3.5 stars. I wanted to read this book because it was compared to Fault in Our Stars and Eleanor & Park, two of my most favorite books of all time. I really wanted to love this book, but I just liked it. It was too quirky, bordering on silly, if you edit all that, this book would have been fantastic.
My problem is with the character of Henry. He was indeed engaging – but maybe too much. It felt as if he was performing for us, the readers. He did not have that realistic quality to him that I try to look for in all my heroes and heroines. His interactions with his parents, friends and even, at times, Grace were not authentic ones either. Only in comedy movies do I witness parents being so nonchalant or friends acting so melodramatically and enthusiastically. But maybe I’m just a cynic? No sé.
My problem is with the character of Henry. He was indeed engaging – but maybe too much. It felt as if he was performing for us, the readers. He did not have that realistic quality to him that I try to look for in all my heroes and heroines. His interactions with his parents, friends and even, at times, Grace were not authentic ones either. Only in comedy movies do I witness parents being so nonchalant or friends acting so melodramatically and enthusiastically. But maybe I’m just a cynic? No sé.