Number of Pgs.: 320

Publication date: April 24, 2013

Publisher: Self-pub 

Genre: YA, Contemporary

How I got the copy: from author in exchange for an honest review

Rating:  5 Stars
  

From Goodreads:

Secrets never stay in the past.

The night before high school graduation changes everything. Lies are told. Mistakes are made. Secrets tucked away. Lives are changed in the span of a few hours.
A year later, Haley is still reeling, numb with the constant ache of guilt. She's in a place she never expected to be: lost without her friends and Seth. Until he enters her life again, dredging up everything she's trying to forget. Everything about that night.

Seth returns to his hometown determined to share his truth, his side of the story. He desperately needs to make things right with Haley, even if it means losing her forever. Because the truth will ruin any chance of her ever loving him again.

Except neither of them are prepared for the shock of what really happened the night before graduation.

Plot: 9/10

Characters: 8/10

Setting: 9/10

Pacing: 10/10

Style: 10/10

Cover:  This cover fits perfectly with the book.  It's hauntingly beautiful.

46+50=96 (5 Stars)

The amount of feels in this book should be illegal.  Seriously, I have never felt so many emotions all at once.  It's one of those books that should be sold with a box of tissues, hot chocolate, and a bottle of wine.  But even though the author got me to cry, which I hardly ever do while reading, I really enjoyed this book.

Right off the bat I loved the characters.  They're extremely relatable.  Reading about Haley's interactions with her friends brought back memories of my friends.  I felt like I was part of their group experiencing their last night before graduation too.  Seth is adorable, although he does get a bit emo towards the middle of the book, but regardless I fell head over heels for this character.  I enjoyed the dual POV between Haley and Seth as well.  It let us get into their minds and see both sides of the story.  Had we not seen Seth's POV I probably wouldn't have liked him as much.

This was New Adult at it's finest.  New Adult books are often labeled "issue" books.  And while there is a ginormous "issue" in this book it didn't feel like the tragedy was being pushed on the reader.  It was what drove the plot, but this story was more about character development and how the tragedy affected their lives.  It's a coming of age story and learning who you are and how to deal with life.  Any book that can get you to think deeply and ultimately teaches you a lesson is one worth reading.  In a way, it reminded me of a mixture of Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles and any Sarah Dessen book.

I only have one complaint and I can't say much without being spoilery.  There were a few unrealistic things that happened.  I think in real life the big secret would have come out the day the tragedy happened.  I was confused why Seth's parents weren't asking him questions about the night.  I was confused why the police weren't investigating things right after everything happened.  I wondered why all the characters seemed to conveniently keep their car keys in their cars and the doors unlocked.  But while these things bothered me, they didn't really change my overall reading experience.  I realize it's a book and if any of those things had happened differently the plot wouldn't have moved forward at all.

Should you read this?  YES!   You're in for a roller coaster of emotions that will leave you smiling through the tears at the end.  I read this book in two days and wish I had savored it more.  Here's an excerpt from a book blitz I took part in if you want a sample.

Brenna from Two Tall Tales: 4 StarsJenee from Jenee's Book Blog: 4 Stars

Number of Pgs.: 240

Publication date: May 21, 2013

Publisher: Viking Juvenile 

Genre: YA, Contemporary

How I got the copy: Won from April

Rating:  2 Stars
  

From Goodreads:

The last night of summer is only the beginning.

Skye wants to meet the boy who will change her life forever. Seth feels their instant connection the second he sees her. When Seth starts talking to Skye at the last beach party of the summer, it’s obvious to both of them that this is something real. But when Seth leaves for college before they exchange contact info, Skye wonders if he felt the same way she did—and if she will ever see him again. Even if they find their way back to each other, can they make a long-distance relationship work despite trust issues, ex drama, and some serious background differences?

Teen favorite Susane Colasanti returns to the alternating-voice style of her beloved debut When It Happens in this Serendipity-inspired story about summer, soul mates, and the moments that change our lives forever.

Plot: 3/10

Characters: 3/10

Setting: 4/10

Pacing: 3/10

Style: 1/10

Cover:  I loved this cover right away.  The beach, the way he's lifting her up, the bright green, the font, etc. It's such a beautiful cover.

14+50=64 (2 Stars)

    The cover of this book is so misleading it made me kind of mad.  Since the summary was kind of vague I was expecting an epic summer romance between two strangers based on the cover models.  What I got was something completely and unsatisfyingly different.  It was like Harry expecting a butter beer flavored Bertie Botts every flavored bean and getting earwax instead.  So what was so bleh about it?

     There is insta-love.  The kind where the characters lock eyes and declare that they will love that person as long as they both shall live.  This drives me nuts.  And while I expected a romance, I didn't want it to be that quick.  

      The characters are also whiny.  Seth is pretty emo and it was hard to find that attractive.  He's constantly in distress over a girl.  He doesn't eat, sleep, shower, etc.  Skye is passive aggressive with her friends and family.  She is constantly whining that Seth doesn't understand her, yet she's convinced he's the one.  Her friends are reallllly annoying too.  Basically, there wasn't a single character in this book that I could connect with or enjoy.  I love reading YA, but I think this may be one of those few cases where being six years older than the characters hindered my reading experience.  Their petty fights and minuscule problems were hard for me to care about.  

     Lastly, I felt like the writing was really simple and the plot was all over the place.  It was a lot of telling and hardly any showing.  Here's an example, 

"The four of us are going to Diner on the Square for dinner.  Karen, Astor, and I are all packed into our winter gear for the walk down to Center City.   Grant has on the same jacket he's worn since the fall.  He's not even wearing a hat." 

(This quote is from an ARC and may appear differently in a finished copy).  

    But you get the picture.  I wanted her to describe their walk.  What are they seeing, smelling, hearing?  Describe how they're cold instead of telling me they're wearing jackets.  And the plot skips around a lot with random scenes like this and it all felt very choppy.  I feel mean writing that last paragraph, but I don't want to lie.  The writing didn't work for me.     

Suz from A Soul Unsung: 5 Stars Gabrielle from The Young Folks: 3.5 Stars