In Perfect Light

by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

From award-winning poet Benjamin Alire Sáenz comes In Perfect Light, a haunting novel depicting the cruelties of cultural displacement and the resilience of those who are left in its aftermath.

In Perfect Light is the story of two strong-willed people who are forever altered by a single tragedy. After Andés Segovia's parents are killed in a car accident when he is still a young boy, his older brother decides to steal the family away to Juárez, Mexico. That decision, made with the best intentions, sets into motion the unraveling of an American family.

Years later, his family destroyed, Andés is left to make sense of the chaos -- but he is ill-equipped to make sense of his life. He begins a dark journey toward self-destruction, his talent and brilliance brought down by the weight of a burden too frightening and maddening to bear alone. The manifestation of this frustration is a singular rage that finds an outlet in a dark and seedy El Paso bar -- leading him improbably to Grace Delgado.

Recently confronted with her own sense of isolation and mortality, Grace is an unlikely angel, a therapist who agrees to treat Andés after he is arrested in the United States. The two are suspicious of each other, yet they slowly arrive at a tentative working relationship that allows each of them to examine his and her own fragile and damaged past. Andés begins to confront what lies behind his own violence, and Grace begins to understand how she has contributed to her own self-exile and isolation. What begins as an intriguing favor to a friend becomes Grace's lifeline -- even as secrets surrounding the death of Andés' parents threaten to strain the connection irreparably.

With the urgent, unflinching vision of a true storyteller and the precise, arresting language of a poet, Sáenz's In Perfect Light bears witness to the cruelty of circumstance and, more than offering escape, the novel offers the possibility of salvation.

Genres: Contemporary, LGBT, Fiction, Young Adult, Queer, Adult, Realistic Fiction

328 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Benjamin Alire Sáenz (born 16 August 1954) is an award-winning American poet, novelist and writer of children's books.

He was born at Old Picacho, New Mexico, the fourth of seven children, and was raised on a small farm near Mesilla, New Mexico. He graduated from Las Cruces High School in 1972. That fall, he entered St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, Colorado where he received a B.A. degree in Humanities and Philosophy in 1977. He studied Theology at the University of Louvain in Leuven, Belgium from 1977 to 1981. He was a priest for a few years in El Paso, Texas before leaving the order.

In 1985, he returned to school, and studied English and Creative Writing at the University of Texas at El Paso where he earned an M.A. degree in Creative Writing. He then spent a year at the University of Iowa as a PhD student in American Literature. A year later, he was awarded a Wallace E. Stegner fellowship. While at Stanford University under the guidance of Denise Levertov, he completed his first book of poems, Calendar of Dust, which won an American Book Award in 1992. He entered the Ph.D. program at Stanford and continued his studies for two more years. Before completing his Ph.D., he moved back to the border and began teaching at the University of Texas at El Paso in the bilingual MFA program.

His first novel, Carry Me Like Water was a saga that brought together the Victorian novel and the Latin American tradition of magic realism and received much critical attention.

In The Book of What Remains (Copper Canyon Press, 2010), his fifth book of poems, he writes to the core truth of life's ever-shifting memories. Set along the Mexican border, the contrast between the desert's austere beauty and the brutality of border politics mirrors humanity's capacity for both generosity and cruelty.

In 2005, he curated a show of photographs by Julian Cardona.

He continues to teach in the Creative Writing Department at the University of Texas at El Paso.

Reviews

[Liz Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read this book, I had already read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe and Last Night I Sang to the Monster, so I knew how he could play with emotions, but I was not prepared for the pain this caused.

Now here there are three things this book did right:

1-Mister, his character was adorable, so nice, kind, forgivable, and I just want to cuddle him, and so will you.

2-The representation of transgender characters was brilliant, as well as the underlying theme of the U.S.-Mexico border. I did not know that things were that way, the prostitution, rape, poverty, murders.

3- The lyrical way he writes, so beautiful that you dream of a happy ending.

So read this whether or not you are a fan of Benjamin Alire Sáenz, because the message here is beautifully clear.

[Fabian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unputdownable, the structure of this novel makes it somehow easier to digest. The theme: Nowhere Man is the product of an insensitive atmosphere. Yeah, sometimes a tad "Lifetime"y, this novel tells about two souls living in the borderland I call home: each one is full-fleshed and fully-realised. It is clear that the author invested an infintesimal amount of time figuring out who they are and what they want. The depictions of violence, not altogether something fictional in El Paso/Juarez, and the realism that this place actually exists dammit...just the mere fact that places like Ascarate and Mesa St. and Dolce Vita Coffeehouse (even, I guess, fucking Chico's Takz) are given swift but realistic visits...well, that makes it particularly relevant to me, to anyone who knows Saenz, to any El Pasoan.

[Philip Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my top of most heartbreaking of works that managed to still build my faith in what can be humane within the inhumanity.

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

No me conmovió ni un poquito.Tiene un montón de POVs que tardan mucho en conectar y el relato es muuuy pausado.

[Isis Molina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried sad tears. I cried happy tears.

I swear, one day, Benjamin Alire Saenz will be the death of me.



Going into this, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. Benjamin Alire Saenz is my favorite author. I've read most of his novels, short stories, and poetry. I keep coming back to his writing looking for heartfelt stories with realistic characters going through real-life issues, and he always delivers. Another important factor about his stories is that they always revolve around Mexican-American people, and that is incredibly significant to me, as a Mexican woman. Still, some of his previous works have not really impressed me, such as Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood and He Forgot to Say Goodbye. These are the last novels I'd read by him, and I figured maybe I wouldn't be able to connect with his older works as much as I have with his newer ones, such as Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club and Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. I was wrong.

In Perfect Light is one of the most beautiful, carefully crafted works of fiction I have ever had the pleasure of reading. This story is painful, so painful, but so worth the pain. I've noticed this trend in Saenz's novels, that of sorrowful journeys leading to a hopeful, brighter ending, and that is just what this one offered. I love these type of stories the most.

"Maybe it's better if people think you're stupid or slow. They don't expect anything. I live in a world that doesn't expect anything of me because it's already decided I don't matter."

We follow the very different lives of Andres and Grace. The former is a young man who keeps getting into trouble with the law, and who carries the weight of a terrible past on his shoulders. And the latter is a woman who struggles to show her affection to her son, and debates on the right choice to make regarding her new circumstances. Both of these characters come together through counseling, and we learn about both of their heartache.

I wasn't kidding when I said I cried. At one point, this book seriously took my breath away. Everything that happened took me by surprise, and it felt like it was happening to real people I cared about. I wanted to reach into the pages and make things better for everyone. I couldn't believe how much Saenz managed to hurt these poor characters, but it never got to be that bad. I usually hate sad books, but this wasn't just another sad story. This felt genuine. The hardships shown were not in vain, they were there for a reason, and the conclusion was worth getting to.

"He walked into his apartment, opened a window, and looked out into the night. He remembered the boy who used to count stars."

I could sit here and praise Saenz, praise this book and every single word written in it, but I have no further words to describe how much I loved it, and how much it means to me. I think everyone could take something from this novel.

[anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

rep: predominantly Mexican-American cast, trans side character

this book ripped my heart out, crushed it into tiny pieces & set it on fire

& still, it was beautiful and soft and left me feeling calm

tw: rape, mentions of sexual abuse, pedophilia, child abuse, drugs, prostitution, terminal illness

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

"That was the problem with the world - it never stayed quiet long enough to listen."

Why do you keep doing this to me, Ben?
Why are your words always so painful and beautiful at the same time?

[Milly Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

ufffffffffffff

y me quedo corta!!

[Fadzlishah Johanabas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fell in love with Benjamin Alire Saenz's writing when I was reading Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. Not after. During. What I did after was look for more books from Mr Saenz. Unfortunately, Kinokuniya only carried another title, Last Night I Sang to the Monster. I had to buy other books through Amazon.com.

I love technology.

In Perfect Light arrived a little worse for wear, with dented and creased edges, brownish discoloration of the pages, and a black marker mark at the bottom. It's the first paperback edition, printed in 2008 (the hardcover was first published in 2005). I've had it for a couple of years now, I think, but only came around to reading it last Sunday. And I finished it in one night.

I love the book.

Specifically, I love the story. Mr Saenz is a brilliant storyteller. Having read several novels and a book of poem of his, I appreciate the recurring themes he employs in his writing. He conveys the harsh beauty of the desert and El Paso, Texas. He brings to light perspectives and characters that are inherently Mexican, the pain of life as harsh as the desert. The pain that only he can tell, the way he tells it.

In Perfect Light tells the story of twenty-six-year-old Andres Segovia who, because of his past (which unravels as the book progresses), has lost his drive to live. He's not suicidal, but living for him means getting through the day, pushing everyone away. The book also tells the stories of three main supporting characters, Dave Duncan, who is Andres's lawyer and guardian angel, Grace Delgado, a therapist who has helped Dave before, and now is recruited to help Andres, and Mister Delgado, Grace's son who, despite not having any direct contact with Andres, plays a pivotal role in helping the story reach its end.

In Perfect Light is, despite its name, far from perfect. There are short chapters, interludes, that are told in the present tense, that show a glimpse of all four main characters at that very same moment. These interludes take getting used to, and they distract readers (well, me at least) from the story. There are parts where we jump into one character's head for a short dialog-paragraph when the section is told in another's perspective. There are long-winded sentences that have no punctuation marks. There are conversations in Mexican that are not translated into English and at times can alienate readers who do not understand the language. The prose itself, when compared to the elegance that is Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, feels clumsy. The beat, the lyrical arrangement, the signature storytelling are all there, but less refined. Perhaps the reason is that In Perfect Light was written years before Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. Perhaps this book was written this way for an adult audience, and the other was made more minimalist for its target young adult audience. The magic that Mr Saenz offers in his works is still there, just not as brilliant as I expect of him.

That said, the story itself makes up for more than the clunky prose. There is pain in this book, pain that transcends written words, transcends fiction. Andres's pain, his past and his present, it feels real. It is real. Andres is not a character out of a book, but a young man who has been through so much hurt, it's a miracle he's still a whole person. Andres's character and past are similar to Zach's in Last Night I Sang to the Monster, and like other main characters in Mr Saenz's other books, has an affinity toward poetry and the beauty of the desert. Despite his harsh upbringing, Andres has an unquenchable thirst for books and learning, and this thirst makes him stand out, and saves his life.

All four main characters in this book are fully fleshed out, and feel absolutely real, but it is Andres that pulls us in. It is his past that brings us to tears, and it is his pain that makes us want to reach out to him. Even though it has been several days since I finished reading the book, I still think about Andres. I want to buy him lunch and just hang out with him. I want to show him that I'm there for him, whenever he's ready to reach out to others. I want to sit beside him as he leans back against the wall, a lit cigarette in one hand, and a crumpled piece of paper with a poem he's written in the other. I want to hug him and tell him that everything will be all right. I don't know if anything will be, but I want to tell him that.

I wish I were half as good a writer as Mr Saenz is. I wish I can have that effect on others, that they want to hang out with the characters in my stories, that they want to hug them and tell them that everything will be all right.

For me, this book is not about the technique or the poetry in the prose or the storytelling. I can talk about the plot, but I want you to experience it yourself. This book is about evoking a raw urge to protect children from the ugliness in the world, and if that is too late, help them see the beauty the world still has to offer. It's about realizing the depth of a person's resilience, and the strength of one's spirit.

It's about Andres Segovia, who, despite being a fictional character, feels so real that I hope one day he'll read this, and know that there is still beauty in the world. There are still things that can be seen in perfect light.

To all the Andres Segovias out there, I don't know how, I don't know when, but things will be all right.

Never lose hope.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the tragedy because sadness consumes us all.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

"He's like a sunflower, Grace. He leans into me as if I were the source of all light."

If I could count every star in the night sky, I would give each one to In Perfect Light.

Benjamin Alire Sáenz is a masterful writer. His ability to create characters and stories with such depth and complexity is nothing short of extraordinary. The lyrical quality of his writing is so deeply infused with emotion that it's impossible not to be moved while reading it. The way the story is told is so unique and unexpected, and the characters—my goodness, the characters—I cared so deeply for every single one of them.

In Perfect Light is nothing short of perfection.

"She stores so many of his words in her head that she feels as if she has become nothing more than a book he has written."

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I talked about this book in my Hispanic Heritage Reads wrap-up video.

I stayed up past my bedtime to read the last 50% of this book and I'm pretty sure there were tears for most of that time. This was not an easy book to read for me and part of the reason I just sat down and finished it off was because prolonging it was making me "dread" the reading experience. I kept thinking, "oh no! Sad things are going to happen!" I know, weird. And still I gave it five stars because this is a beautifully written story.

There are multiple threads here but the story centers around Andres Segovia, a man struggling so much with his rage that he lashes out twice in the beginning chapters of the story. The story tells us in bits and pieces why Andy carries around that rage and and what has happened in his life, starting with the death of both his parents when he was just 10 years old. It never got easier for Andres from that moment. Never got easier than being orphaned. We hear the bits of his story as he relives them or tells them to his lawyer Dave (who we learn is more connected to Andres than we realize at first) and his therapist Grace (who is a widow and dealing with a new diagnosis). We also meet Grace's son, Mister, who is trying to adopt a little boy who happens to be blind.

I don't know if I've mentioned yet but it's a devastating story. The prose, though, was fluid and effortless and lyrical, but in an understated way. It isn't that Alire Saenz is particularly flowery, but just that his words seem like they all fit perfectly. His words flow and speak so much truth into this devastating story. Anything more sensational or less thoughtful or less grounded in human experiences would've come off as tragedy porn. This was devastating (have I said that yet?) because it was too real.

I love, love the way the prose was set-up. We followed around the four characters and got their points of view, but every once in a while, there was this piece of omniscient text that placed everyone within a stretch of time. Something like, as Andy left the bar, Grace was with her Doctor and Mister was kissing his wife and Dave was in the courtroom. It just gave you such a sense of the whole story with all of its moving parts. It was a lovely way to tie everything together and anchor it down in specific times.

This book definitely explores some difficult topics including sexual assault, child molestation, child abuse, terminal illness and drug abuse. I would proceed with caution if need be.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saenz makes me cry.
He is a poet, who writes about beauty and truth and love. His characters are broken and fragile and beautiful of spirit. He writes of heartbreak, healing and hope, always leaving us with hope fluttering fragilely in the final pages of his novels. He takes us on a journey of suffering and rendition, which we know will end in light.

In this story, though, Saenz is a painter; he concentrates on light and shadow, and his characters notice things and people and their changing appearances in light and greyness. They are creatures who stretch toward the sunlight, thriving when it is kind, wilting when too harsh; and dying in dark corners for the want of it.

Most of Saenz' characters in the books that I have read so far are abused and frightened and vulnerable and despairing, and replete with the unrestrained brutal beauty of the human spirit. He does not flinch at describing the origins of the horror they carry around with them, trying to escape it but unable to take the steps to trust another person, which is their only hope for healing. Saenz' wise drawing of character in tragedy teaches us the meaning of existence. When his characters are coaxed to take a step towards life or to love another, it is a thing of precious beauty which reads like clear water to one parched in the dessert.

[Alyssa Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

i wish i had never rated another book 5 stars before this one. sure, those books were worthy but i have never loved a book like i love this one. for so many reasons. i don’t know what to say that i haven’t already said about ben’s work. he has certain themes that are a common thread throughout his writing like rain and pain and tragedy and love so deep and pure that it surpasses importance of labels such as ‘romantic’ or ‘platonic’ or ‘familial’ and stories that find each other and evolve from tangled to necessarily connected. there is always loss. there are always damaged characters. there are always characters who serve as lights in the darkness of one person’s story while also living in their own darkness. nobody does any of this better than ben. the majority of his novels have all these aspects, but with different storylines and different characters. it just so happens that this particular story and set of characters touched me so deeply. maybe it was the fact that a woman could turn soft the heart of a man seemingly damaged beyond repair. or how a father’s instant love could make a little boy speak for the first time. or it could just be how much of a sucker for tragedy i am (because the segovia story truly is heartbreaking). nonetheless, this book has my heart and has tied the number one spot for my all-time favorite book.

[Ciphertext · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't talk, lungs are full of tears.

Sáenz once again absolutely pounds me into the ground with his visceral human characters and how they experience and cope with their trauma. Devastating story with a hopeful ending (a Sáenz speciality, I notice), I think I cried more reading this book than I cried in the entire last quarter of 2024. And that's saying a lot 'cause I cry all the time for no reason.

A lot of relevant themes explored that are pervasive and current to the world today, through the lens of someone who has been constantly stomped on by life since he was young. Definitely a character-driven story, as is usual for Sáenz, crafted expertly.

As with Last Night I Sang To The Monster, this story comes with almost every trigger warning imaginable.

I need to devour every other book this man has written at once tbh.

[Noura · Rating 2 out of 5]

// Trigger warnings in this book: rape, abuse, pedophilia, depression, loss //

2.5

It pains me to give a book by Benjamin Alire Sáenz this rating but here I am anyway. Sáenz said this was his best book and I understand why.
But I couldn't get past how the transitions were rough and that there were too many things happenings with no real 'focal' point. & while I enjoyed the ending that had me at the edge of my seat at work (literally) and blinking away tears, it was too rushed and scattered to have the effect intended.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uhm.
So.

THIS BOOK DESTROYED ME.

I really don't quite know how to articulate what beautiful a story this is.

It's been a long time since a book has had such an emotional impact on me. So I thought I'd at least try to type some words about this wonderful, wonderful book.

"In Perfect Light" tells the story of Andrés Segovia, a young man burdened by the memories of his past, trapped inbetween remembering and forgetting, and Grace Delgado, a therapist, who has lost a husband, is struggling to love a son and is confronted by another death, this time her own. And you will find in this book the story of how Grace and André's lifes intertwine in the best possible ways.

It is also, for me at least, very much a story about hope, about moving towards the light (or, to use a Sam word, being phototactic).

IT'S SO DAMNED GOOD.

How can a book show the worst of humanity (I mean feature the absolute worst !!! scumbags !!! walking !! this earth!!) and yet also manage to show how much light this world holds?

The characters of André Segovia and Grace Delgado have robbed a piece of my heart and I doubt that'll change anytime soon.

And one last thing, just because it needs to be said. Andrés Segovia: you have a beautiful heart.

*****5 stars, but really, all the stars in the universe*****


[Sam talking to Grace about baby Mister]

"He likes to laugh. He doesn't fight me, Grace. He just, well, he just sort of leans into me. He's photo tactic."

"Photo tactic? Is that a Sam word?" It had to be a Sam word. He loved photo words.

"Of course it is. He's like a sunflower, Grace. He leans into me as if I were the source of all light."



✨For years I dreamed your eyes as black as night
I long to see your face in perfect light.✨

[atlas · Rating 3 out of 5]

*2.5 stars*

ok it makes me sad to give a saenz book such a rating but i had to do it 😬😬 i love the simplicity in saenz's writing and how he manages to still make it sound all too magical!! but in this one his prose felt all forced and shallow, the ending rushed, and the pov changing every two pages was annoying at times. there are still moments of beauty in in perfect light, but those moments are too far from each other.

[Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no other author that can crack your chest open and get at your heart quite like Sáenz. I find myself brought to tears at the end of all of his books because of the raw emotions that he makes you feel. This novel breaks your heart and mends it back together, cracked and perfect. It wrings you out until you are hollow but fills you back up.

[hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic

[Tamar Elmensdorp-lijzenga · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written story about love and loss. About hope and despair. About letting go and finding strength. About chance encounters. About life.

[haven koehler · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10 ⭐️

[Tracy Plane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and heartbreaking. Can’t stop thinking about it. Gives ‘A Little Life’ and Junot Diaz vibes. Don’t pick this up if you’re looking for something cheery.

[Myndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent writing but the saddest effing story ever.

[Lisa Trank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterful. Sáenz weaves together a heart-breakingly touching human quilt of loss, love, and how deeply we want to stay connected. I'm so very grateful to have discovered this writer - his voice is one that is so needed.

[Yaya Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow the last 30 pages had me sobbing. Not only was the writing in this story absolutely beautiful but so was the growth of the characters. Loved it and would recommend to someone who appreciates good writing and a great story

[Erick Adams Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

¿Cómo es que los libros de Alire Sáenz a pesar de ser tan similares y predecibles terminan afectándome de la misma manera? Simplemente no lo sé, pero es fácil encariñarse con los personajes que hay en esta novela porque a pesar de estar rotos y desorientados logran conservar una pizca de esperanza que los anima a seguir e intentarlo una y otra vez. Otra de las cosas que agradezco de esta novela es que los personajes sean mexicanos (o no) y no se avergüencen de México ni se enorgullezcan de USA, son neutros (y resaltan la cultura mexicana) y saben que la nacionalidad no hace a las personas mejores ni peores.
En el tiempo de la luz es un libro realmente fuerte por los temas que trata y la manera en como lo hace le da el impacto que estas situaciones merecen. Sí, se rompió mi corazón en mil pedazos por la historia de Andrés Segovia, entendí perfectamente su actitud (aunque es una fórmula que repite mucho Alire Sáenz, el chico triste e iracundo); y ni hablar de Mister y Grace Delgado, son una joya como personajes y tienen un corazón tan grande y hermoso que es difícil no quererlos.
¿Recomiendo este libro? Totalmente. Creo que cualquier libro que escriba este señor merece ser leído.
La calificación final en realidad es 4.5

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not often that a book makes me so moved that I had to restrain the tears. This is one such example.

Benjamin Alire Saenz is known for his poetry and children's books and this book utilizes both aspects. The story enters around Andres Segovia, a young man who ends up killing someone because of his rage. The book hauntingly uncovers all the reasons for this rage, starting with the car accident that killed his parents when he was eleven years old. We hear Andres' childhood through his lawyer and his social worker Grace Delgado (and these are very painful to read at times). Mixing in Grace's stories, from being a widow to dealing with cancer to her son's adoption of a blind boy, one is overwhelmed by the ups and downs of their lives. There is a lot packed into 350 pages.

Yet Saenz uses poetic language focusing on "light and darkness" themes, as well as "chance" to illuminate his story. The chapters are often short snippets of the lives of these characters. The chapter entitled "Time and Order in the Universe" catches us up to the ongoing action. Often I felt an almost mystical feeling from the book, spurred on by the religious aspect of Grace but reinforced by the poetic allusions of the themes

The underlying theme is the U.S.-Mexico border. From what we see in the media today, it is very relevant book even though it was written in 2005. The border can be full of violence and crime, and yet the most elemental fact is that it concerns people and families who want a better life. That is often the tragedy and sometimes, the success.

La frontera del Mexico y Unidos Estados es la fuente de los cuentos. Rica en historia y lleno en emociones, los dos, tristes o alegres. Esto libro es genio!

Read in Spanish.

[Marc · Rating 4 out of 5]

This follows the story of multiple characters and how their lives intertwine each others. First is Andre who went through a lot in his young years and it been harboring inside and release through this rage. Then Grace a women who's trying to help Andre, but also is dealing with her own family struggles. Then we have a hint of Mister, Grace's son, and his journey to adopting a child. And some other threads of characters making this story rich and complex.

Saenz has beautiful writing, very poetic and it follows very well with the emotion he tries to capture. I did have an issue with him using the word beautiful a lot to the point where beautiful lose its meaning. I did not care for the reference and metaphor to light from each character at all. I did this novel was trying to hard compare to his other two novels I read.

I did love the themes he touched in his novel. I did enjoy the family, siblings, race, and living through trauma aspects. Saenz on many issues without being to preaching, and touch it enough to make me wonder. The story and the relieves were smooth and it made sense.

I enjoy all the characters, they are flawed, but yet good people. I did tear up on one par, but I felt it did hit home as much as it wanted to be honest.

Overall I give this novel a 4 out of 5 beautiful.

[Katelynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the saddest book I've ever read. Half of me wants to stab it with a stick and hold it ten feet away from me and then set it on fire. The other half wants to read it all over again and never let go of these broken people. I sobbed. I'm angry and sad. I'm so sad that the horrible things in this book happen in real life. Everything just broke my heart. There's so much pain in this story, but so much light, too. Sad sad sad sad sad sad sad sad :(