It’s hard to put in words, I wasn’t as invested and sucked in to this story than I was into her first two books. I loved the time-keeping, it would've been very easy to shove too much into a week but the time-stamps and the way events unfolded was done very skilfully, which made it read like just a very busy week! This is a great YA book written in a lively style with a mix of the story told by protagonist Nikki along with a mix of diary style entries and thoughts.

After a painful betrayal by her sister and a heated argument with their mother, Nikki is kicked out and finds herself homeless. The one thing I struggled with a little was the pacing - I thought I knew where it was going when they started the road trip but that quickly got complicated.The story is interesting and i know young people will relate to parts of the story and the interactions between characters. Goffney has such a grasp on the teenage psyche that’s so fun to read while having really clear character development and lessons that I’m envious of the target audience for being able to these books young. Will Nikki find a reason to stay in Texas, or will this spring break be the last time she sees them? not to mention the marketing being all about getting with the mmc when that shit sorts itself out in the first hundred pages ? The author has taken very real experiences that often breed hopelessness and resentment, and instead of ignoring the reality of that, which she could have for the sake of a cute romance, she used the romantic plot as a vehicle for gaining self-awareness, empathy, and giving the MC a safe-base to touch back whenever she needed a breather.

I like how we got to explore all aspects of Nikki’s emotions, from the hate she has for her mother (rightfully so), the love, the anger.will this week give her the last push she needs to leave for good, or will she find a reason to stay? I would honestly love to see a sequel where we follow Nikki in her budding music career and to see her try to balance it with her relationship with Mal. The author says this is the first book she wrote since becoming a full-time author, I hope that means she'll have quicker turnover, although she stated that wasn't the case for this one. The book is a heartbreaking and raw exploration of Nikki's struggle with her mother's cruelty, highlighting the impact of neglectful parenting on a person's light. It’s also the moment the pair’s swoon-worthy romance really takes off, which sees their friendship develop into a deeper, more emotional connection that I absolutely loved.

Her relationship with her Mother is awful and she has nothing to keep her in Texas now that her good friend, and long term crush - Malachai, has a new girlfriend. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. I could identify with her internal conflict between wanting to protect herself and also wanting to give in and take the small blessings when they come. The 103 third parties who use cookies on this service do so for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalized ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products. Zacari, "Shackles (Praise You)" by Mary Mary, "Open My Heart" by Yolanda Adams, "Love on Top" by Beyoncé, "Mrs.A big part of Mal’s and Nikki’s friendship happens before this story and that sort of already established relationship is always tricky to pull off, but I thought it was done well. After a big fight and a betrayal from her sister, her mom kicks her out of the house, and she decides to flee to California and try her career in music. I began reading it in bed, with the intent to read a few chapters before sleep, but I ended up finishing it at 5am with tears streaming down my face.