The Secret of Ella and Micha (Ella and Micha, #1)

by Jessica Sorensen

Ella and Micha have been best friends since they were kids. But one tragic night shatters their friendship and their lives forever. Ella fears everything she worked so hard to bury since then might resurface, especially with Micha living right next door. Micha is sexy, smart, confident, and can get under Ella's skin like no one else can. He knows everything about her, including her darkest secrets. And he is determined to bring his best friend, and the girl he loves back, no matter what it takes.

• ISBN10: 1455574856
• ISBN13: 9781455574858
• Publish Date: 26 March 2013 (first published 1 January 2013)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Little, Brown & Company
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 320
• Language: English

Reviews

[Cocktails and Books]

3.5 Stars. I liked it, but having just read Callie and Kayden's story, it fell a little short.

[Leah]

As you’re probably aware by now if you read my New Adult reviews, I LOVE New Adult. It has yet to disappoint, and I love that. Because I hate being disappointed by novels. (Really, I do.) So when I was offered the chance to review The Secret of Ella and Micha, I said yes immediately. It has a beautiful cover, or it did, until it was (sadly, in my opinion) changed. The new cover is nice, but I really liked the blue cover. I settled down to read it one sunny afternoon and I devoured it (as I tend to do with my New Adult books) in a matter of hours, and oh my God, I want to be back with Ella and Micha already. I literally miss them so much and it’s only been half an hour!

Ella and Micha have been friends for 15 years, but when Ella finds herself following in her mother’s footsteps, she realises she has to change, so she leaves the town where she grew up and she heads to college in Las Vegas, leaving Micha behind heartbroken and pining, and wondering where the hell she’s gone. But with summer break looming, Ella knows she has to go home because she has nowhere else to go. She’s dreading it, she’s become a different girl since then and she doesn’t want to slip back into the girl she used to be. She heads back home with friend Lila and though she tries to not slip back into her old ways, it’s inevitable, especially with Micha still there, still sexy, still enticing her. Nothing’s changed in their relationship since she’s been away and Ella doesn’t know how to handle it, and isn’t sure if she can let Micha in, even though she really wants to.

I really enjoyed The Secret of Ella and Micha. I totally fell head over heels for Ella and Micha’s story. Sometimes a couple just clicks and you know they’re perfect for each other even if one of them (Ella) tries to deny it and Ella and Micha were perfect for each other. I was so desperate for them to just get it together already! It isn’t just a love story though, though that’s a major part and I freaking loved it, the novel also deals with some really emotional issues and it was a bit like a roller-coaster at times, I wasn’t sure at all if Ella could beat her demons, because they were plentiful. Micha, too, had his issues, and I felt so sad for him because apart from that one bit of his life, he was such a lovely person, and I felt bad that that person had done that to him. It took a while for me to see the real Micha, he seems like a proper playboy when we first meet him, but he wasn’t like that at all and I was soon just as in love with his as Ella was (even if she wouldn’t admit it).

One of the most surprising and best bits for me was Ella’s best friend Lila. You can tell straight away she and Ella aren’t the same people, that Lila’s a lot different, and that Ella’s life in Star Grove is not what Lila’s used to, but I loved that she didn’t care a little bit. I loved the banter between Lila and Ethan, Micha’s best friend, and I loved that Lila was there for Ella even if Ella wasn’t telling her everything about herself. I nearly died on the spot when I read at the back of The Secret of Ella and Micha that there’s going to be a Lila and Ethan book, The Temptation of Lila and Ethan. I think there is WAY MORE to both of these two than meets the eye, and I can’t WAIT for their book! Before that, though, we will have more of Ella and Micha in The Forever of Ella and Micha, and I am gutted I have to wait until October. That’s forever away! But I do have Jessica Sorensen’s other New Adult series to start about Callie and Kayden, so that will keep me going I suppose. I loved The Secret of Ella and Micha, it was hot, it was gripping, I was totally in love with the characters, and I can’t wait to see them again!

[Kelly]

Ramblings of a Diva Booknerd

3.5 Stars
I really enjoyed The Secret of Ella and Micha, but it reminded me of so many other contemporary young adult novels that I've read before. Your broken, let me fix you syndrome. Ella's character is the equivalent of a teen boy's wet dream. A hot tomboy who loves cars, wears tiny shorts, curses and starts fights. Her character is mildly likable and in parts you can identify with her and sympathize. Micha on the other hand, he's a cliche. He's sweet and loves Ella and wants nothing more to protect her. The support characters are pretty much background props. I DID enjoy it, but since it didn't have a conclusive ending, I wanted to move onto the next book, only to discover that it's been set back with no word on a release date.

Sigh.

[nitzan_schwarz]

Another great book from Sorensen. Definitely a favorite new author.

Review Soon

[kimbacaffeinate]

Jessica Sorensen is an author to add to your list, she is incredibly talented and her gift of capturing human emotion and expressing it to the reader just blew me away. From the very first pages, I felt Ella's raw emotions and fears. This is a touching novel of a girl who fears becoming her mother. Who falls in love with the boy next door; the same boy who has been her friend since she was a child. She is a young woman afraid of feeling too much, of letting go and living. It's the story of a boy, now a young man who loves the girl next door; it is a powerful love that consumes him. He fears for her, wants to protect her and above all things wants to see her happy. I fell in love with these broken characters, I felt their emotions and could not put this book down. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

[Angie]

The Secret of Ella and Micha is a New Adult Romance that lies on the darker side of the spectrum. Eight months ago, Ella packed up and left everything and everyone behind. Now she's back and Micha doesn't even recognize her as the girl who left him on the bridge that night. That's because she's not. At least Ella pretends she's not that girl anymore, but being back home and around Micha is bringing that girl back out.

The story is told in alternating POV, which should give us the whole story. Unfortunately, Ella won't talk about what happened the night she left because she can't remember and Micha won't talk about it. This could be frustrating, but I think it adds an air of mystery and compelled me to keep reading. Both of them have some demons to face; Micha's absent father and Ella's mother's suicide. Neither of them have dealt with their personal issues on top of their unresolved romance.

Ella and Micha's chemistry is through the roof! The sexual tension is so thick, I thought I was going to choke on it. These two have some seriously steamy scenes when they're reunited. Even though Ella is trying to keep her walls up, Micha causes them to crumble little by little. It was also beyond frustrating because it's so obvious to everyone around them that they love each other, but Ella just keeps pushing him away. But when they do finally come together...woah! It's definitely hot!

This was my first book by Jessica Sorensen although I've had her on my radar for awhile now, and I was very impressed. Ella and Micha is a fast read, an emotional roller coaster, and will surely steam up your ereader!