When My Heart Joins the Thousand audiobook

I want to preface this review by saying that I am not autistic, not do I have the disability that Stanley suffers from, and I can only speak as an outsider looking in; however, any and all own-voice opinions and reviews would be welcomed and I would be happy to boost your review if you DM me or drop me a comment! Why did everyone act like it was my fault when the other kids bullied me? Why was I always the one who had to change? Going into a book with a romance between an autistic MC and her disabled love interest is the sort of thing that makes me feel very wary – will it be good, authentic rep? Will these characters be painted positively? Will I find myself knee-deep in tropes and cheap shots? Again, while I can’t speak from experience, I found myself feeling really pleased by the rep in this book and the way issues were handled. There were so many potential tropes that the author cleanly subverted, and I was so invested in this story and these characters that I genuinely did not want it to end. Happiness is not a priority. Survival is. Staying sane is. Pointing out that I’m not happy is like pointing out to a starving homeless man that he doesn’t have a sensible retirement plan. It might be true, but it’s entirely beside the point. As a child, Alvie was diagnosed with Asperger’s, and was told that she had to “get better”, or she would never get anywhere in life. Now, she’s 17 years old and determined to prove the world wrong, and wow, is she fierce. Her commitment to taking care of herself would be noble enough in any teen, but for her, the stakes are so much higher, and her fear of being put into a group home broke my heart. In fact, it was the very first thing in this story that was eye-opening for me: empathizing with the thought that someone could be threatened with having their freedoms taken away from them, just because they don’t interact with the world in what we’ve deemed as “socially acceptable”. Technically my condition doesn’t even exist anymore; if I ever go back to the doctor, they’ll presumably have to find some other label to stick on me. The specific words don’t matter. I’ll always be this way. Despite the fact that so much of the story is heavy, focusing on Alvie’s determination to simply survive through each day, her commentary on the world around her is refreshing and, often, really mood-lifting. She loves animals dearly and has some particularly wide words on nature as a whole, but also, she manages to point out how people, in their day-to-day lives, do so many strange or unnecessary things – whose authority was it to deem them as “normal”? The idea that autistic people don’t feel compassion is just an ugly stereotype, but it’s a viewpoint I’ve encountered even from some professionals, despite obvious evidence to the contrary. More than anything, though, I loved how kind Alvie is. She is so concerned with the world around her, and though she doesn’t always know how to express them, her intentions are always in the right place. Especially when she meets Stanley, the young man with the cane who comes to visit her park everyday. As she grows to know and care for him, Alvie cares more about his well-being than anything else, and she blooms into this incredibly loving and nurturing young woman, even when it means sacrificing her own happiness. Nothing about me is easy. If you asked me to choose who I loved more between Alvie and Stanley, to be honest, I don’t think I could. He matches Alvie’s compassion, but he’s terrified of not being “enough” – of being unable to protect her, or to be her equal, due to his own disability and mental health. Not only does he suffer from a condition called osteogenesis imperfecta – or, as he says, “a fancy way of saying my bones break easily” – but we also learn that familial abuse has given him terrible PTSD. We’ll come back to that in a moment, but it leads me to my next point: Does he assume that just because I’m different, I’m incapable of having a sexual relationship with anyone? That I’m unable even to feel desire? This story focuses on an incredible amount of sex, and the way that it is handled made me want to cry tears of joy, because it is absolutely the kind of rep that we need in YA/NA books. There is a tremendous amount of talk surrounding consent (especially due to Alvie’s touch aversions and sensitivity to stimulus), and the characters are unafraid to sit down and talk about what is or isn’t comfortable for them. There’s a lot of sex positivity regarding one night stands and casual sex, but there’s also mention of how emotional sex can be between two individuals who care deeply for one another.Both characters are virgins, and there are conversations about how terrifying that first time can be, or how toxic masculinity affects young men who don’t have sex immediately after puberty. There’s just so much important content about sex in this book, including the fact that, in this m/f couple, the guy is the one who’s “not ready”, and the girl is the one who has to tamp down her carnal desires and be patient. I just loved their whole relationship so much, for so many reasons, that I couldn’t even list them all here. “When the ones who hurt you are the people who love you most… no one ever tells you how you’re supposed to deal with that.” Finally, the last major topic Steiger addresses: abuse, in many different forms, as well as the guilt that can come with being an autistic or disabled individual with loved ones who don’t share your struggles. There is a lot of talk about feeling like a burden, or feeling “not good enough”, and Alvie shares a few flashbacks to painful moments and things her mother said to her, as well as an incredibly traumatic experience her mother put her through as a preteen. Despite all of these focuses on the negative outcomes of Alvie and Stanley’s respective family problems, the theme throughout the book remains the same: it should never be an autistic, mentally ill, or disabled person’s responsibility to feel guilty, useless, or broken. Instead, it should be society’s responsibility to learn how to offer compassion, empathy, accessibility, and understanding.When My Heart Joins the Thousand isn’t your typical contemporary, and these aren’t your typical YA characters. This story is so unique, and so precious, and so heavy, and so special. I am so, so happy to have had the opportunity to read it, and I sincerely hope that Steiger writes more important work like this in the future.Content warnings: ableism, PTSD, mental illness, assault, suicide, abuse, homophobia.All quotes are taken from an unfinished ARC and may differ from the finished product. Thank you so much to HarperTeen for granted me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Whoa! That was gut punch. Some tears were shed, but by the end, they were happy tears. This book provided such an interesting look at independence and finding one's self. This was quite an emotional journey, during which I shed many tears. But I can assure you, I was shedding happy tears by the end of this book.•Pro: I was such an Alvie fan. She was honest, to the point, and quite funny. She was a fantastic narrator, and I loved listening to her observations and musings. I also cared for her so much, she deserved so much more than the hand she was dealt, and I just wanted to see her achieve everything her heart desired. •Pro: I loved Stanley. He was sweet and caring, but most of all, he didn't want to change Alvie. He made an effort to learn about ASD, because he wanted to know how to make her more comfortable, not to "cure" her. •Pro: Alvie was a big reader, who mostly loved animals and science. There were so many cool discussion about the two. The science stuff I am well acquainted with, but I learned a ton about animals from her. •Pro: I have read a few books featuring neurodivergent characters, and this one ranks up with the great ones. It made me think so much about what is "normal" or "typical", and also wove things into the story to educate me about people on the spectrum and help clear up some of those misconceptions that run rampant. •Pro: My emotions! My emotions! For a good part of the book, there were these heartbreaking flashbacks that kept making me shed tears. I felt physical pain for Alvie and everything she had suffered in her past. I also shed some tears of joy, when things went her way. •Pro: Both Alvie and Stanley are dealing with rough pasts. I was overwhelmed with happiness when they found each other. Pro: A+ for that ending! I swear, it had me wanting to dance on the mountain top. Bravo! Overall: This story was, at times, intense and heartbreaking, but ultimately, hopeful. I absolutely enjoyed taking this journey with Alvie as she fought for to be independent, to survive, and to be loved. *ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

this was the type of book that makes time warp: you don’t even realize how much has passed because you’re so absorbed in it, until the world within its pages feels more real than the world that you actually occupy.i highly recommend that you read this book, and here’s why:it has both autism and disability rep (osteogenesis imperfecta, to be exact. basically, his bones break really easily.) i have neither, so i can’t speak from a place of knowledge that this representation was spot on. but i’ll admit that, as a reader, it (felt) immersive. the characters were the perfect place between flawed and perfect. they were lovable, and their pain felt like my pain. alvie’s autism is shown not only through the way she thinks and interacts with people, but also through her panic attacks and stimming. there are several subplots tied in with the most gorgeous writing. we begin with alvie, a seventeen year old girl who is hoping for emancipation. she has a job at the zoo, which is perfect for her, because she relates more to animals than she does to other people. for the most part, she is alone. she finds it hard to communicate with others, and we have a lack of characters who truly understand her autism. instead, they label her as different and other. then, we are introduced to stanley: he is both a friend and a love interest, and he is more patient with and understanding of her than anyone else in her life has ever been. as a generally sex-repulsed asexual, i don’t typically enjoy mentions of sex within novels, but i appreciated the way that it was handled in this one. this book is not just a love story, but an exploration of what it means to be different in a world that is so often harmful. it is a book about loving, and letting yourself be loved. it is a book about grief and loss and trauma and mental health. it is a book about sex and vulnerability and a one-winged hawk and rabbits. i recommend reading a list of the trigger warnings before reading it, but i thoroughly enjoyed this book. (it won a nutmeg book award, and i can see why. there should definitely be more fanfare about it on platforms such as this one, though!) it tore my heart to shreds and then gently glued it back together.

I just finished. I'm shaky. I will not read any reviews or anything about the author until I'm done writing this. What day is it? Friday. I guess I work tonight. I'm in a bathrobe (kind of ratty) and Birkenstocks because somehow it feels more comfortable to have them on than to be in bare feet these days. I turned the last page of the book, closed it, wiped my eyes, hugged it to my chest and smiled gently and here I am.I really don't know what any of you want to read and I sit here thinking about how these reviews are my outlet, my way of trying to make sense of all my feelings over a book. I have no objectivity. I really don't. If you thought maybe I had a bit, think again. I'm INFP. That either means something to you or it doesn't. In short, it's about feelings for me, the feelings. I was at a funeral this week and it was one about a big love story. I thought about the finite nature of our existence. And then, right book, right time. A very long time ago, when I was fifteen, someone gave me "Watership Down" and I read it. It was hardcover edition and had just been published. It was a huge gift to me at the time, the first hardcover book I'd ever owned. This author (I don't know one thing about this author, not a thing) obviously was very affected by "Watership Down." It's interesting to me how books get the "YA" rating. I wonder who reads this book and I wonder how many adults will miss it because of the "YA" categorizing? What's the book about, right? It's about opening up or shutting down. It's about joy and pain. It's about the myth of normalcy and the incredible drive and terror to be seen for our real selves, naked not just literally but figuratively. I think about the word love and how when I was young it was not used all the time. People did not "love" everything. Fries, movies, sweaters, cars. Well, maybe they did "love" them but it was just not a word that was overused. And now everyone loves everything or sometimes it seems like that and it bothers me. Sometimes I think about love being a verb and to say it we need to practice it, to live it. It's easy to say. Love, love, love, love, love , love. See? But to practice it, not just on days it's easy but on the days when it's not easy, when it's difficult, when storm clouds threaten and we're just tired and worn down. "When My Heart Joins the Thousand" reminded me of what love in it's purest form means. I am so very grateful to have read this book. I needed these pages right now more than words can say but I've tried to say it.Be good to each other,Pam/Fishgirl

3.5 starsWhen My Heart Joins the Thousand is a really cute contemporary book about a girl with autism and a boy with osteogenesis imperfecta. It's so rare that books about neurodivergent people are published, and I was thrilled to discover it existed. Even though not all neurodivergent people are the same, or even similar, the way Alvie was presented felt real and authentic.It's quite a slow book, and you have no idea where the plot will take you, but the ending filled my heart with joy and peace.

When My Heart Joins The Thousand offers a beautiful insight into growing up and learning to accept your self.Alvie has only another year until she will legally be free - free from fear of being returned to the foster care system, free to continue living on her own terms, free from the continual assessment of others as seeing her as something different, something other. When a young man enters the sphere of her daily routine she is at first shaken, but then takes up the opportunity to prove that even she can enjoy the closeness of others. But her relationship with Stanley is nothing like she imagined. As Alvie faces the challenges of living alone, fights for her freedom, and faces her past, it is her relationship with Stanley that prompts her to reassess everything she knows about herself and love.Well, that is one intense prologue. Talk about getting thrown right into the story. Actually, intense is the perfect descriptor for this book. It tackles so many important themes in an upfront and honest way. It is intense in an unputdownable way and I greatly enjoyed reading Alvie's story.Alvie is a wonderful narrator and main character - she is the driving force behind this book and the reason it is so powerful. It is her story, told in her way. Alvie has Aspergers. At times, it defines who she believes she is and what she can do, but this book focuses on her journey of seeing herself outside of her diagnosis and outside of her past. When My Heart Joins the Thousand captures all the complexities and ups and downs as Alvie fights to become emancipated, as she faces the continued challenge of others' judgment or expectations, as she struggles to balance steady employment and housing, and as she meets Stanley and assesses how this will change the routine of her life. Alvie is a unique, individual, and deeply layered character - perfect for this character-driven novel.Alvie and Stanley's relationship is both heartbreaking and incredibly sweet. Neither of them has anyone else on whom to lean. They need each other and yet they are both so afraid of hurting each other. Their romance may not have a conventional start, in fact, there may not be anything 'standard' about their relationship, but instead it is authentic and incredibly moving. I loved Stanley. Loved his deeply caring nature. Loved his patience with Alvie as she both pushes him away and pulls him close. As Alvie slowly learns more about him and his story, it was so easy to fall in love with him. When My Heart Joins The Thousand is suitable for a very mature young adult audience. I would actually classify it as new adult fiction, due in part because of the frequent and detailed sexual content, but also because the challenges the characters face are very much relevant for an older young adult reader. That said, I think it is the perfect addition to this crossover category, offering a much-needed, well-considered, and powerful approach to issues surrounding coming of age, relationships, and independence.When My Heart Joins The Thousand is a powerful novel that captures the anguish of being different and the magic that comes from being accepted for who you are. Romance, self-discover, and triumph over emotional trauma combine in this heartfelt novel. The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library.

Originally posted at NOVELcravings, review copy courtesy of Harper Collins.This is one of those books that upon finishing it, I hugged it tightly to my chest. And I know that it is undoubtedly one of the best books of 2018 and I wish more people were talking about it! The author had me fall in love with her characters, care greatly for their journey and put me through every emotion possible. It was both movingly beautiful and painfully heartbreaking. If you read When My Heart Joins The Thousand, and let me be clear I recommend it to everyone, you will know what I mean.The main character, Alvie is a foster child who lives independently while pursuing emancipation. Her fear is that she will be placed in a group home if the judge decides her Aspergers means she is incapable of being a functioning member of society. I can’t speak for the rep in this book, and there’s a lot, (mental health, abuse, disability, autism) but I think it was done well and handled respectfully. Like I said, this book makes you feel the whole rainbow of emotions. I felt love and admiration for Alvie because she never gives up despite all she’s been through. I was angry for her, at the broken system that failed her and must fail people in real life. I was disgusted actually, that society expected her to “get better” and be “normal”. But I also felt a lot of happy, especially every time Alvie did something outside her comfort zone, she is a truly inspiring character.People with Aspergers tend to be blunt and so was the writing, in a way I think more YA should be. Teens don’t only need flowery stories of happy ever after, they need real stories that reflect the lives they live every day. Alvie doesn’t always understand sarcasm or societies way of constantly putting on a show. For example, when she has to attend court she can’t understand why a suit, instead of jeans and a t-shirt, helps prove her ability to be independent. And she’s right. I could relate to that. The characters are also very frank and honest about sex – this is so important for YA! Communication was clear, consent was there. Thank you, A J Steiger, for writing about two teens who handled sex in a very healthy way. This is what I would want my teenager to read.Let it be known, the writing and pacing and all that important jazz were good. But I won’t talk about that in detail because more importantly, this book moved me. It is rare that a book makes me feel all the feels I did with this one AND I still think about it almost daily. I can’t tell you the last time a book impacted me like this.I gave this book all the stars.Go read it.

This book did an excellent job of making me care about its characters. Alvie is a 17-year old girl with Asperger's, and her journey is one that is emotional and awful and beautiful. I so rooted for her!I'm so glad that books like this one and TV shows like Atypical are depicting those on the autism scale who seem often misunderstood and mistreated. It feels like a small glimpse into their lives, and I appreciated this book's unflinching look there.This is great story that truly moved me - I hope everyone picks it up.

This is a beautiful book about two people figuring out personhood and falling in love. The characters felt true and realistic, and the way the learned to deal with their trauma was healthy. This book makes me want to be a better person.

I liked the honesty of the book and the characters it introduced us to. I do think that that honesty is also the book weak point sometimes and the book sins of being too blunt but it goes with one the characters having Asperger syndrome and it feels very real. I always love quirky characters.

This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction AddictionThis book was a bit of a surprise for me. I went into it not remembering much about the storyline---I honestly just remembered that a blogger friend adored it and she made me add it to my TBR.The story focuses on Alvie, a girl with autism, and her struggles to find her way in the world and get people to see her as a fully functioning member of society.I have to stop here to say that I don't have autism myself, though I have some experience with it (that's a long story that I won't go into right now), but the way that Alvie is portrayed feels very authentic to me based on my knowledge of it (with the caveat that there is no one "autism experience"). If you want an #OwnVoices opinion, you should read Cait @ Paper Fury's Review. Now back to my thoughts...Alvie's struggles to get people to truly see her are both heartbreaking and heartwarming. She doesn't see herself as broken (at all), but she does realize that sometimes her neurodiversity makes life harder and she understands why people sometimes struggle to relate to her. I loved that, for the most part, there was no blame assigned---only a lack of understanding that needs to be fixed. And I also really appreciated that the moral of the story wasn't that Alvie needed to fix herself in order to have a successful and fulfilling life.This book isn't an easy one. Not only is Alvie autistic, but she's struggling to get past a trauma from early in life. And then there's her love interest Stanley, who suffers from a genetic disease and also has some psychological trauma to get past. (I have to admit that by the time we got to that part, I felt like it was a little bit of "issue" overkill---but unfortunately in real life, mental trauma and physical/neurodiversity issues often go hand in hand, so I don't know that I'd call it unbelievable.) This book is one that will twist your emotions into knots and get you thinking. I did see the main reveal coming from almost the very beginning, but that didn't impact my enjoyment of the book. I highly recommend this one!NARRATION: Tavia Gilbert was the perfect narrator for this book. I felt like she captured Alvie's somewhat impassionate voice incredibly well, but still pulled us into the story---that seems like a difficult task! She also did an excellent job with the male voices in the book (enough that I specifically noted it).***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review (though I ended up listening to the audiobook version from my library). No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

Jeder von uns ist ein Rätsel von A.J. Steiger ist leider noch nicht so präsent in den sozialen Medien wie es eigentlich sein müsste. Das Buch beschäftigt sich mit dem Thema Autismus und ist deshalb ein sehr wichtiger Titel der unbedingt mehr Aufmerksamkeit braucht.In dem Buch geht es um Alvie,die es relativ schwer hat soziale Kontakte zu knüpfen da sie an einer Form des Autismus leidet: Asperger! Sie ist intelligent, sehr zurückhaltend, mit Emotionen kann sie wenig anfangen aber mit Tieren kommt sie super zurecht. Alvie hat es geschafft sich ein geordnetes und routiniertes Leben aufzubauen, dies ändert sich als sie Stanley kennen lernt. Von diesem Moment an beginnt für die beiden eine Zeit die nicht nur Ihr Leben auf den Kopf stellt sondern auch ihre Ansichten auf das Leben, Trauer Schmerz aber auch die Liebe in ein anderes Licht rückt.Die Geschichte ist so authentisch und spannend geschrieben wie ich es schon lange nicht mehr erlebt habe. Da wir in der Familie selbst ein Kind mit Asperger haben konnte ich mich sehr gut in Alvie hinein versetzten und Ihre Besonderheiten nachempfinden. Die Autorin schafft es sehr gut die Krankheit in all ihren Facetten zu beschreiben. Durch Alltagssituationen zeigt sie welche Probleme Alvie hat und wie die Gesellschaft mit solchen Menschen umgeht. Die beiden Protagonisten sind so tiefgründig, intelligent und stark geworden das man gar nicht aufhören möchte zu lesen um zu sehen wie sie Ihre Probleme angehen. Denn nicht nur Alvie hat Probleme im Alltag auch Stanley hat es nicht leicht gehabt im Leben. Die beiden versuchen, jeder auf seine Art, dem anderen zu helfen. Es ist gerade zu unglaublich wie die beiden Charaktere langsam zusammen finden und durch ihre Situation aber auch wieder von einander abdriften. Man begleitet dieses tolle Pärchen auf dem Weg in Ihre eigenen Normalität.Was mir gut gefallen hat ist das in dem Buch Liebe nicht als Allheilmittel angesehen wird, sondern das Liebe eben auch ein großes Problem sein kann wenn man nicht mit sich selbst zufrieden ist.

I suppose I should start out by saying that I am not on the spectrum and I also don't have a chronic condition like Stanley's, so I'm not sure how authentic the rep is in this story. But it was very eye-opening for me and it felt very authentic to me. I would be very interested to read the opinions of those who would better know what an authentic rep should be like. But I honestly loved this story. In some ways, this was a pretty heavy book because of the topics that were covered, and my heart especially hurt when reading about the bullying that Alvie had to deal with, both from the ignorant as well as those who were small-minded and deliberately vicious. But despite the hard moments, there were moments of humor and sweetness that made me laugh out loud and tear up. I was a huge fan of both Alvie and Stanley and loved Alvie's narration. She was honest, kind, and absolutely empathic, especially toward animals. She was also fierce and there were so many moments when I wanted to affirm her to her face. Stanley, too, was amazingly kind and thoughtful and watching them find each other and lift each other up was just a wonderful thing to read. Some people may have found the pacing on the slow side, but I really felt it fit the story. Both Alvie and Stanley had been through so much that I think they had to take the time to learn about each other, and about themselves, as seen through the eyes of the other. It was a joy to see each of them come to some sort of realization about themself. Overall, I found this story to be very heartwarming, emotional, sometimes intense, and sometimes very funny. I definitely recommend this story!

I absolutely loved this book. It's an unconventional love story between two imperfect people. Alvie is hard to like (she's not good with people at all) and Stanley is incredibly shy and both bear scars from their respective families. Life has not been particularly kind to either of them. And yet, they've managed to carve out their spaces in the world. When they meet, they manage to form a friendship that---of course, right?---becomes something else. And yet this love story defies expectations at every turn.  It broke my heart and made me smile and was exactly the story I needed. I cannot recommend it fiercely enough.

♥ Find my reviews here: Literary Meanderings- - -As a sort of disclaimer before this review: I just want to say that I am in no way able to review this as someone who personally understands either Asperger's or the medical condition Stanley suffers from, as I have neither. I can only review this book as an outsider looking in. :)That being said, I loved this book!Alvie was a lovely character. She is 17 years old and seeking emancipation so that she can avoid being “in the system” until she is 18. She is simple, yet complex. She loves animals and identifies with the rabbit(s) in the book Watership Down. In many ways, Alvie is like them; trying to survive in a harsh world where things are working against you. I can see why she loves and quotes this book so much in When My Heart Joins the Thousand. The story is a big source of strength for Alvie.We go through a good portion of the book knowing that Alvie isn't like most girls her age, but not having an actual name for what is different about her (I refuse to say "wrong" with her, because it isn't wrong to be different). Ignorant people (kids/teens) in the book refer to her as “retarded” or make fun of her for simply being “weird”. It was apparent to me, personally, that she was somewhere within the autism spectrum, but I don't know enough about it to have pinned it down. This book inspired me to read more about it, and I found out that Asperger's has only recently been considered to be within the spectrum of autism. I will say this: I do work with someone with Asperger's. He's 21 years old, so not TOO much older than Alvie. Alvie portrayed similar characteristics to this person. So, for me, when it was finally unveiled, it all made sense. I don't know everything about Asperger's, but based on my limited knowledge, I thought Alvie was portrayed very well.As for where her parents went? Well, I am ashamed to say I don't remember any mention of her father. I know he wasn't in the book, but I don't remember if he died or left the family. BUT, there is a lot of flashback on Alvie and her mother. The story is actually quite tragic and sad. Alvie's mother struggled greatly with having an autistic daughter. She couldn't understand it and just decided to medicate the hell out of Alvie and make things worse. Eventually, things take a terrible turn, and this ends with her mother dying and leaving Alvie in search of emancipation. I very much enjoyed the flashback elements of the story. It made me feel so much sympathy and empathy for Alvie that I was in tears. It was so important to the story and so well done on the author's part.I think it is important to note that, regardless of her having Asperger's, Alvie was able to live independently. She is proof that you don't have to be held back by something like this. She had her own apartment, a job, and eventually, a romantic relationship. Did she have struggles? ABSOLUTELY. But who doesn't? I cry at work at least once a week due to severe anxiety. We all struggle. What matters is what we do when faced with these challenges. So, when Alvie loses her job, she applies at every place she can in search of a new job. She works very hard to make sure she can pay her bills, just like everyone else. She is different, but she is not. I think a bit part of this story was highlighting the fact that she, and others like her, can do anything we can do. They can live a full, productive life.Let's touch on the romance, shall we? It was realistically awkward and adorable. Alvie first discovers Stanley when she begins to see him in a park she frequents daily. One of these days, he's visibly upset and throws his phone into a pond. Alvie decides to fish it out after he leaves and fixes it. She then ends up emailing him to say HEY, I SAVED YOUR PHONE FROM AN UNTIMELY DEATH. The two talk via internet for awhile and become friends. Eventually the two meet in person. Alvie has a certain proposition for Stanley, and this sparks a more intimate relationship. The two of them struggle through this relationship for many reasons—some of it due to Alvie, some of it not—but they ultimately work it out and it is beautiful. The two of them find comfort and strength in the other. They have a special romance that is unlike any other I've read about before. I loved it and it even brought me to tears when I was nearing the end of the book. Just lovely.The only negative I have for this book is that the story itself seemed to drag a bit at times, slowing down a lot in places. It wasn't a big deal, clearly, but worth mentioning.Overall, this book is just amazing! The characters are so very unique and lovable. I was extremely invested in their stories both together and apart. I think this book is a wonderful example of a strong female character overcoming obstacle after obstacle and still coming out on top. The entire story is very emotionally moving and deeply touching. I definitely recommend it for everyone. :)- - -Book source: Via publisher for reviewPublisher: HarperTeen• For more of my reviews, check out my blog!