Description
A boy-meets-girl-again story from the award-winning author of The Intern and Faking It. 'Milo was a discoloured memory with blurred edges and a washed-out palette. Yet five minutes with him and everything came back to me in an instant.' Layla Montgomery's life fell apart at thirteen.
After her mum died in a shock accident, Layla's grieving father packed their bags and forced her to leave behind everything she'd ever known. Milo Dark has been stuck on pause since the Year 12 exams. His long-term girlfriend moved 300 kilometres away for uni, his mates bailed for bigger things, and he's convinced he missed the reminder to plan out the rest of his life. As kids, Layla and Milo shared everything - their secrets, a treehouse and weekends at the river. But they haven't spoken since her mum's funeral.
That is, until Layla shows up five years later in his parents' bookshop without so much as a text message. Pretty soon they're drawn into a tangled mess that guarantees someone will get hurt. And while it's a summer they'll never forget, is it one they'll want to remember?
Review
Just wow! Australian YA author Gabrielle Tozer has taken her writing to another level with this amazing story of rekindled friendship turned romance.
It is gritty and real, with believable characters that you love early on and spend the rest of the book hoping that they work it and out and get together!
Neighbours and best friends growing up, Layla and Milo’s lives changed abruptly at thirteen when Layla’s Mum died after being hit by a car, and Layla’s Dad decides they need to leave their small town. Milo remained in town, but after finishing Year 12, his life is stalling and he has no real aims for his future.
Then suddenly Layla is back in town, but their lives are so different. Slowly we piece together their history as they rediscover their deep friendship.
The end had a twist I didn’t expect, but that only added to my respect for the author and her ability to craft an unforgettable story.
Altogether, a wonderful contemporary romance about finding your place, that will be loved by readers 15 years and up.
Reviewed by Rob
