This is definitely one of, if not, the best books I have ever read. Every single one of the characters has problems to face, a lot I have faced myself and some I haven't. But I was still able to relate to all of the characters and feel what they were feeling. I think all of us can relate to at least one of the characters in the story, Ellie, who has a seemingly perfect family from the surface thats really as far from perfect as you can get, Caleb, whose father never stuck around, Josh, whose parents can't stand each other, or Corrine, who has a nasty reputation because of her sister. All of the characters are good role models, who try to make the best of what they face and stick together no matter what. No one's perfect, and this book expresses it in the most realistic way.