I did not expect to like this book as much as I did.

I had tried reading this book once before and I hadn't managed to get past the first chapter. Perhaps I wasn't in the mood for teen romance back then. Whatever the reason I decided to give it another chance and I'm so glad I did.

The beginning is difficult to get through. Cameron comes off as a mean girl with no redeeming qualities. Slowly as the story progresses we do see her acknowledge her failings and celebrate that which makes her unique. The love story started with animosity, of course, but again I loved the progression. The book also, didn't lack in the inevitable college decision process, that comes with a YA-Romance set in senior year of high school.

If I had to give one criticism it would be regarding the relationship with her mother. The relationship with her mother improves, but I just didn't like the reason why it improved. I'm going to need to put the rest under a spoiler tag.

Spoiler

It wasn't necessarily the reason, it was more to do with the explanation that Cameron's mom made for her actions. Telling your 17 year old daughter that you left her father because he was a controlling ass who would never have appreciated them, is all well and good. That still doesn't make up for the fat that for years Cameron had been taking care of herself. If it was her decision to leave, because she knew that Cameron's father was an ass, then why did she spend so many years chasing after him? Not even trying to provide for herself and Cameron. Why was she never a mom to Cameron? In the end she explains to Cameron that she left because their life would have been worse under his thumb, and I believe her about that point, but she also didn't apologize for truly making Cameron's teen years so difficult. Let's face it Cameron didn't have parents. Cameron's mom started acting like one, in Cameron's senior year. Instead of explaining why she left and what happened in the past with Cameron's father, she should have been acknowledging her failings, apologizing for not being there, and promising that she would do better and then, actually manifesting that promise by doing better. I'm glad that Cameron and her mom made up in the end. I'm glad that the mom actually started pulling her life back together and becoming strong and independent. I don't like that she never really apologized for being a bad mom. I don't like that the book made it seem like everything was forgiven because Cameron learned that her mom had made one good decision 18 years ago.

**** Great read, 4 stars ****