I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Nineteen-year-old Emily is a college student desperate to get her diploma and get out. But although she’s always been focused on school, the perfect night with an older student, Mitch, shows her that there’s more to life than studying. Emily might be ready to open her heart… but Mitch has his own fears to contend with before he’s ready to get serious.

Determined to forget about Mitch, Emily throws herself into school, friendships, and a new relationship with a boy who progresses from lackluster to downright despicable over the course of the book. Nam-Krane does a great job of developing his character and weaving Emily’s relationship with him into a larger plotline that ultimately serves to bring Emily and Mitch back together. There’s a lot going on besides the relationship between hero and heroine, and although at times the subplots can get a little entangled, they help drive the story at a nice pace.

The central conflict between Emily and Mitch—a perfect night with an imperfect follow-up—doesn’t seem quite earth-shattering enough for the tension that results. But I was willing to suspend disbelief because the characters remain strong and sympathetic. Emily stops at nothing to stand up for herself and her friends, and if her toughness sometimes gets her into trouble, it also makes her the kind of friend you’d want on your side. Emily’s dynamic cohort really sets the story apart. Nam-Krane succeeds in bringing together a diverse group of friends in a way that feels organic and true to life.

There were a few moments when I was confused by why some of the secondary characters behaved as they did—in particular, I didn’t get why such likeable people would hang around with a few obvious villains. But I suspect those secrets are revealed in the rest of the series, so I’ll just have to read on!