Review: I want to curl up in this book and live forever.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 3, 2014
Audience:18 & over. The sex scenes aren't too graphic but there is definite talk and descriptions. May be appropriate for younger teens but I suggest the parents read prior.Characters:Chloe: Small town photographer and best/family friend of Noah Lockton.Noah: Chloe's older, sexy musician best friend whose about to hit it big time.Secondary: Jack, Noah's older, wiser brother. Cooper, Chloe's drug addict boyfriend of 4 years. Jayde, Noah's ditsy girlfriend. Courtney, Noah's competition and brief roommate. Alyssa, Chloe's hometown friend. The Commander, Chloe's mom. Aaron, Chloe's co-worker and moonlighting paparazzi. Zayne, Noah's band member and possible love interest for Chloe. Denzel, Noah's manager.  Madeline, Noah's wise, ex-Rockette aunt.Plot:Noah and Chloe have grown up together and have been best friends for as long as they can remember. Something happened between them 4 years ago that forever changed them. Noah's been living in NY for a while now and has a girlfriend. Chloe stayed in their hometown and has been with her boyfriend Cooper for 4 years. Noah's quickly on his way to fame and Chloe's been offered a chance to follow him around AND get paid for her photographs and blogging. There is an obvious attraction between the two of them but Chloe isn't comfortable with all of the attention or with risking her friendship with him by taking it further. Noah seems pretty distracted by his career and the abundance of girls at his beck and call. Will these two ever let go of their dreams and fears to be with each other or are they destined to remain in the friend zone forever?The Feels:This book made we want to do a happy dance. This was one of those love stories that you feel all the way down to your bones. I know that a lot of times we read to escape reality but every once in a while I want to read a story that feels like it's something that could happen to me. Ok, so I don't know any famous musicians but you get what I'm saying. Their love is real and true and based on a long history of friendship and shared memories. They make mistakes along the way but nothing that can't be overlooked or forgiven if they choose to move forward. The Peter Pan references, the music, the friendship and families...I loved it all. This will be a book that I go back and read over and over again. This is going on my best of 2014 list ASAP. I have no idea what the next book is going to be about (I haven't even had the chance to author stalk yet!) but I am already anxiously awaiting it.The Writing:Brilliant. I felt every word, every sentence of this book. I feel like I might have highlighted at least 50% of this story because the words were so powerful and heart wrenching. I connected with each and every character and felt everything they were going through.Written in first person, alternating POV's. So helpful in understanding the motivation behind Chloe and Noah's every thought and action.Quotes:"When we were kids, his dad said that his eyes were so shiny in all my photos because of all the stars inside them. Noah was always going to shine. He was always going to be mine.""I could drown in his voice the way I could drown in an ocean...by letting it all wash over me and sweep me away into another world.""The heart can see very clearly what the eyes can't sometimes. Love isn't all sparks and firecrackers. Sometimes it's more subtle than that.""You have to be the ocean, Noah. You have to fight to stay on the shore, no matter how many times it pushes you away.""No man is an ocean. Trust me Madeline, none of them. And why would you want one to be anyway? The only thing the ocean does is sweep you up and spit you out.""And every Tinker-Bell who broke the spell never really stood a chance."*I received an ARC from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review