Falling Under by Danielle Younge-Ullman

 This is one of the best debut novels I have read in a very long time.
Mara is a young girl whose parents are divorced and she hides within herself so as not to be "stepped on".
She is an artist who becomes friends with Bernadette, a girl from school, and they become so close that Mara finally has someone who she can tell anything to.
During her young years, she becomes involved in relationships with men that are intense, emotionally and sexually. She has many lovers that are just that, lovers. She has a hard time committing to that elusive sense of love, afraid that it will fall apart.
This is very intense and you are so involved and know so much about the characters, they almost feel like family and you can almost know what their reactions are going to be.
Danielle Younge-Ullman is definitely an author that I will continue to watch for.

http://danielleyoungeullman.com/