Synopsis:
Livie has always been the stable one of the two Cleary sisters, handling her parents' tragic death and Kacey's self-destructive phase with strength and maturity. But underneath that exterior is a little girl hanging onto the last words her father ever spoke to her. “Make me proud,” he had said. She promised she would...and she’s done her best over the past seven years with every choice, with every word, with every action.
Livie walks into Princeton with a solid plan, and she’s dead set on delivering on it: Rock her classes, set herself up for medical school, and meet a good, respectable guy that she’s going to someday marry. What isn’t part of her plan are Jell-O shots, a lovable, party animal roommate she can’t say ‘no’ to, and Ashton, the gorgeous captain of the men’s rowing team. Definitely him. He’s an arrogant ass who makes Livie’s usually non-existent temper flare and everything she doesn’t want in a guy. Worse, he’s best friends and roommates with Connor, who happens to fits Livie’s criteria perfectly. So why does she keep thinking about Ashton?
As Livie finds herself facing mediocre grades, career aspirations she no longer thinks she can handle, and feelings for Ashton that she shouldn’t have, she’s forced to let go of her last promise to her father and, with it, the only identity that she knows.
Review:
I have been so excited for this book. I really loved the first book, Ten Tiny Breaths. I went in to this one expecting the same kind of book as the first and it really is different. Livie and Kacey are like polar opposites so it totally makes sense that the books would have a different feel. I definitely loved this one as much as the first.
Livie is damaged, but not in obvious ways like Kacey was. Livie is damaged in the ways that I personally could relate to. She has a plan and expectations and when they don't come through she feels like a failure. As a character I could see a lot of myself in her. It made reading it really fun and I was rooting for her all the way.
While reading this, I kept comparing it to Thoughtless by SC Stephens as well. There were just parallels there and it came to mind throughout for me. Not a bad thing...just something I noticed! I was just holding my breath at times waiting for the inevitable. It was incredibly nerve wracking at times!! This book also made me laugh out loud numerous times. I love that in a book!!!
The boys in this book...seriously! Ashton...oh Ashton. I LOVE him!! Every time I read a book I have a new book boyfriend, but Ashton is going to be really high on my faves for the whole year I think. He is seriously dreamy and charming and hilarious and damaged and loveable. He's seriously everything and perfect. Connor seemed pretty perfect too! I am a total sucker for an accent and I can see why he would be everything Livie would be looking for. He fits her criteria perfectly and is every girls dream I think. He was definitely likable most of the time and then other times I couldn't stand him and I don't even know why! I guess it's just cause Ashton is around? Poor Connor. Really no one can compete with Ashton around. At least not in my eyes!
Livie was really likable for me. I think because she really was pretty normal. At least in the way that most of us are. We all have issues. Sometimes when they don't seem like huge issues they get overlooked, but they are still there.
This book made me laugh and cry and hold my breath. It really is everything you can want in a book and I definitely recommend it!! I guess there is a third book and I have heard rumors that it is about Cain...could be interesting....
About Kathleen:
Born in small-town Ontario, Kathleen published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit. Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.
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