Published by Atria BooksDate Published: 20 August, 2019
Pages: 304
Genres: Women's Fiction
Format: eBook
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
Purchase: Amazon
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Rating:
See you on the other side.
Laya Marston’s husband, Cameron, a daredevil enthusiast, always said this before heading off on his next adventure. He was the complete opposite of her, ready and willing to dive off a cliff-face, or parachute across a canyon—and Laya loved him for it. But she was different: pragmatic, regimented, devoted to her career and to supporting Cameron from the sidelines of his death-defying feats.
Opposites attract, right?
But when Cameron dies suddenly and tragically, all the stages of grief go out the window. Laya becomes lost in denial, living in the delusion that Cameron will come back to her. She begins posting on his Facebook page, reminiscing about their life together, and imagining new adventures for the two of them.
Micah Evans, a young and handsome architect at Laya’s father’s firm, is also stuck––paralyzed by the banal details of his career, his friendships, and his love life. He doesn’t know what he’s looking for, only that there is someone out there who can bring energy and spirit to the humdrum of his life.
When Micah discovers Laya’s tragic and bizarre Facebook posts, he’s determined to show Laya her life is still worth living. Leaving her anonymous gifts and notes, trying to recreate the sense of adventure she once shared with her late husband, Micah finds a new passion watching Laya come out of the darkness. And Laya finds a new joy in the experiences Micah has created for her.
But for Laya, letting another man in still feels like a betrayal to her late husband. Even though Micah may be everything she could wish for, she wonders if she deserves to find happiness again.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Author/NetGalley, Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.
My Thoughts
Have you ever read a book you absolutely wanted to love, but didn’t? Like wanted it to be 4 or 5 star worthy, but it just…….fell flat? Yea. That’s me. With this book right here. I’ve never read a Carlino novel before and wanted so bad to love this one. I’ve heard great things about her work, but this book…..just didn’t grip me like I wanted it.
Layla’s character fell flat for me. Her character lacked depth and felt forced. When I read a novel, I love a character to be so well developed that I become them while reading, and I just didn’t feel that with her. However, Micah’s character was better and I felt a connection with him. I enjoyed watching him show Layla that life didn’t have to be so tragic for her.
Despite the fact that this is a 3 star novel for me, I do still recommend it to others. It could be that I came into Carlino’s writing style with the wrong novel, or it could be that I just wasn’t open to all she has to offer, and you all may find that you love this story instantly and connect with it. I will be checking out Carlino’s other novels in hopes that I love them more.
About Renee Carlino
Renée Carlino is a bestselling author of contemporary women’s novels and new adult fiction. Her books have been featured in national publications, including Cosmopolitan Magazine, InStyle Magazine, USA TODAY, Huffington Post, Latina magazine, Publisher’s Weekly, Redbook, Sunset Magazine, Coastal Living and the Union Tribune. She lives in Southern California with her husband and two sons. When she’s not at the beach with her boys or working on her next project, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate.
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