What is love?
What does it mean to love?
And to be loved?
What is family?
What does no longer having family mean?
What if you never had the family you thought and never realized until it was too late?
College freshman Marin is alone. Physically. Emotionally. Metaphorically. Her mom died when she was a toddler. Raised by her recently departed, loving but distant grandfather, Marin truly is without family. She’s alone in the dorms over the winter holidays, awaiting a visit from Mabel, the best friend she’s been ignoring since she fled San Francisco after her grandfather’s death.
Nina LaCour has written such an achingly haunting story of loneliness and grief. Marin is hurting so much, she can barely speak. She’s ignored Mabel’s calls, texts, emails and letters for months. Now, face to face, Marin still can’t express her pain. We would all be so lucky to have a friend like Mabel, understanding, patient and loving.
WE ARE OKAY is more a character study through grief and enlightenment than a plot driven story. I don’t think everyone will love LaCour’s latest masterpiece as much as me, depending on mood and the type of stories that move them.
The further into the story I read, the more hooked I was and the more I worried about a certain negative outcome. I rooted for a specific positive ending, although figured it would be unlikely based on the direction of the narrative. I never could have predicted the resolution.
WE ARE OKAY is a quiet story dripping with emotion. It’s the type of book I know I will read and reread for deeper depth and understanding each time. I believe this may be one of those stories I reread every year or so, for the beauty of the words, story and message.
If WE ARE OKAY sounds like your type of book, you will love it. Even if not now, there may be a time in your life where it speaks to you.