Shiloh and Cary have been best friends since their school days. The two of them and their friend Mikey were the theater/art/school newspaper kids who did everything together, until school ended and they parted ways. Years later they are reunited at Mikey’s wedding.

This story is told in two timelines, current state and “before.” Sometimes “before” is when they were in school. Sometimes it is when they are 19 and Cary visited Shiloh at college. Sometimes it is when they reconnect at Mikey’s wedding. The timeline switch fills in some of the background story, but can also break the story up so it feels a little scattered going back and forth and figuring out which “before” the story is in. 

Often I read to get soothed by the story but this one was uncomfortable. It seemed like there are questions being asked throughout it about why you would care. Why would you want to live in Omaha (it’s so Omaha)? Why would you want to be around these people they’re so extra? These houses are so cluttered. These kids are so whiny. Everything felt like when you sit at a restaurant table and accidentally put your hand in leftover syrup… it’s so sticky and it’s not your syrup mess.

Overall, I liked the concept but the writing style wasn’t for me.