Spoiler!

I thought the ending would have been better if he had left her his journal (not a dry class paper). That way she could have read about the progression of his feelings in real time (the movie could have had his voice saying some of it). Then the last scene would be her sitting by the lake, holding his journal, and him coming and sitting next to her and then their eyes meeting.

But overall the movie was okay.
Wouldn't have forgiven the mom so easily for cutting her off though and being so controlling - that was a low move.