Review: Awesome Debut Novel!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 19, 2013
The Promise is a fantastic debut novel from blogger turned author, S.L. Jayne. I am so unbelievably honored to have received an ARC to review and can’t wait to share my thoughts with you!In this story we’re introduced to Ava and Rylee, childhood best friends who’ve been there for each other through thick and thin. They have the kind of friendship you can’t help but admire. One night Rylee shows up at Ava’s house completely distraught. Without even knowing what has caused her best friend so much distress Ava makes a decision right then and there. With only her best friend’s interests at heart and determined to put an end to whatever is causing Rylee to suffer so much, Ava promises that they’ll move away together as soon as they’re old enough and able to. They build new lives for themselves in California as they both attempt to leave everything in their pasts behind them. But the past always has a way of coming back around in some pretty unexpected ways. My favorite being in the form of a super hunky ex-boyfriend.I read this book in one sitting because I just couldn’t put it down. Ms. Jayne has a way of writing that will cause her words to linger in your mind as well as in your heart. Her characters are well developed and so easy to relate to because they represent the average person. You’ll feel each joy and heartbreak as if it was your own and will come to care for them as if they were friends or family. What I loved most about The Promise is that instead of one flat story you get two amazing stories, seamlessly woven together. At first glance you would think it primarily revolves around Ava, but that’s not the case. Each of our protagonists has some personal growing to do and they do it side by side, as true friends do.I would’ve loved to see some sort of closure between Ava and Reece, the douche bag she meets at a rather painful speed dating event, but at the same time I’m thinking, “Good riddance!” He was a special kind of sleaze ball that wasn’t worth the time of day he was given. I wish Ava had seen it and wasn’t so quick to brush off his shadyness. She’s such an intelligent, no nonsense kind of girl so the fact that she didn’t call him out on his behavior was a little disappointing. I can only hope that he’ll catch an awful case of Herpes in the near future. That would be karma at its finest. But seeing as how this is the first book in a series I will hold onto hope that he gets what's coming to him in the next book.While some might call the ending a cliffhanger, I think it’s more of a “to be continued.” You won’t be devastated or left hanging by any means. Instead the story leaves off in a way that the 2nd book can easily pick up and keep right on going. And for a change, you the reader are in on a secret that only one of our 2 leading ladies is aware of. So it helps to be in the loop, so to speak, because at least you know what’s coming.I would definitely recommend this book to those who love a novel with substance, a story you can get completely lost in without any fluff. From start to finish you’ll be absolutely hooked and left wanting more. Kudos to Ms. Jayne on a successful debut novel that has the perfect blend of romance, drama and suspense.