Sam@WLABB
Written on Jan 7, 2020
What happens, when the golden boy and the school weirdo pair up for an assignment? They find an unexpected source of support and friendship in one another, which evolves into more. Both Sawyer and Veronica were not dealt the easiest hands in life, and the perception of who they were and the baggage they carried did not necessarily reflect their reality. However, they found they were stronger together than they were apart.
Veronica was the quirky weird girl
Veronica had lost her mother to brain cancer, and was now, facing the truth about her own brain tumor. She vowed not to follow in her mother's footsteps. She wanted to live each day to its fullest, as if the tumor did not exist. The way she celebrated holidays on non-designated days created this picture of Veronica as extremely odd. The reality was, that her days were numbered. She wanted to "celebrate" with her friends and family before it was too late. There was pain and suffering, yet she tried to stick to the status quo. Although I didn't agree with all her choices, I understood her motivation. Still, my heart ached for her and for those who loved her.
Sawyer was the golden boy
Sawyer looked like the world was his oyster. He was popular and king of the swim team, but he battled demons left and right. He carried a lot of anger towards his father, who left his family. He was also angry with his mother, an alcoholic, who heaped a great deal of responsibility and pressure on him. Then, he had a coping mechanism, which was unhealthy, and it all seemed to be spinning out of control. I wanted to give this kid a great big hug, and then take him away to somewhere, where he could just enjoy the last bit of his childhood.
They found comfort in each other
Veronica and Sawyer made a most unlikely couple, but they were fantastic together. Though this may have started out as a purely physical attraction, it grew to be something much deeper, as they both peeked behind the curtain and really saw each other. This was where I got my romance fixes. They came in small doses, but each one was perfection.
They faced difficulties
Because, this was a Katie McGarry book, I expected her to take on some serious topics in a raw and honest way. This story dealt with death, grief, addiction, depression, and serious illness. She took on each issue in multiple ways, and I loved that how she attacked them from so many different directions. Those varied perspectives allowed me to consider each problem in a different way, and also gave the appropriate depth to the issue at hand.
They had a great community to support them
Whenever I read a book, where the main characters faces so much adversity, I NEED them to have some sort of support system. Yes, Sawyer and Veronica eventually had each other, but before that, they had some really wonderful people in their corners.
Veronica's father wasn't perfect. He didn't impose too many rules and was still dealing with his own pain and grief, but his love for his daughter was undeniable. He was also living with the loss of his wife, but he always made time to Veronica. Whether it be a waffle breakfast or a not-quite-the-holiday celebration, dad did his best to be present and put a smile on his daughter's face.
Veronica also had a fantastic group of friends. Scarlet, Leo, Nazareth, and Jesse were her "people". They loved her and cared for her, and would do just about anything for her.
Sawyer was also sort of blessed in the friend area, though he didn't initially realize it. He enjoyed a wonderful relationship with his little sister, and it was a treat to see them on page together, but he also had two friends, who stepped up their roles, when they really needed to, while his sponsor rounded out his team.
Overall
This was a beautifully written and emotional story of love, connection, and appreciating the "now", which left me brimming with warmth and happiness.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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