We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“We Are Okay” explores grief, discovering a dark secret about someone, and transitions in life. Heavy stuff. In fact, I was worried I would hate this book because I tend to read for entertainment not to be confronted with topics such as these. However, Nina LaCour weaves characters, emotions, and a mysterious plot into a very good read. The book is organized in which we start in the present and then flashback to the past until towards the end we’ve basically caught up to the present again. For me, this helped me try and figure the pieces out and I felt it kept the book focused not just on reactions to events, but on the events themselves.
Marin and Mabel are best friends but have recently had a death that has impacted their friendship. We start with Marin preparing to host Mabel in her college dorm room. Throughout this visit, we get flashbacks to the past that explain why Marin is grieving and feeling the way she is, and why Mabel wants to be there for her too. While there’s some heavy topics, it was in such a way that I was feeling for the two women without feeling like I was being sucked into it too.
Even though it’s a heavy book, topically, I do recommend this book. I felt it was about the power of friendships and having people in your life to support you and not give up on you, even when you’ve given up on yourself.
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