You go through life thinking there's so much you need... until you leave with only your phone, your wallet, and a picture of your mother.
Marin hasn't spoken to anyone from her old life since the day she left everything behind. No one knows the truth about those final weeks. Not even her best friend Mabel. But even far away from the California coast, at college in New York, Marin still feels the pull of the life and tragedy she's tried to outrun. Now, months later, alone in an emptied dorm for winter break, Marin waits. Mabel is coming to visit and Marin will be forced to face everything that's been left unsaid and finally confront the loneliness that has made a home in her heart.
An intimate whisper that packs an indelible punch, We Are Okay is Nina LaCour at her finest. This gorgeously crafted and achingly honest portrayal of grief will leave you urgent to reach across any distance to reconnect with the people you love.
This is a perfect YA contemporary exploration of love, loss and grief.
Marin is alone on her New York university campus during their Christmas winter break, having left California behind with just her phone, wallet and a picture of her mother.
When her best friend Mabel arrives, we slowly uncover her reasons for fleeing and not talking to anyone from her old life.
Briefly, and so not to spoil too much, she was orphaned at the age of three when her surfer mother died in the sea. Her grandfather raised her, but didn’t always tell her the truth.
This is a beautifully crafted story that traces Marin’s emotions and psyche with subtlety. It is full of heartache and loss, both of trust and love. But ultimately there is hope as Marin starts to uncover the hidden truths that have made her who she is.
This will be loved by teens, particularly girls, 15 years and older.
Reviewed by Rob