4 1/2 stars but I'm bumping it up to a five because this is an intense book that is going to stick with me and likely one I'll listen to more than once and when is GR going to give us 1/2 stars? It's not a four star book because I loved too much of it, too much of it had my emotions all tied up. I'm not writing a review because I was selfish and listened just for me. It's read excellently and emotionally by Armie Hammer who was also fantastic in the film version. It's a painfully honest look at a life-changing relationship between a 17 year old and a man seven years his senior who stays with their family for 6 weeks. It is filled with doubt, longing, ache, desire and anguish. I love emotional reads like this one. I only bumped off half a star because a few parts were a bit draggy, imo.

Now it's back to all horror all the time :)