Karen M. McManus

“So our crew is back to being all girls, and stays that way for the rest of lunch. The only other guy…

— Karen M. McManus

“Sure, sure. No rush, no pressure. It’s entirely up to you, Cooper.” People always say that but it doesn’t feel true. About…

— Karen M. McManus

“The first seven years of the Joshua tree's life, it's just a vertical stem. No branches," she told me while we were…

— Karen M. McManus

“She cocks her head at me and adds, "I don't need your commentary if you disagree, by the way." I hold up…

— Karen M. McManus

“Some people are too toxic to live. They just are.”

— Karen M. McManus

“You don’t think about what’s outside. Or who. Especially if she’s better off forgetting you exist.”

— Karen M. McManus

“I don't know why it's so hard for people to admit that sometimes they're just assholes who screw up because they don't…

— Karen M. McManus

“I let myself out and climb onto my bike, putting on my helmet. As soon as it’s clipped tight I push up…

— Karen M. McManus

“Jake still won’t talk to me, and I miss him so much, it’s like I’ve been hollowed out by a nuclear blast…

— Karen M. McManus

“That's the kind of person you can get away with killing: someone everybody else wants dead.”

— Karen M. McManus

“No matter how awful the rest of my life is, my hair still manages to look good.”

— Karen M. McManus

“You're not going to wither up and die from this, Addy," Ashton lectures me as she shoves me toward the shower. "He…

— Karen M. McManus

“People like to think they're open-minded, but if you toss a tired gender stereotype on their path they'll run with it every…

— Karen M. McManus

“She's a princess and you're a jock," he says. He thrusts his chin toward Bronwyn, then at Nate. "And you're a brain.…

— Karen M. McManus

“Things'll get worse before they get better.”

— Karen M. McManus

“Honestly, I don’t care what we do. I just want to stay wrapped around him for as long as possible, fighting sleep…

— Karen M. McManus

“Now, now.” She sits across from me with her toast and offers me a slice, but I push it back toward her.…

— Karen M. McManus

“A couple of words is all it'll take to make everything in my life Before and After.”

— Karen M. McManus

“Later.” Kris hesitates a fraction of a second, then leans forward and pulls me roughly toward him, pressing his lips against mine.…

— Karen M. McManus

“I have to figure out a way to live with that, and it won't be by not forgiving other people's mistakes.”

— Karen M. McManus

“Sure, sure. No rush, no pressure. It’s entirely up to you, Cooper.” People always say that but it doesn’t feel true.”

— Karen M. McManus

“Another long silence descends while I try to gather my thoughts. I should be angrier, probably. I should demand proof of his…

— Karen M. McManus

“I stand and hold out my hand. She gives me a skeptical look, but takes it and lets me pull her to…

— Karen M. McManus

“I guess we're almost friends now, or as friendly as you can get when you're not one hundred percent sure the other…

— Karen M. McManus

“I wonder if I could have done the same—bluffed and brazened my way through this whole nightmare without telling Jake the truth.…

— Karen M. McManus