This New York Times bestseller, is placed in 1980s Omaha, Nebraska. Two teens, Eleanor Douglas and Park Sheridan are forced to sit next to each other on the school bus. Each of them are trying to get through their own struggles while also figuring out the complicated matter of first love.

Readers learn that Eleanor is very smart, excelling in her classes, but her home life is far from perfect. Eleanor, her mother, her step-father, and her four younger siblings live in poverty. Her step-father, Richie, is also very abusive and an alcoholic who terrorizes Eleanor. Her mother just pretends everything is fine, even though they are not. She has to share a bedroom with all of her siblings, and does not feel safe at home. And to make matters worse, Eleanor feels out of place at school as she is described as “big and awkward” with curly red hair, and she wears men’s clothes with unusual accessories, which again is because her family can’t afford anything nicer.

Fellow tenth grade, Park Sheridan, also feels like an outsider. Though, unlike Eleanor, the other students do not tease him. He feels he doesn’t connect to the other students, even though he has lived in the same place his whole life. Park is an Asian American, which is rare in Omaha, and he likes music and comic books. Unlike Eleanor, Park’s home life is a lot more welcoming; his parents have a loving relationship and they have a comfortable lifestyle. However, just because Park’s life seems good, he does face tensions at home. For one thing, Park’s father wants him to be more masculine, and he always feels that he is letting him down.

Since they are somewhat forced to sit next to each other on the bus, they have to sit there for the rest of the year. Soon, they start talking and they bond over music and comics. As their relationship blossoms, other times of their lives are not going so well. Eleanor’s home life gets worse and she is getting bullied in school. Meanwhile, Park is trying to find himself, but his father gets in the way. Park’s father eventually accepts Park for who he is, but Eleanor realizes she needs to escape the way she is living. At the end of the story they emerge as people, but their relationship might sink because of it.

I have to say, while reading this book I had so many emotions. I was sad at times, and angry, but also very happy at some moments. I think this book was important as it dealt with so many issues including, toxic masculinity, familial relationships, bullying, and to not judge others. Author Rainbow Rowell, also provides the perspectives of both Eleanor and Park which I thought was a good choice on her part. It gave more insight on each of their characters and how they struggled in their own way. And even though they did both struggle, together they left all those troubles behind.

Overall, I this is definitely a book that I will read again in a few years, because of all those issues it discusses. All of these issues, which happen even today. I think everyone should read this novel if they get the chance to, because of the important topics and because we all can relate to having a first crush or a first love.