Althea & Oliver

Just like Althea and Oliver are better together, this book is at its best when Althea and Oliver are together. The first few chapters are delightful, and you really care for them. The three stars for this book are because of the strength of those moments.However, just like Althea and Oliver are off their game when they're apart, the book also loses itself when their stories diverge. When they go their separate ways in the middle of the novel, the focus turns to the people around Althea and Oliver. The author stops telling the journey and growth of the two people we care about, and instead we get a lot of detail about the other people in their world. I found myself resenting their new friends because they were taking time away from the storyline we actually care about.I also really question the romanticization of Althea's "La Vie Boheme" life in Brooklyn. She has no job, and she lives with people who are also underemployed and barely scraping by in an overcrowded apartment. As a 20-something just out of college in a weak economy, I can vouch that there's nothing glamorous about not having a job or the income to get by. Althea considers this life an actual option for herself, whereas no one who had preferable options would actually choose that. After being so realistic throughout, the false depiction of bohemian life took me out of reality and made the book seem more like a deluded fairy tale.

Grittily beautiful - that's how I'd describe this under the radar gem. The characters are messy and real and raw and this is how I like my contemporary novels. To all those people who look down on YA as sub-par, read this book and go cry in the corner because you haven't been more wrong in your life.So much ache. So much love. To quote the book:It feels good, and it still hurts.That's exactly how I feel. I'm so glad I read the book and it blew me away but it really broke me too at five in the morning.

Kept my attention until about 1/2 way then just read to finish

I really enjoyed this book, especially the rich details and character development. Althea, Oliver, their parents and even the side characters (especially Cody) came to life easily and authentically. I was very drawn to the narrative and creative plot and could not wait to see what was to come. As a mother of two teens, I did find myself being pretty judgmental/feel maternal toward the characters, wanting to shake them because of their reckless behavior and drinking. While I certainly hope that young readers won't be inspired to experiment because the characters in the book make it look like innocent fun with little consequence to be s*** faced, I do hope that teens who read this book can look past that and enjoy the beauty and novelty of the story and the flair with which the author writes. Overall, Althea and Oliver was a very very enjoyable read -- and a particularly impressive one because it's from a first-time author. (PS I read it in three days and had trouble putting it down each time!)

This novel was surprisingly good for a first effort. The characters were well thought out and the flow of the story was smooth. You cared about the characters.Well done Ms. Moracho

This book confirms Moracho's potential. Read it, it's REALLY good.

Did not like the ending at all. But it is definitely a great story.

Utterly horrible. Wanted to punch the characters. I was barely able to finish this book without a total mental breakdown about how horrendous a piece of literature it was.

As a mum to a 16 year old whom was Kleine Levin Syndrome ...- Can be related to my son's condition- is well researched although not fully accurate ... But from my knowledge the condition varies from person to person ...- raises some points as a parent I had not considered- raises awareness about this condition which sounds too much like fiction to be true ...At present I would recommend!It is a novel about a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship .. it is by a new author.. but the twist is one of the characters has a very rare medical condition... if you read it you won't believe what this person does... but as a parent familiar with the condition... I can 100% relate ...In places - well it is best to be broadminded... but I think that is always the case with KLS ..http://www.kleinelevinsyndrome.co.uk for more details about the condition.