I read this book in the span of six hours and I cannot stop thinking about it. Jennifer Lucic has expertly crafted characters that have haunted me throughout today. Glow Girl is an unflinching look at the choices young adults make and the consequences they must face when the party ultimately ends.

Set in Santa Monica and the surrounding Los Angeles area, Lucic has nailed the setting, contrasting the sunshine and chill vibes of the beach with the seedier underbelly of L.A. As a SoCal native, I strolled with the main character Lilly up and down the corridors of SMC and raced with her down the 405 freeway. Lilly's desperation to be loved and accepted is so acute and painful, I felt her mistakes as if they were my own. I saw so many of my friends, acquaintances, and yes, an ex, reflected in Ryan, Kyle, Shade and Adam that though I could predict the novel's ending, I nevertheless felt invested in the crew and their choices and was overwhelmed with a sense of dread in my gut as I turned every page.

Glow Girl is more than a cautionary tale. It is raw and emotional, and though sometimes gratuitous, it will break your heart all the same.