No Perfect Places

Reviews

With NO PERFECT PLACES, Steven Salvatore has gifted us a unique and deeply personal book that beautifully explores the different forms grief can take, the subtle ways secrets can pull us apart, and the unexpected joys that await us when we embrace imperfection. Steven Salvatore's NO PERFECT PLACES asks complex questions about family, grief, and identity. Intimate, vibrant, and emotional, this story is proof that we are more than the decisions of our parents, and more than the places we're from. A thoughtful exploration of spinning pain into something positive, confronting the darkness that exists within us, and making peace with the past as we forge our own future. Salvatore's contemporary YA deals sensitively with heavy themes of grief, addiction, and mental health. This book will appeal to lovers of realistic contemporary fiction and will connect with any reader who has lost someone. Alex and Olly’s distinct alternating perspectives add depth and intimacy, cultivating a kaleidoscopic narrative that shines brightest when focused on the twins’ complex--and clearly loving--relationship. This intense, dramatic novel that explores complicated relationships, coping with adversity, and the fallout of keeping secrets will appeal to readers who enjoy character-driven stories. An emotional story of familial ties. The dual points of view provided by Alex and Olly create a strong connection between their experiences as their lives were destroyed by their father’s poor decisions...A valuable story. Steven Salvatore writes complicated love stories with such sincerity, thoughtfulness, and emotional resonance. My heart didn’t stand a chance—I loved it from once upon a time all the way to its joyfully complex ever after. A jolt of lightning to my soul. The characters are so bright, the emotion is so vibrant, and the love is exquisitely electric. This charming, joyful story—about self-love, fighting for what’s right, and the love to be found in chosen family—will make you want to put on a pair of red heels and blast Mariah Carey. Filled with big emotions. . . as empowering as it is entertaining, Salvatore’s debut novel hits all the right notes. Expand reviews