Based on its cover, I was expecting a darker heavier YA. Surprisingly, Zero is sweet… not that it was all sweet all the time since her a dysfunctional family and uncomfortable friendships are a big part of it… but it’s mostly about a girl figuring out what’s best for her. Amanda is Zero. Her nickname alone should be enough to clue you in as to what she thinks of herself. And it’s this fact, above all, that bothered me… and apparently her as well. Reading her work out what she was worth and what she wanted… was annoying then funny then frustrating and finally entertaining in turns because she is a typical teenager with issues that run the gamut of superficial to complicated. She’s an artist and not sure about her talent. She’s a daughter and very angry one at that. She’s a loner. But she’s complicated too because every so often she’d be hard ass tough then turn around and be insecure and unaware.The interaction between the characters could get a bit clumsy at times but OVERALL I felt there was an authenticity to how they acted and behaved around each other. For example, the bands familiarity with each other; their passion simply rang true. But out of all of them it’s Zero and Mike that stick to mind… how she and Mike were new to each other: at first, perplexed by each other then holding each other up and even later disappointing each other a little. I think it’s that they weren’t each other's “everything” is what I found most believable. Both had their own thing. He had his music and parental issues; she had her art and familial obligations too. 3/5THANKS NETGALLEY!
