The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle Review

Title: The Infinite Moment of Us
Author: Lauren Myracle (Twitter)
Publisher: Amulet Books
Publish Date: August 20, 2013
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 336
Source: Publisher

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...

Wren has lived her entire life by a certain code. She did her very best to always abide by her parents' wishes, make them proud and, by doing so, make herself proud, as well. But the code isn't so black and white anymore. She still plays by the rules, and she does her best to always be perfect, but something is missing, and she's not sure what exactly it is. Charlie, however, knows what he wants from life. He's sweet, kind and lives with the constant shadow of his past clouding his future. But can Charlie help awaken something in Wren that makes her see what she really wants from life?

I've had a tedious history with Lauren Myracle's books in the past. That's not to say I don't love her writing, but her work tends to simple ooze syrupy-sweet love and affection, and there is a part of me that just craves the anxiety that a dramatic tale brings. The Infinite Moment of Us promises readers the best of both worlds. Artfully weaving a story of two lost souls coming to together to heal each other and prove their own individual worth, the author provides us with a reason to believe in not only these characters, but ourselves as well. Oft times dreamy; other times heart-breakingly painful, The Infinite Moment of Us is sure to leave its mark on you, as well.

Because I went into this novel with fairly low expectations, I think that the book really did work for me, despite a few quirks. There was a tangible, affected air to Wren's character that made her undeniably relatable to me, as a reader. She had this little-girl-lost vibe to her, as well as a wide-eyed-innocence, but underneath this vulnerable exterior, there was a girl with power, strength and the desire to do great things with her life. The Infinite Moment of Us spends a good deal of time offering us an insight into Wren's internal dilemma, which clashes painfully against her parents' wishes for her to go to college, secure a job and maintain that straight and narrow line she's always followed. In this sense, I really, really disliked her parents. So long as Wren played by their rules, everything was kosher. The second she strayed and made a move to secure a future for herself, they demeaned her, belittled her and did everything they could to sway her decision. As someone who hopes to be a parent someday, I can't think of anything more mentally damaging that a parent can do than that. Charlie, on the other hand, was somewhat of an enigma for me. He had a rich, tortured soul, and he gave off a frail, damaged vibe that made it difficult for me to dislike him, even when he acted like a childish and petty. I could forgive a lot of his shortcomings because his past was artfully fleshed out though, at times, they still managed to grate on my nerves. I will say that Wren's immaturity was rather jarring at times, too. There is a definitive insta-connection (I hate to say love, though I'm sure many will), as there is a physical attraction that rides right alongside the emotional connection, as well, and the way Wren handled it, at times, was a bit baffling and annoying. I will say that there are some intimate sexual situations that, while well-written, kind of irked me, simply because I would have been for more invested in Charlie and Wren as a couple had they not immediately leaped to the physical aspect of a relationship. However, it's the ending that lowered my rating of the book. I almost wanted that subtle closure that kept you guessing on whether the connection lasts, but Wren acts childish and petty and, somehow, Charlie and his family break through the mold they've been in through the story to simply tie it up in ribbons and bows. 

Overall, I liked The Infinite Moment of Us, but I can't say that I completely loved it. And, I think it should be mentioned that because of the sexual situations in this book (and there are a good many), I don't think this is for the younger YA audience. Rather, it's more suitable for upper YA and even NA. I give it a 3 out of 5, and I recommend this to fans of both genres, as well as those who enjoy contemporary fiction.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.