Uses For Boys by Erica Lorraine Scheidt

Author: Erica Lorraine Scheidt
Publication: Januray 15, 2013
By: St. Martin's Press
4 Stars 

Anna remembers a time before boys, when she was little and everything made sense. When she and her mom were a family, just the two of them against the world. But now her mom is gone most of the time, chasing the next marriage, bringing home the next stepfather. Anna is left on her own—until she discovers that she can make boys her family. From Desmond to Joey, Todd to Sam, Anna learns that if you give boys what they want, you can get what you need. But the price is high—the other kids make fun of her; the girls call her a slut. Anna's new friend, Toy, seems to have found a way around the loneliness, but Toy has her own secrets that even Anna can't know.

Then comes Sam. When Anna actually meets a boy who is more than just useful, whose family eats dinner together, laughs, and tells stories, the truth about love becomes clear. And she finally learns how it feels to have something to lose—and something to offer.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.
This book wasn't anything like I expected it to be based on the summary. It's beautifully written and I felt like I was caught up in a poem.  Anna's story is not an easy one to read and is full of raw and often heartbreaking moments.  She finds a kindred spirit in Toy but even that doesn't fill the void carved out by her mother.  Anna is looking for love and just like the song, she tends to look for it in all the wrong places.

It's not until she meets Sam and his family that she gets a glimpse of what love and family are supposed to look and feel like.  They're also the first people to see Anna for who she is and all she can become.  One of the things I really enjoyed was the way this ended, full of love, forgiveness and acceptance.