Editorial Content for My Best Everything

Not a lot of books portray first love alongside moonshine, junkyards and agoraphobia --- but even if it weren't for the ingenuity of its plot, MY BEST EVERYTHING would still stand out from the deluge of young adult romances flooding bookstore shelves.

When Lulu’s father loses her college tuition, this desperate honors student plunges headlong into her small town’s thriving moonshine business. And, because AP Chemistry never discussed this kind of distillation, Lulu begs Mason --- the enigmatic bad boy with a shadowy past --- to steep (see what I did there?) her in backwoods Virginia’s moonshine dynasty. But just when our protagonist’s whiskey sales revive her chances of escaping Dale, Lulu’s undeniable feelings for Mason begin to blur her vision for the future. Should Lulu chase her dream of collegiate glory if it means abandoning true love?

If nothing else (and believe me, it does plenty else), Tomp’s novel defies expectations. For starters, though Mason --- the recovering alcoholic and high school dropout who initiates our protagonist into the moonshine underground --- sports more red flags than a Spanish matador, he charms readers from his first appearance on page six. And though MY BEST EVERYTHING bravely confronts a slurry of uncomfortable topics (everything from alcoholism to agoraphobia to abortion), Tomp never mistakes her novel for a soapbox. Though this book might encourage readers to examine their feelings on a particular subject, MY BEST EVERYTHING’s subtle, understated prose never shoves an opinion down readers’ throats.

Though this book might encourage readers to examine their feelings on a particular subject, MY BEST EVERYTHING’s subtle, understated prose never shoves an opinion down readers’ throats.

During the novel's final chapter, Lulu proclaims her desire to stay in Dale… and her desire to leave… then decides that, just kidding, she should actually stay… then --- well, I don’t want to give away the ending. While Lulu should second guess such a momentous decision, she declares each new life plan with such certainty that any subsequent changes of heart wound up feeling forced. Did the book’s all-too-convenient ending make me smile? Of course, but this bright and shiny conclusion also resolves a few of the book’s subplots a tad too abruptly.

Though I might question MY BEST EVERYTHING’s coincidence-heavy ending, I can’t deny the psychological depth of its characters or the elegant, almost poetic, efficiency of Tomp’s prose. Tomp’s vivid imagery portrays the idyllic, small-town charm of Dale as well as its small-town stagnation. But, even though the town might feel stagnant, Tomp’s panoramic web of subplots ensures that all major characters experience some sort of mental growth over the course of the novel.

While MY BEST EVERYTHING might not be the perfect novel, it’s perfect for fans of zany, hilariously impulsive protagonists, transportive settings and poignant love stories. Or anyone looking for a way to pay for college.