My Rating: ★★★★ and 1/2 or 4.5
Synopsis: Life sucks for orphans Callum Tate and Harper Bailey. Kicked out of their foster homes because they suffer the ‘eighteen disease’ with nothing but a hundred dollar check from the government and a pat on the back, they’re forced to rely on a system that failed them miserably. So they sit. They sit inside Social Services, waiting for their social workers to call their names and offer them the miracle they know will never come but they sit anyway because they have nowhere else to go, no other options on their very literal and figurative empty plates. But as they sit, they notice the other. Although captivated, they each come to the conclusion that life is complicated enough without throwing in a boiling tension that can’t ever be acted upon because they’re both too busy thinking about where their next meal will come from but when their names are called and both are placed on a year long waiting list for permanent housing, suddenly relying on each other seems like a very viable plan B. And, oh, how lovely Plan B’s can be. Well, except for the psycho from Harper’s past that haunts her and, oh, yeah, there’s the little issue that neither of them knows they’re in love with the other. Needless to say, Callum & Harper’s life just got a bit more complicated.
“One day, you and I are gonna’ wake up and be alright. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow but one day. One day. I promise you.” – Callum Tate
Review: This book killed me. I don’t know how I didn’t die from heartbreak! Callum and Harper was so emotional but also shows the strength in the main characters. There was definitely a lot of suspense and tension in this book but my almost heart failure was worth it.
So Callum and Harper are both orphans and they meet in the social services office. Callum looks after Harper after no housing arrangements can be made and they have been kicked out of their foster homes (because they’re 18). Harper meets Callum’s friends and everything is fine and dandy. Harper and Callum have chemistry but they are both not willing to give up their friendship.
I loved this book. I love stories that have a backstory and the backstory to this book… oh it’s good. There is definitely suspense and drama in this book. Although this book is mainly focused on romance, there are some sections of the book that aren’t romance (we have a psycho bad guy!). Also I’m not sure that this can be labelled YA, yeah it has the features of a YA book and is clean but I think it is more like a coming of age book. It shows them growing up and becoming more mature also quite a bit of this book happens 2 years after they first meet. So they are 20 for probably around half of this book.
Callum was great, how could you not fall in love with someone like Callum. The only thing that I didn’t like with this book is that neither Callum nor Harper admitted their feeling for each other before it was too late (I was scared there wasn’t going to be a HEA) other than that I loved both of them. Harper I liked because she was still kind to people and willing to put others before herself even if it meant to her getting in trouble (the fire alarm incident). Despite her rough childhood she is more compassionate than I imagine most would be. You have to give her credit for that.
I liked how this book was written, in alternating points of view. Sometimes, I was just waiting for Harper’s POV and that gave it that little extra something. This book kind of reminds me of Leo too. The emotional sections of this were heartbreaking, I was borderline hysterical. My heart dropped at sections of this book, it was so sad and moving.
Overall this book was amazing. I would recommend it but it isn’t perfect (is any book ever). It shows how after hardship there is ease.
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