Review: Waiting for the Storm by Marie Landry
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 29, 2013
Waiting for the Storm is a beautiful story about a young girl dealing with the loss of her mother, her sister's hatred, her father's depression, and her own withdrawal. Charlotte has spent the last year caring for her dying mother, when her mother does pass away she asked that her family fulfill one wish. She wants her family to spend the summer in her childhood beach house on Angel Island.Now that they are there, Charlotte feels so disconnected. Her sister Ella hates her guts and her father is so depressed and withdrawn. Books are Charlotte's one escape. When she is reading she can be who ever she wants. Nothing else exists while she is deep within the pages. But Charlotte knows that her life is not a book and she has to venture out sometime. That is when she meets Ezra.Ezra lives next door to the beach house and he helps Charlotte cope by giving new tasks to do each day. They form an easy friendship that really helps Charlotte deal with everything that is going on around her and inside of her. Then Charlotte starts to develop feelings for Ezra that are more than friendship. Ezra feels the same way about Charlotte.This story is so touching.  Ezra is really there for Charlotte. He really gets what she needs and he does everything in his power to help her get it. From the first time that they meet, you can tell that they are good for one another. They are complete opposites of each other, yin and yang. Opposites truly attract in this story!From the first page of this story you are drawn into Charlotte's world. I fell in love with Charlotte right from the start. She is such a strong character, independent, compassionate, and as the story progresses I am so proud of how she has grown. One thing that really sets this story apart from a lot of other YA Contemporary's is that Charlotte could function and live her life without Ezra. Ezra complements Charlotte and vice versa, they add to each other's life and want to share it with one another. There are not unhealthy obsessions or dependency issues, which is quite refreshing!This story will make you cry, having you laughing until your sides hurt, and make your heart burst with happiness. This is definitely an emotional rollercoaster ride that will take the reader through an array of emotions with Charlotte, Ella, and their father. Marie Landry  is a YA Nicholas Sparks! This is a must read that you will not regret!I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.