In Nina LaCour's We Are Okay, no one knows what really made Marin leave home so abruptly for college in New York. But when Marin’s best friend comes to visit over winter break, Marin is forced to deal with the tragedy she left behind in San Francisco and the grief that follows. The inside of this 2017 young-adult release reads, "You go through life thinking there’s so much you need...Until you leave with only your phone, your wallet, and a picture of your mother". While the description certainly designates some sort of journey for Marin, readers may or may not be prepared for this dark, emotion-filled tale.
Throughout the novel, LaCour transitions between the past and present in order to grasp the complexity of Marin's life. The author presents an array of characters, who almost all hold an emotional connection on Marin's life. The reader meets Mabel, Marin's best friend since the beginning of high school, the girl Marin was in love with by the end of high school, the girl who's just trying to understand why her best friend left so suddenly. The reader meets what little memory Marin has of her mom, leaving her with more loneliness than she realizes. The reader meets Gramps, her baker and poker player of a grandfather, the only real family Marin has left. The reader meets Ana and Javier, who love Marin as much as they love their own children.
LaCour incorporates diverse elements, such as LGBTQ love interests, however, these elements do not make up the entire premise of the novel. By not relying on particular plot devices, she depicts a realistic portrayal of an individual's struggle with grief. Readers will also enjoy how LaCour puts an emphasis on family, not the teen-to-teen relationships that are often found in many young-adult novels. Her beautifully-crafted writing about Marin's journey and the people who love her invites readers to dive into We Are Okay with a box of tissues already in hand.
