I really struggled to get into this one. It was almost a chore to read it sometimes. About 2/3 of the way through, I finally got into it.
It is a typical 'coming of age' story about Charlie, who's childhood was less than perfect, who met a girl he thought was perfect during the summer after his last year of high school. He joined a summer play, trying to impress the 'perfect' girl. Fran was impressed by Charlie and they would sneak away any chance they could, even breaking into a cabin to lose his virginity.
While Charlie was spending his summer at play practice and trying to impress Fran, his depressed, divorced father was home overdosing on prescription drugs and alcohol. Charlie's mother took his sister, Billie and left his father for another man who had his life more 'together', leaving Charlie and his dad to struggle after losing his record business, house and dignity.
It is a typical 'coming of age' story about Charlie, who's childhood was less than perfect, who met a girl he thought was perfect during the summer after his last year of high school. He joined a summer play, trying to impress the 'perfect' girl. Fran was impressed by Charlie and they would sneak away any chance they could, even breaking into a cabin to lose his virginity.
While Charlie was spending his summer at play practice and trying to impress Fran, his depressed, divorced father was home overdosing on prescription drugs and alcohol. Charlie's mother took his sister, Billie and left his father for another man who had his life more 'together', leaving Charlie and his dad to struggle after losing his record business, house and dignity.