Ambrosia Wellington is eager to leave the past behind but her college reunion is looming and she can't think of an excuse quickly enough, that will disallow her extroverted husband and herself from attending. A letter claiming to know exactly what she did and exactly why she is so reluctant to go back and face it arrives, becoming the final catalyst for her inevitable return down memory lane.
Much of this book was placed in the past, allowing the reader to witness the young adult Ambrosia navigate independence and her insecurities. Party animal, Sully, initially seemed like the liberator that would save her from fading into obscurity and give her the permission to act as wildly as she dared. However, their actions became increasingly harmful to both themselves and the others around them. They relentlessly continued, no matter the consequences and no matter who was trampled in the process, though.
This focus on the toxicities of a young female friendship continued throughout the entire book and I was unable to stop reading about the darker deeds this duo were enacting. The present-day Ambrosia was the result of the ructions they caused, as she lived a half-life, to compensate for her former excessive nature, and one seeped in lies, to disallow anyone who entered her life to know the devastation she had previously caused. This entire book was a ticking time bomb, leading to both a college-day and present-day explosion!
I was unable to stop reading and, despite her despicable actions, Flynn constructed Ambrosia as an individual that the reader still wished the best for. I did also want to give her a stern shake on many an occasion, though! Her growth was what I most ardently wanted, however. She had much to apologise for but facing it was the only way in which to do this. She seemed less like a bad individual and, instead, one unable to escape both her own mind and the fake image she had presented to the world, to cover the insecurities that plagued it.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, and the publisher, HQ, for this opportunity.
Much of this book was placed in the past, allowing the reader to witness the young adult Ambrosia navigate independence and her insecurities. Party animal, Sully, initially seemed like the liberator that would save her from fading into obscurity and give her the permission to act as wildly as she dared. However, their actions became increasingly harmful to both themselves and the others around them. They relentlessly continued, no matter the consequences and no matter who was trampled in the process, though.
This focus on the toxicities of a young female friendship continued throughout the entire book and I was unable to stop reading about the darker deeds this duo were enacting. The present-day Ambrosia was the result of the ructions they caused, as she lived a half-life, to compensate for her former excessive nature, and one seeped in lies, to disallow anyone who entered her life to know the devastation she had previously caused. This entire book was a ticking time bomb, leading to both a college-day and present-day explosion!
I was unable to stop reading and, despite her despicable actions, Flynn constructed Ambrosia as an individual that the reader still wished the best for. I did also want to give her a stern shake on many an occasion, though! Her growth was what I most ardently wanted, however. She had much to apologise for but facing it was the only way in which to do this. She seemed less like a bad individual and, instead, one unable to escape both her own mind and the fake image she had presented to the world, to cover the insecurities that plagued it.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, and the publisher, HQ, for this opportunity.