From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jamie McGuire comes a riveting tale of first love that starts young but runs deep.
The first time Elliott Youngblood spots Catherine Calhoun, he’s just a boy with a camera, and he’s never seen a sadder and more beautiful sight. Both Elliott and Catherine feel like outcasts, yet they find an easy friendship with each other. But when Catherine needs him most, Elliott is forced to leave town.
Elliott finally returns, but he and Catherine are now different people. He’s a star high school athlete, and she spends all her free time working at her mother’s mysterious bed-and-breakfast. Catherine hasn’t forgiven Elliott for abandoning her, but he’s determined to win back her friendship…and her heart.
Just when Catherine is ready to fully trust Elliott, he becomes the prime suspect in a local tragedy. Despite the town’s growing suspicions, Catherine clings to her love for Elliott. But a devastating secret that Catherine has buried could destroy whatever chance of happiness they have left.
I received this book from the publisher through Netgally for a review. Catherine and Elliot become friends, they are separated, Elliot comes back to town a few years later and they fall in love but Catherine has a troubled home life and their families/the town and their issues try to break them apart. I felt that this one was just ok. I loved Jamie McGuire's other series so I'm disappointed that I wasn't 100% in to this one. I personally was able to figure out what was going on fairly quickly which potentially impacted my enjoyment of the book since I wasn't surprised at the big reveal. It was different from a majority of YA romance/hiding secrets from each other though so I would recommend it for people who are looking for something to read outside of the norm. Don't take my middle of the road reaction to this one though as any kind of deterrent from reading anything by Jamie McGuire because she is a great author and her other novels, especially Beautiful Disaster, are some of my all time favorite DIK novels
