My Fake Girl

For a short book, it takes surprisingly deep plunge into the topic of toxicity in human relationships,raising it to a whole new level, painfully honest and raw. It stripps down to the bones the illusion of what is socially acceptable, socially expected and socially unwanted.
The plot inside packs really insightful observation on the hidden dark corners of human mind. Rory's story is fascinating example of what are the real intentions behind a simple action; where is the line between pure selfishness and survival; what's the real cost of everything we receive or gain; are all social relations just transactions. Rory is a very interesting character. The twists and oddities of his personality are partially result of the way he grew up as an unwanted child of 2 people who haven't been compatible from the start and split up. He doesn't know what is to be cherished, loved and cared for. Raised as a tool for gaining income, Rory's existence is focused on providing financially whatever he can to keep his parents afloat - nurturing his mother's alcohol addiction, taking care for their small trailer home, as well as supporting his father who is failing miserably in his attempts to provide money for his new family. The relation between Rory and Andrew - his only friend in the trailer park is also based on mutual transaction - Rory is visiting and helping when he can, while Andrew is a source of emergency cash. So when Emerson pops unexpectedly in his crazily tangled life, Rory easily agrees to the strange conditions of the offered relationship. The only life lesson he knows is that there isn't anything free. Emerson lives a million stars away from Rory's upbringing and their first encounter is a pure fluke. He has never known a life different than the sheltered financial security. And even though the reason is different, Emerson also knows the most important lesson - nothing is free - so he provides the money for the entertainment of his friends.
Rory and Emerson's relationship was a push and pull from the very beginning, it started on absolutely unhealthy and wrong foundation. It was also a crash course for Rory how to stop being a people pleaser, a convenient “doormat” and stand up for himself. As I reader I loved his personal growth and change - from a broken, confused, achingly lonely ball of anxiety, he turned into e person who could say No and define his own personal boundaries. It wasn't an easy journey of self discovery for Emerson either - he had to get out of the mental prison of his own preconception and truly see his partner, not the illusion he tried to trap Rory in.