That Night

by Amy Giles

[Sam@WLABB]

Rating: 4.5 Stars

That night everything changed. That night they both lost their brothers, but that wasn't all they lost. Jess and Lucas were struggling to heal in the aftermath, and maybe their best bet was each other.

• Pro: This story was about the aftermath. How a community was broken, and how they were trying to pick up the pieces and move on. There are so many different ways a tragedy can affect people, and Giles explored many of them in a thoughtful and sensitive way.

• Pro: With this book, Giles proves to be a master with grief stories. Like her debut, this one delivered an emotional gut punch. My heart cracked in half for these people, and their pain just emanated from the page.

• Pro: Watching Lucas and Jess grow, change, and heal together filled my heart with joy. They were able to slowly break through the protective walls they both erected, and the more they opened up to each other, the more they began to reconnect with other people as well, which was a big part of their healing process.

• Pro: Two side characters I adored and wished we spent more time with were Pete and Mrs. Alvarez. Pete seemed very happy-go-lucky, but his love and concern for Lucas ran deep. There were these little things he did, which only confirmed his dedication to his friend, and I loved him for that. Mrs. Alvarez was the best surrogate grandmother Jess could ask for. She did what she could to help Jess, and filled that grown-up sized void in Jess' life. Nothing but *heart-eyes* for these two.

• Pro: This book was pro therapy, and the mental health issues were handled well.

• Pro: The romance was gooey and sweet and I loved it! Lucas and Jess were precious together, and they made me smile until my face split in two.

• Pro: Endings like this one are what my dreams are made of. It was so touching and hopeful. Seriously, I just re-read it, and I am in tears. It made me so happy!

Overall: A heartwarming, touching, and emotional survival story, which focused on the aftermath, the healing process, and the connections that can help people get through great losses.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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