To the Stars by Molly McAdams

To the Stars (Thatch, #2)

by Molly McAdams

In the second standalone book in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Molly McAdams' Thatch series, Knox Alexander must convince his long-time love Harlow Evans that they're meant to be together. He promised to wait for her. She told him he was wasting his time. Not waiting for him ended up being the biggest mistake of her life. When they were younger, Knox Alexander swore to Harlow Evans that he would wait for her to turn eighteen so they could be together. But that was two and a half years away, and Harlow couldn't ask him to give up all the fun and thrills of going away to college for her. As the years passed, Knox remained a constant in her life but when her eighteenth birthday came around, Harlow's heart belonged to someone else. Every day for the last four years, Harlow has been haunted by that fateful choice. And though he may appear unaffected by what happened in their past, Knox has always tried to fill the void Harlow left. But when he comes stumbling back into her life and refuses to leave, will Harlow finally let him into her heart...?

Reviewed by Lynn on

5 of 5 stars

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This is my first Molly McAdams novel and confess I was emotionally exhausted after reading To The Stars. Harlow and Knox's story is mesmerizing, tragic, yet breathtakingly beautiful despite the angst. Told from alternating POV in both the present (2010) and past (2008), I anticipated the reading to be jarring for myself, but refreshingly it wasn't.

The young protagonists meet at a party and are instantly attracted to each other. Approaching his eighteenth birthday, Knox Alexander presumes that Harlow Evans is the twin to the girl hanging out with his friends; a similar age, only to find out she's only fifteen years old. Unperturbed, they decide to continue seeing each other, against the wishes of those closest to them, with a promise that they'll belong to each other when Harlow turns eighteen too…

“I want to love you to the stars.”

Misunderstandings, poor communication and some interference lead Harlow to head in an entirely different direction once she comes of age.

What happens next is disturbing. Tragic. Horrific.

Collin Doherty is a monster. A cruel manipulator. An abuser. A once vibrant young woman turns into a shell of her former self...scared for her life and for those closest to her.

The author really digs deep to convey the utterly destructive relationship between Harlow and Collin. It is heartbreaking and incredibly uncomfortable to read. The abuse scenes feel realistic, which for me made them very tough to read. Yet to understand and empathise with Harlow, you need to understand her thought process, which Ms McAdams has managed to achieve. It is emotionally exhausting. Yet there is hope. Knox. He's not perfect and has also made mistakes. Still his love for Harlow is as strong as ever and believable. What a guy! The supporting characters are also integral to the plot. It is interesting to observe how their perceptions of both Harlow and Knox as circumstances change and shocking truths are unfurled.

To The Stars is a poignant story that will stay with you for a long while. It is thought provoking. It's intense. It's one of the best books I've read. Ms McAdams you have a new fan.

5 stars

***Arc generously received courtesy of publisher William Morrow via Edelweiss***

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 28 January, 2016: Finished reading
  • 28 January, 2016: Reviewed