Clearing out my Kindle, Part 4
I never thought I'd return to River Valley. But after my mom's death, everyone thought a change of scenery might help. Now I'm busy rebuilding my relationship with my dad and working at a local diner. I was even happy to hear my childhood best friend works there as a cook. Too bad he's cold and distant. He acts like he doesn't know who I am. So why can't I stop thinking about him and wondering what happened while I was away?
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Katie had known her mother’s death was coming, her mother had spent her time preparing Katie, teaching her how to live by herself. But knowing how to look after herself and being able to live without her mother are two very different things. In a bid to get her out of the house, not to move completely on, but to get moving, Katie’s grandparents suggest she travel to stay with her father for a while.
Julian’s life took a rapid and very steep descent. His father up and left, with no prior warning, and his brother fell in with the wrong crowd, and now only talks to him when he wants someone to push around. Julian works as hard as he can as a cook at a diner, just to scrape up enough money to keep a roof over his and his mother’s heads and food on the table. He has a reputation around town, rumours spread about him, but he is not his brother, no matter what people may think or the tough exterior he shows.
Katie and Julian were best friends as children, and Katie can’t deny she is looking forward to seeing him again. But, when Katie’s father shows up at Julian’s house, asking him to keep an eye on her as she learns the ropes as a waitress at the diner, he is less than thrilled. He has enough to worry about already, he doesn’t have time to accept another person into his life. And yet, slowly, both Julian and Katie realise they are desperate to be around each other, to return to their carefree childhood friendship or, maybe, go further than that.
Both Julian and Katie have a lot going on in their lives, although neither know the others problems. They keep their distance from each other, especially since Julian is reluctant to even talk to her. As Katie starts to settle in, though, they start spending a little more time together. This is not a slow burn romance, Julian and Katie actually don’t spend too much time together. There is more about them as individuals, trying to figure out their own lives. This is not a complaint at all, their awkward reunion fits perfectly with Julian’s struggles at home, and when the time is right, things seem to just click into place. There isn’t a torturous build up, because the build up is itself the story of these two teenagers, only just having passed into adulthood, and already having so much on their shoulders to deal with.
While I loved Katie and Julian, there is another character that has to be mentioned. Gwen, another waitress at the diner, Julian’s only friend, and Katie’s first when she arrived. She is outgoing, fun, and also incredibly kind. She is there for Katie, especially, when she needs her, and she is one of the only people who knows that Julian is not the person the rumours say he is, and who knows the truth behind the walls he puts up. She is a beacon of support and always seems up for a coffee and a chat, or ice cream and a movie. Maybe even a shopping spree. She is the kind of friend I think everyone needs.
This is a quick read, and although there are some tough subjects, with the trouble Julian has at home and with his brother, as well as Katie trying to work her way through the loss of her mother, it is not too heavy a read. There is a lot of focus on moving onwards and upwards, with Katie finally getting out the house, and Julian trying to figure out how to move forwards after losing his dreams as his family walked away. It almost seems like they both needed to meet each other again, childhood best friends reunited, to remember the good times, and that there can be joy in the world, no matter how tough it may get.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is the kind of book you can pick up and sink into, delving into the lives of the characters as if you are there with them. Unfortunately, I was not with them, and could not give Julian or Katie a big hug, but still, I loved reading it and following them from the sidelines.
Kayla has loved to read as long as she can remember. While she started out reading spooky stories that had her hiding under her covers, she now prefers stories with a bit more kissing.
When she gets a chance to watch TV, she enjoys cheesy sci-fi and superhero shows.
Most days, you’ll catch her burning dinner in an attempt to cook while reading just one more chapter.
Kayla lives in the sunshine state with her husband and three boys.
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