By the Book

by Amanda Sellet

“Be true to yourself and other people will see your worth. If they’re worth your time.”

So this is why people make a big deal out of kissing. It was like the first sip of a milkshake, dizzyingly sweet and delicious in a way that made you want to keep drinking forever.

“It’s the nature of existence. To err is human. We screw up, and then screw up some more.”

“Remorse forces us to take a hard look at ourselves. It gives us the strength to grow, and the courage to do the right thing next time—or at least try.

“The part in books where supposedly smart characters screw up their lives because it’s just too hard”—he made a crybaby face, fists twisting in front of his eyes—“to tell someone the truth.”