V.

This novel was a pleasure to read and one I hated to finish. I never wanted it to end. The writing is superb and well-paced. The characters are all colorful and authentic – the latter being a harder aspect to capture on page, but Carey manages successfully. There is a particular character in the book with the look and feel of a bully, but unexpectedly develops into one of Loup's biggest crusaders. Boxing is a significant aspect of the book from start to finish, pretty much the book's metaphor for the struggle between the townspeople and the superior outside forces. The lesbian sub-plot between Loup and Pilar brings up so many interesting points about love, fear, and its association with homophobia – it's possibly one of the main reasons why I love this novel.

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I do not usually write reviews, but it is so rare of a book to genuinely make me happy, sad, and hopeful.

As both a writer and newbie runner, this book was a shot of joy. I recommend it for runners even if they're not writers, or even to writers who aren't running.

This novel has a lot of little twists and turns as well as some really engrossing subplots. I fell in love with these characters and can only hope this continues into some series.

There was something very whimsical about the whole book. It was intimate and detailed, and it kept me turning the pages. However, it left me more than a little unsatisfied at the end. Everything I wanted to know was kept from me, and emphasis was placed on things I didn't really care for. I was really looking forward to reading this book too. The idea is fascinating, but the execution just didn't meet my expectations.