I absolutely adored this book. I have been really starting to love contemporary British authors, and this author really sealed the deal for me. I am a full fledged literary Anglophile. I thought the story was honest, even if that meant being somewhat raw. While adults being in sexual relationships with children is a very serious topic, this book makes one understand how it can happen, without actually approving of it. Everything in the book acknowledges it is wrong.
I really felt a lot of empathy for Emily's character. I found her to be really well developed, and extraordinarily relatable. Because the story is from her point of view, we get to know her better than we do Jamie, because I think even Emily does not really know Jamie. I also loved that gay teen relationships were touched upon, without being exploited.
This is not a simple tale. It is tangled, messy, and one might not feel right about loving a book about as adult in a relationship with a teenager. But, the book is excellent. It quite reminded me of Notes on a Scandal, but with more of an emphasis on the loneliness that led to the affair. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Oh thanks Tiffany. Glad you liked it so much :-)
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