This was a VERY difficult subject to write about, but this book is very well written. The storyline is genuine and the characters are deep and well described and portrayed. I struggled with my feelings throughout this listen. As a listener you are made very uncomfortable by the love story of an adult man and a 13 year old girl who both had survived unthinkable abuse and neglect at the hands of their addicted, self absorbed, dangerous and mentally ill parents. This novel makes the listener contemplate darkness, societal and parental failure, addiction, and the human ability to persevere and proliferate. but it also romanticizes statutory rape. listen with caution as there are a lot of triggering moments for those who have experienced sexual assault, statutory abuse, or child abuse or neglect trauma.