“I think some people are just inexplicably bonded. Drawn by forces beyond their own comprehension, they have no choice but to gravitate toward one another. Destined by fate to keep crossing paths until they finally get it right…
You call me your moon… I call you my soul mate.”
WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!
I loved every single word of this beautifully written, profound, and powerfully uplifting story. LB Simmons has written a stunning novel that explores the unbreakable bonds of friendship, the healing power of love, and the strength of finding a way to believe yourself in even the darkest of times. This is the kind of story that will grab your heart and never let it go. A must-read for everyone!!
Every once in a while, you come across a book that truly speaks to your heart, that keeps you up til the wee hours of the morning because you just can’t put it down, that fills your heart with every possible emotion, and that you want to read as fast as you can to find out what happens next but also don’t want the story to end… for me, this was one of those books. I was hooked from the moment I read the prologue. It just drew me right in and after only one page, I’d already fallen in love with the story, had a smile on my face, and couldn’t wait to find out about the resurrection of Aubrey Miller.
“The simplicity of living astounds me.
But it’s the terror of death that devours me.”
The story is told to us by Aubrey Miller, a young woman who has been surrounded by death her entire life. Everyone she’s allowed herself to love dies in an untimely fashion, and she becomes convinced that she is somehow responsible. This belief consumes her, and she decides to do the only thing she can — she withdraws from the world entirely. She puts up walls to keep people away, to keep them safe. By hiding her blond hair underneath layers of dye, concealing her shining blue eyes behind contacts, and covering her face with piercings, she assumed the persona of Raven Miller, a closed-off, unapproachable young woman with no apparent interest in relationships or friendships. A mask, she hopes, that will deter people from ever getting too close to her. But somewhere, locked deep inside, a part of her still craves connection and desperately hopes that one day she’ll be able to love again.
We begin the book on her first day of college where she meets the two people who would change her life forever — her exhuberant roommate, Quinn, and an unexpected childhood friend who had always held a piece of her heart and had never truly let her go… Kaeleb. Over the course of the next four years, they formed unbreakable bonds of love and friendship. And as these bonds strengthened, we began to see slowly see the mask that was Raven fade away, and the light that was Aubrey begin to shine again.
“I’ll help you get lost any time, Sunshine. The only deal is you have to promise to come back. I never want to lose you again.”
I have to start off by saying that the writing just blew me away!! But this book is not just beautifully written, it’s carefully crafted. Each sentence has a greater meaning within the whole of the story and each moment brings something of value to the overall journey.
Despite the fact that there were several moments where I had to reach for the tissues, there were countless times when I found myself laughing out loud (the whole “swear jar” thing was pure gold!!), or cheering Aubrey on, or swooning over Kaeleb, or chuckling at their banter. I’d like to really highlight the fact that despite there being painful parts that made my heart ache, this is not a sad, depressing, dark story at all. In fact, I would consider this to be a very uplifting story that carries a beautiful message about learning to appreciate life to it’s fullest and not being afraid to love.
The romance in this story is absolutely gorgeous and deeply heart warming. Kaeleb and Aubrey’s childhood friendship had bonded them closely and when they reconnected, it was like the bond was still there even though Aubrey had hidden so much of herself away. And while this story is so much more than a romance, their love is a central theme and a crucial part of her healing. I loved the way he saw right through every wall she built to keep the world out. He saw right into the heart of the girl he’d never truly let go of and was determined to bring her back to life.
“You’ve always been my sunshine. Ever since we were kids. I know you’re still in there, Bree. And I will find you.”
This book had everything in the perfect balance and I think there’s something in this story that every single person will be able to appreciate. Aubrey’s journey was a powerful emotional experience. Through her eyes, I lived through her pain, I experienced her hope, and I felt her healing.
When I finished the last page I sat there with happy tears streaming down my face, hugging my book and letting the full weight of the story sink into my heart. Aubrey had been through many difficult and painful experiences, but each triumph was another step out of her own personal darkness and into the light. And the message you’re left with really makes you sit back and think about your life.
“That’s my purpose. What’s yours?”
In the same vein as The Sea of Tranquility and Hopeless, this story will have you laughing one moment and wiping tears the next as these endearing characters take you on a heart warming, deeply emotional journey filled with romance, drama, and humour. Truly, this book had it all.
Rating: 5 STARS!! Standalone, New Adult contemporary romance.
Casting:
- Raven (Aubrey) — heroine
- Kaeleb — hero
- Quinn — best friend
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