Thank you for Emma Scott and Valentine PR for giving me an ARC to read and review.
When You Come Back To Me is a second book of the Lost Boys -series. It can be read as a standalone, but you will get so much more out of this book if you've read The Girl in the Love Song (and Someday, Someday).
I was lucky enough to score an ARC of both of the books in this series. I can't thank enough for Emma Scott and Valentine PR for giving me a chance to read this book beforehand! What an amazing opportunity 💜
The cover of this book is gorgeous. I am absolutely in love with it.
We meet both of the main characters in The Girl in the Love Song. And in that book I was very curious about both of them, but especially of Holden. The vibes he gives you are something else, something I can not describe. River was left a bit distant, but that works, because in this book we get to see the reasons behind it.
Holden is the new guy in the school. He's polished, he's smart and a bit reckless. He drinks and asks someone to stab him. He feels like he's constantly drowning in his memories. He doesn't know whether he wants to drown in them or not. He feels like no one can really love him. Every time someone does or says something good to him, his demons shout for him to not to listen.
River is the star of the school. He's the good guy, who doesn't brag about being with the girls. He's the quarterback of the team and he has a bright future ahead of him. He's way smarter than he lets people to assume. But his life isn't what he wants it to be. His mom is sick and can die at any giving moment. His dad is trying to live his missed life through River. He's just acting his way through the life.
These boys meet and nothing is like it used to be. They struggle to keep away from each other and they struggle to be together. Nothing is easy. River likes to put everyone around him on first place. He thinks about his mom, he thinks about his dad, he thinks about the NFL and how there's no way for him to love another boy if he wants to play football. Holden doesn't really have anyone. I was totally livid with the way his parents had treated him. I can not believe that this is really something that exist in our time. Holden loves the warmth that River can provide him. River loves how he can be absolutely himself around Holden. One of the things Holden says is "You can be okay and completely fucked up at the same. I'm living proof." It hit home. That's how I feel most of the days. And in some way this sentence is the best way to describe both of these young men.
This is coming of age book, like the last book of the series was. I would consider this more NA than YA, mainly because there are some heavy issues on this book. There's a warning of that in the beginning of the book. The feelings that these two young man go through in this book are very true. They feel sad, happy, overwhelmed, depressed, joyful. You name and they have felt it. They struggle with the expectations of their parents. They are trying to decide whether they try to reach goals they are setting for themselves or just listen their parents.
I liked how they struggled with their feelings towards each other and how their feelings had an influence on their actions. That it's like when you're not so sure about what to do or say or even feel. When all the expectations are weighing you down. When all that has happened on the past are screaming inside of your head that you don't deserve to be happy.
I haven't read many M/M -books and that's mainly because I haven't found ones that feel right. But Emma Scott knows how to write M/M -romance. I adored Someday, Someday and I can honestly say that both of these books are in top two in this genre.
The way Emma Scott builds the world around her characters is amazing. She keeps the story going on without any problems. There's no way you want to put the book down unless you need to find a tissue to cry on. This book made me cry on so many occasions. I cried, because I was angry. I cried, because I was heartbroken and I cried, because I was happy.
If you want to read a great, touching, heart breaking and the most beautiful romance there's right now then this is your book. I really understand why everyone talks about this book.
I believe that this book was supposed to be under a different name, but the title makes so much sense. Amazing story from an amazing author. I can't wait to read the Ronan's story!
Remember that love is love. And believe me, you deserve to be happy!
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When You Come Back To Me by Emma Scott
2020
