Review: An authentic story full of emotion, redemption and self-discovery
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 1, 2014
I was given an ARC for an honest review... Take a look!Wow. This book is an emotional ride. It was frustrating, heartbreaking, sweet and intense. I read it in one sitting! From the moment young Jenna meets seventeen year old Kellen, she is intrigued. As she gets to know him and he becomes a constant presence in her house, their friendship grows. They were best friends and confidants from the first day and their relationship is solidified through the good and bad.Jenna was a great character to read about. I enjoyed watching her grow up from a thirteen year old awkward teen to a beautiful woman who did what she wanted. She is kind, observant and learning how to embrace who she is, which is basically the complete opposite of her mother and sister. She embraces her passion for art and carves a path to do what she wants, despite what others think. Her friendship with Kellen is a sweet and deep connection. Other than her dad, she is the only person who understands the ins and outs of Kellen, how he ticks and connects. It was heartbreaking to watch Jenna's school girl crush morph into something more and how her heart broke time and time again. At times I just wanted to smack Kellen upside the head. Then halfway through the book BAM, I read opened mouth in shock as things begin to unravel. It was an emotional tug and pull that continued till the last page. The situations and characters were so real and genuine. This story seemed to be populated by people that I would meet in my day to day life. I loved the authenticity of the story.It felt like real situations with real people, not dramatized and filled with too much angst. As a  result, the emotions felt run deeper and I celebrated with Jenna and wanted to cry with her too; I wanted to hug Kellen and tell him it would be ok (and talk some sense into him) and I wanted to smack Laney. Tracey did an incredible job of focusing on the relationship as a focal point and not overwhelming the story with too much extra side information or storyline. If you want to read a story about heartache, redemption, loss, hope, and self discovery, then check out this book!