welcome to the hall of shame!

- this is a collection of all the sentences/phrases/groups of words that made me truly wonder if english was the author's first language. enjoy! -

Her eyes met mine. She smiled. I thought my heart might smash through my chest. (pg 22)

"Ja," I replied in Norwegian, hearing the sweet sound of her giggle wash into my ears. (pg 25)

disclaimer, this entire section needs to be highlighted bc cole really wrote this and thought this would make someone "laugh so hard that her whole body shook": "Come on, Pops. I swear Mr. Millen is a damn evil alien. Or a demon. Hell, he's from somewhere outside of what we know. Brought by the principal to torture us weak young earthlings with too-hard algebra. It's how he gets his life force; I'm convinced of it. And I think he's onto me too. You know, the fact I know he's an extraterrestrial, because, Lord! That man keeps failing my ass and giving me the stink eye!" (pg 28)

I closed the small space between us and crushed my lips against hers. Poppy sighed as I pushed my tongue into her mouth. (pg 34)

I squeezed my eyes shut as I imagined her in this grove all alone after tomorrow—no one to go on adventures with her, no one to listen to her laugh...no one to give her heart-bursting boy-kisses for her jar. (pg 41)

"Do you promise me, Rune? Because I still have hundreds of boy-kisses that I need you to give me." (pg 44-45)

As soon as I tasted her on my lips, I leaned in closer, and then her tongue pushed through to meet mine. (pg 28)

My heart slammed into a new kind of beat, one that knew it had the love of its other half. It was harder and faster. It was infinitely stronger than the one before. (pg 49)

"He's all anyone is talking about, and I'm pretty sure any girl in this school—except you, me, and Ruby—would sell their soul to the devil for him to even acknowledge them." (pg 73)

disclaimer, another crime committed by our resident comedian: "I'm sorry about putting my big ole' foot in my mouth yesterday about Rune. It hurt you, I saw it. Lordy! I just don't always think before I open my big trap! My daddy's threatening to have it wired shut!" Jorie pushed her hands over her mouth in a mock struggle. "I can't, Pops! This mouth, uncontrollable as it is, is all I've got!" (pg 82)

Nothing could compare to a promised lip's betrayal of a kiss. (pg 85)

He had broken me by giving away those lips—those lips were supposed to be mine forever. (pg 86)

The old Rune would never have spoken to me like this. But then I reminded myself this wasn't the Rune of old. (pg 90)

I realized, as I watched the darkness exude from this boy, that this was the Rune Mrs. Kristiansen had expected—no, feared—he would become. This was the innate moodiness she knew was harbored below the surface of her son. (pg 91)

"Let me go!" I shouted again. Rune leaned in. "No, tell me. Explain yourself!" he shouted back. "Rune—" "Explain!" he shouted, cutting me off. I shook my head faster, trying, to no avail, to escape. "Please! Please!" I begged. "Poppy!" "NO! "EXPLAIN!" "I'M DYING!" (pg 95)

Where I broke my heart for the heart I'd just broken. (pg 96)

Pain, the like of which I never knew was possible, pierced my heart. It sliced, stabbed and throbbed away at me until me feet skidded to a stop and I fell to my knees. I tried to breathe, but the pain had barely just begun, moving to rip through my lungs until nothing was left. It traveled with lightning speed through my body, taking all, until only pain remained. (pg 97)

My body shook as another raw bellow ripped from my throat, the feeling of this pain no less than if I were being hung, drawn, and quartered. (pg 98)

This time my cries didn't clog in my throat. They were freed and they were many. (pg 99)

Tears poured ceaselessly from my eyes; the pain inside my body was settling into a new home. No part of me was spared. (pg 100)

And like a dam, I burst. The tears came thick and fast as Poppy wrapped her arms around my head. (pg 104)

"Don't cry, Poppymin. I can't stand to see your tears." "You mistake their meaning," she whispered in return. (pg 106)

disclaimer, when poppy went no-contact with rune he thought it was bc he hurt her when they were exchanging v-cards for the first time and this is how poppy reassured him she liked it: "When everything happened...," she explained, "when I was seeking treatment "—tears, this time, did slip down her cheeks— "when that treatment stopped working...I thought of that night often. [...] It was the moment I replayed when it hurt. It is the moment I think of when I slip, when I begin to feel scared." (pg 110-111)

Because she stared at my lips like they were a betrayer. (pg 111)

But I didn't say anything. I couldn't; that look on her face slew me. (pg 112)

Poppy halted, then finally looked back at me. I swallowed, chasing away the razor blades in my throat, as Poppy came to stand before me. (pg 116)

I shook my head, fighting a real laugh this time. When my laugh had calmed, Poppy was still smiling at me. (pg 118)

Poppy loved that jar. It was a challenge set by her mawmaw. A challenge blunted by my two-year absence. (pg 127)

I looked at my sister. "OMG!" she mouthed dramatically. (pg 131)

He inhaled a quick breath, his eyes closing just a fraction too long for it to be a blink. (pg 138)

let's play a game of can-you-guess-what-the-author's-talking-about-based-on-this-sentence? I closed my eyes when I tasted the meaty flesh on my tongue, a burst of lemon hitting my throat. I groaned at how good it was. (pg 143) if you guessed: eating seafood, you are correct!

Rune's hands threaded through my hair, keeping me in place. I moaned as his tongue pushed through to meet mine—soft, hot, and desperate. (pg 152)

My chest concaved at those words. (pg 154)

Our kiss may have been a middle finger to anyone who didn't want us together, but her smile was a middle finger to the darkness in my soul. (pg 159)

That bit of information slammed into my gut. (pg 162)

I nodded, my lip curling in disgust as Avery's face beamed with jealousy. (pg 162)

I now realized why I had loved her so hard from being so young—so I had this time with her. (pg 175)

disclaimer, he's supposed to be happy/excited in this scene; i don't know why his fight-or-flight response is reacting: Adrenaline surged through me at the thought of how these pictures would develop. (pg 177)

It came as her eyes closed and her head tilted back, as if it were a relief, as if uncensored happiness possessed her. (pg 178)

Poppy shifted to face me, her cheeks wet with tears. Happy tears. Awed tears...Poppy tears. (pg 180)

"Me, giving you chest-bursting kisses to complete your jar." (pg 183)

I sighed against his mouth as his tongue dueled softly against mine. (pg 195)

Then I walked forward, running my hands over the glistening evergreens until I was standing at the wall that offered a panorama of Manhattan on a plate. (pg 197)

if someone can let me know what the subject of these clauses were about, that'd be helpful, thanks: And in my head the hall was packed. Every seat was occupied as afficionados listened to me play. Listened to music that demanded to be heard. Played such melodies that not a dry eye could be found in the house. Exuded such passion that all hearts would be filled and spirits would be touched. (pg 212)

But my heart skipped a much-needed beat when I saw the expression on his handsome face. (pg 214)

disclaimer, they're at prom: I closed my eyes, savoring every image: the parade of limos arriving one after the other, the students dressed so smartly, all entering the school gym. (pg 256)

Rune's eyes closed for a second too long. (pg 258)

Feeling overcome with emotion too, I allowed myself a solitary tear before taking a deep breath and shooing it away. (pg 260)

Unsuccessfully holding back his laughter, Rune set it free...and it was beautiful. (pg 263)

I released an affectionate laugh. (pg 288)

My chest heaved in exertion, my hands shook, and my breathing became labored as I exorcized my grief. (pg 292)