‘We Should Hang Out Sometime: Embarrassingly, A True Story’ by Josh Sundquist is a compelling memoir that reads much like a young adult novel. One could easily read this book and wonder whether the events actually happened or if they are fictional. Yet, they are all true, told from Sundquist’s perspective. His enlightening tales of his own teenage angst and uncertainty ring so true, and his internal battle with the loss of his leg and how it affects the way he lives his life and his relationships adds an even more realistic layer to the storytelling.

The truthful nature of the story engrosses readers from the get-go, as they learn about the girlfriends he has had – or wanted to have – and how he lost them, even though he never actually had one – and only one – for even a full 24 hours. The memoir is written like an investigative journal, as he recaps his interest in each girl, how she came to like him, at the very least as a friend, and how anything he thought was happening between them was nipped in the bud before it could even begin, for a variety of reasons that will engross readers. Even though it is clear the relationships – or lack thereof – are just not going to work out, the way he tells the story and reveals the follow-up to each is riveting. He meets with each of the girls in person or via the computer years later, while in his 20s, to get their take on the way everything occurred. He comes to some realizations and has some surprises on his journey to learn the truth, which are equally surprising and interesting for readers.

Anyone who has liked someone and had it not work out, but has remained positive in the wake of that upset, will find Sundquist’s storytelling touching and even aggravating, especially as hindsight always kicks in and people wish they could have done things differently. Reading about Sundquist’s relationships brings up that same sense of worry that things may not work out, even though they tend to do so when one least expects it.

The ending was worth the read, and most anyone who picks this book up will likely see a little of themselves, whether from one perspective or the other (as Sundquist or one of the girls he likes). As a true story, it hits the nail on the head about how liking someone isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be – but sometimes it just might live up to the expectations.

You can find ‘We Should Hang Out Sometime: Embarrassingly, A True Story’ by Josh Sundquist here.