The quick cut: A teen girl with ADHD spends the summer in Europe interning for her sister when she meets a teen guy with Autism. Chaos and emotions fly when their opposing ways make sparks fly.
A real review:
Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing the arc for an honest review.
Discovering you are neurodivergent is startling and life-changing at any age, but what about the experience as a teen? How do you adapt how you function to the environment you're in? Will people see you for who you are? This is the battle for Oliver and Tilly.
Tilly is desperate for her life to change. Feeling stiffled and misunderstood by her parents, she spends the summer in Europe interning for her older sister's new company. How can she find her way when her family seems incapable of looking past her ADHD? Oliver is the opposite and knows exactly what he wants, but his Autism makes it difficult to make relationships and connect to people. Can his new summer job help him with more than just his career experience?
I wish I got diagnosed as Autistic as a teenager because it would've saved me so much trauma and pain. Or maybe it would've been different pain because this story shows how functioning differently will always make it a complex battle between being who you are and what the world wants you to be. The plot may get ridiculous at points, but the neurodivergent experience at the core makes this a worthwhile read.
Tilly is messy and trying to find a path to being herself while Oliver knows exactly what he wants but struggles to connect. They're opposites and drive each other insane in the beginning, but as they get to know each other that changes. Their differences help them appreciate their unique talents and in turn create self acceptance. No matter your status, that life lesson is important.
I do wish the plot was less ridiculous at points. The ending is cute, but absolute fantasy and would not happen in reality. A bit more basis in reality would've been nice, but there's a chance I'm just biased that way.
A neurodivergent story that gives you the authentic representation.
My rating: 4 out of 5