ADORE! ADORE! ADORE! Marchetta has that artist touch where you are with the character through the good, the bad, and the hilarity of their life. Francesca is such a lovable character as she tries to navigate through high school, finding her identity, and coming to terms with how "unperfect" her mother is. I especially like how Marchetta shows how much parental moods effect children---especially when it's internalized like Francesca. Justine, Siobhan, Tara, Thomas, and Jimmy are some of the BEST secondary characters I have read in a while. It was a little piece of happiness as you see these characters learn about reputations, beliefs, choices, and ultimately what it means to be friends. What I did not have a lot of feels for was Francesca's love interest. Will. I mean, I started liking Will---their witty exchanges, and especially at her grandmother's house (Italian's can hold some grudges...) anyway---I was done with him the day after the Party. Even after the book ended---and you are going...yeah I'm not really seeing that happening in the long run---I was still thinking FRANCESCA YOU CAN DO SO MUCH BETTER. I mean she made TONS of guy friends throughout the school. I was coaching her on to University---and hoping the boy pool would be much, much, better. Don't get me wrong----Will is an "okay" guy...who could not make up his mind about two girls. I was basically wishing Francesca found a spark in her other immature guy friends. :] Who knows? Maybe, they'll grow up and out of each other. SEE SO MANY EMOTIONS.
I still can't believe I haven't read Jellicoe Road or Piper's Son. I will have to remedy that soon.
