Review: The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle

For as long as she can remember, Wren Gray’s goal has been to please her parents. But as high school graduation nears, so does an uncomfortable realization: Pleasing her parents once overlapped with pleasing herself, but now... not so much. Wren needs to honor her own desires, but how can she if she doesn’t even know what they are?

Charlie Parker, on the other hand, is painfully aware of his heart’s desire. A gentle boy with a troubled past, Charlie has loved Wren since the day he first saw her. But a girl like Wren would never fall for a guy like Charlie—at least not the sort of guy Charlie believes himself to be.

And yet certain things are written in the stars. And in the summer after high school, Wren and Charlie’s souls will collide. But souls are complicated, as are the bodies that house them...

I was so disappointed by The Infinite Moment of Us. I was expecting it to be this year's must read summer contemporary but actually everything just fell a little short for me. The characters were definitely lacking half of their personality and though this is supposed to be about a real love I can't help but feel that Wren and Charlie's relationship was a little unhealthy.

Firstly, it was a (mostly) honest portrayal of young love and first times and I respected the easy approach to sex that Myracle takes, that being said there were some things in this book that made me scoff. When I was an inexperienced seventeen year old, I had a steady boyfriend (it lasted two years but we ended up.. erm... well... doing it after a few weeks), at this point in time I was so shy that I insisted the lights be off, I was so scared about someone walking in so I was jumpy and it as all together quite awkward and embarrassing so I laughed at Myracle's depiction of Charlie and Wren's first time - it was in a ditch... yes, a ditch... and aside from the awkwardness of laying on a stick it was amazing for Wren (no girl's first time is ever going to be amazing, let me tell you that now!). I really appreciated Myracle's honest approach to Wren's nervousness before the actual event, but the actual execution made me laugh. Maybe there's also the fact that despite now being into my twenties I still giggle at the words 'penis' and 'vagina' which made it a bit awkward for me... maybe I'm just not mature enough yet?

I think that the characters were portrayed realistically but they were also unlikable and irrational. These two have been together for like two months yet Wren irrationally wants Charlie to give up his whole life plan to go to another continent with her for a year and when he shows that he doesn't want to she throws a tantrum saying he's putting his family above her. Let's take into consideration that Charlie has a disabled and bullied younger brother... yeah. This is the point where Wren became a semi-likable character to one that I despised. Kudos to Charlie for not being a walking doormat, but he isn't without his flaws, Wren's insecurity in the relationship is fueled by his lying and sneaking around to see his clingy ex-girlfriend. The relationship was volatile at best and will never work out in the long run, so I really disagreed with the ending.

I have to give Myracle kudos on writing the characters the way they were, they may have been unlikable but they were also honest. Myracle's blunt writing and well written narration does redeem this book some as well so I would read her other books. I honestly think that this book almost has the potential to become this generation's Forever - not because I liked the book but because it is blatantly honest and deals with the issues that kids need to know about. 

Book released  27th August  2013 by Amulet Books

Book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review (Netgalley)