Saturday 4 July 2015

ARC Review ~ A Million Miles Away by Lara Avery

A Million Miles AwayeARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: July 7th 2015

Publisher: Little Brown (Poppy)

Description:
When high school senior Kelsey's identical twin sister, Michelle, dies in a car crash, Kelsey is left without her other half. The only person who doesn't know about the tragedy is Michelle's boyfriend, Peter, recently deployed to Afghanistan. But when Kelsey finally connects with Peter online, she can't bear to tell him the truth. Active duty has taken its toll, and Peter, thinking that Kelsey is Michelle, says that seeing her is the one thing keeping him alive. Caught up in the moment, Kelsey has no choice: She lets Peter believe that she is her sister.

As Kelsey keeps up the act, she crosses the line from pretend to real. Soon, Kelsey can't deny that she's falling, hard, for the one boy she shouldn't want.

My Opinion

I didn't really know what to expect from this book. I'd seen mixed reviews and I wasn't sure whether I was going to be a reader that cried or felt distant from the story. It takes a lot to move me to tears, so I'll admit I went in doubtful. However, although I didn't cry, I did find it a subtly moving read.

I can't explain it really. I've been sat here for a while trying to think of the right words, but it's proving difficult. A Million Miles Away was a book that I didn't like at the start, I found things a bit repetitive in the middle, yet by the end it somehow touched me. I don't know how, but this was one of those read that when I got to the end I had to sit in silence by myself for a while to think back over what I just read.

I think the reason--or at least it's all I can come up with--for this was because everything in the book was muted. The grief and romance wasn't overdone with dramatics. It felt like a calm book even though the subjects were serious. By doing this it slowly worked its way into my heart.

I will admit that it wasn't all positive. Of course I didn't agree with Kelsey and her decision, but I could understand it. I can't say what I'd have done in her position, but I did believe her emotions and heart were in the right place. She was coping the only way she knew how.

I also wasn't a fan of the start. There were too many people, too much going on, and it took a while for me to figure out it was Kelsey's POV in 3rd person. I can't tell you how thankful I was it didn't remain like that for the entire book. Similarly, I did find some of Kelsey's life a bit repetitive, especially the high school sections. I know they were necessary to display her changes, they just weren't my favourite parts.

With regards to Peter, you don't really get to know much about him. However, he's a sweet guy and you can't help but feel sorry for him because you know what lies ahead of him. The parts with him in we're my favourite.


Overall I am surprised by the emotional effect this book had on me. It was subtle and calm, but it worked. I can't put my finger on why I liked it because everything about the story should have me hating it, yet I did. It's just a book I can't explain, but I'd definitely recommend it.

4

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