I have always enjoyed reading books by Lauren Myracle. Her sense of humor and portrayal of adolescence are pertinent in her novels and ring true with young adults. Her latest book, The Infinite Moment of Us, is no exception. This review is based on the advanced reader's copy of the book provided by the publisher via Netgalley.
Description: For as long as she can
remember, Wren Gray’s goal has been to please her parents. But as high
school graduation nears, so does an uncomfortable realization: Pleasing
her parents once overlapped with pleasing herself, but now... not so
much. Wren needs to honor her own desires, but how can she if she
doesn’t even know what they are?
Charlie Parker, on the other hand, is painfully aware of his heart’s desire. A gentle boy with a troubled past, Charlie has loved Wren since the day he first saw her. But a girl like Wren would never fall for a guy like Charlie—at least not the sort of guy Charlie believes himself to be. And yet certain things are written in the stars. And in the summer after high school, Wren and Charlie’s souls will collide. But souls are complicated, as are the bodies that house them.
Review: The Infinite Moment of Us is a sweet, sizzling, and mature summer love story. Wren and Charlie are just about to graduate from their Atlanta high school and embark on their journey to adulthood. At graduation their eyes lock and bright sparks of chemistry changes everything. I liked how Wren and Charlie knew of each other from their classes and their relationship allows them to gradually become closer and learn more about each other.
Wren and Charlie are likable characters and come from the opposite side of the tracks. Wren is a single child who is trying to make her own independent decisions from her loving yet smothering parents. Wren's biggest decision is to defer her admission to Emory for a gap year in Guatemala with a service organization. Wren is a rule follower and wants to appease her parents, but realizes that she has to live her life not the life her parents want her to have. I could easily relate to Wren.
Unlike Wren, Charlie is a foster-child who is also struggling to separate himself from a long-standing toxic relationship, built from his own painful past. He has an incredible supportive foster family who he tries not to become close to in fear of letting them down. Charlie also has plans beyond high school and he's got a scholarship to Georgia Tech. Compared to Wren, Charlie life has not been easy and through little bits of information, we begin to see how his defensive walls were built.
The story is told in alternating chapters that move between Wren's and Charlie's third-person perspectives as they describe their gorgeous summer romance, from the butterflies of approaching one another, the highs of a beginning relationship as well as the bumps of the road, capturing each as they work to define themselves as individuals and as part of a couple. There are many times where the book could have easily turned into melodrama based on Charlie's past with his biological parents, but Myracle applies a light touch even with the heavy issues. As readers we get to discover the characters even as they get to know each other. The characters and the reader are constantly reminded that the romance has just started and is no where complete.
Sex plays a large role in book. Though it may be dealt with honestly and frankly, but the focus is more on emotional intimacy as these characters begin to realize what makes a healthy and stable relationship. The steaminess of the relationship doesn't overshadow the depth of the characters nor the themes of the book thus making The Infinite Moment of Us an enjoyable romance.
Rating: 4 stars
Words of Caution: Strong sexual context, language, and underage drinking. Recommended for Grades 10 and up.
If you like this book try: Forever by Judy Blume, This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen, Love and the Other Four-Letter Words by Carolyn Mackler
Charlie Parker, on the other hand, is painfully aware of his heart’s desire. A gentle boy with a troubled past, Charlie has loved Wren since the day he first saw her. But a girl like Wren would never fall for a guy like Charlie—at least not the sort of guy Charlie believes himself to be. And yet certain things are written in the stars. And in the summer after high school, Wren and Charlie’s souls will collide. But souls are complicated, as are the bodies that house them.
Review: The Infinite Moment of Us is a sweet, sizzling, and mature summer love story. Wren and Charlie are just about to graduate from their Atlanta high school and embark on their journey to adulthood. At graduation their eyes lock and bright sparks of chemistry changes everything. I liked how Wren and Charlie knew of each other from their classes and their relationship allows them to gradually become closer and learn more about each other.
Wren and Charlie are likable characters and come from the opposite side of the tracks. Wren is a single child who is trying to make her own independent decisions from her loving yet smothering parents. Wren's biggest decision is to defer her admission to Emory for a gap year in Guatemala with a service organization. Wren is a rule follower and wants to appease her parents, but realizes that she has to live her life not the life her parents want her to have. I could easily relate to Wren.
Unlike Wren, Charlie is a foster-child who is also struggling to separate himself from a long-standing toxic relationship, built from his own painful past. He has an incredible supportive foster family who he tries not to become close to in fear of letting them down. Charlie also has plans beyond high school and he's got a scholarship to Georgia Tech. Compared to Wren, Charlie life has not been easy and through little bits of information, we begin to see how his defensive walls were built.
The story is told in alternating chapters that move between Wren's and Charlie's third-person perspectives as they describe their gorgeous summer romance, from the butterflies of approaching one another, the highs of a beginning relationship as well as the bumps of the road, capturing each as they work to define themselves as individuals and as part of a couple. There are many times where the book could have easily turned into melodrama based on Charlie's past with his biological parents, but Myracle applies a light touch even with the heavy issues. As readers we get to discover the characters even as they get to know each other. The characters and the reader are constantly reminded that the romance has just started and is no where complete.
Sex plays a large role in book. Though it may be dealt with honestly and frankly, but the focus is more on emotional intimacy as these characters begin to realize what makes a healthy and stable relationship. The steaminess of the relationship doesn't overshadow the depth of the characters nor the themes of the book thus making The Infinite Moment of Us an enjoyable romance.
Rating: 4 stars
Words of Caution: Strong sexual context, language, and underage drinking. Recommended for Grades 10 and up.
If you like this book try: Forever by Judy Blume, This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen, Love and the Other Four-Letter Words by Carolyn Mackler
Labels:
2013 150+ Challenge,
2013 Ebook Challenge,
4 stars,
Realistic Fiction,
Romance,
Self Confidence,
YA
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I absolutely love Forever and This Lullaby, so if you're comparing this book to those, I'm definitely going to check it out. I was on the fence about this one after reading mixed reviews, but it sounds like this is a realistic look at teen love, and I appreciate that it stays true to teens and has depth without being too heavy. So glad to hear you enjoyed it! Lovely review :-)
I don't think I've read any of Lauren Myracle's books so this may be a good one to start with. I really like that it doesn't become angsty and deals with intimacy in a mature way.