If high school were a fairy-tale kingdom, Connelly Sternin would be Rapunzel, locked not in a tower by a wicked witch but in a high-rise apartment building by the SATs and college applications—and by the secrets she keeps. Connelly's few friends think that her parents are divorced—but they're not. Connelly's father died when she was two, and she doesn't know how.
If Connelly is the Rapunzel of her school, Jeremy Cole is the crown prince, son of a great and rich New York City family. So when he sits down next to her at lunch one day, Connelly couldn't be more surprised. But Jeremy has a tragic secret of his own, and Connelly is the only one he can turn to for help. Together they form a council of two, helping each other with their homework and sharing secrets. As the pair's friendship grows, Connelly learns that it's the truth, not the secrets, that one must guard and protect. And that between friends, the truth, however harsh, is also beautiful.
My Review:
I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I was expecting a young adult romance slash coming of age story. And although there was a hint of romance, it kinda left me hanging in the end on the romance department. I guess I was just really looking for a good love story.
I did enjoy the story. The part(s) I loved most are Connelly and Jeremy's not-so-secret nightly meetings where they slowly discover things about each other, like the real reason why Jeremy befriended her, and how their relationship evolved through these meetings. They do have a kind of intimacy that didn't grow from physical closeness, but from something deeper. I believe it's from the kind of support that Connelly gives Jeremy where she just listens and doesn't pry. Although she was curious about a lot of things regarding his actions towards her, she was able to keep her questions to herself. All those questions were eventually answered. And though I would say that it would be most unlikely for teenagers with raging hormones to not do anything stupid in their situation - both grief-stricken and coping with loss - the fact that the author was able to not go into that and just portray a pure and clean relationship between them, is pretty amazing. Yes, the attraction was there, and yes, both Connelly and Jeremy know that they like each other, but the author focused more on how they were able to cope and adjust to both their losses.
All in all, this is a very good young adult novel. One of the best I've read so far this year. I can't wait to read more of Alyssa Sheinmel. It's a refreshing take for me due to all the YA paranormal romances I've been reading lately.
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