I went into Brightside a little differently than most — I actually read the last book in the series first by mistake. So when I picked this up, I knew something sad had happened but had no idea what exactly it was. As the story unfolded and hints were dropped, I found myself constantly guessing. Still, when the truth was finally revealed, it was even more heartbreaking than I could have imagined.

I agree with some reviewers who say the writing style feels a bit YA at times, but honestly, I thought it was beautiful. Kim Holden did a wonderful job capturing the reminder that life is short and that we should live every day to the fullest, even when life deals us an unfair hand.

I haven’t ugly cried over a book like I did with Brightside in a very long time. It completely broke me — but in the best way.

Brightside left me emotional, inspired, and thinking about the characters long after I finished. I can't wait to dive into the second book!