How do I even begin. This story is definitely off the beaten path for me. It's not really a romance novel, although I think the romantic relationships is really the center of the story and the catalyst for many of the important moments in the story.
This is a story about so many things: motherhood, friendship, sacrifice, forgiveness, redemption, honor, growth, pain, loss--the themes are numerous and vast. There are serious questions posed by the events in the book. I was left thinking, "what would I do?" so many times. I had deeply viseral reactions to the characters in this story.
I started out on the kindle edition and when I had to go out downloaded the audio so that I could listen in the car. I finished this in one day. I had no choice. I couldn't put it down.
So, the story focuses on the relationship between Alexa (Lexi) Baill and the members of the Farraday family. Lexi is an orphaned foster child who is taken in by her great aunt just as she is starting high school. Lexi has had a hard life and this move to live her aunt is the first time life has been generous to her. Despite the security of a forever home, Lexi's life is very different from the rest of the children who attend her high school. She feels the difference in her status acutely on her first day. She meets Zach Farraday during her first class where she is being teased by some "mean girl". He comes to her rescue but their introduction is cut short. At lunch she finds a kindred spirit in Mia Farraday who is a social outcast and eagerly welcomes Lexi into her family fold.
Their friendship blossoms over the years and eventually Zach and Lexi fall in love. The three kids become inseparable.
Now, I am being remiss because I haven't mentioned Jude Farraday. I feel like I need a whole different review to talk about Jude. She is a fascinating character. She is Zach and Mia's mom. She is Mile's wife...and we think we know her for most of the story. She is an overly protective, but loving mother who is kind and strong and dedicated.
It's very clear she borders on the edge of fanatical when it comes to her children's lives. But, once you learn about her own upbringing it is easy to understand and forgive her "helicopter parent" behavior. Her children clearly adore her and she seems to have it all.
However, as Jude is forced to loosen the tight reigns she holds on her children's lives, her reactions reveal a selfishness and an insecurity that are, for me, alarming.
Mia, Zach and Lexi are normal kids, making normal mistakes and trying their best to be themselves without disappointing the people who love them.
Anyway,in the blink of an eye and after some very poor decision making by the three teenagers, life changes forever for all of them.
They all learn the hard way that life is unfair, unpredictable and that love doesn't heal all. The reader learns the hard way that Jude Farraday is not at all who we think she is. It feels like a betrayal at times. She lets her entire family down, but I felt let down, too.
I'm a mother. My children are my absolute everything. We all parent differently and so I don't judge other people's parenting(except for when their children are clearly being neglected) so I didn't judge Jude's parenting. But I did judge her behavior when life handed her some really really rotten apples.
These characters are put through the ringer. They are forced to make decisions I wouldn't ever want even contemplate making. And some of them rise to the occasion and some of them don't.
My only real criticism of this story is that the ending felt a bit rushed. And that really took away from the story for me. I needed maybe 15 more pages of conversation and resolution. But, the resolution, however rushed, was satisfying.
I highly recommend this to people who enjoy excellent writing, well developed plots liked and great drama! 4.5 well deserved stars!
