Reading Response #4 SPOILER ALERT

  I finished Picture Perfect, and each time the story wraps up I never want it to end. It's one of those books that you can see you're coming to an end just because the pages are dwindling, but the story doesn't quite wrap up like you think that it should. Continuing from where I left off; Cassie begins to learn who she was, and who she is becoming. As she falls into a pattern with her, new to her, life, she sees why she ran away to forget it all. The past can be such a hardship and reminds her of how she has grown into the person she now is. Cassie is going through her enormous closet one day when she discovers a secret storage spot. Inside are little things from her past like pictures of she and Conner, a jacket from her prom night, etc. In the bottom of the little spot were multiple pregnancy tests, all of which were positive. The memories flood back, she is in the bathroom with a building anxiety praying it's not true. Alex is now out of control and unintentionally beats her. Cassie feels like she has to get away; everything she does is constantly under Alex's watchful eye. So, Cassie runs from the truth, and runs from the hurt, going to the place where her mother is buried.
  When Cassie remembers this, she can no longer think. Alex must know, but not be saying anything. He isn't fit to be a father, not yet. When Cassie confronts him about this, he puts his emotions aside and drinks, becoming everything he said he would never become. Alex's temper becomes more and more bipolar, due to the drinking and Alex puts more bruises on Cassie. She willingly lets this happens and blames herself, then she attempts to fix the broken pieces in their relationship. Eventually it's too much for her to take, Cassie calls Will and she goes to him; Will has gone back to where his roots are and is now living on the reservation. Cassie learns so much while she is there; she learns to love without bounds, she learns the value of family, she relearns herself. Cassie has the baby at the reservation and after a month decides that it's time for her to go home to Alex.
  When she is back, the paparazzi is waiting for her, and waiting for answers. Cassie still has bruises from where Alex has beaten her months ago. Cassie approaches the paparazzi and tells them that she "filed for divorce from Alex Rivers on the grounds of extreme cruelty." The book pretty much ends after this, which is kind of a bummer. I personally do not care for books that leave you hanging at the end, but not all stories can be a happily ever after story. The reason I love this book is because of the battles that the characters face and how they over come obstacles.