Review: Life in Reverse by Beth Michele


Note: This ARC was provided by Between the Sheets Promotions in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my. This book. When an author is new to me, the first book that I read that they've written sets a precedent, and I'm pretty sure that's how it is for almost all readers. After all, that first reading experience could very well signal if an author is well worth keeping an eye on, if they had potential and could possibly get even better over time, or if you simply need to move on to the next author you discover. With Beth Michele, Life in Reverse was an introduction that caught me by surprise. With its quiet intensity and heartrending story of love found and lost and stumbled upon again, Ember Bennett and Vance Davenport's tale is one that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to readers who know how to appreciate a well-written book and who like their romances with angst and drama that's never overdone or frustrating.

When Vance Davenport and his family move into their neighborhood, Ember Bennett is immediately aware of how appealing he is on the outside, a fact that her twin sister constantly points out. Unfortunately, the minute he opens his mouth, Ember decides that the packaging doesn't match the content. On the other hand, Vance takes one look at the Mickey Mouse-wearing Ember and agrees with his brother that she's beautiful, but he doesn't appreciate how she judges him without actually knowing a single thing about him. But once they get to know each other, Ember and Vance form a friendship that serves as an anchor for both of them, but with everything going on in their lives, especially Vance's, their tether may not be strong enough to keep them together, no matter how much they may love one another.

I admit that there were certain points in the story that I grew so frustrated with Vance and seriously wanted to smack him. I was that invested in him and Ember! They had come so far in their relationship and his decision to do what he did left me feeling terribly for Ember. While the choices she made in New York may not the same ones had I been in her shoes, her explanations for them made me pause and see things from her point of view, and I get why she made those choices even though I may not wholeheartedly agree with them. This was a story about love--both for a significant other and for family and how there's a time to fight for that love and a time to let it go. I felt for Ember and Vance and their respective families and how they tried to overcome the struggles that came their way. Life in Reverse is a five-star must-read. ♥

Release Date: 21 March 2016

Date Read: 19 March 2016

Learn more about Beth Michele.

Purchase Life in Reverse on Amazon | Kobo.

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