On that fateful night that ended the life of Max’s brother and drove Aggi’s sister to her own demise, the two teenagers confessed their feelings for each other after years of mutual pining. However, the happiness was short-lived, as a restraining order between their two families kept the pair apart. 

In addition to their own grief, each character has had to deal with the fact that their parents are each finding their own way of grieving. For Aggi, her dad has become a drunk that blames the rest of the world for the loss of Kate, while her mother seems to live in a depressive episode. On the other hand, Max’s family is not doing much better. His dad is constantly blind with rage, and his mother has seemingly checked out of raising her remaining son. 

This leaves the two of them to figure out how to move on by themselves, until their self-declared best friends in the world hatch a plan to get the two in the same place at the same time. 

A story filled with grief and regret, these two find their ways back to one another in a heartbreaking fashion, and eventually their families find it in themselves to forgive one another. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is set in a place that I am unfamiliar with, so picturing the characters in relation to the places they describe was a tad bit difficult for me. However, the way in which Rufener brings the characters together is a breath of fresh air, as the audience is allowed the opportunity to understand the complex personalities of both Max and Aggi. Their alternating viewpoints offer insight into thoughts and feelings other characters are unaware of, giving the reader the full picture, instead of the bits and pieces that are left to the characters. 

I would have liked to see more interaction between the families, as I feel as though that was the missing element within the work. I understand that the restraining order was in place for a reason, to allow space for grief, but I feel as though the audience did not get to see as much of the happily ever after as I would have hoped for. 

Nevertheless, Rufener’s writing style is key in bringing these characters to life, as she pinpoints each characteristic so perfectly in the way that it is portrayed. This four star read is definitely worth the time, and the discussion surrounding grief is important to dealing with your own.