The Story of Use by Deb Caletti plays around with many of the elements that feature prominently in contemporary YA fiction. Divorce, re-marriage, first boyfriends... The thing that makes this book stand out is that it's reversed the typical protagonists approach in dealing with these issues. Cricket, unlike so many other heroines of teen novels, is happy her Mom is remarrying and she wants to do everything in her power to make sure it all goes to plan.
And while she's so focused on the impending nuptials, making sure her future step-sisters keep their bitchy comments to themselves, she has the perfect excuse for not dealing with the sinking ship that is her relationship with Janssen.
This was well written, Caletti gives us flashes of Cricket and Janssens past relationship, teasing the reader into continuing to find out whether there's a life raft waiting for these two down the road. It's a grown up outlook on first love which I found refreshing after reading so many idealistic "and they lived happily ever after, The End." type books. Because let's face it, when you're in a relationship it's never the end, you're perpetually in the middle.
I enjoyed The Story of Us and I look forward to reading more of Caletti's work. However, I would have liked if there'd been a bit more down time between the lovely Ash and Cricket, with perhaps a bit more development or insight into his character.
3.5/4 out of 5
