Riley Jean

"The only thought in my mind was a desire for something I called dangerous mere minutes earlier: hope."

Scar/Rosie and Vance's story is filled with a definite longing of hope. Scar/Rosie is a very broken young adult. She has to endure in her short life experiences of broken trust, feeling unworthy, etc. that makes her into a very jaded character. She has huge walls that are steel reinforced. Vance is just the right man to help her see past her experiences and to move forward.

Young adult contemporary is not my normal reading material. However, I was offered a chance to read and break out of my normal reading routine. This book was gifted to me by the author for an honest review. I would recommend this book to those who love a deep read into character change. This was a sweet read that had mild intimacy briefly. This was a well put together book which I find unusual for debut authors. No stumbling through the read; well edited and plotted. Ms. Jean's writing reminds me of Colleen Hoover; if you like CoHo's books, you'll like this.

Which brings me to what I didn't like about the book. This part is all about personal preference. I have friends I know will love this book. They enjoy deep reads, young characters, coming of age. I prefer my books with a bit more adult feel and faster pace. Ms. Riley really delves into the feelings of why Scar/Rosie cannot move forward. She is stuck in this mire of isolation for the majority of the story. This part for me made it difficult to move quickly. Heavy angst isn't my preference. So for that my star rating works. I liked it. I wouldn't say I'd read again. But, I definitely recommend to those who love this genre and stories. I think the author has a gift for delving deeply into the character.

If I would recommend this book to someone, my thoughts lean towards: if you like young adult with loads of angst, this will be for you.
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