“You don’t need me to survive,” he says.
“You’re right. I don’t need you to survive. I need you to live.”
Wow!! I read this book in one sitting and finished it with tears in my eyes because of how absolutely beautiful the epilogue was!! I’m so glad I decided to try this one out!!
Withering Hope is a standalone romance about a woman, Aimee, who was on her way to her wedding when the private jet she was taking crash landed in the middle of the Amazon rainforest. With no communication, no supplies, and no hope of rescue on the horizon, she and her pilot, Tristan, had to work together to survive. And the more time they spent together, they slowly began to fall in love…
I loved so many things about this book! “Survival” type romances aren’t that common and I jump on them whenever I come across them (On The Island and Surviving Raine being two of my other favorites) because I just find myself so captivated by what these characters decide to do in order to survive.
The romantic relationship was understandably slow building, but in such a way that made perfect sense given both their dire situation and the fact that she was initially engaged to another man. I do want to reassure you though that there’s no stupid drama or frustrating storylines at all here with regards to the two men. This isn’t a love triangle and you don’t end up feeling like anyone was cheated out of happiness. Just trust that things work out the way they’re supposed to.
This is mostly told from Aimee’s POV, but we do get a few chapters from Tristan’s side of things too. He was a very mysterious character. They’d both been in each other’s lives for quite a while given that he was her driver and pilot but they’d naturally kept a certain distance before. Now, faced with having to depend on each other, she slowly began to uncover his past that he tried so hard to keep hidden.
I enjoyed the whole book but my favorite part was the epilogue. It’s actually a double epilogue and the second one (much later in their lives) brought tears to my eyes because of how absolutely beautiful it was!! I was honestly taken by surprise by how strongly those last lines hit home. I read them, cried, re-read them, and cried some more. It was such a beautiful concept and such a perfect ending for them.
If you’re looking for a “different” love story, give this one a try!!
Rating: 4 stars overall (but 4.5 for that epilogue). Standalone Adult romance.
Jeni says
ONE-CLICK! sounds like exactly what i was looking for. thanks!
Aestas says
Welcome!! Happy reading 🙂
Margo L. says
Halfway through and it’s great!
Aestas says
YAY!! Glad you’re enjoying it!
Crystal says
I read it last night after I saw your FB post and I’m so glad I did. The book was refreshing and I loved the slow build of their relationship. Oh, that ending WAS beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
Aestas says
Oh I’m so glad! You’re very welcome 🙂
Swaths says
At the cost of repeating myself thanks for this reco aestas…it was refreshingly new and as you mentioned the romance was slow building !!! I am at about 60% and am liking it…
I was kind of in a rut trying to figure out what to read as i was in no mood to read any of the usual stuff….
Thanks again !
Aestas says
You’re so welcome!! I love stories that are so different like this — they’re perfect for when you’re in a book funk. Enjoy! 🙂
Kristin says
I just finished the Wrecked and Ruin series and am having major book hangover. I’m starting this one tonight. Love the cover as well! 🙂 Thanks for the great recommendations!
Aestas says
Very welcome!!!
Christine says
Are there 2 epilogues? I bought iBook and only found one epilogue and 33 chapters. Could you please help to verify? Thanks.
Aestas says
There are 2. Probably they’re listed together in the same epilogue but it’s broken into 2 parts 🙂
Rebeca A. Lovo says
Thank you for this recommendations.
I absolutly loveeeed this book.
And yeah, that second epilogue (the official one) was just…aaah I can’t even. It had me crying whitin the first sentences!!!! It was just soooo beautiful. ♥
Thank you for your recommendation. Thank you, thank you, thank you. 😀 😀 :*
(Sorry if I made any writing mistakes, english it’s not my first language hehe)
Aestas says
You’re very welcome!! I’m so glad you hear you loved it!!! And your English is just fine! 🙂
Amira says
Thank you for recommending this book. It was really, really beautiful. I’m not sure what I wanted or needed to read but after I finished that book, I realized that was it. You are always spot on with your review so thanks. I cried at the end of that book which I’ve NEVER done before. It was just so beautiful.
Aestas says
You’re so welcome! I agree that the ending was so beautiful 🙂
Mila says
This one also caught my attention ! I also loved “survival books”, because I think the romance is even more intense than in other stories …. Anyway I’m just starting it too and I’m hooked ! Thank you for you recommendations ! You’re awesome !
Aestas says
Very welcome!!! 😀
Rimal says
I love survival books too I loved love loved!! surviving rain too !! 🙂
Thank you for the recommendation I’ll be recommending it too.
Aestas says
You’re so welcome 🙂
Andrea says
Just wanted to let you know that I just got done crying my eyes off! Sniff* Such a beautiful epilogue!
Aestas says
awww glad you loved it!! <3
Sophia says
loved this book also, and the epilogue is definitely one of the best i have read!!
Jayzel Javier says
I also love this book! The end is just so great♥️
I might read those two books you mentioned above ?
Chrisoula says
Can’t wait to read this one, sounds really good 🙂
Jennifer Cothran says
This book was amazing. Good Review!
JAC says
LOVED this book!!! Could not put it down! Thanks!