“Like a diamond, none of us are unbreakable. Doesn’t mean we’re not strong. To get to our core, to the beautiful, shining being of who we are, we need to be cut and polished. The process can be violent, but the outcome is exquisite. Just like you.”

This. This is it. This is the book that I needed to read. This story, by Haley Jenner, healed me in a way nothing else in the world has before. It ripped me open, tore at old wounds I thought were untouchable. I weeped while reading this, I felt nauseous and uneasy and utterly empty inside. But I also felt elated and so overly emotional I thought my heart would burst. There are almost no words to describe how impactful this story was…is. There’s so much truth here. So much to take away.

Our heroine, Zoe and Taylor, has a strength about her that’s contagious. There is so much beauty in her pain, so much passion in her heart. Her story is a devastating one. Not many would come out on the other side with as much potential and integrity as our leading lady. Not giving anything away, Zoe was hurt. Badly. Five years before our story takes place. She’s still rebuilding her life when she meets our leading man, Tripp. Tripp is unlike anything I’ve ever read. He’s unreal. Honestly. His only flaw was his loyalty…and even that, you can’t fault him for. His level of compassion and understanding is to be revered. He doesn’t push Zoe’s limits, he takes what she is able to give him and asks for nothing in return. He’s the definition of perfection. 

“I’m an awkward human,” I offer by way of apology. “All the most interesting people are.”

Tripp loves Zoe from the moment he meets her.  She takes a while to come around, but not without reason. It’s not the growth of their relationship that spoke to me; it wasn’t the stolen glances or soft touches, it was the honesty. The truth in what they both felt for one another.  Pretty early on in the story, Tripp and Zoe admit to each other that they have never felt this way for another person…it was intriguing because it wasn’t about being physical.  Not to speak poorly about the genre I love so much, but a lot of stories emphasize the physical attraction that the characters feel before the emotional attraction begins. This story was almost the other way around.  Tripp can’t touch Zoe. They fall in love with each other’s minds and hearts. It was such a treat to watch their love grow. 

I mean…that’s not to say things NEVER get physical in this book. They most definitely do, but it almost makes it even sexier. It’s so much better because it comes from a place of love and not just a physical need.

As I’m writing this, I can’t help but think back on one of my favorite moments in the novel.  Tripp tells Zoe “to love is to fear.” It struck me. The authenticity in such a statement. One of the overarching themes of this book is fear. Our author is undoubtedly right when she writes about how the greatest risk you can take is one of the heart. Higher the risk, higher the reward. The 5 star review on Amazon is much deserved. This is a book I will go back to and read over and over. What a genuinely magical story.

“You’re the loudest thing I’ve ever seen, and I want to hear it all.”