We Are Okay — Content Guide for Parents
Themes present
Not found
Content themes
Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.
Get the full theme breakdown in the app
Detailed evidence, confidence ratings, and source citations for every theme.
Download for iOSExample theme card
Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
WINNER OF THE MICHAEL L. PRINTZ AWARD • ONE OF TIME’S BEST YOUNG ADULT BOOKS OF ALL TIME • KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST YOUNG ADULT BOOK OF THE CENTURY
“Short, poetic and gorgeously written . . . The world LaCour creates is fragile but profoundly humane.” —The New York Times Book Review
You go through life thinking there’s so much you need. . . . Until you leave with only your phone, your wallet, and a picture of your mother.
Marin hasn’t spoken to anyone from her old life since the day she left everything behind. No one knows the truth about those final weeks—not even her best friend, Mabel. But even thousands of miles away from the California coast, at college in New York, Marin still feels the pull of the life and tragedy she’s tried to outrun. Now, months later, alone in an emptied dorm for winter break, Marin waits. Mabel is coming to visit, and Marin will be forced to face everything that’s been left unsaid and finally confront the loneliness that has made a home in her heart.
An intimate whisper that packs an indelible punch, We Are Okay is Nina LaCour at her finest. This gorgeously crafted and honest portrayal of grief will leave readers urgent to reach across any distance to reconnect with the people they love.
Praise for We Are Okay
“Nina LaCour treats her emotions so beautifully and with such empathy.” —Bustle
★ “Exquisite.” —Kirkus
★ “LaCour paints a captivating depiction of loss, bewilderment, and emotional paralysis . . . raw and beautiful.” —Booklist
★ “Beautifully crafted . . . . A quietly moving, potent novel.” —SLJ
★ “A moving portrait of a girl struggling to rebound after everything she’s known has been thrown into disarray.” —Publishers Weekly
★"Bittersweet and hopeful . . . poetic and skillfully crafted." —Shelf Awareness
“So lonely and beautiful that I could hardly breathe. This is a perfect book.” —Stephanie Perkins, bestselling author of Anna and the French Kiss
“As beautiful as the best memories, as sad as the best songs, as hopeful as your best dreams.”
—Siobhan Vivian, bestselling author of The Last Boy and Girl in the World
“You can feel every peak and valley of Marin’s emotional journey on your skin, in your gut. Beautifully written, heartfelt, and deeply real.” —Adi Alsaid, author of Never Always Sometimes and Let’s Get Lost
Frequently asked questions
Is We Are Okay appropriate for a 7-year-old?
No violence detected in the search results. The narrative focuses on emotional struggles rather than physical conflict. No scary content detected in the search results. The focus is on emotional themes rather than horror or fear.
Does We Are Okay have violence?
No violence detected in the search results. The narrative focuses on emotional struggles rather than physical conflict.
Does We Are Okay have scary content?
No scary content detected in the search results. The focus is on emotional themes rather than horror or fear.
Does We Are Okay have religious themes?
No religious content or themes detected in the search results.
Does We Are Okay have racial/cultural content?
No race or racism themes detected in the search results.
Does We Are Okay have profanity?
No profanity detected in the search results.
Does We Are Okay have climate change?
No climate themes detected in the search results.
Does We Are Okay have sexual identity?
The book includes a discreetly described past sexual relationship between the characters Marin and Mabel, addressing themes of love and intimacy within the context of their friendship.
Does We Are Okay have gender roles?
No specific gender roles or themes detected in the search results. The narrative centers on personal relationships and emotional growth rather than traditional or modern gender roles.
Does We Are Okay have lgbtq+ themes?
The book features characters Marin and Mabel, who have a past sexual relationship, and the narrative explores themes of queer love and identity. It is noted that being queer and in love with a best friend is portrayed differently than being straight, highlighting the unique experiences of LGBTQ+ relationships.
