Review: Stina Lindenblatt has created an engaging must read for the genre, opening readers to the power of hope.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 20, 2014
First person point of view narration highlights the character of Amber, university freshman with a laundry list of issues: cranky roommate, nightmares, failing maths and failing to disappear into the woodwork and pass unnoticed through life, especially when that brings her notice from men or questions about her past.  Instantly her character is engaging and requires the reader to move on: why is she so scared, what is she afraid of?Alternating with the first person point of view we meet Marcus: good looking, bad boy who also has something to hide.  Curious about Amber, who has only shot him down or ignore him each time they encounter one another, the story seems to travel along separate rocky paths, meeting but diverging quickly without progressing forward.Tentatively the two start to interact, both concerned with the ‘motives’ of the other, and worried that their own issues will halt their progress: it almost does until they start to slowly reveal tiny pieces of their story to readers and one another.  Tragic yet all too plausible, these two damaged people slowly work to gain trust in one another, and learn to move forward, still battered, but not wholly broken.There is a solid grounding in the issues and aftermath that these two characters present: realistic damage from traumatic events isn’t exactly the same in every situation, and Lindenblatt manages to display variances in reactions and behaviors that are all just serving as coping mechanisms to hide the inner torment.  Adding in fresh torment was masterfully woven into the tension for the plot, and kept everyone off balance, increasing the tension as the search for answers wore on.This book manages to encompass all that is good in the NA genre: characters on the edge of adulthood, finding their way and learning new methods of interacting and functioning in a world that has left them battered and wary.  Their growth, both personal and as a couple is easy to see and understand, as are their issues as they work to find new healing and better ways to live their lives. Stina Lindenblatt has created an engaging must read for the genre, opening readers to the power of hope.I received an eBook copy of the title from the Corvisiero Literary Agency for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.