Review: An emotional and selfless love story.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 17, 2014
All I can say is WAMFU!  This book is the epitome of true and selfless love.This book wasn't what I expected.. in a good way.  Past Imperfect was darker than Present Perfect and dealt with very serious issues.  This was an emotional read full of ups and downs with an intriguing plot.I love Alison Bailey's writing style.  This book is written in dual POV and it alternates between "Past" and "Present".  The past scenes took us to similar ages/events in each of the characters separate lives.  It was a great way to get to know both characters and see what shaped them into the people they are in the present.I was so excited when I heard this book was being written.  Even though Brad was a douche in Present Perfect I secretly loved him.. ok, maybe it wasn't really a secret, but I knew there was more to this guy.  My love for young Brad doesn't compare to my love for adult Brad. SWOOOOOON.  His imperfect past molded him into a near perfect man.  Brad, who is cocky and exudes self-confidence and charm has always felt unwanted by his parents especially after hearing them discuss their regrets for not going through with an abortion.  He doesn't have a clue what love is and his treatment of women shows.  After a tragic event in his life causes him to look at his life with new eyes he makes changes to his life that allow for the possibility of love with a new lawyer at his dad's firm, Mabry.Mabry is a character that I just want to hug forever.  She has faced more tragedy than any one person should. Her parents completely failed her.  This lack of love and guidance resulted in poor coping mechanisms such as self-harm.  The type of self-harm that Mabry inflicts upon herself is something I as a registered nurse haven't really heard of before. It was painful to read.  Despite her need to physically harm herself, Mabry avoids relationships to protect her heart.  Normally, the I've-been-hurt-in-the-past-so-I-can't-love-in-the-future thing annoys me and I just want to yell "GET OVER IT!", but Alison Bailey did such an amazing job detailing this girl's life with a backstory that actually validated her feelings that I completely understood Mabry's apprehension and fear."I want to love you so bad", I say"Then love me," he whispers.I'm scared.From the moment Brad and Mabry meet there is palpable chemistry and their playful banter had me grinning ear to ear.  As they get to know each other, their walls start to crumble as they both fall in love for the first time and more importantly feel what it's like to be loved for the first time.  Too soon their pasts crash with their present and Brad's past actions threaten to destroy their future."If I had known you were going to be in my future, I would have been a better man in my past."The ending of this books will go on my all time favorites list.  I kind of wish I could observe a room full of people as they read 93%.  I literally shot up from a lying position and yelled, "WTF!" at 3 a.m. in my quiet house with sleeping children.Overall, this was a deep and meaningful story full of laughs and tears.