You can't help but cry for Julian and some of the other guys in this book. Julian was verbally, physically and sexually abused by his father as a kid and now feels like he does not deserved to be loved by Koby. I couldn't help but cheer for Koby when he beats the crap out of Julian's father. We never do get all of Julian's story. Koby had never been loved by anyone, even his own parents fought over who would be stuck with him, until he met Julian. I wish the book was long and gave more of the back story of the characters.