by Sarah Dessen
First published 2015
Sydney has spent years being invisible in her own family. Her charismatic brother Peyton commands all the attention with his self-destructive behavior. Now Peyton sits in jail after a drunk driving accident that left another boy crippled. Sydney questions where she fits in her family and the world. Everything changes when she encounters the Chathams. Layla draws her into their warm chaos with her endless romantic disasters. Rosie carries her own painful history. Mrs. Chatham anchors the family despite her illness. Mac, the quiet older brother, watches and protects those he cares about. For the first time, Sydney feels truly accepted. With Mac, she discovers what it means to be seen and valued. Sarah Dessen crafts a story about finding your place when someone else's choices threaten to define you. Sydney learns that real family can emerge from unexpected places.
Genres: fiction, contemporary, young-adult, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
417 pages · Hardcover · Viking