Six Times We Almost Kissed (And One Time We Did)

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There is a lot of grief and loss to wade through, especially as it manifests so differently for so many people; and these characters are no exception. It’s definitely one that, if you liked her previous works in whatever capacity, you’ll like this one too.

It's a rare book indeed that manages to instill so much compassion and nuance into its exploration of weighty topics like grief and trauma while also creating an incredibly dreamy romance for the ages. Since their moms are best friends, Tate has always been in Penny’s life but it’s only rather recently that Penny’s feelings for the other girl seem to have shifted from driving her crazy to wanting to kiss her. Manages to be surprisingly poignant and deep on certain topics while still being super engaging and fun to read - and also full of the tropiest tropes possible. There are both lines and scenes that made me have to close the book for a minute to catch my breath, while also having a seriously sweet romance using lots of fun tropes. There were some great funny moments in the book, but it also dealt with some heavy themes in an honest and thought-provoking way.The story really gives a brutal and heartbreaking look into a very underrepresented subgroup: kids forced to be adults too young. They’re not really friends and they don’t hate each other either, but they definitely have some type of feelings for the each other. Fortunately, Tate and Penny are blessed with two absolutely amazing and kind-hearted friends, Remi and Meghan, who step in to help without even being asked. After all, their mothers have been best friends for ages, so they HAD to grit their teeth through many a movie marathon or playdate they would have rather avoided. The Girls I've Been is a powerful gut-punch of a book that will leave you reeling long after its final pages.

The message is clear: If a mere child can step up and be an adult when their family needs it, there is no excuse, even grief, that gives a parent a right to check out on their duties. When Penny’s mother decides to become a living donor to Tate’s mom, ending her wait for a liver transplant, things go from clashing to cataclysmic. I think it’s all handled really well, but I’m just baffled at why the publishing company chose such a bright and happy looking cover for this book.I went into this with certain expectations and this quickly blew right past them, in the best possible way. You'd think we all would've learned by now but it bears repeating for relevancy -- and also because I have not learned by now -- but : a colourfully illustrated cover does not mean there is a lack of heavy. Penny and Tate's (first name Gillian, both of their names are awful, haha) mums (Lottie and Anna, respectively) are best friends. It’s all about grief and resilience, about love that should be a given and love that seems unfathomable, about PTSD and character growth, about standing up for yourself and showing up.