This book... emotionally eviscerated me. As in, I sobbed through the entire last 60 or so pages. What started as a lighthearted YA novel with an overly relatable main character somehow morphed into a violent dissection of every fear and every insecurity younger me ever had (and current me still has, if we're being honest). Charlie was the perfect leading lady, with a dynamic supporting cast. She's raw and honest and flawed and beautiful and I just am so SAD that I was TWENTY-SEVEN before I read a book about a girl that felt like ME. And the fact that she's brown and has the most stressful family dynamic and an impossible set of (her own) expectation to live up to just means that she's the perfect heroine for absolutely anyone. I love her, and I would do a lot to protect Charlie Vega.