Synopsis

Beckett,

If you’re reading this, well, you know the last-letter drill. You made it. I didn’t. Get off the guilt train, because I know if there was any chance you could have saved me, you would have.

I need one thing from you: get out of the army and get to Telluride.

My little sister Ella’s raising the twins alone. She’s too independent and won’t accept help easily, but she has lost our grandmother, our parents, and now me. It’s too much for anyone to endure. It’s not fair. 

And here’s the kicker: there’s something else you don’t know that’s tearing her family apart. She’s going to need help.

So if I’m gone, that means I can’t be there for Ella. I can’t help them through this. But you can. So I’m begging you, as my best friend, go take care of my sister, my family.

Please don’t make her go through it alone.

Ryan.

Review

When I started this book, I went in prepared. This book starts with and is surrounded by death and the title itself gives that away if not the synopsis. What I learnt is to never underestimate an author, especially if you think you know what the book is going to be about. I mean, there are books that kill your favourite characters and then there are books that rip your heart out. I will let you decide which category this one falls into.

But just because I say death, doesn’t mean this book is all sad and heart-breaking. There is tragedy yes, but you wouldn’t be reading those pages if the book hadn’t pulled you in. After all, the genre is romance. I have been off this genre for a while now and this book pulled me right in. And that is saying something. Most romance novels do not reach to the depths of my heart and twist my soul like this one did. And the guy, oh man! A perfectly chiselled face, a muscular and toned body and green eyes…. who wouldn’t want him? Then again, I have Christian Grey for that and no I wouldn’t want him. But add to that his dog, his gentleness and absolute adoration of the kids and his crazy I-will-do-anything-for-you love for that one woman, I don’t see how I can’t fall for him. 

The author goes at a slow pace and really builds up the plot and her characters that makes you want to read more. And by building it up, I really mean building up the romance and not making it some erotica where there’s only sex. I also like how the story is raw and characters real, even if it is fiction. I like it that the man is not a control freak or a megalomaniac billionaire who just spouts money or that it’s not all hearts and flowers. There are no extremities and ultimatums, and the issues that arise, are shown to be resolved in a very humanistic way which is rare for a book.

Not every reader may be comfortable reading a book that is so tragic, but if you are this book is totally worth the melancholy your heart will face. A lot of novels have made me feel sad for the deaths of my favourite characters, but I don’t remember myself crying over a character or book this much. And by crying, I mean loud, heaving sobs for at least half an hour. Not even Fred and Dobby’s deaths did that to me. All I’m saying is that this book is underrated and should be read by more people out there.

Review by Darshana Shah. You can reach her at @darshu_08 on Instagram