The Infinite Moment of Us - Lauren Myracle

The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle
Publisher: Amulet Books
Publication Date: August 20, 2013
Source/Format: BEA 2013 || ARC

[I received this book from the publisher. This in no way affects the thoughts expressed in my review.]

For as long as she can remember, Wren Gray’s goal has been to please her parents. But as high school graduation nears, so does an uncomfortable realization: Pleasing her parents once overlapped with pleasing herself, but now... not so much. Wren needs to honor her own desires, but how can she if she doesn’t even know what they are?

Charlie Parker, on the other hand, is painfully aware of his heart’s desire. A gentle boy with a troubled past, Charlie has loved Wren since the day he first saw her. But a girl like Wren would never fall for a guy like Charlie—at least not the sort of guy Charlie believes himself to be.

And yet certain things are written in the stars. And in the summer after high school, Wren and Charlie’s souls will collide. But souls are complicated, as are the bodies that house them... (from Goodreads)

The Infinite Moment of Us is certainly a likeable book. It takes on the story of Charlie & Wren, who are both faced with personal obstacles that they need to overcome. It also tells of their brewing romance, a thing that is passionate and completely consuming. Put it together with a bunch of events (some real, some a bit more fantastic), and what you'll end up with is this book. It's written in a style that's engaging and smart, and sprinkled liberally with moments I loved, but still fell somewhat short of my expectations.

Wren's whole life has been dictated and guided by her parents. The fact that she finally defies them to do something she wants is really what sets the tone for her summer. She experiences so many feelings - the joy of freedom, the giddiness of a new relationship, the uncertainty that comes with making life choices, the guilt at "disappointing" her parents. She was definitely your typical teenager, struggling to figure things out and forge her own path.

Then there's Charlie, a nice guy, one who has a penchant for being needed and helping out other people. He was an interesting foil for Wren, as he is faced with a different home situation and opportunities for the future. I actually liked him more than Wren, even with the misguided choices he occasionally made.

It feels like the characters are suspended in time after their high school graduation. This summer seems different from the ones before it, marked with an ironic combination of ease and urgency. Every little decision or choice feels oh-so-important; every moment needs to be seized with reckless abandon. The story does a great job of getting these emotions across, and drawing the reader into a moment of nostalgia for this time in their lives.

Wren and Charlie's relationship, of course, is a product of this summer. It begins with a tentative attraction, followed by a full-blown relationship. They have a relationship that reminds me of what my relationship felt like when I was sixteen - like it will be forever, and that the person was the one person in the world who completely understood you.

While all these elements are done fairly well, it just failed to engage me all throughout the story. Part of that has to do with my lack of connection to either character. But a bigger part of it has to do with the shifting focus in the story - from their relationship, to Charlie's issues, to Wren's issues. It's natural for things to be like that in real life, but it just felt too disjointed to me.

The Infinite Moment of Us tells a real, true story of romance, of growing up, of that time between being the king of your high school and starting all over again in college. While I didn't love it, it was certainly worth reading - if only to be able to indulge in that feeling of recklessness and gravity all over again.