Dessen’s writing (as always) is superb; she has an amazing grasp of how to give the characters just enough teenage angst without it feeling overly whiny or completely unrealistic. The main character has been living by herself, hoping to get by until she turns eighteen and can legally be on her own. However she is discovered and forced to live with her older sister Cora (who left her 10 years ago) and her new husband Jamie in a wealthy neighborhood completely unlike anything she has ever known. She must work through her bitterness at her sister’s entrance into her life and her mother’s disappearance. She must also find a place for herself in a community that forces her to become a stronger person-both intellectually and emotionally. What is great about this book is that although a young adult novel, this has a strong adult presence-which makes it a great choice for older readers as well.