This is a re-read, but there's nothing better than a weepy re-read when you're not feeling good. ( )

♦♦♦♦♦ I received an arc in exchange for an honest review ♦♦♦♦♦

♥♥♥♥ I found this to be a very loving romance as we follow two young adults through their lives and the turmoil they face. There is a small twist in the story and I found that added the thrall to it.

A very sweet romance and an easy read ♥♥♥♥

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Readers of young adult romance will not want to miss this emotional story of coping with loss before learning how to love again. The interesting unique twist to this novel is that it's actually about two separate tales, but it is discovering how they intersect, that actually becomes the ground breaking necessary precursor to moving forward.

Nikki Fallon has had a lonely upbringing. Growing up way before her time, she in essence becomes her own mother's caretaker as her mother struggles between bouts with diabetes and bipolar mental disease. Although Nikki is a good student, she is unsure of where the future will lead given that they have almost no money and are barely getting by living in a trailer. It's been so bad that she has been in and out of fosters homes from time to time. Then her mother passes away and other than her best friend, Ashley, Nikki is totally alone. When her social worker comes to take her away to yet another foster home shortly after her mother's death, Nikki's world is turned upside down when her mother's deathbed confession is revealed. A secret her mother kept so hidden that she only bares having it finally revealed following her death in a letter.

Zack Martin has been in love with Emily since he was 9 years old and she moved next door. Now at 17, he's the quarterback of the high school football team and Emily is the captain of the cheerleader squad. From the outside looking in, everything seems picture perfect for this star couple. But as Emily has aged, she's become more like her mother, obsessed with appearances and social standing. Zack feels like she is no longer the girl who became his best friend and who he has loved all these years. It is this change that ultimately leads to actions that will forever haunt Zack.

I wish I could give you more incite into this emotional romance, but it is the suspense of learning how these two stories intersect which is the real gem of this book. Anymore and you will piece it together too quickly, losing it's intended effect. I will say that I guessed the connection fairly early on, so in some respects, I wish the suspense and mystery had been less predictable. All that said, I found the process and journey toward this discovery, and the related characters' self-discovery, to be touching and enlightening.

This romance deals with some rather deep subjects, particularly for a young adult title, including grief and coping with the loss of a loved one. I enjoyed the realistic look at how such difficult subjects can affect one's ability to trust and love again; and greatly enjoyed the sweet budding romance and coming of age story weaved together within them in Left Behind.

Source: ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Left Behind by Vi Keeland and Dylan Scott
Source: Authors
My Rating: 3½/5 stars
Me Review:

Nikki always knew the day would come when her mother’s body simply gave up; between the bipolar disorder and the diabetes, she just couldn’t last forever. Nikki simply hoped that day wouldn’t come before she turned 18 and could legally be on her own. If wishes were dreams, right? Her mother dying certainly sucks but the real suckage sinks in when Nikki finds out not only was her mother keeping secrets, she kept some very, very big secrets like an aunt and a twin sister Nikki never, ever knew about. With her choice being foster care or her aunt, Nikki takes a leap of faith and moves to California with her aunt.

As Nikki is trying to sort out and adjust to her new life and make sense of the mysteries left over from her old life, Zack is doing good just to continue breathing. Emily, his girlfriend and partner in crime since the age of nine has died and his last memories of her are of anger and the fight they had. For more than six months, Zack has refused to go to school, refused to see his friends and, generally refused to live his life. The despair and guilt are almost more than he can bear and the very thought of moving beyond Emily is damn near crippling. In an effort to help their son finally begin to live his life again, Zack’s parents insist he return to school and the life he knew before that fateful night.

Zack’s first meeting with Nikki is perhaps the most significant moment of his life. For the first time in what feels like forever, he feels a spark of something deep in his soul. Nikki is new to the area and the school and has no idea about Zack’s past or what it is that makes him seem so very lost and desperately sad. What both know for sure is that they are interested in the other and they have to find a way to make that interest fit into their respective lives. The feeling out process for both is at times funny, at times sweet and, at times riddled with guilt and misunderstanding. Both Zack and Nikki are still very young and have dealt with incredible loss recently and so, the thought of happiness for themselves and with someone else causes an increased level of guilt mixed with their burgeoning feelings for one another. On top of all the mixed up and confusing feelings is the ongoing mystery of Nikki’s twin sister and the crazy neighbor lady who is virtually stalking Nikki. Neither Zack nor Nikki are in any way prepared for the resolution of these mysteries and when the truth finally comes out, all of the happiness that they have recently found with one another is torn apart.

The Bottom Line: Left Behind is a solidly written read from Vi Keeland and Dylan Scott. Though I did enjoy this read and had no difficulty getting through it, I can’t honestly say there is anything here that just blew me away. Once the story gets rolling, the light mystery is pretty easy to unravel and that just leaves a love story. The love story is riddled with angst, desire, and, some humor but it really doesn’t offer anything new or exciting. I liked both Nikki and Zack and certainly rooted for them along the way but I didn’t ever feel like I had a real connection with either character. Would I recommend this read? Sure. It’s a straight-forward and easy read that will keep your attention as most light reads will. ( )