Review: Leftovers

Leftovers
Laura Wiess

Summary:
Blair and Ardith are best friends who have committed an unforgivable act in the name of love and justice. But in order to understand what could drive two young women to such extreme measures, first you'll have to understand why. You'll have to listen as they describe parents who are alternately absent and smothering, classmates who mock and shun anyone different, and young men who are allowed to hurt and dominate without consequence. You will have to learn what it's like to be a teenage girl who locks her bedroom door at night, who has been written off by the adults around her as damaged goods. A girl who has no one to trust except the one person she's forbidden to see. You'll have to understand what it's really like to be forgotten and abandoned in America today. Are you ready?

Review:
When I first picked up this book, I had the feeling that it would be one that I'll want to read over and over again. I was right. This book was hard to read sometimes, both because of the somewhat disturbing storyline and because of the author constantly switching narrators and styles of writing. But there was a reason for it, and it's easier and seems more natural to read it that way after you get used to it. This was an amazing book and I couldn't put it down. There was always so much going on, with Blair's overly-controlling parents, and Ardith's parents who hold out-of-control parties that involve lots of drinking, sex, and her father feeling up girls in the hallway. With rumors that start getting spread around, and Blair's parents forbidding her to see Ardith after one night went wrong, it's hard for them to stick together. I love how even though they drifted apart because of all of it, they never really gave up on each other.
If you've never read this book, I urge you to go out and read it.

Overall rating: 5/5