely has time to mourn the death of her best friend Delia, before Delia's ex-boyfriend convinces her Delia was murdered, and June is swept into a tangle of lies, deceit, and conspiracy.
Review:
On one hand I loved this book. On the other, What the hell did I just read? The beginning was great. It was intriguing, emotionally, and mysterious. I, personally, had one of my friends commit suicide while I was in high school so, I understand exactly how June is feeling. I know that numbness and the questions that come along once you're able to feel and think again. That part of the book, A+. It's once we find out the truth behind Delia's death that things that things take a turn for the worse.
Excuse my cursing, but it was a total mind fuck. June and Delia's relationship is a super toxic one. June is a loner and a follower. She doesn't know how to do things on her own and finds it's easier to follow someone else's lead. I felt like she couldn't stick up for herself, did what other's told her to do, and couldn't have a single self-created thought. Her relationship with Delia is super weird. It is obvious that Delia isn't all right upstairs. She has some serious mental issues, like when she says she wants to "devour Junie".
June is so wrapped up in Delia, hanging on her every word, that she even finds herself talking and thinking like Delia would. I would say that Delia is obsessed with June, but really it was a mutual obsession. I couldn't really tell if there was a sexual attraction between the two or not. Other characters thought there was, but they always denied it. The way I felt about it was that I don't think June is sexually attracted to Delia, but if Delia wanted them to be in a relationship June would have done it.
Delia is basically her own cult. She has completely brainwashed June to do and say whatever she wants. It's completely messed up. She reminded me of Allison from Pretty Little Liars, but worse. Can you imagine that!? A more horrible version of Allison? Sounds impossible until you read this book.
In the end I wasn't really sure what happened or how to feel about it. Everything just gets super crazy, super fast. I couldn't really tell what was real and what wasn't. I also for the life of me couldn't understand why June would continue to go along with everything. In the ending, I'm not sure if June turned out to be a part of the crazy or a loose end, and I guess we'll never know. That's what makes this book so amazingly crafted. The story is super fucked up, but Lynn Weingarten is a genius. Like Delia, she devours us in this hurricane that has hit Crazy Town and that makes this book beautiful.
Overall:
I found this book to be very consuming. "Devouring" even. I really liked the beginning. The emotions were real, and raw. It completely felt genuine, because I've been where June was. Once we start figuring out the truth is when things get weird. Delia and June have a super toxic relationship and I feel so bad for June. She seriously needed to have never met Delia. The ending is completely nuts, and I'm not sure if June becomes a part of the crazy or a loose end. Lynn Weingarten is a beautiful genius for writing this. Her writing is addictive and beautifully crafted, which makes this review so hard. The book was completely ridiculous, but the writing was so well done. Check this out for yourself and see what you think.
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ 3/5
**The books cover, description, and info was all found on Goodreads. A link back has been provided. All other work and ideas are of my own creation. This ARC was obtained while attending BEA 2015.**
