Let me start by saying this book had me hooked from the get-go, but not in the way I expected. The slow start almost made me put it down, but something about Bess and Joni's complicated friendship kept me turning pages.

I found myself reading late into the night, desperate to uncover the truth about what really happened that summer when they were 18. The way the author jumps between past and present creates this delicious tension - you know something terrible happened, but you don't know exactly what or who's to blame.

What surprised me most was how real these characters felt. They're messy, flawed, and sometimes downright unlikable - just like real people. There were moments I wanted to shake some sense into them, especially when they made those classic teenage mistakes we all regret.

The ending... well, let's just say I'm still thinking about it weeks later. While some might find it unsatisfying, I actually appreciate that not everything gets neatly wrapped up. Life isn't like that, especially when it comes to friendships that shape who we become.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely - but go in knowing this isn't a feel-good beach read. It's the kind of story that lingers in your mind long after you've closed the book.