Sam@WLABB
Written on Jun 5, 2018
The breakdown of her parents' marriage left Cassidy in a state of depression. In a effort to help Cassidy work through her issues, her mother signed her up for a ranch camp. While there, she was forced to face her fears of isolation, inadequacy, and horses, but the best part was seeing Cassidy flourish under these less than perfect circumstances.
• Pro: I found myself really invested in Cassidy. I wanted this program to help her deal with her home life issues and get back to living. I was so proud of all the growth she experienced, and would love to know what she did next.
• Pro: Chandler dedicates a lot of time to Cassidy's new friendships. Given her past, I think it was a really important aspect to focus on, and it was great to see Cassidy pushing herself to make these new relationships work.
• Pro: Horses! Seriously, I learned so much, and not just about riding horses, but about all the issues facing Mustangs out west. It was really interesting and eye-opening.
• Con: There were these flashbacks, which gave us a little insight into why Cassidy fell into her depression, but I am not sure about the placement in the story. There was something about them, which made them not totally work for me.
• Pro: This story took place in Wyoming, and that is a first for me. I feel like I am always "visiting" the same places in contemporary books, which is why I always get really excited to see a book set someone different.
• Con: I was ok with the ending, but I would have liked a little bit more there. It was hopeful, but not definitive enough for me. An epilogue would have really hit the spot.
• Pro: There were a few surprises thrown in there. Yes, I yelled, "I knew it!," at one point, but I was also really shocked by one particular reveal.
• Pro: Justin was that damaged hero who I always love. He was so complicated, and it was very gratifying peeling his layers back.
Overall: A lovely and moving story of friendship and finding your own inner strength to overcome disappointments.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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