This book will break you.

There, that’s it. Right there. Done.

Okay, not really, but honestly this book went way beyond any of my expectations.

This is a tale of life and learning to take chances, even when all the odds are stacked against you. This book is about perseverance in the face of adversity. This book is about understanding that life isn’t always fair, but it should never prevent you from doing what you aspire to do.

Callum was doing just fine in school until Everly came around. An enigma to everyone, the only one she was civil with was Callum. Through their chats they learned that neither is what they seem – Everly wants to experience the world, but is afraid of what could happen, while Callum wants to help people, but he’s having trouble accepting that he isn’t a superhero. The story was gripping and beautiful and I want to tell you everything that happened, but if you don’t actually read the book, you’ll miss the beauty of it.

The story was raw and real – but not necessarily realistic. Maybe it’s the fact that Everly had to grow too fast, or that Callum is a smart genius child, but they both seemed eon’s ahead of their time. The dialogue was real and raw, but often more poetic and “confessional” than I’ve ever heard, even from adults. Sometimes it was great, other times it kind of detracted from the novel and made you sit back like, “Wait… they’re only like 20, right?” That being said, this type of dialogue left room for a lot of life lessons that really hit home for me, and it really added to the overall feel of the novel.

One thing that really impacted me was Callum’s obsession with the word “just” and its effect on how a statement comes across. It’s amazing how, when you think about it, one word can change how you respond to a statement. “It was just a million dollars” versus “It was a million dollars” – it’s a big difference in how someone comes across, and my use of the word will be something that I’ll keep in mind in my own life.

All in all, this book was a beautifully written novel. The characters were well crafted with unique and surprising personalities. With a captivating story line, from Callum’s POV, through which we follow him through school, his practicum, and his career, and watching him and Everly navigate every obstacle that comes their way, this story will hit you straight through the heart.

I know I’m making this sound cheesy, but honestly this is a breathtaking novel. Definitely would recommend.

Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 4/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Overall: 5/5
GoodReads: 4.49/5