A perfect summer read filled with romance, heartache, love, and loss, The Impossibility of Us by Katy Upperman tackles issues both timely and universal.
The last thing Elise wants is to start her senior year in a new town. But after her brother’s death in Afghanistan, she and her mother move from San Francisco to a sleepy coastal village.
When Elise meets Mati, they quickly discover how much they have in common. Mati is new to town too, visiting the U.S. with his family. Over the course of the summer, their relationship begins to blossom, and what starts out as a friendship becomes so much more.
But as Elise and Mati grow closer, her family becomes more and more uncomfortable with their relationship, and their concerns all center on one fact—Mati is Afghan.
Beautifully written, utterly compelling, and ultimately hopeful, THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF US asks—how brave can you be when your relationship is questioned by everyone you love?
There’s a lot to love in this beachy read about a summer romance, in which the two main characters face unusual complications due to circumstance, culture, and prejudice.
The book alternates perspectives, with Mati’s chapters written in beautiful verse (these passages really shine, and the emotion is particularly palpable through his voice), and Elise’s told in traditional prose.
Some of the social/racial issues seemed overly simplified in the book, but Upperman still does a good job of reflecting some of the racism and prejudice facing our society today, and weaving it into the context of the story.
Ultimately, I found myself rooting for Mati and Elise to make things work against all odds — and while the book is filled with plenty of heartache, I found it ultimately hopeful and uplifting.
Look for this sweet, summertime romance in stores on Tuesday.
Novel Novice 
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