First of the New Year

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

Aside from being the first book I finished in the New Year, this is my first first edition of a book. I am honestly surprised I bought it, despite being signed by the author, because the one other book I read by this author, I didn't enjoy.

It almost seems that there are two stories going on in this book. By that, I mean there is the story that is what you read in the chapters themselves, about Mikey and his friends, but then there is the paragraph/chapter description that is a whole other story. The chapter descriptions are what is happening in the background with the indie kids that helps explain the weirdness Mikey and his friends experience.

Mikey, his sister, Mel, Jared, and Henna are mere weeks away from graduating from high school. Mikey has issues with OCD. Mel was once an anorexic and died for a few minutes. Jared is a quarter god, and Henna is the girl Mikey has been in love with forever. Weird things are going on in their town, but it only seems to affect the indie kids-until Mikey and Henna are in a car wreck. Then they see deer (and people) with glowing blue eyes and a zombie deer.

Even weirder things are going on in their lives. These four just want to make it to graduation because they know if they can make it there, everything will be ok.

It's a wild ride, but one I enjoyed reading.