Crystal~just another book addict~

5 Absolutely Beautiful Stars!




This is one of the best books I have read in awhile. So what was it about?

Family, Friends and Faith



Was there a romance? Absolutely, but to me that played a secondary role.


Fern



Fern was always the ugly duckling growing up. She has red, curly hair, big teeth, scrawny and freckles. She made up for her looks in personality and smarts.

God has given you one face and you make yourself another. ~Hamlet

Fern has been in love with Ambrose since she was 10 years old.

To Fern, Ambrose Young was absolutely beautiful, a Greek God among mortals, the stuff of fairy tales and movie screens.

Fern eventually grows into her looks and blossoms into a beautiful young woman.


Ambrose



Ambrose is gorgeous, athletic, popular and smart. He is the captain of the wrestling team. Fern's friend Rita wants to ask him out by writing him a love note. She asks Fern to help her and things progress from there. Ambrose continues to write Rita love notes and then Fern answers them. Eventually, he finds out that it wasn't Rita writing them and that it was Fern. He's hurt and confused because he really liked the girl in the notes.

During their senior year in high school, the tragedy of 9/11 occurred. At the end of their senior year, Ambrose talks to his friends about joining the National Guard and they all agree to join. Five leave for war, only one comes home. Ambrose returns home scarred both emotionally and physically. One side of his face has been horribly disfigured.

Fern tries to bring him out of his self loathing and misery. Eventually he slowly starts to come out of his shell and his feelings for Fern grow deeper.


"Everything has changed! You are beautiful, I am hideous, you don't need me anymore, but I sure as hell need you!" ~Ambrose

"You make me feel safe, Fern. You make me forget. And when I kiss you I just want to keep kissing you. Everything else falls away. It's the only peace I've found..."


Bailey



To me, Bailey was the star of the book. He and Fern are cousins and best friends. He also has muscular dystrophy so is in a wheelchair. Fern is always with Bailey, helping to take care of him, driving around and companion. He was such a special person in this book. His humor and the way he dealt with his disease made me smile.

"But there are times when you just need to acknowledge the shit, Fern, you know...Own it, wallow in it, become one with the shit."


This is one of those books that I think everyone needs to read at least once. It was beautiful and heartwarming, tragic and heartbreaking and overall an absolute joy to read.