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    The Infinite Moment of Us
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    The Infinite Moment of Us
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    The Infinite Moment of Us
    Ebook284 pages3 hours

    The Infinite Moment of Us

    By Lauren Myracle

    3/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

      For as long as she can remember, Wren Gray’s goal has been to please her parents. But as high school graduation nears, so does an uncomfortable realization: Pleasing her parents once overlapped with pleasing herself, but now . . . not so much. Wren needs to honor her own desires, but how can she if she doesn’t even know what they are?
    Charlie Parker, on the other hand, is painfully aware of his heart’s desire. A gentle boy with a troubled past, Charlie has loved Wren since the day he first saw her. But a girl like Wren would never fall for a guy like Charlie—at least not the sort of guy Charlie believes himself to be.
    And yet certain things are written in the stars. And in the summer after high school, Wren and Charlie’s souls will collide. But souls are complicated, as are the bodies that house them . . .
    Sexy, romantic, and oh-so-true to life, this is an unforgettable look at first love from one of young adult fiction’s greatest writers.

    Praise for The Infinite Moment of Us
    STARRED REVIEW
    "The scenes of sexual intimacy are described with innocently erotic frankness, offering an ideal (if not idealized) model for readers on the cusp; this is Forever… for a new generation, offering character depth Cath and Michael never achieved. Summer love has never been so good."
    —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

    "In contrast to unhealthy depictions of sex and relationships that teenagers (and adults) are often exposed to in media and entertainment, Myracle offers up a passionate romance built on a bedrock of love, respect, and trust. And it’s difficult to see that as a bad thing."
    —Publishers Weekly

    "    Two mature recent high school graduates fall in love and bring out the best in each other in Lauren Myracle's thoughtful exploration of an intimate relationship...the relationship between Wren and Charlie always remains realistic and involving."
    —Shelf Awareness

    "This charming romance has multidimensional characters, straightforward sexuality, and a pace that lets readers fall in love with the main characters. Myracle expertly captures the intense connection of first love, from the need to spend every moment together to trying to figure out how to communicate with one another."
    —School Library Journal

    "The single-focus intensity of Wren and Charlie’s feelings is spot-on for the age group... chapters move between both their perspectives as they grow into the relationship, offering readers of both sexes a rather compelling example of the how-to’s of intimacy."
    —The Bulletin of The Center for Children’s Books

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherABRAMS
    Release dateAug 27, 2013
    ISBN9781613125403
    Unavailable
    The Infinite Moment of Us
    Author

    Lauren Myracle

    Lauren Myracle has written many books for tweens and teens, including the bestselling Winnie Years series and the Flower Power series. She lives with her family in Colorado, and she thinks life is the most magical adventure of all. www.laurenmyracle.com

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    Reviews for The Infinite Moment of Us

    3/5

    6 ratings12 reviews

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    • 5/5
      THE INFINITE MOMENT OF US was a excellent story of first love with all the glittering moments and all the heart-breaking ones too. Charlie Parker, insecure foster kid with an abusive past, has loved Wren Gray since the first moment he saw her. But it isn't until they are getting ready to graduate that Wren sees him. They meet again when Charlie comes to the Emergency Room where Wren is volunteering with a hand injury.They begin dating and find that they have loads in common despite their different backgrounds. Wren is an only child who has grown up the focus of her parents' attention. She has finally decided that she doesn't want the path they have set for her. She wants to do something to make a difference now. She chose to sign up for Project Unity and spend a year in Guatemala teaching English. Charlie is set to attend Georgia Tech in the Fall. Their romance seems to have a built-in expiration date.And, while Charlie is Wren's first boyfriend, Charlie has a past relationship with Starrla. He had ended their sexual relationship a year ago but he is still available when she needs a friend. Starrla is both needy and manipulative. She doesn't want Charlie but she doesn't want anyone else to have him either. This story was incredibly romantic. Because the main characters are just out of high school, their romance includes sex. None of the sexual scenes are explicit but, just by being there, they make this a book for older YAs. Since my media center serves students from sixth through twelfth grades, I won't be putting this one on the shelf. I will be directing my older students to it though because it was remarkably written and realistic. The romance was touching and heart-warming. I think I fell a little in love with Charlie myself.
    • 4/5
      When I picked up this book, I honestly thought I was in for a mushy romantic story. That is not the case. Instead, this book is further than love.Plot: Two seniors getting ready to graduate find each other in what is supposed to be the best moments of their lives. This plot starts off slow then begins to moves fast with drama in the family and drama between friends. It riled up my emotions enough to make me put the book down since so much was coming at me at one time. I didn't particularly like the decisions the characters were making.Love: I really think that this love is all about getting your priorities straight. You see, I've been in this kind of relationship. Where the guy is ALWAYS picking up after someone else's mess. At first, it's noble and nice, but after awhile it gets old and tiring. So being in Wren's shoes is something familiar to me. I get her feelings. And when that guy is always going after to help someone else... well you can't help but think what if there is something between them, it drives you crazy. Charlie is struggling as well. He wants to be with Wren but he is too soft. He can't say no and trusts the wrong people. He has one of those moments where he has to think what HE wants to do and not what everyone else wants.Drama/Ending: After all the crazy back and forth drama between Charlie and Wren, decisions are FINALLY made! I'm happy with the way that it ended, just not happy that I got dragged through all of the unnecessary drama had someone set their priorities straight. If you truly love someone, then you will stop letting other people control your actions.This story is one that is not easy. The reader is faced with lots of emotional drama and decisions that in the end will affect the outcome of relationship. Lies and half-told truths do not make for a good relationship. The Infinite Moment Of Us is painful romance that must fight for its love. It all boils down to what you want. The Infinite Moment Of Us is good.
    • 3/5
      This was so ridiculous it was almost sublime. It's a YA romance that lets you know right away that this is Serious Business. By page 9, there was more earnestness going on than in all the other books I've read this year combined.This book also made me realize I have the sense of humor of a 12 year old boy.So we've got two teenagers -- Wren, an only child whose parents are overly involved in her life, and Charlie, a foster kid who had a Tough Start in Life. This is very Important so I capitalized it. They fall in love, apparently instantly and from a distance, and then proceed to have an Extremely Earnest Relationship the summer after high school graduation. They go on very earnest dates and have very earnest conversations. You get the idea early on that these are two people who Feel More Deeply about things than other people.Weirdly, a lot of what's supposed to be the big contrast, Wren's smothering/controlling parents vs. Charlie's sad childhood, happens in the far, far background. For someone who's big issue is smothering and controlling parents, they pretty much leave her to her own devices all summer. Charlie's backstory is much more legitimately sad (and I have to admit it's told in a very compelling way), but once it's out there, that's pretty much it. What IS happening front and center is what I can only image is the author's Very Serious commitment to making sure teens know that one's sexual identity and expression is a normal and healthy part of life ... which is not a bad message, but again, the presentation is so earnest and sincere and heartfelt that it reads more like a joke. Several times, while on a very sincere date earnestly talking about things like "do you think trees have souls?" the narration, out of the clear blue, lets us know that Charlie becomes hard. (That's the exact phrase used.) It's sporadic enough that I never got to the point where I was expecting it, but by about the third time, it made me laugh so hard I was snorting on the train during my commute. Then I started to insert "earnestly" into the text at random, so Charlie could get earnestly hard. For real, I was guffawing in public.Taken as an individual scene, a lot of this stuff would work as solid writing about intimacy and specialness, but my problem with it is that it's relentless. You're never, ever, able to lose sight of just how specially in lurrrve these two are.On the plus side, I was happy with, and even more interested in, some of the secondary characters. And the end raced to this Teen Soap Opera Ending, which set things up so that you'd think it was going in one Teen Soap Opera direction, and then it completely turned it around and went in a different Teen Soap Opera ending, and that was actually impressive. I was leaning more toward two stars, but realized the book did keep me fairly well engaged all the way up to the end.
    • 4/5
      When the two main characters, Wren and Charlie, finally connect right after graduation they quickly fall in love. Charlie has a troubled past and Wren is trying to assert her independence with her controlling parents. The world seems to melt away when the two of them are together, but it keeps intruding on their relationship putting the new feelings and togetherness to the test. The relationship is very physical and their lives become intertwined as they risk losing their own identities and direction in life while they are so wrapped up in each other.
    • 3/5
      As high school graduation nears, Wren Gray is surprised to connect with gentle Charlie Parker, a boy with a troubled past who has loved her for years, while she considers displeasing her parents for the first time and changing the plans for her future.
    • 4/5
      Probably more of a 3.5 but I enjoyed it anyway so I rounded up. It's not a bad story, it's just a story I have read before. I liked the characters but they where not very original and neither where they problems that they faced. Also The relationship seemed to move a little too fast in the beginning. All in all it was worth reading but it is forgettable and I probably wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
    • 1/5
      I'm going to be unpopular with my opinion of The Infinite Moment of Us because, frankly, I thought it to be rubbish. I'm all for pushing the envelope with young adult books and do not think that all books are created equal (i.e. a book written for an older audience should also cater to the younger audience by censoring itself) but this one just went over the top for me.Read the rest of this review on The Lost Entwife on August 24, 2013.
    • 3/5
      My feelings regarding Lauren Myracle's newest novel, The Infinite Moment of Us, are conflicted. While the novel realistically portrayed aspects of the a teen life and romance, I also felt that it glossed over and simplified other important aspects of the story and I felt little connection to the novel's main characters, Wren and Charlie.Told in alternating point-of-view, The Infinite Moment of Us introduces readers to two teens who are entering into their first serious relationship. Charlie has been interested in the reserved Wren since he's seen her around school, but it isn't until graduation that Wren really notices Charlie. After a chance meeting at the hospital, where Wren volunteers, the two chat and their interest deepens. Later, at a party, Charlie asks Wren out and their romance quickly flourishes. This is a summer of endings before Wren, Charlie, and their friends set off from their hometown to embrace whatever their futures hold, but in many ways, it's also a summer of firsts. Both Wren and Charlie are experiencing fear of leaving and disappointing their families as they venture out into the world. They're trying to figure out who they are as individuals and as a couple. And, of course, they're experiencing all-consuming, heartbreaking, life-changing love for the first time.There are definitely good things about The Infinite Moment of Us. In many respects, it offers a realistic portrayal of a teenaged couple's first sexual experience and the thoughts that often accompany it. I found the details about sex in this novel to be refreshingly honest and frank. I never felt that Myracle went too far into detail, but I wouldn't say she ever faded to black either. It felt more like she was trying to do the emotions behind the actions and choices justice, rather than the physical aspects, and she achieved her goal.As difficult as it was to read and stomach, I felt that Wren's jealously about Charlie and his dedication to his family was also realistically done. Charlie grew up in the foster system and saw his fair share of bad homes and foster parents, but he finally has a real, supportive family when he meets Wren. His little brother, who has been in a wheelchair for his whole life after being abused by his biological father, is often bullied at school and Charlie is extremely protective of him. As one might expect, Charlie has a strong bond with his family and is always willing to drop everything to be with them when necessary. Wren, has a difficult time accepting this. She often feels that Charlie is choosing his family over her, though she realizes that this is mostly in her head and that it is unfair and selfish of her to feel this way. While I'm no stranger to this "choosing your family over me" jealousy, I really wish it weren't used in this situation because it makes Wren looks so immature and spoiled! I could not forgive Wren for even considering making Charlie feel bad for being there for his brother, who clearly needs him much more than she does! Still, I know there are girls like this - heck, I had my selfish, spoiled days like this, just ask my high school boyfriend! - so, again, I have to applaud Myracle's realism here.As mentioned, Myracle does bring up many different big, tough topics in this novel. Bullying, foster care, emotional damage, controlling and emotionally destructive parenting styles, etc, etc. There's a lot going on in The Infinite Moment of Us... it's actually quite ambitious. The problem is, at least for me, that it's all secondary to the romantic plot line. If you can call it that... it's actually just a lot of really sappy, over-blown "I love yous" and "Please don't leave mes." Which, again, it pretty darn realistic, but I'm not sure it's a message that I support. It'd be one thing if this relationship didn't work out or if Charlie and Wren decided to pursue their individual plans and try for long distance, but things take a nosedive. They do not keep being individuals who have happen to have dated for three months, Charlie changes his plans and decides to follow Wren. NO, NO, NO. I heartily dislike this decision. Because I have been in the same position as Wren and Charlie... I have been there and I clearly remember how I was feeling and I made the choice to follow someone else's plans and I should have stuck to my guns and followed my path. You do not follow anyone when you are eighteen and you are in your first relationship that has lasted a summer. I admit that maybe I'm a bit jaded in the love department, but I would never tell any eighteen year old I know to change their plans, even vacation plans, for a three month relationship! Okay, rant over, I promise! Unfortunately, I never felt any huge connection to Charlie and Wren. They were both a bit flat and, honestly, not very likeable, which is an issue in a novel like The Infinite Moment of Us, which is very character driven. As discussed previously, Wren is quite selfish and I didn't find her very appealing. I couldn't tell you why Charlie was so hung up on her, except that she's, apparently, attractive. The reader is told she's a fantastic person, but we never really see any evidence of this. Charlie, on the other hand, has the potential to be a compelling character, but he's too distracted by Wren and busy saying cheesy things to do anything interesting. In many ways, The Infinite Moment of Us reminded me of Judy Blume's Forever. So, if you're a fan of that novel, I think you'll find plenty to like here. I will give credit where it's do and say that Myracle created a very realistic situation with Wren and Charlie. My issue, however, comes from the way these characters were handled. The events in this novel could definitely happen - in fact, they're probably happening right this moment - but these characters could have been so much more! I felt like they'd already been used as an example and, in some ways, as a cautionary tale, so why not follow through and skip the rose-colored glasses in the final scene?
    • 2/5
      Perhaps I am not in a romantic state of mind right now but this book really was just ok. I was expecting more as the blurb makes it out to be some kind of epic love story. It wasn't. Wren is a nice enough girl and Charlie is almost too good to be true.
    • 2/5
      I think this one is being marketed as young adult but it seemed very much new adult in my opinion. The main characters Wren & Charlie both graduate from highschool within the first few pages, the rest of the book takes place over that summer as they try and decide what to do with their futures. Should they go to college? Take a year off? Do charity work?The story was told through dual perspective of main characters Wren and Charlie. Neither voice resonated with me, even though it was first person, I never really felt I knew either of them very well. Wren had a very weak personality. She was pretty much a people pleasing pushover who did and said whatever she thought people wanted her to do or say. Charlie's character wasn't as weak but I didn't like him any better. He always seemed to be stuck in the past, unable to leave it behind.I'm the type who likes a sweet romance that is slowly built and has you on the edge of your seat waiting for that first kiss. The romance in this story was quite the opposite. While Charlie had a crush on Wren for many years, she just took notice of him and then it all moved very fast, as the two felt "connected" from the start. The sex scenes were for mature readers only, having more detail than any of the New Adult titles I've read.The ending was not what I was expecting nor was it satisfying. Overall, this was a complete miss for me.
    • 3/5
      Wren Gray and Charlie Parker “connect” across the high school parking lot on the last day of class. She, a product of domineering parents, has secretly withdrawn her acceptance at Emory, where her mother works, to join Project Unity and teach English to underprivileged Guatemalan children. He is the product of multiple foster families and an unhealthy liaison with Starrla, another student. Their eyes meet once more over the field at graduation and they finally meet at a graduation party. The attraction, both physical and emotional, is immediate and the bond and love they form seems ideal. However, Wren must deal with telling her parents about her change in plans as well as Charlie’s total devotion to his disabled brother (sometimes to her exclusion), while Charlie must distance himself from Starrla, who becomes increasingly jealous and needy. In addition, the inexperienced Wren and the somewhat experienced Charlie grapple with their sexual desires and initial sexual encounter.Myracle is an author who typically breaks new ground, however The Infinite Moment of Us is a reasonably standard/bland coming of age story. Wren’s and Charlie’s insecurities about a new relationship and sexual desires are real. (Her descriptions of their sexual encounters are a little more graphic than in many books--unnecessarily so, in my opinion.) However, the ancillary characters, particularly Wren’s best friend Tessa and her boyfriend PG, are just too good to be believable. Myracle’s portrayal of overbearing, domineering parents is right on point. All that aside, the name Myracle will make this book fly off the shelf.
    • 2/5
      My Rating – 2 StarsI received a free digital copy of this novel from Netgalley on behalf of Amulet Books in exchange for a fair review Wren has been trying to live up to the expectations of her parents for years. They want her to be the perfect young lady. They tell her how to dress, what to like, how to act, how to speak, what college to go to and what to major in. They even bribed her with a car if she went through high school without a boyfriend. She just wants to be free damnit!Charlie is a shy boy that was seriously neglected as a child and bounced around in foster homes for most of his life. He just wants someone to love him and treat him nicely. He currently has some pretty nice foster parents and a foster brother. He has crushed on Wren for a long time and on the last day of school, he waves to her and amazingly she waves back.Wren has always kinda liked Charlie but because of the deal with her parents she never acted on it. Well at a graduation party, all bets are off and she is free to date.Thus begins their summer romance and that’s the entire plot of the book. Really, it’s just a story about their romance with minor bumps in the road with and ending that actually upsets me, because of what Charlie gives up.I did not like this book. The writing was immature and most of the characters were extremely unlikeable.Wren is trying to form her own life and discover who she is, so she decides to defer her admission to Emory to do volunteer work in Guatemala for a year. Great right? Except that her mom works at Emory, her mom got her a special parking pass for Emory, paid the fees already, yet Wren managed to keep the deferment secret for months. I find that highly unlikely.Wren is also unbelievably whiny, selfish and needy. She constantly whines about how much time Charlie spends with his family or working. And while he is working his ass off to help his foster dad’s struggling business or helping his disabled little foster brother, she is lounging her in her best friend’s rich boyfriend’s pool, complaining about how she doesn’t get to spend much time with him. Twice in the book she throws a fit and gives Charlie the silent treatment (pretty much dumps him) over small misunderstandings or something he has no real control over.Charlie is so sweet and nice but more than once I wanted to tell him to man up and stand up for himself. That’s about it to his character. He’s not a bad character, I liked him well enough but he let Wren and his ex Starrla walk all over him.Starrla, wow, what a ridiculous character. She is a girl that Charlie has known most of his life, who also comes from a difficult family situation. She is pretty much a crazy bitch character that “hangs out with the black kids” (yes. That’s from the book). She took Charlie’s virginity when they were 12 and has used him as a random hookup ever since. She dates lots of other people and doesn’t want to be exclusive with Charlie, though she hates it when Charlie tries to date other girls. She harasses Wren and leaves nasty notes on her car. She manipulates Charlie and her dramatic scene at the end is so unnecessary and over the top (not to mention really hard to swallow).Tessa (Wren’s BFF) is a silly trope that’s ditzy and outspoken. Her boyfriend takes them to a gun store/shooting range and she says something like “oh it’s a store too? Are there shoes?” ugh eye roll. Wren’s parents are horrible, once her father tells her to lower her voice because women shouldn’t be shrill (what the FRICK).Overall, there was not much I actually enjoyed about this book. Such a waste of a beautiful cover!Oh and there are detailed sex scenes in this book and a part about sending sexy pics on their phones. So not appropriate for a young adult book. The author writes this rather obnoxious note in the book (at least in my copy) about how the sex scenes are realistic but realistic does equal appropriate. Not recommended for people under 17.You can read this review and more at Punk's House of Books and FicCentral