Of First love, heartbreaks and second chances“The hideous thing is this: I want to forgive him. Even after everything, I do. A baby before my 17th birthday and a future as lonely as the surface of the moon and still the sight of him feels like a homecoming, like a song I used to know but somehow forgot.” - Reena
Publisher/s: B+B, An Imprint of Harper Collins Publisher
Genre/s : Young Adult, Contemporary Romance RATING Characters: 2/5 Story: 3/5 Writing Style: 4/5 Overall: 3/5 DISCUSSION Reena accidentally met Sawyer again after two years at a 7/11 store, it was very awkward for the both of them especially when Sawyer asked about their daughter, Hannah. She was furious and hurt, but she kept a strong facade in front of him. After all she's been through, here comes Sawyer trying to make his way into her life again.
Reena was in-love with him ever since, even after he became the boyfriend of Allie, her best friend. They finally got a chance to be together, alongside with the death of Allie. From the start of their relationship, it was already messed-up, he was a drug addict and would always get wasted at parties while she patiently waits for him, though she would usually walk home since Sawyer can't drive because he would usually have too much to drink. Reena set aside everything that mattered to her and made Sawyer her number one priority, even her dreams of travelling and writing. It got out of hand when she got pregnant and Sawyer left town. She felt really, really down and alone. She was a shame on her conservative Catholic family and she was stuck in the little old town. Sawyer wasn't even there to protect and support her, but she did something right - she kept the baby and raised her well. "...the feeling of standing on the edge of a canyon and screaming, waiting for an echo that refused to come.” After having Hannah, Reena lost interest in her dreams. She was contented with being a waitress at her father's restaurant while attending a community college and being a mom to Hannah. When Sawyer got back to town again, he didn't even try hard enough to prove himself that he was indeed worthy of Reena and Hannah's love. When he left town two years ago, he travelled to different states, juggled different jobs to earn a living and went to rehab, but within the two years that he was fixing himself, he didn't even think about Reena and his daughter. With the turn of events, Sawyer got back the trust of Reena and her family again. Reena also reconciled with his father and her family, she decided to pursue her dreams of becoming a travel-writer by driving off to a new place with Hannah.... and Sawyer. “...as if there's some invisible string that kept us tethered the entire time he was away and that's tightening now...”
I like Katie's narrative style in the book, chapters alternating "BEFORE" and "AFTER" which was on the point of view Reena. It got me hooked on the flashbacks and how the present situation came to be.The topic "teenage pregnancy" is very popular though interesting, Katie was not able to establish her characters. Yes, they were full of emotions. Yes, they were just teenagers with reckless decisions but she wasn't able to justify the ending. I think she could have established how Reena became a stronger person or added more focus on Sawyer's effort to gain Reena's trust again. Sawyer was charming at first, but as I read the book, I lost interest in his character. I think the build-up was so fast that there wasn't even a build-up at all. I can't even describe how disappointed I am with the character of Reena... She didn't really stand up for herself with Sawyer, because every time she's with him, she was trapped into his charms again.
Katie wrote a raw story about young lovers who are truly, madly in love even after the years there were separated. It was realistic in a sense that if you're in love with that special someone, you're going to forgive him no matter what and I think Reena wanted most, more than anything, was a complete family for Hannah. And of course, we all want the happy ending - Reena pursuing her dreams with her daughter and Sawyer. I want to hear your thoughts about this one! :) xoxo, M
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She wonders and wandersMonica writes about her life, what she eats, what she reads and where she goes. This space is where her thoughts, experiences, memories and feelings turn into words. She's glad that she can share with you. Archives
August 2021
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