I want to start this review by saying that I'm so incredibly glad middle grade kids now get more POC and LGBTQ+ representation in books. It's something I wish I'd had more when I was in middle school when I was nervous about my own sexuality. In addition to this, I haven't discovered very many books with nonbinary characters, so it was so refreshing to read this. It's honestly one of the best LGBTQ+ novels I've read.

This is quite possibly the cutest book I've read this year. I couldn't stop smiling while reading it. Essie and Ollie are both relatable, and it was easy to connect to each even if you don't identify with them. I personally did identify with Essie, and maybeOllie as well, so I can imagine how helpful and possibly educational this can be to young teens trying to find themselves.

I actually really liked the perspective switch in the middle. I loved that we got to see things from Ollie's side as well as Essie's. Essie's part counts down to the day she leaves North Carolina, while Ollie's section starts from they day they met Essie and counts up to the day she's supposed to leave. I've never read a book that does this, so I actually really enjoyed that. When you're reading Ollie's section, not only do we see the events Essie described through their eyes, but you also see new things that sort of change the entire story. You also get to know the other characters that Essie doesn't know as well as Ollie.

The tone did feel a bit mature for thirteen year olds at times, but as someone who was more mature at that age, it sort of does make sense. Overall, this was a sweet, quick read that I'll definitely recommend to nearly everyone!

Disclaimer: I received a gifted copy of this book via Rockstar Book Tours. This did not influence my opinion in any way. ( )