This book strikes me objectively as overwrought. However, I think it's a very interesting and true look at how easily a person can get completely overwhelmed and subsumed by someone who's attractively broken. Watching Saranne try to fix Paul is painful and reminiscent of many of our adolescences. Paul is hugely annoying in this book. I can't count the number of times I wanted to slap him. I love the weaving in of the stories of Tish, Ben, Mary and the rest. It's a satisfying conclusion to the whole series.

I'm actually kind of glad to be finished with this re-read. I found myself slipping into dangerously sentimental territory with Tish and Saranne- I kept finding myself standing, aimless, eyes full of tears. That sensitive misunderstood stuff is easy to fall back into. Fortunately I got through the series before I could write any poetry. ( )