After reading A Quiet Kind of Thunder, I expected this to be another lighthearted read. Instead, I got a much heavier plot and not at all the story I was readying myself for. 
The problems (there aren't many)
Although Caddy was a nice character, I never connected with her. I didn't understand her the way I could with Suzanne. Yes, she was meant to be uninteresting, but she crossed the line into blank piece of paper. Also, I hated Rosie. I never liked her. She was mean to both of her friends but never took any responsibility or apologized. She expected them to bend and apologize to her, and she just seemed like a brat. And, of course, Sarah, who complained incessantly to Caddy's mom about Suzanne. Calling her difficult and acting like taking an abused child out of her toxic family was such a terrible burden to bear, oh woe is me, my niece used to get beaten by her father but never mind that because I have to deal with her. What an absolute jerk Sarah was. 
The good things
Suzanne. Lovely, broken Suzanne. She was amazing. She was wild and reckless and broken and trouble, and although I can't relate to her situation in any way, something about her drew me in. She was hurting, and I think that's something everyone can relate to. 
The way the author gets to the heart of the story, without worrying about people being offended by the sensitive topic, was phenomenal.
This book didn't. Push. A. Romance. I was worried that she would use a boyfriend to "fix" Suzanne's situation, like other books do, like romance solves all your problems and deep-seated traumas. 
The characters felt so achingly real. I certainly didn't like all of them, but they felt so authentic. 
The WRITING. Sara Barnard needs more recognition for her writing style, because it makes me want to fall down and grovel at her feet.

3/5 stars for a character I just couldn't connect with, and for Rosie being the best friend that's an absolute jerk to her "friends" and never getting called out on it.

god i love this book, one of my favorite reads