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Pirates. Badass sailors. Sisterhood and feminism. Has there ever been a book more tailor-made for me.

How is it possible that the sequel is even better than the first book...?

This book already feels like one of the most authentic depictions of my city (Los Angeles) I’ve read in a while.

Slow start but honestly such brilliant character development that I’ve been thoroughly sucked in. How does White manage to write super dark, flawed and somehow still likeable characters so well?!

So, so healing.

OMG this book is making me remember all the reasons why I love historical fiction.

It’s official. I’m obsessed with this couple and will ship them forever. #takalice

Is it possible to hate Einstein as much as I hate Einstein right now.

Here it is. My annual bloggy round-up of my favorite 10 books I read this year, featuring all of my feels compressed into mini-reviews because I’m #reclaimingmytime. HAVE AT IT. https://www.schaffin.com/blog/2017/to...

How is it possible that this sequel is even better than the first book. How.

"The trick works like this. An image is created of a 'screaming feminist' with an ax to grind. The image takes on enormous negative energy in the church and culture. Branding a woman with this image effectively belittles her opinion and discredits it. It is a rare and strong woman who has enough inner substance to face the ridicule and pain that can come from expressing feminism."

Holy shit. This is so good.

"Maybe part of falling in love with someone else is also falling in love with yourself." CAN THIS BOOK WIN ALL THE F*CKING PRIZES PLS

"Intimacy means we are independently together."

"I've learned there are givers and takers in this life. I've slowly let the takers go and I've had it for the better. God bless them, when they learn to play by the rules they are welcomed back, but my heart is worth protecting."

"Today when people ask why I became a writer I try to answer honestly. I'm a writer because at an early age, I became convinced it was the one thing I could do to earn people's respect. It's true in the process I learned to love words and ideas and these days I actually like to get lost in the writing process. But the early fuel, the early motivation, was all about becoming a person worth loving."

So many characters being introduced and so many POV switches that I can barely keep up with who's who anymore. >.<

How is it possible that this book gets better and better with age?

It *looks* like a YA novel about a bunch of upper middle class white kids and their privilege, but it's actually a Nicolas Sparks novel about a bunch of upper middle class white kids who talk like adults...and their privilege. DISGUISED as a YA novel.

I can read about 5 pages at a time before I have to put it down and cry.

It's taken me a while to get used to the switching POVs (first person AND third person!) but it didn't take long to figure out that this book is good. So good.

Frankly, I can't decide if this book is pissing me off or giving me solidarity feels. I go back and forth every few pages.

...was I just tricked into reading a cancer book?

"This is why people touch. Sometimes words are just not enough."

Oh my god. I have never sobbed this hard reading a book.

Okay, how have I never read this book? The language is PERFECT. Magical realism at its best.