Rebecca Miller

My thanks to The Review Crew and the author for the complimentary copy.

Four years have passed since Miranda, beloved wife and mother, was tragically taken from them. Even more tragic because the cause was unexpected and entirely preventable. Even worse because the head-on collision was not due to drunk driving or DUI, but negligence. Inattentive driving.

Each Brennar processed the loss in their own way. Meg, the youngest, became depressed and morose, losing her passion for drawing, an art form she excelled at and had planned to pursue. Bobby, the middle child, acted out. Josh, the oldest, was, as always, a rock. Stable and supportive. Their father was even more absent than usual.

Then, as if things were not bad enough, dad made the unilateral decision to uproot them to move to a small town, closer to family. Another loss. Gone was their life in the city, their friends, places that held precious memories. It felt like the end of the world. But... it wasn't. It was just... a different world. And, slowly, they were acclimating.

Then... Meg met Shawn, a boy even more traumatized and damaged than she was. He had walls built up and didn't trust easily. Given his troubled family background, it was understandable. Developing any kind of relationship with him would take patience. But, Meg was ready and willing, despite the initial apprehension of her family.

From the first chapter, the storyline struck me as true-to-life. The setting, dialogue, and relationship dynamics were authentic. The writing style was readable and the chapters short. Even though Meg and Shawn are the principal characters, the supporting characters play significant roles.

Despite being intense(subject matter is dark, triggering, and intended for a mature audience), heart-wrenching, and sometimes difficult to read, I loved this story. The title is apt in its double-meaning. It depicted the best and worst of human nature in an authentic, plausible, and life-affirming way.… (mehr)