This book is a lot of fun and I hope readers find it. It has old-school punk rock and Scandinavian black-metal; laugh out loud moments and Hallmark-card emotionality. Real issues and absurd situations. Neilly and Dec are great characters. Vegan-ism is presented as ultimate rejection of social norms. It has pre-marital sex and its unintended consequences, a gay wedding and lesbian clergy. All in all, good times.

To be clear: there are ample references to teen sexual desire, self-love, expletives, and gay people. Readers should be fully informed going in. This captures the maelstrom that can come with a blended family. Halpin has done an honest job rendering a teenaged boy: his Declan isn't a common type, but he's real and believable in ugly and wonderful ways. I thought Neilly wasn't quite as well drawn, but she has her own depth and shows real growth.

Religion plays a central role to the plot. Those not familiar with Unitarian Universalism may find the church bits to be far-out, as compared to any variety of Christianity, but Cook and Halpin have done the research and captured it well.

As fun YA goes, this is a great read. Guys or girls will like it. Kids with queer parents will like it. Metal Heads will really like it.