Where do I begin with this book?

Anthony, the protagonist is thrust into manhood way too soon after he steps in to defend his mother from his father and his father leaves them both. His dad left when Anthony needed him most. He had no man to guide him through the difficult waters from boy to man. And that led to all kinds of bad decisions, none of which Anthony made on purpose. The pressures of life and trying to make decisions that were beyond his maturity level were the causes of his bad decisions.

But I rooted for him anyway.

Anthony met a girl named Essence who, apparently, was quite a looker but was also the epitome of the cliche that "beauty is only skin deep" because the woman -- or should I say girl -- was bat shit crazy and manipulative and vindictive and a long list of other horrible traits. But Anthony was seduced by her looks and then he had sex with her. Bad move, Anthony.

I can't say much else without spoiling the book. But I will say that Anthony didn't have the best of fortunes, but he never gave up. His persistence paid off because he sold two screenplays and bought a house. He also found the love of his life who stood with him through Essence and her post-breakup antics.

And then it happened.

The ending that I just kept screaming about. I won't say what happened but I actually said out loud "please, Anthony, don't. Essence isn't worth it. Don't do this."

And then he did it.

And the book ended.

And I threw said book across the room.

This was a great read. The only reason I didn't read it in one sitting was because I started it in the evening and I get up early so I had to go to bed.

But I HATE the ending. It made me angry. But I guess that means the author did his job, right?

This book should be read by young men everywhere because it shows the price you pay when you keep sticking your stuff in crazy. Sex clouds your judgment in a huge way. And this book is a testament to that.

Well done, Marc Avery.

BUT....

I need you to write a sequel and make the ending a bad dream that didn't really happen, k??