god this was depressing yet I couldn't stop reading it.

The story was okay, and the narration good, but I think I've reached the point in age where I get more annoyed than empowered by the narrator's teenage bullshit. Not that I can't remember feeling exactly the way she did in parts, but eight to ten years distance from her makes me shout "shut up and change, stop bitching" instead of "amen sistah".

I wonder if this book would have gotten published if it weren't from Rachel Cohn. Don't get me wrong, I like her. And I like her with David Levithan. Whenever I'm about to get annoyed or frustrated with the complete and utter sophistication, awareness, and worldliness her characters inevitably portray, I have to remind myself why I appreciate her: she throws something amazing like the following into the fray.
"But I see Jim has resurrected his old Tiffany silver lighter with his initials engraved on it, a gift from a partner from long ago, when same-sex lovers had to stay in the closet but chain smoking on crowded airplanes and in movie theaters was totally fine, even encouraged. Secondhand smoke was clearly less dangerous than two men sharing the gift of a public kiss, in goodness's bygone time."
The best thing about Cohn (and Levithan) is their complete and utter desire to portray a slightly alternate world as accepted reality. Oh, that girl who killed herself was the daughter of a single gay father? Cool. What's important here is that she committed suicide, not that her dad's gay. See? Good. But I still have a love-hate relationship with the self awareness.
And I am only on page 55!

Laura and Miles were cousins but they might have been sisters, they were so close. They grew up together and shared everything--talks in the tree house, cigarettes, snacks, prescription drugs--until Laura kills herself, that is. Miles was left to deal with the emotional detritus left behind after Laura’s death. Miles can not understand why Laura did it when she had everything, beauty, popularity, a loving, rich father, a great boyfriend, where Miles was overweight, preferred her books to people, an uncaring mother, and an unrequited crush on her best friend Jamal. Miles feels so alone after Laura is gone, especially after Bex, Laura’s best friend from her private school, finds solace with Jamal. She quickly descends into abusing the prescription drugs that she and Laura used to share; feeling like no one understands what she is going through and utterly alone. Without even realizing it, people in her life begin to notice her self-destruction and try to help, but is it too late? This interesting novel contains a variety of issues including statehood for Washington D.C., interracial relationships, alternative families, prescription drug abuse, woven together in a believable way that will appeal to many teens.

Miles is a 17-year old ready to be done with school, ready to be on her own, and ready to find a purpose. Then her cousin Laura commits suicide. The two girls were almost sisters growing up, and in the few weeks before Laura's suicide, they spent more time together, getting high and talking. After Laura's death, Miles' spiral becomes more pronounced. Her mom heads to London, her best friend Jamal meets Laura's friend Bex and spends more time with her than Miles. Jim, Laura's father, takes more of an interest in Miles, along with her own father Buddy. But Miles has to hit rock bottom before she realizes how much danger she really is in.

A very intense novel. It's hard to read the downward spiral without following suit. An interesting book and a window into a whole other world.

Even if this wasn't as good as Cohn's other books, it reminded me how much I love her. There's something so teenager about her books.

I didn't love, but I didn't hate. Reminded me of We were liars in tone a bit

an...interesting book. im not sure if i would suggest it or not....
the end is satisfying despite all the semi-monotonousness throughout miles' narration. and it's good thinking material. im not sure where i stand on this book.

I had a hard time not getting bored. I understand it's all about Miles' struggle and grief but she has so little interaction with people that I started to lose interest.

My favorite aspect is the nerdiest: the historical background she gives of DC and the government. The unfair taxation with out representation (ah memories of junior high history *grin*) as well as the DMV beef (DC, Maryland, Virginia)- trust me, people, there's a difference and it counts. Other than that, I really had no interest in her falling alseep under a tree b/c of a pharma induced mellow-out.

Summary-bn.com: Miles has spent her whole life in the shadow of her cousin Laura. Laura is the golden one—smart, gorgeous, rich, and popular—while Miles considers herself the unwanted one—an unattractive, underachieving social outcast. As far as Miles is concerned, Laura has the perfect life…until Laura commits suicide, leaving Miles lost the wake of the event. Losing Laura shatters Miles and sets her on a dangerous downward spiral. When she hits rock bottom, Miles must make a choice: She can escape from it all, just like Laura did, or she can look for strength in herself and in those she didn’t believe cared about her, and try to find a reason to live.

Interestingly written - the protaganist, Miles, is smart but feels she has been wronged by the world - and maybe she has...
Miles is overweight, addicted to food and pills and trying to maintain a carefree image while becoming increasingly more depressed as her makeshift family falls apart. Her cousin - the sister of her childhood- commits suicide and sets off a series of events that push Miles over the edge.

Sad, depressing and only slightly uplifting at the end,ther isn't anything wrong with this book, but it was just too doldrums for me.