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Ellis and Easton have been inseparable since childhood. But when a rash decision throws Ellis’s life—and her relationship with Easton— into chaos she’s forced to move halfway across the country, far from everything she’s ever known.
Now Ellis hasn’t spoken to Easton in a year, and maybe it’s better that way; maybe eventually the Easton shaped hole in her heart will heal. But when Easton’s mother invites her home for a celebration, Ellis finds herself tangled up in the web of heartache, betrayal, and anger she left behind… and with the boy she never stopped loving.

Sometimes, you just need a YA romance/contemporary that you know is going to leave your heart aching and reforming all over again. That you know will bring back your teen angst and make you grieve those long lost years.

I picked this book up at YALC because the cover and synopsis really called out to me. I ended up listening to the audiobook, and I really enjoyed it. I also knew I wanted to pick this up in the summer, and I’m glad I decided to. It felt like a sad, angsty summer contemporary, and was just perfect for the time.

When did we get here? At this place of tallied wrongs and rights.

I really liked (and in a lot of ways, related to) Ellis. She is not perfect, she has been through a lot and has been left feeling heartbroken and shattered. She’s at a place in her life when she’s trying to figure out the next step for her, while struggling to let go of everything that happened in her life a year or more ago.

This book is completely about found family, with darker undertones about the family you’re born into verses the family you create. I was also drawn into the stories of those around Ellis – such as the parents and siblings of Easton. There is just so much to be wrapped up in.

This place where we speak the same language but cannot understand each other’s words.

If you’re looking for a YA romance that makes you nostalgic for teen readers but still feels a little older, check this one out. I loved so much about this book, and I would definitely like to re-read it in the future. It’s not often I ally with a publishing company, but HarperTeen does it again!

A rare occasion where I’ve decided to up my star rating from 4 stars to 4.5 stars on reflection after a few weeks, because I’m still thinking about this book.

★★★★
4.5 out of 5 stars

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

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