Poor Wren. Her life and struggles are the real life struggles of every teenage girl in history.

This book examines topics such as self esteem, love, sex, relationship with friends and family, and even eating disorders. That may seem like a lot for one boom, but this author explores all the topics beautifully.

Wren is just a 16 year old girl trying to survive her teenage years. Wanting nothing more than popularity, love, and admiration from others. Throughout her journey, she faces many obstacles associated with being a teenager in the world today. In the end, she finds true happiness and it is not what she was expecting.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read this book.

I had the pleasure of getting this book in kindle form after it was released after losing access to my ARC. it was not only incredibly heartbreaking but reveals the true turmoils of being in a teen in the most beautiful and prolific prose. It is a book that truly shows that literature can be both powerful and emotional.

A powerful and poignant debut! Maroulis handles difficult subject matter with a light touch while still making the points that need to be made about body image and consensual sex. Wren's humor and wit made me like her from the outset and her personality sustains the reader, even as her flaws begin to reveal themselves. The characters' voices feel so indelibly teen, down to the text message exchanges complete with emojis, that you cannot help but remember what it felt like to be awkwardly crushing on the first person you thought was cute. Besides the adorbs Panayis, my favorite part of WITHIN AND WITHOUT was how authentic everything felt--Maroulis is truly an author to watch in contemporary YA!!

Every Body Is Beautiful

Wow just wow. At first, I seriously didn’t think I would like this book, the blurb didn’t hook me as much as some do and I went into it expecting a mediocre read. Well, don’t I feel like an idiot now. This book is life changing.

It deals with such sensitive topics, and yet it is not depressing. It’s raw and eye-opening. There are moments when I laughed and moments when I screamed at the protagonist Wren. Some of what she said and did made me want to shake her. But that’s the beauty of Maroulis’ writing, it’s all intentional.I’m meant to see parts of myself in Wren and I am meant to be frustrated by it. The reason why I got so angry and emotional with her character is because she’s me. Well not completely, but the feelings are there. The need to fit in, to become someone you’re not, that horrible destructiveness it’s all too familiar.

Unearthing this frustration was cathartic for me. Wren was a way of facing some of my darkest thoughts and seeing how they might play out. Her story highlighted the importance of loving oneself and having people love you for who you are. I honestly don’t feel the same now that I’ve completed it.In a way, I feel sick. I am ashamed that I lost sight of myself and how beautiful I am. I find it tough sometimes when all I see is skinny beautiful people. I’ll never be as thin as them and I don’t want to be. I’m me and that’s the damned best. I just need a little reminder sometimes.

That’s what this book was for me. A reminder that everybody is beautiful in their own way. Wren lost herself and her journey back was not easy. She suffered and my heart clenched for her. I was with her every step of the way and while she was annoying at times, I never gave up on her. We made it through together and I’m proud.

I am awed by this book and by Maroulis for writing it. I honestly believe it will do some good. There is so much addressed, and I want to blurt out every detail just to show just how clever it is. How it deals with these multiple, sensitive topics. But I can’t do it - I can’t spoil it.

It’s a short review I know, but it’s not because the book is lacking. It’s me. I have no idea how to do it justice. The only way I can is by urging you to read it. Give it a chance, like I did, I guarantee you’ll take something from it.

Sometimes I get so caught up in wanting to write the perfect review. This is no different, but my emotions regarding Wren’s story are so strong that it almost seems impossible.

All I can really say is, there is no other kind of love than a grandmother’s love.

Thank you, Deborah Marloulis for so beautifully showing that love and for so delicately and beautifully writing the pain and heartache. With realistic characters and heartbreaking (and warming) declarations of the truth of what makes a family a family, a friend a friend, and a lover a lover.

When I chose Within and Without by Deborah Maroulis, I wasn't sure what to expect. I had review the preview of the book and I liked what I had read. I also liked the cover to the book which was something that drew me into the book when I chose it.
Although when I did start reading it, I felt like I might not like it since I was struggling with the time jumps at the start of the first few chapters. But once I got past those and I read more of the book I began to really enjoy the book to the point I really didn't want to put it down.
Within and Without follows Wren through a long year of changes that she is struggling with such as her recent move to her grandmother's home, her parents splitting up, and boy problems. Throughout the year she struggles to find her true self within her. Wren's changes due to her ever changing life causes her to loose her only friend, but along the way she befriends someone who will be looking out for her when she needs the help the most.
Within and Without for me was a chance to read about Wren who struggles everyday with her weight, and her everyday life. I feel like this is a good book for all young adults to read for the simple reason of if they are struggling with their own issues about their bodies, then maybe by reading Wren's story they will have the courage to seek out the help that they need. So this will be a book that I recommend to readers out there to take a chance on and read it.

I received the ARC of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest opinion.
As someone who's suffered from a eating disorder, this book stood out to me as something important to read..

Wren is an insecure teenager who lives in the shadow of her outgoing friend Robin and absent mother. She crushes on Jay, a popular student. Panaysis, a teen who works at her grandmother's vineyard, keeps her company.
I won't give spoilers, but the author excellently subverts the usual YA love triangle. Maroulis handled Wren's eating disorder well, in my opinion. The various rituals and emotions felt authentic. Wren was a sympathetic, well developed character. Most of the side characters are dynamic. The plot is interesting.
The writing is eloquent in parts. For example, "Flashing strands of light make the downstairs a sea of distorted faces." (156) However, multiple uses of slang, adverbs, telling, and filter words make the prose clunky. This is my only major complaint.
I'd also like to praise Deborah Maroulis for writing a sensitive, nuanced portrayal of a girl suffering from an eating disorder. While I'm no longer a teenager, maybe this book could help someone.
If she writes more, I'd read another novel by this author.

My thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

This young adult novel deals with several serious issues: young Wren battles with an eating disorder and self-esteem issues, sexual assault, divorce and loss.

Wren has always believed herself to be in love with the popular boy, Jay. When she starts to lose weight and attracts his attention, she thinks things are finally going her way. But after a while, she realizes that she couldn't be more wrong. Unfortunately, her mother is dealing with her own self-esteem issues after the divorce and is not around for her when she needs her most. Wren is lucky to have a caring friend in Panayis, another student at her high school of Greek ancestry who also works as on her grandmother's fruit farm.

One Goodreads reviewer said that many YA novels tend to have a love triangle, and this book takes a bit of twist on that trope. Maroulis's writing is very good, and the dialogue runs smooth and true to life for the most part. I highly recommend this book.

Wren's struggle is every teen girl's struggle. This book deals with issues of self-esteem, sex, love, friendship, family and one girl's battle with an eating disorder. It is such an important book and I highly recommend. The characters feel so alive and I loved loved Granny and Panayis. The vineyard setting also is so lovely and lush. Wonderful read!