Moving story with all of the "feels"
588674
Aly Martinez has quickly become one of my 1-click authors. This book did not disappoint. It is a moving story with well developed characters and all of the feels. I'd highly recommend, and cannot wait to read the next one!
4319116
Is this how she feels every day? Is this what she lives with - a sadness that isn't just a passive passenger but a violent hijacker, grabbing your life and the will to live?

OHMYGOD! Where do I begin raving about Who We Were Before by Leah Mercer. Speechless is not what Im feeling right now. This is a hair-raising story. There were so many times I put the book down because my vision got blurred and yet, like Im a sucker for pain, I pushed through.
When I read the blurb, I thought Who We Were Before was something similar to Rabbit Hole; you know the Nicole Kidman-Aaron Eckhart movie about a couple trying to move on after their four-year-old son dies in an accident.

Ive seen the movie and wanted to see what made this book stand apart from the theme of grief-stricken parents Edwardand Zoe whove lost their two-year-old son as well.

Who We Were Before blew me away. I couldn't put it away because no matter how hard it was getting to read and breathe at the same time, I pushed on to finish it. My throat closed up reading their experiences and how they were drifting apart.

Leah Mercers writing was beautiful. Who We Were Before is told through two perspectives - Edward and Zoe; switching between past and present. I cant even begin to explain how bare and honest their story was because my family has gone through grief as such - twice. I cant even begin to explain what grief of losing a child does to parents, because time and again I could see my cousin and his wife in Zoe and Edward. Losing a child is an irreplaceable loss that nothing or no one else can fill. It forever remains and open wound; sometimes it throbs till you cant breathe anymore and sometimes it becomes numb.

Through their past and present narrations, I got to know what each of their actions meant and how the better-half interpreted it. There were many instances of misunderstanding because both Edward and Zoe were not willing to talk about their pain and kept running away from each other. When Edward escaped to work, Zoes plans were only getting drunk to numb her pain.

Yeah, you might think why didn't they just talk it out-and-out? Well, its not that easy.

But how can you help someone who won't just let you in, but who is also lying to you?

You cant. Truth is, whatever Edward and Zoe were going through was real. Grief changes people/parents in so many different ways and Ive seen it changing people in real life. I loved how Leah Mercer traced this subject with right amount of delicateness and honesty. As much as I loved reading about their past, I dreaded reading about their present because nothing was hearts and flowers.

A harsh truth they both had to live.

Overall, this is a beautiful book and sadly, not everyone will understand the deep-rooted sentiments and pain of Edward and Zoe. It is a story for mature readers who will appreciate the efforts, sensitivity, and Leah Mercers willingness for writing a book about loss and grief.
3841483
Scotty kindly gifted me an ARC of this book when I interviewed him for Divine Magazine. I started reading it knowing a little about about him, his life, the stuff he enjoys, his husband and his boat, and I am pretty sure that I saw versions of all of these things in this tale.

The blurb tells you what happens in the book, so I won't repeat that, but this book left me with happy tears - literally. I can't recall when the last time that happened. I love reading, read an awful lot and beta for a number of authors, but this book touched me in ways I hadn't expected. I think the losing/lost faith and finding faith, hope and belief theme hit home with me. I loved seeing religion talked about positively in regards one of the churches mentioned in the tale, and was saddened but not surprised at the negativity and actions of the other. It's stuff that we see all too often on the news, in social media feeds - and what I read here, I suspect holds more than a grain of truth.

I liked that the leads had had such different lives, but that when they met, they had an instant connection. I felt for Cullen's loss, and his pain about the possibility of forgetting what his husband had meant to him, about Cole's image fading in his mind's eye - but not in his heart. I felt for Abel, having grown up in care and not having been able to count on anyone, or to feel as if he belonged, and to not even have been held or cuddled by another human being. These guys had a connection that wasn't physical until late in the tale - which normally would have me bored or turning the pages to get to the action - which made it all the more important. Important mentally, emotionally and physically and I loved that neither was wracked with self-doubt, and that each found something in the other and in the act.

The tale ends in a HEA, one where the leads have made changes to their lives to allow them to be together openly, and where one has found his lost faith, with the other about to embrace the right faith that he has come to find.

Reading this review, you may think that the book is religion-heavy - that's not the case, but it's an emotional and an intelligent read, with from what I know of Scotty, a lot of life experience and truth in it. I feel humbled to have read it. It's a 5* Keeper.
2348680
After reading the reviews, and the first chapter of this novel, I was excited to sit down and delve into Caitlin's world.  In short, I was not disappointed.  As I tend to shy away for books which are mostly a character study, I was surprised to find that I barely noticed the minimalist use of supporting cast.  In telling her story, Caitlin's voice is strong and emotional and Nina's use of a small supporting cast adds a layer of depth to a its telling.

This book will touch the soul of anyone who has experienced a loss of any kind, as it explores the many elements of grief.  It also examines the expections we have of others.  Though I spent most of this story reading through misty eyes, I walked away with a tremendous sense of understanding of the emotions and levels of grief I have experienced in my own life.  Nina has accurately conveyed the essence of self-doubt and disconnection we often feel when we lose those we love.  But most of all, as we share with Caitlin the tumultuous year immediately following her best friend's suicide, we discover that there is a life beyond loss.

This is also a must read for teens as it paints an accurate portrayal of the aftermath of suicide.
1419534
I loved "Easy", as told in Jacqueline's POV and was eager to read the story in Lucas's (Landon's) POV.  This story of such unimaginable tragedy evokes so much emotion and love for the main character.  The love that he needs and ultimately finds is heartwarming and deserved.  The author really writes in a manner that has you feeling every emotion the characters feel. Highly recommended!
685826
very well written and moving story of love and loss
743690
I finished this book in one sitting. I was moved to tears at times and could almost hear the voices of my own family and my own past as I read the story of Kate and her family. This book was in my hands at exactly the time when I needed a reminder of what is important in life--a little like Grandma Rose's book appearing to Kate at the precise moments. This story made me want to drive to the fictitious farm and meet Grandma myself. It made me wish I had known my own deceased grandmothers more. It made me want to put the book aside and call everyone who ever meant something to me. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good story, real characters, beautiful writing and a little inspiration for their own life. Kudos to Lisa Wingate for such a wonderful and moving novel.
1545300
The loss of a loved one as told from the different perspectives of each family member. A soul touching story of heartbreak, the loss of a child, the way it affects each family member and how they find their way out of the darkness to start living again. Janis Thomas crafts this story of grief so well it should have been written in calligraphy as it almost feels like peeking into someone's diary. From the moment I read the first page I knew it was going to pull me into a story which really hit home. It hits upon grief and how it affects everyone differently and perfectly sums up what it is to grieve as a family yet feel so alone in the process. When we lost my brother, as a family, we were so stuck in our own grief that it wasn't until my Pop died that I realized that yes, losing a sibling was indescribably painful but my Pop had lost his son, his child, and we didn't recognize what he must have been going through because we were all trying to process our own feelings. This book allows the reader to feel that grief and walk with them towards a brighter future. A different but manageable future after loss.
3911780
*4.5 stars. Warning: possible spoilers*

When Lydia McIntosh is back home in small Prairie Town, North Carolina for her grandmother's funeral. The stipulation of the will: she has to stay in Prairie Town for a minimum of 6 months to "give it a chance" before leaving for good. Sounds easy, right? Sure, except that she left as Jonathan and returns as the transgender Lydia.  Almost everyone is perfectly fine with it, except Lydia's mother. And then there's Lydia's crush, Callum who she still needs to tell.

With the random town bullies to deal with, your grandmother's funeral, and your non accepting mother you'd think it'd be enough to deal with. But problems keep pilling up and tensions keep mounting. However the wonderful romance that blooms between Lydia and Callum makes it all worthwhile.

I felt as though some things were redundant (which is why I gave this 4.5 instead of a full 5). For instance I read things like "I've always been Lydia inside", "this has always been me/who I am" a few times that I felt maybe it was there too many times, but overall it didn't take away from the story too much. I also know from having a family member who's an attorney that nothing gets solved in 2-3 hours of an arrest, but it is fiction so I can overlook it.

Since having 2 transgender friends, one man, one woman (one I only found out recently!), I liked the friendship vibe I got from the story. I felt like I knew Lydia and how mean some people were being to her. When one of my friends transitioned he was still a woman, so when he'd posted a photo online for throwback Thursday I went "Oh wow - I forgot he was__). And the other I was like, "really. I never even thought..." and she and I still hang out like she never told me. B/c it doesn't matter to me who she used to be. It matters who both of my friends are now. See, it doesn't matter, folks. It really IS who you were on the inside that matters. People love to say beauty or whatever is on the outside doesn't matter, but they hear the word transgender and loose their minds! Why?

What matters is how someone acts and Lydia was such a beautiful soul that her story was moving.
2071753
I was very lucky to get an advanced reading copy of this book.  OMG, I felt everything that Samantha was feeling.  Samantha is working through her own feelings of self-worthlessness when she returns home.  The seven years that she has been gone, after running away with her high school sweetheart, have not been kind to Sam.  She has lived on the edge, while trying to be a good mother to her son.  She returns home, wondering if she will be accepted, and also her beautiful son, the result of a one-night stand with a man of a different race.  Not only is she and her son accepted by her family, they are also cherished.  However, it seems that the acceptence that Sam is seeking, comes not from her family, but from within herself.  I found this to be a beautiful story of discovery and cried throughout most of the book.  The emotions brought forward by this author are real and it was another book that I couldn't go to sleep without finishing.
2949048
This book is one of the best stories I have read in a VERY VERY long time! It is a quick read because the story flows so well. I started this morning and just finished a couple of hours ago. It was so moving. Definately have your box of tissues handy...I cried about the last 100pgs.
2329018
Paper in the Wind by Olivia Mason- Charles is a family drama that hits home. It is a remarkable, deeply moving and compelling tale. It tells the story of a struggling single father, a man with a big heart, a family man, soulful and passionate, his struggle with his autistic daughter in a very dark period in their life after her mother attempted suicide. We have heard so much about stories like these and watch them play out in our lives and around us but reading it here gave a different feel, it makes you wonder where really lies the lines between fact and fiction because those lines sometimes gets blurr. Olivia perfected these characters and they are so 3D, their thoughts, actions and emotions are so palpable, I feel like these people are my neighbours, I feel like I know them. This was a sad, beautiful, tragic story. Its worth your time.
2682730
Ive been meaning to read Kristan Hannah for some time. Shes been highly recommended to me by several friends. I can see why after reading THE GREAT ALONE.

This book hit all the feels for me. And how could it not? A veteran, broken, struggling, suffering from PTSD and the darkness that lurks deep in his soul, threatening to take over. A woman who loves him too much to leave, who lives on hope and faith and in fear. A young girl caught in the middle, struggling to make sense of it all, while falling in love for the first time.

The book is set in the 1970s in Alaska and its one of the things that first caught my attention, as I lived in Alaska during that time. Kristan Hannah took me on a sweet, wonderful trip to the past. Reading THE GREAT ALONE took me back to the summer of endless days and dark, cold winters. Her descriptions of the Kenai Peninsula didn't so much paint a picture for me, as it transported me across time and space. Once again I was a young girl picking the biggest and sweetest blueberries Id ever had. And yes, those mosquitoes! The Alaskan state bird. 

But it was more than the trip down memory lane that drew me in; it was the beautiful writing, and the touching story of this dysfunctional family. While I wanted to rant and yell at Cora for staying with an abusive husband, my heart ached for her struggle. How do you give up on someone you love? For those of us lucky enough to never have experienced this kind of relationship, it might be hard to understand that walking away is not an easy option. However, the author did a wonderful job of not only showing Coras struggle with her faith that things with get better against her fear of staying and of running.

As for Ernt Allbright, Im not sure there ever was a time he was good, happy, and normal. And while it was easy to hate him, we could see that he wasn't all bad. He really struck me as a person who struggled with more than just PTSD. There seemed to be traces of bipolarism and definitely narcissistic personality disorder. Through Leni and Coras eyes we saw there was love fighting the darkness. Sadly, it didn't win.

The story is told mostly through Lenis young eyes. We experience her own struggle to fit in, to adapt, and the heartbreak that comes with finding out your heroes are flawed. Despite the dysfunctional dynamics in this family, Leni is devoted to her mom and its this relationship that gives the two women the strength to keep going and to try to make this new life work.

Kristan Hannah has written a beautiful, emotional story that is also devastatingly sad, yet full of hope. Her characters are complex, flawed and real. Her descriptions are full and vivid. This might have been my first Kristan Hannah book, but it will not be my last and I have no doubt THE GREAT ALONE will stay with me. Many thanks to St. Martins Press for advanced copy.
4489916
Changing Shape is an incredibly touching read that is sure to hit the readers heartstrings. Kathleen Wheeler presents three very different and well developed characters in Elizabeth, Hailey and Patty, however, I think it is the depth of understanding for how illness impacts our lives that hooked me as a fan. I've read a lot about cancer, read books where the main character has survived cancer, made friends with people who are cancer survivors but I didn't even scratch the surface of understanding what they experienced. Kathleen Wheeler brings that and more to the reader in a powerful punch to the emotions. After about the halfway point I just accepted that I would be reading the remainder of the story with tears in my eyes from the happiness the characters discovered, from the simple pleasures and understandings they accepted and of course the meaning that they each found in their lives and the lives that touched their own. Kathleen Wheeler is definitely able to bring a story and character to life.
873939
This hit me on so many levels and took me emotionally and mentally and nostalgically to places I rarely purposefully go. It got me. I cried. Heartbreak, heartache, disappointment and disenchantment find everyone - the rich and the regular - no matter where or how they live. The setting of Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater serves well as the core of the story and the author does a superb job of delineating the features of the house while interweaving a story that deals with both the past and the present in the form of vignettes. Highly recommended.
4873796
There was so much emotion and depth in this story and it touch my heart in so many ways. The book dealt with some serious subject matters like grief, depression, illness and my heart ached so many times for the characters, but maybe this is the main reason why Will Hollister is one of the most layered characters I've ever met.

Will is a man who is constantly in battle with his daemons, and who carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. But at the same time Will is also a swimmer, an athlete who despite it's hard, so damn hard, doesn't give up and who swims not just for the gold medal but for himself and for the girl who in a way helped him to get up after the biggest fall in his life. A few years back Will have lost his parents and his brother in a plane crash where he was the only survivor. After the accident he lost the solid ground for a long time, and he broke all the connections with his former life.

Will was just a child when he found the swimming offered joy though the Woodsen family. He met with Maggie when her father became Wills and his brothers swimming coach. Wills little child heart immediately started to beat faster when he saw Maddy at the first time, yet in the senior year of high school she ended up with Easton. Now, after long years Will returns to the Woodsen house where memories, grief, ghosts and big challenges wait for him, but he feels that this is the only place where he will find his only and last chance for the Olympic tryouts.

This book was truly beautiful and so many times really sad. All of the characters were well developed but what amazed me the most was Will's fight with the past, his endurance and his selflessness. Maybe there was a little too much tragedy in the book and maybe this was the reason why it didn't convince me entirely that the future of the characters has been completely resolved at the end, but it was absolutely amazing.

Ginger Scott's writing style was outstanding and heart-touching as always. My only pain is that this cover cant justify this book, and cant show how much depths are hidden in this amazing story. This is not an easy read and it touches some serious topics but its truly beautiful and I honestly recommend it.
2375964
This was a very moving story about gender identity and the disappointments of childhood.  The characters were well developed and I found myself identifying with several of them.  This story is sad in many ways but my enjoyment of the book stems from its unusual story line and the way Tremain weaves her narrative.  I highly recommend it but it's not for the faint of heart.  There are very sad, lonely sections of the story that touch the heart quite deeply.  She has woven a complex tale that any serious reader would enjoy.