By Rayna York
It was never easy for Cassie and her mother, struggling to make ends meet in their tiny apartment in The Bronx, but they had each other and that was enough. Then, in a heartbeat, Cassie's world crumbles when her mother is taken by a relentless form of cancer.
Suddenly orphaned, Cassie's flung across the country to a lavish Californian lifestyle, the world of her mother's affluent best friend—a woman Cassie never knew existed. This new reality is dizzying with its grand mansion, newfound father figure, and a new “brother,” Cody, the family's charming yet egocentric son, whose presence is as unavoidable as his bedroom across the hall.
Broken with grief and struggling to fit in, Cassie encounters an unexpected ally, Mila, a formidable force with a past as layered as her own. Together, they cope with the overwhelming present, and a shared experience no one should have to endure—a nightmare they both thought was over.
This compelling young adult contemporary romance explores the power of friendship, resilience, and love in the face of overwhelming loss. Dive into a world of rich contrasts and relatable hardships, and join Cassie on her heartfelt journey towards acceptance and new beginnings.
Trigger warning: Abusive sexual situations by another student.
Content warning: Teenage drinking, sexual situations, and strong language.
Pages: 346
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MY THOUGHTS
Cassie might not have much, but she has her mother and doesn’t need much else. But when her mother grows seriously ill with cancer, Cassie’s world is ripped apart at the seams. She had never imagined losing her mother, and much less considered that she would be taken in by her mother’s best friend, whom she never knew even existed.
Cassie is uprooted and leaves behind everything she’s ever known to move in with Roxanne, Jeff, and their son, Cody. There is, of course, the problem that her new 'brother' is incredibly good looking, and knows it. But Cassie’s crush means nothing, as Cody is meant to be family, and besides, he would never like her back.
I absolutely loved Cassie, she is such a lovely character, and so relatable. She has a wonderfully sarcastic way of thinking, and I especially loved her desire to wear baggy and comfy clothes over following the latest trends. She is awkward and prefers to simply be shut in her room rather than spend time around people. She struggles with her new living situation, especially because her mother isn’t there with her. Cassie grew up making every penny count, but her new home is a well-off one, and she need not worry about having the money for things anymore. And yet, she can’t change her way of thinking. I did like that Cassie holds onto the lessons she grew up with, and gets herself a job even though she doesn’t necessarily need one.
There are quite a lot of different plot threads in this book, as with any person’s life, there is never just one thing going on. With so many different people and things going on, Cassie’s life came across as very real. At times, I was thinking about her week as if I were planning my own. Meeting with this person on Saturday, and having to change what I agreed to on Sunday because of this thing that has come up – Cassie has a very full calendar, and is very realistic for it. The romance in this story is very much a subplot, for there is so much going on. Relationships, revenge, realisations, and rekindling bonds. Cassie quickly learns that her mother is not exactly who she thought she was, and that she was told many lies as she grew up. Her life is turned upside-down, and then her memories of her mother are clouded by questions – how much of what she has been told is actually true?
As with many books, there are characters I absolutely adored, and others I could not stand. Cody is, obviously, one of my favourites! He is so kind and giving, always putting Cassie’s needs above his own. I loved the chemistry between him and Cassie, they clicked nearly instantly, after a few awkward moments. They are open around each other, and make up quickly after arguments. There are no grudges holding them apart. Upsets and misunderstandings are sorted out quickly, and they definitely portray a very healthy relationship, talking things out, and making time for each other, as well as having some very goofy conversations, and lighthearted banter. I do not particularly want to mention the character I disliked, as it can give away a little bit of the plot, but I physically felt my skin crawl at times when this character was around. They were the epitome of vile, and I couldn’t stand it when they were on the page.
There is a rather large elephant in the room that must be skirted around in this review, so as not to give away the plot. This book does deal, quite in-depth, with sexual harassment and abuse. The life-changing devastation caused by having someone not listen to the word ‘no’ is explored with several different characters, who have all been targeted by the same person. There is a very clear message in this book, not just about standing up for yourself and being strong, but also about staying safe, and knowing that you do not deserve to be treated badly by anyone. There is no excuse for hurting someone in such a way, and I think the author approached the topic with care to portray the emotions to make the reader feel deeply for the characters, but also to show you to treat yourself and others in the same way you want to treat the characters – it is not just fictional characters that need to feel safe and loved.
I have now read all of Rayna York’s novels (to date) and have absolutely loved every single one of them. I know this is an author I will definitely be keeping an eye on, as I simply have to read whatever comes out next!
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