I think some more fleshed out backstory, for example a bit of insight on her high school experience, could've helped to back up why she felt that college wasn't the right option for her. Sure, we get a few pages about her friendship with Chloe, but not much on why they're friends, or any other friends outside of her parents' circus. I also feel like we were missing a huge aspect of Harley's life, as her circumstances before this story takes place were never really addressed. First, everything wrapped up a little too nicely in the end, and although I am a fan of closure, it was a bit too 'happily ever after' for me. There were a couple of things that I wasn't very fond of. I also really loved the love interest, and I always appreciate how is able to include great romance in her books without making them romance novels, at least in my opinion. She wasn't a very likeable character at the beginning of the book in my opinion but she grew in strength and in character throughout the story so I respected and liked her a lot more at the end.

Harley was such an imperfect character, and witnessing her mood shifts and seeing her make decisions I could personally never make was very interesting and enjoyable to read about. I also don't feel like I can discuss it openly with my family, as I have heard them say stuff like 'everyone has something, so none of it means anything' and 'what do they have to be depressed about' in regards to some of my friends. I also strongly related to the undiagnosed mental illness aspect of this book, like feeling that I don't have a 'right' to it because it doesn't have a label. I have never expected to see this explored in a book, so I was pleasantly surprised when it was addressed in this one. I never considered that it might have the opposite effect and create a feeling of alienation from any part of their culture, like what Harley experienced. I thought, back then, that it might eliminate some of the issues I have faced when feeling pulled between two or three aspects of my identity, as the pull from each part would be weaker on my child. I have wondered, especially a few years ago when I was in high school, what my child's racial experience might be depending on the race of the father, particularly if he was also mixed. I have struggled with my identity as someone who is part Asian and part white, like the protagonists of 's books. Just like when I read, I felt incredibly seen when I read this book. I absolutely loved this, I was so happy not to have been let down by it. I was so excited that my library had such a new release, especially because they didn't have or.

Harley in the Sky by Akemi Dawn Bowman