Book Lovers

Fame comes with money,” I point out. “Money’s helpful.”

“Fame also comes with people telling you whatever they think you want to hear.”

Be my shark, Stephens.”

“Already was,” I say. “Always have been.”

Sometimes, I write to Charlie, the first act is the fun part, and then everything gets too complicated.

Stephens, he replies, for us, it’s all the fun part.

Because nothing—not the beautiful and not the terrible—lasts.

“You do have me, Nora. I never stood a chance.”

And asking for it, hoping for it, is a way to lose something you’ve never even had.

“I’ll go anywhere with you.”

“Charlie, will you please be here?”

People like to remember childhood as all magic and no responsibilities, but that’s not really how it is. You have absolutely no control over your environment. It all comes down to the adults in your life

it just seemed like the kind of place that might look one way on the outside, and be something totally different once you got to know it. Like if you had the patience to take the time to understand it, it might be something beautiful.”