Review: STILL (Grip #2) by Kennedy Ryan

STILL
Kennedy Ryan
Publication date: September 24, 2017
Series: Grip #2
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Format: Audio book
Source: Hoopla
5 Stars

GOODREADS  

S Y N O P S I S

**STILL is the conclusion of Grip & Bristol's emotional journey. You must read FLOW, the prequel, and GRIP, book 1 before beginning STILL**

I'll be there.
Through thick and thin.
Ride or die.
You can count on me.

The promises people make.
The vows we take.
Assumptions of the heart.
Emotion tells us how we feel, but life...life has a way of plunging us in boiling water, burning away our illusions, testing our faith, trying our convictions.
Love floating is a butterfly, but love tested is an anchor.

For Grip and Bristol,
Love started at the top of the world
On a Ferris wheel under the stars
But when that love is tested, will they fly or fall?

M Y   T H O U G H T S

Still is one of those books that, when I finished it, I knew I would never be able to come up with words that would do it justice. It was jaw-droppingly good. Kennedy Ryan is amazingly gifted and has a talent for story telling that is, for me, almost unrivaled. Emotional, gripping, and utterly realistic. She creates characters that are so fully realized, so flawed, and so passionate. Combined with her powerful writing, her poetry, and her attention to detail, it all culminates in a one of a kind reading experience.

Grip and Bristol faced new challenges in Still. Grip’s career was skyrocketing, Bristol continued to represent the latest and greatest at Prodigy, and Grip’s focus was pulled more and more to the issues of social injustice that were his passion. Forced to confront those who would condemn their relationship, they found themselves continually looking inward and counting on their deep commitment to see them through. They loved deeper, they fought harder, and they faced challenges that tested the very fabric of their connection.

If I thought I loved Flow and Grip (the prequel and the first book), Still took it all to the next level. The characters I loved cemented themselves in my heart and I loved with them, struggled with them, and cried with them. Bristol’s never-ending compassion continued to be both her strength and her weakness. Again and again, she was willing to overlook petty jealousies and cruelties, to rise above, and extend an open hand and build bridges. I loved and admired this about her. And her unconditional love for Grip, her iron will when it came to loving him and defending him, was her strength.

When I thought of my husband, I didn’t dream in color, I dreamt in character.

And then there was Grip. He owned me. A musician, a rapper, a poet. A man of conviction, who saw hard truths and was willing to not only speak them but work to change them. His desire to do more, be more, to keep learning, to effect change. His openness, his patience, his utter devotion to Bristol – he was the best kind of man.

I’ll never forget this moment when, through the abject fear and despair and exhaustion saturating her eyes, I glimpse her trust in me. It’s the greatest gift I’ve ever received.

There were moments during Still that my heart beat quicker at the passion between Bristol and Grip. Moments that I practically melted from the way Grip expressed his love for Bristol. Moments when I fumed over the small-minded hatred they encountered. And moments when I had tears running down my face for the unbelievable heartache they endured. Still delivered it all.

My eyes will never stray.
My heart will never wander,
gladly leashed to you all my days.
I am fixed on you.

Kennedy Ryan writes more than just a love story. She manages to interweave social issues, poetry, humor and heart and combines it all to make a story that is vast and rich and relevant. Still was smart and thought-provoking, beautiful and gritty - and completely unforgettable.

Review: Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner

MRS. EVERYTHING
Jennifer Weiner
Publication date: Jun 11, 2019
Genres: Adult Fiction, Women's Fiction
Format: eARC
Source: Atria Books and NetGalley



GOODREADS  *  AMAZON

S Y N O P S I S

From Jennifer Weiner, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Who Do You Love and In Her Shoes, comes a smart, thoughtful, and timely exploration of two sisters’ lives from the 1950s to the present as they struggle to find their places—and be true to themselves—in a rapidly evolving world. Mrs. Everything is an ambitious, richly textured journey through history—and herstory—as these two sisters navigate a changing America over the course of their lives.

M Y   T H O U G H T S

Mrs. Everything is a tale of two sisters, how circumstances fray their bond, and how they come together again. While Jennifer Weiner calls this her most ambitious work, I call it her best.

Sisters Bethie and Jo could not be more different. Bethie is pretty and popular. Jo doesn’t care about clothes or fashion, loves sports, and never seems to earn her mother’s approval. A childhood spent in 1950’s suburban Detroit leads to college in the 60’s and a time of civil rights, protests and experimentation. Their lives take dramatically different paths and their choices shape their lives in unexpected ways.

I was completely captivated by this story. Weiner breathed life into these characters and I felt as if I were experiencing every heartache, every joy, and every turn in the road with Bethie and Jo. From complicated family dynamics, to disordered eating, drug use, sex and marriage, these women struggled to find their way, both separately and apart. I sympathized with Jo who struggled for her mother’s approval and acceptance and who spent years hiding her true self. And my heart ached for Bethie who spent years running from her past.   

They lived through times of tremendous upheaval – the Viet Nam war, civil rights, women’s rights – and the roles of women changed over the years. They were redefining what it meant to be a woman in a changing world, while still being constrained by societal expectations, and with the knowledge that change comes slowly and there were still barriers to overcome. Their choices were so often colored by, and limited to, the options available at that time. They were alternately each other’s strongest supporter and harshest critic, proving that the author understands the complicated relationship shared by sisters.

Spanning more than six decades, Weiner has delivered a powerful story of sisterhood – both familial and that of all women. She strikes the perfect balance of telling Jo and Bethie’s stories while shining a light on the limitations, expectations, tragedies and triumphs of women over the past 60-70 years. Never preachy or political, but instead intensely readable, Mrs. Everything has skyrocketed to one of my favorite reads of 2019.

5/5 STARS

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.

Review: The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves

THE GIRL HE USED TO KNOW
Tracey Garvis Graves
Publication date: April 2, 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: St. Martin's Press

GOODREADS  |  AMAZON

S Y N O P S I S

Annika (rhymes with Monica) Rose is an English major at the University of Illinois. Anxious in social situations where she finds most people's behavior confusing, she'd rather be surrounded by the order and discipline of books or the quiet solitude of playing chess.

Jonathan Hoffman joined the chess club and lost his first game--and his heart--to the shy and awkward, yet brilliant and beautiful Annika. He admires her ability to be true to herself, quirks and all, and accepts the challenges involved in pursuing a relationship with her. Jonathan and Annika bring out the best in each other, finding the confidence and courage within themselves to plan a future together. What follows is a tumultuous yet tender love affair that withstands everything except the unforeseen tragedy that forces them apart, shattering their connection and leaving them to navigate their lives alone.

Now, a decade later, fate reunites Annika and Jonathan in Chicago. She's living the life she wanted as a librarian. He's a Wall Street whiz, recovering from a divorce and seeking a fresh start. The attraction and strong feelings they once shared are instantly rekindled, but until they confront the fears and anxieties that drove them apart, their second chance will end before it truly begins. 

M Y   T H O U G H T S

Do you ever come across those rare stories that are so perfectly “you?” This is one of those stories for me. I fell in love with these characters and their story. This is what my kind of five star read looks like.

“Did you ever fall in love with a girl who was different? Not just from any girl you’d ever dated before, but from most people in general?” - Jonathan

Annika knows she’s not like everyone else. Awkward and unsure in social situations, overwhelmed by noise and crowds, and never able to intuit what others are thinking, she counts on her roommate’s guidance to navigate through her daily life.

“I try so hard to fit in. I spend hours studying appropriate behaviors.” She makes little air quotes around the last two words. “I will never get it right! Do you know what that’s like? It’s the most frustrating thing in the world.” - Annika

Annika and Jonathan meet over a chess board in college. Annika – focused on winning, Jonathan – focused on the beautiful but shy girl across from him. A tentative friendship leads to a romance that is life-changing for them both. They weather tragedy together and when Jonathan graduates and moves to New York City he wants Annika to go with him. But Annika retreats into herself and pulls away, leaving Jonathan no choice but to move on. A chance meeting ten years later brings them face to face with their past and a second chance seems possible – if they can face what went wrong the first time.

“I can hardly remember the names of the girls who came before her, and after her there was only Liz. But I can recall with unbelievable clarity almost everything that happened during the time I spent with Annika.” - Jonathan

Graves wrote Annika with such a deft hand and made her a fully realized character, not just a label, or a generic “quirky girl with issues.” Annika was complex, disarmingly self-aware, and equal parts timid and incredibly brave. I connected with Annika from the very start. I understood her, I was frustrated with her, I cheered for her. Her daily life was a struggle, most personal interactions were confounding, but she found ways to cope. I loved this woman who took things at face value, who didn’t understand sarcasm or nuances, and who was completely with artifice.

“I tried to fill my days with more social interaction, but that only left me feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. A personal connection with someone was what I craved most. Someone who understood my needs and was willing to speak my language.
 Someone Like Jonathan.”  Annika

Neither Annika nor Jonathan were perfect, but they were perfect for each other. Jonathan took the time to see beyond Annika’s unique challenges and saw her for the special person she was. He was kind and patient, observant and attentive. He wanted to protect her from those who would see Annika’s differences and consider her somehow less than, but he also encouraged her to try new things and push her limits.

“How can you want to be with someone like me? How were you able to fall in love with someone who acts the way I do?” “It was easier than you think.”

Told in alternating timelines – the college years in 1991 and their present set in 2001 – this was a story that captured my heart and my emotions. The dramatic events near the end, which in less skilled hands could have felt gimmicky, were instead used beautifully to show real character growth and the lengths one will go to overcome fears for the one they love.

The Girl He Used to Know is a one of a kind story that became an instant favorite. I loved these flawed characters who felt utterly authentic. Annika and Jonathan’s story was sweet and compelling and emotional and I loved every minute I spent with them. This is truly a story of my heart and will stay with me for a long time to come.

5/5 STARS

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.

Review: Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

DAISY JONES & THE SIX
Taylor Jenkins Reid
Publication date:
Genres: Adult, Fiction, Historical
Format: Hardcover (368 pgs)
Source: Library

GOODREADS  *  AMAZON

S Y N O P S I S

Everyone knows Daisy Jones & The Six, but nobody knows the reason behind their split at the absolute height of their popularity . . . until now.

Daisy is a girl coming of age in L.A. in the late sixties, sneaking into clubs on the Sunset Strip, sleeping with rock stars, and dreaming of singing at the Whisky a Go Go. The sex and drugs are thrilling, but it’s the rock and roll she loves most. By the time she’s twenty, her voice is getting noticed, and she has the kind of heedless beauty that makes people do crazy things.

Also getting noticed is The Six, a band led by the brooding Billy Dunne. On the eve of their first tour, his girlfriend Camila finds out she’s pregnant, and with the pressure of impending fatherhood and fame, Billy goes a little wild on the road.

Daisy and Billy cross paths when a producer realizes that the key to supercharged success is to put the two together. What happens next will become the stuff of legend.

The making of that legend is chronicled in this riveting and unforgettable novel, written as an oral history of one of the biggest bands of the seventies. Taylor Jenkins Reid is a talented writer who takes her work to a new level with Daisy Jones & The Six, brilliantly capturing a place and time in an utterly distinctive voice.

M Y   T H O U G H T S

Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again. Daisy Jones & The Six just catapulted to my favorite read of 2019 and I’ll be surprised if it gets unseated.

Told in an unconventional format, the book is presented as an oral history of the rise and fall of Daisy Jones & The Six. The mystery author (who is eventually revealed - and was so perfect in the way it brought the story full-circle) gathered the input of members of The Six, Daisy Jones, their manager, friends, and others to tell the tale. There are conflicting details and the truth often depends on who is telling the story.

“We love broken, beautiful people. And it doesn't get much more obviously broken and more classically beautiful than Daisy Jones.” 

Daisy was a hard-partying young woman who immersed herself in the L.A. music scene from a young age. Drinking, drugs, rock stars – she experienced it all. But she’s more than a pretty face and a good-time girl and she wants her songs heard. Billy was a hard-partying singer-songwriter who headed the up and coming rock band The Six. As a recovering addict, he had a lot to lose and struggled to balance his music and lifestyle with the family waiting for him at home. When his savvy manager suggested a collaboration with Daisy Jones, rock history was made, and a rock legend was born.

“I had absolutely no interest in being somebody else's muse.
I am not a muse.
I am the somebody.
End of fucking story.”

I was sucked right into this captivating story from the very start. It was impossible not to draw comparisons between the fictional characters and real-life inspirations (Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac, and other 70’s music icons come to mind as the story unfolds). Daisy is a character I loved and hated and pitied all while watching her collision course with disaster - because there was no doubt Daisy would crash and burn. Once Daisy joined The Six it felt like her own downward spiral slipped into high gear. Billy and Daisy’s relationship was equal parts intimate, explosive, and emotional, and the band’s dynamic shifted with every line that was crossed.

“We were two halves. We were the same. In that way that you’re only the same with a few other people. In that way that you don’t even feel like you have to say your own thoughts because you know the other person is already thinking them. How could I be around Daisy Jones and not be mesmerized be her?”

In Daisy Jones & The Six, Reid created so much more than the story of a rock band. It’s a time capsule. A snapshot of a period in time that, according to some, if you remember it you didn’t do it right. It’s a love story, it’s a character study, it’s an ode to the music and musicians of the 70’s, and it’s a mockumentary that at times had me totally convinced that The Six’s music was just a Google search away. I loved every minute of this fascinating, nostalgic, and engrossing novel.

5/5 STARS

Review: From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon

From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon

Genres: Historical Fiction

Release Date: December 1, 2016

Format: Kindle

Source: NetGalley

Find it here: GoodReads | Amazon

Synopsis

Italy, 1943—Germany occupies much of the country, placing the Jewish population in grave danger during World War II.

As children, Eva Rosselli and Angelo Bianco were raised like family but divided by circumstance and religion. As the years go by, the two find themselves falling in love. But the church calls to Angelo and, despite his deep feelings for Eva, he chooses the priesthood.

Now, more than a decade later, Angelo is a Catholic priest and Eva is a woman with nowhere to turn. With the Gestapo closing in, Angelo hides Eva within the walls of a convent, where Eva discovers she is just one of many Jews being sheltered by the Catholic Church.

But Eva can’t quietly hide, waiting for deliverance, while Angelo risks everything to keep her safe. With the world at war and so many in need, Angelo and Eva face trial after trial, choice after agonizing choice, until fate and fortune finally collide, leaving them with the most difficult decision of all.

My Thoughts

From Sand and Ash is a rare and remarkable novel and I will never be able to do it justice with my review. Simply put, in four decades of reading, it is one of the best books I have ever read.

“Confession: My name is Batsheva Rosselli, not Eva Bianco, and I am a Jew. Angelo Bianco is not my brother but a priest who wanted only to protect me from the very place I now find myself.”

Angelo and Eva were raised side by side for most of their childhood. Their differences – Angelo was American and Catholic, Eva an Italian Jew – were not enough to stop the unbreakable bond they formed. Despite a deep love for one another, Angelo follows a path of servitude in the Church, leaving Eva to pursue her music. However, the years that pass do nothing to diminish their feelings for one another.

“I have always been yours, Angelo,” she said, echoing the very words he’d thought while he’d prayed. She was his. “But you have never been mine.” 

Suddenly war is at their doorstep. Life for Eva becomes more dangerous with each passing day and Angelo has sworn to protect her. While Angelo works within the Church to hide and shelter as many Jews as possible, Eva also finds herself in defiance of the Germans occupying Italy and takes increasingly dangerous risks.

“I would do anything for you, Eva. Anything.” He thought of what Camillo had said about not only blessing lives, but saving Jewish lives, and it gave him the strength to continue. “But I can’t have you and the church. I need the church, Eva. I need the church, and I believe the church needs me.”

Harmon’s writing had me completely immersed and I felt as if I were living this story right along with Eva and Angelo. Through her imagery, narration, and fully formed characters, I was transported to another time and place – where unimaginable horrors were combatted with everyday acts of heroism. Knowing of the atrocities committed during WW II does nothing to soften the depiction of it here. So many scenes are heart-wrenching but there is also such beauty in the unfailing faith and hope portrayed.

“Many will seek to tell me what God’s will is. But nobody knows. Not really. Because God is quiet. Always. He is quiet, and my anguish is so intense, so incredibly loud, that right now I can only do my will and hope that somehow, it aligns with his.”

Eva and Angelo are unforgettable characters. Eva was spirited and fearless and, while she came to know fear on a daily basis, she had a strength of character that had her continuing to do what she knew to be right. Angelo was a man of such faith – selfless and compassionate, working tirelessly to save lives at constant risk to his own life. They did not just endure, they fought; and not just for their own survival but for countless others who found themselves on the wrong side of a war. Innocents whose only crime was to be born a Jew.

“The longer he remained on this earth, the more he was sure that mankind had no clue about God or heaven. Not when they used him as an excuse to kill, to punish, to discriminate.”

From Sand and Ash is not an easy read. It showcases a cruelty that is impossible to imagine. But it is an absolute gem in its beautiful depiction of love, faith, endurance and hope. This book is the perfect example of why I read.

5/5 STARS

 

Review: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses #2

Genres: New Adult, Fantasy

Release Date: May 3, 2016

Format: Kindle and Hardcover

Source: Purchased

Find it here: GoodReads | Amazon

Synopsis

Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

My Thoughts

It’s been almost 48 hours since I finished A Court of Mist and Fury (as of the time I’m writing this, anyway – it’s probably been longer by the time you’re reading this). I thought if I gave myself a couple days the book hangover would fade and I would be able to gather my thoughts for a reasonable review.

Nope.

Inside I am still a wailing, cheering, sobbing, fist-bumping, swooning, fangirling mess. So what follows may be a rambling collection of half-finished thoughts and overly emotional gushing. But if you’ve read it… you know. I mean, you just KNOW. 

Credit: annalisacoppolino.tumblr.com

When I read A Court of Thorns and Roses last year I quickly fell in love with the characters. I was captivated by the world SJM created. And I was completely invested in the story as it unfolded. ACOMAF provided all that and more – like ACOTAR, but amped up to the tenth power. The world expanded, the cast of characters grew, histories were revealed, alliances changed. To put it simply, A court of Mist and Fury was a total game changer.

First things first. If you have not read A Court of Thorns and Roses, there will likely be a few spoilery things ahead. So run along and go read the first book now, m’kay? It’s okay, I’ll wait. Really. For all you others, let’s chat, shall we?

The beginning of ACOMAF was plenty angsty. I mean, let’s face it, Feyre was a mess. Considering what took place Under the Mountain (love how that was always capitalized, by the way, it gave it such momentous feeling) it felt realistic that Feyre would still suffer the effects. But being in Feyre’s head, feeling her grief and pain and guilt – it was heartbreaking. And the fact that she was not finding comfort where she should have been able to… yeah, that was a double whammy. And so began one ship sinking (we’re talking as hard and fast as the Titanic, people) and another ship sailing (with flags flying!).

Credit: unknown

Feyre was not the only one suffering. Characters were struggling with the aftermath of what happened Under the Mountain – what they saw, what they endured, what they were forced to do. They handle it in different ways but none of them came out unscathed. 

Credit: nightcourtsquad.tumblr.com

Rhysand was such an intriguing character in ACOTAR. The more I learned, the more I wanted to know (especially after the scene with he and Feyre at the end where he obviously shocked by something). Learning more about Rhys and seeing layer after layer peeled back, revealing who he truly is, was one of my favorite aspects of the book. He is such a complex character and I loved him for his determination, his protectiveness, his selflessness, his bravery and ferocity, his intelligence, his tenderness, his cunning, his leadership, and so much more. I learned so much about Rhys that I never expected, particularly how he thought of himself (insert frowny face).

Credit: ihaveabookhangover.tumblr.com

The cast of characters introduced was simply ah-mazing (#SquadGoals). Second in command Amren who is beyond fierce, Morrigan who was so welcoming and willing to befriend Feyre, Azriel and Cassian, both ferocious warriors with painful histories of their own. They formed such a remarkable group of different but like-minded souls who were intensely loyal. I became so attached to this motley group.

The plot of ACOMAF felt like it was nonstop action and never once felt slow, despite the length. There was so much happening. Amarantha’s death was clearly not the end and there is still danger from Hybern. War is coming. Preparations are being made and that means a lot of behind the scenes machinations from Feyre and Rhys and his inner circle. Where ACOTAR felt pretty insular with just two main settings (Spring Court and Under the Mountain), the gang was definitely on the move in this one - the House of Wind, the Court of Nightmares, Velaris, the Summer Court, and beyond. The imagery for every single setting was so vivid that I could see it all. There were so many situations and so many conflicts that had me on edge and unsure of how they would be resolved. Maas was a master at weaving it all together seamlessly and keeping the momentum going (not an easy feat considering the length of the book!).

I was a wreck throughout the final scenes of this book. I couldn’t bear what was happening and found myself reading a page and then setting it down. Then reading a paragraph and setting it down. I couldn’t handle it! I was screaming in outrage, silenced by shock, cringing in fear and crying at the heartbreak of it all. Sarah J. Maas, you are a cruel, cruel woman. You played my every emotion over 600+ pages and turned me into a pathetic mess. Well done, my lady.

Credit: my own photo

The thought of waiting until next May for the third book seems unbearable but until then, despite the fact that I never re-read, I envision revisiting ACOMAF again and again. Because A Court of Mist and Fury was EPIC.

5/5 Stars 

 

Have you read A Court of Mist and Fury? What are your thoughts?
Let's discuss in the comments!

Review: I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

Title: I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

Series: No

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary

Release Date: February 3, 2015 by Henry Holt & Co.

Format: Hardcover

Source: Purchased

Find it here: GoodReads | Amazon

Synopsis

If seventeen-year-old Skylar Evans were a typical Creek View girl, her future would involve a double-wide trailer, a baby on her hip, and the graveyard shift at Taco Bell. But after graduation, the only thing standing between straightedge Skylar and art school are three minimum-wage months of summer. Skylar can taste the freedom—that is, until her mother loses her job and everything starts coming apart. Torn between her dreams and the people she loves, Skylar realizes everything she’s ever worked for is on the line.

Nineteen-year-old Josh Mitchell had a different ticket out of Creek View: the Marines. But after his leg is blown off in Afghanistan, he returns home, a shell of the cocksure boy he used to be. What brings Skylar and Josh together is working at the Paradise—a quirky motel off California’s dusty Highway 99. Despite their differences, their shared isolation turns into an unexpected friendship and soon, something deeper.

My Thoughts

There are times when a book makes such an impact on me that I find it almost impossible to review. How can I possibly do it justice? I’ll Meet You There is one of those books. I finished it more than four weeks ago and I’ve been mulling over my review ever since, feeling like a less than stellar review is somehow doing a disservice to the book. But here’s my attempt at sharing what an incredible story this is.

I’ll Meet You There is the story of Sky. Her life is not an easy one but she has big plans. After the loss of her father and the subsequent breakdown of her mother, Sky often took on the role of caretaker and responsible adult. Escaping the trailer park and the suffocating life in her small town is her only goal. With high school graduation behind her, she lives for the end of summer when she can shake off the dust of Creek View and flee to art school. But when her mother loses her job, Sky feels responsible for her well-being and suddenly her own future is in jeopardy.

I’ll Meet You There is the story of Josh. He left Creek View for the Marines at the age of 18 – cocky, popular, and sure of himself. He returns at 19 a very changed young man – wounded, an amputee, and suffering from PTSD. His experiences have left him feeling far removed from life in his small town and viewing the people and limitations there with a new and critical eye. As he struggled to accept his new reality - while suffering from pain, nightmares, guilt and grief – Josh finds an unlikely friend in Sky. 

Demetrios managed to create characters who were completely believable. I never once felt I was reading a work of fiction, but instead maybe a recounting of very real people that the author knew and loved. Josh and Sky’s realities often felt grim and the hopelessness was almost tangible. The ache I felt for these two young people was visceral. I pulled for them, I wanted so much for them. I wanted Life to be kinder and gentler with them. The realism extended to the setting as well, with Creek View feeling almost like another character in the book. The small town off a California highway, withering in the summer heat. The dilapidated trailer park, the lone diner/restaurant, the bored teenagers and the lack of any opportunity.

Sky and Josh were both so flawed but so likable. Both are lonely – both feeling isolated and suffocated by life in Creek View. Both struggling against unfair, or downright cruel, circumstances. I loved the slow burn of their relationship. It made it that much more believable. More meaningful. Every touch, every smile, every hug… they meant something. There was no insta-love. There were no rainbows and roses. No happily ever after with a bow on top once they found each other. This was real life in all its messy, imperfect glory. 

Josh’s experiences in Afghanistan and his struggle in the aftermath truly hurt my heart. I appreciate a military aspect in novels when they are honest and done well, when an author has obviously done the research instead of relying on clichés. With a husband who is a 20 year veteran, who had a wide and varied Navy career, I am acutely sensitive to the portrayal of military themes. So often they are idealized (every sailor is a SEAL, every soldier is an Ranger) or riddled with clichés (hotshot rogues who save the day). But Demetrios either researched well or has firsthand knowledge of the subject matter. She gave an unflinching account of Josh’s service, his connection to his fellow Marines, his injury, and most importantly, his lingering issues with survivor’s guilt, anger, and grief. This was so grounded in reality that it was sometimes painful to read. Kudos to Demetrios for the honesty – and for getting it right.

I’ll Meet You There is a story of loss, hope, grief, friendship, coming of age, falling in love, pushing your limits, setting your own course and so much more. This isn’t a story with high drama or cookie cutter characters or overused tropes. Instead, the realism is gut-wrenching and at times hard to take. Sky’s fight to escape from an unstable parent and a dead-end town and Josh’s struggle to come to terms with the realities of war were unflinchingly portrayed. But it was that grittiness and that realism that makes I'll Meet You There what it is: completely unforgettable.

5/5 Stars

TOP 10 BOOKS of 2015!

I am so excited to be sharing my end-of-year favorites! Even as I type this, I haven't narrowed it down to 10 books. Sure, some immediately come to mind, but I'll be doing a lot of thinking (and a lot of GoodReads checking) before this is finished. Let's get started... (*Disclaimer: I tried - I really, really tried - to narrow it down to 10 but it was impossible. So yeah, I cheated. But it's my list so I told myself it was okay. So there.)

LEO by MIA SHERIDAN

Read in: January

This was my first surprise of the year. I can't even remember how I came to find this little gem. But I'm so glad I did. Even my GoodReads status showed this one was going to be something special:

EMMY & OLIVER by ROBIN BENWAY

Read in: September

This book just hit me right in the heart. Benway told the story of two childhood friends reunited after years apart due to a parental kidnapping. This could have felt very "after school special" but instead it was sweet and charming and sad and I adored Emmy and Oliver so, so much.

EVERY LAST BREATH by JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT

Read in: August

Horrible cover change aside, Armentrout nailed it with this end to the Dark Elements trilogy. And because Roth. Need I say more?

WAIT FOR YOU by JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT

Read in: September

This new adult novel by Jennifer L. Armentrout (sometimes credited as J. Lynn) was everything I'd hoped it would be. Few people write male leads like JLA and Cam Hamilton is a shining example of that. It took a while for Avery and Cam to reach a happy ending, but Cam made it all worthwhile.

A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES by SARAH J. MAAS

Read in: September 

The Took A Chance And It Paid Off Big Time award goes to A Court of Thorns and Roses. I wasn't sure about this one because: 1) I'd read Throne of Glass by Maas and wasn't blown away, and 2) Fantasy is not my genre of choice and I rarely read it. But the synopsis grabbed me and I had a serious case of cover love so I gave it a try. {pats self on the back for such a wise decision} I was completely hooked on Feyre's story, swooned over Tamlin and have total grabby hands for the next book.

I'LL MEET YOU THERE by HEATHER DEMETRIOS

Read in: December

This is such a recent read that I haven't even reviewed it yet. And I'm not even sure how I will review it because I'll never do it justice and I'm almost too emotional about it to be objective. Demetrios is so masterful that I never once felt like I was reading fiction; instead the realism was such that I felt Sky and Josh must be people that the author knew and she decided to write their heartbreaking story. The military aspect hit close to home and this is one that will stay with me for a long time.

**And here's where the cheating starts...**

 

HOTHOUSE FLOWER and THRIVE by KRISTA & BECCA RITCHIE

Read in: January and April, respectively

I've shared many times that Krista and Becca Ritchie's Addicted series is my favorite contemporary series... ever. I have come to love every character in the series and there were scenes in both of these books that were so powerful and so emotional it was overwhelming. 

  

 

THE SLAMMED TRILOGY  and the HOPELESS DUOLOGY by COLLEEN HOOVER

Read in: April and October, respectively

This was the year that I delved into Colleen's back catalog and read her earliest novels from 2012-2013. Simply put, there is no one whose writing strikes an emotional chord with me like Colleen Hoover. Lake and Will from Slammed and Sky and Holder from Hopeless - these characters and their stories broke my heart and made me happy for it. 

 

CONFESS and NOVEMBER 9 by COLLEEN HOOVER

Read in: March and November, respectively

Do you have any idea how hard it was to choose between CoHo's books and series and decide which would be #2 and which would be #3? Torture, I tell you! Colleen had two full-length stand-alone releases this year and both received 5-star ratings from me. Confess has the distinction of being the only book to ever make me cry in the prologue, and November 9 often had me laughing through my tears. I hope Colleen never stops writing.

THE NIGHTINGALE by KRISTIN HANNAH

Read in: February

As a long time fan of Kristin Hannah, I know that I'm most likely going to love anything she writes. But nothing could have prepared me for the gut-wrenching story that is The Nightingale. It is beautifully written which only serves as a stark contrast to the unimaginable fear and bravery that are portrayed. I cringed at the danger these two sisters found themselves in, cheered at their quiet victories, and cried for their losses. The Nightingale is unforgettable and without a doubt my Top Book of 2015.

What were your favorites of 2015? Have you read any of my picks? 

Let's talk about about the Best of 2015!