Item: By Your Side
Rating: 3.00
Author: ladygrey

by Kasie West

An irresistible story from Kasie West that explores the timeless question: What do you do when you fall for the person you least expect?

When Autumn Collins finds herself accidentally locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn't think things could get any worse. But that's before she realizes that Dax Miller is locked in with her.

Autumn doesn't know much about Dax except that he's trouble. Between the rumors about the fight he was in (and that brief stint in juvie that followed it) and his reputation as a loner, he's not exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to rescue her.

Only he doesn't come. No one does.

Instead it becomes clear that Autumn is going to have to spend the next couple of days living off vending-machine food and making conversation with a boy who clearly wants nothing to do with her. Except there is more to Dax than meets the eye.

As he and Autumn at first grudgingly, and then not so grudgingly, open up to each other, Autumn is struck by their surprising connection. But can their feelings for each other survive once the weekend is over and Autumn's old life, and old love interest, threaten to pull her from Dax's side?

Of course I liked this book. Kasie West can always be counted on for cute, fun books and she doesn't fail with this one.

It's not quite what you expect, which I liked a lot. I liked how the plot evolved, how the flashbacks provided context and depth and mixed things up.

I liked Autumn's friends. Every single one of them. Especially that she had great friendships and how involved they were in the story.

I like Dax and how he calmed Autumn. But I tend to like honest, forthright characters who don't care what people think of them. Autumn was a good fit for the story even though I didn't find anything remarkable in her. Except maybe her tenacity. Still she's likable enough and her and Dax are cute.

Also, West totally made me laugh in the Acknowledgements. I hate to say it, because I don't want to detract from the book. But it might have been my favorite part.

By Your Side

by Kasie West

Reviewed by ladygrey on Apr 1, 2016

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