I was granted an e-copy of this novel from NetGalley and the Author in exchange for an honest review.

Sooo I may have devoured this book in one day. I didn't plan to, but it is just so easy to read!
McGarry has an incredible writing style, it flows with ease and even with the intense subjects that this book deals with, it is still free-flowing, not forced and easy to read. It definitely doesn't feel like a chore.

I love the magical intentions throughout this book. The connection that Jesse has with the land, the way that Glory can keep Jesse and his family connected through her psychic abilities. And the way that Scarlett entwines with both Jesse and Glory within the realms of their individual magical connections with land and spirit.

I feel as though this book was a much darker novel from McGarry than usual, and I think it is important to say that if you have your own demons surrounding familial and/or spousal abuse, physical and psychological, then this book isn't one for you. Scarlett has an incredibly controlling father, who doesn't have limits when it comes to enforcing his control and rule. It is incredibly intense and at times it is hard to read. So be prepared for that.

I loved this book up until the last 10%. Something happens and I can't say much about it without spoiling it (if you want to know how I feel about it and what happens, pop to my blog www.bookishintoxicationwrites.com), so all I am going to say is that something happens that I don't think needed to happen. It didn't really take the book anywhere, other than giving Jesse a little more farming experience. Which is important to the story line, but I feel that it could have been done in a different way?
So after that situation, the sweet ending, for me, wasn't as sweet and as final as it could have been.

I did enjoy this book, the semi-ending did force my enjoyment down, hence only 4 stars. But all in all it was a fantastic read, it was so refreshing to read about a couple who each have their own demons. There was no knight in shining armour. They saved eachother.

I’m still an internal chaotic, emotional mess from this book, and it’s been hours since I finished it. Only a Breath Apart made me feel rage, sadness, happiness, frustration, wonderful – it made me feel everything. The characters, the story, the emotional vulnerability, this book was so good.

I’ve read a Katie McGarry book in the past – Pushing the Limits – I don’t know why I never finished the series, or read any of her other books, because I did like it. So, this was my first of her books in years, and it didn’t disappoint. It was so well written and so engaging. I legit stayed up ALL NIGHT reading yet (yes, I regret that choice now) but I couldn’t put it down. I just kept turning the pages, completely caught up in this world and these characters.

The writing was beautiful, and the character arcs were believable and real. I felt like I was right in the middle of their lives, their world. It was so easy to picture everything, to feel everything.

This book was pain, it was beauty and it was magic. It’s about learning who you are, and what you can survive. It’s realizing that, that journey to self-discovery can be an adventure with good and bad moments. Moments when you triumph and moments when you fail. It’s about when you fail, you have to get back up and try again.

It’s about finding adventure – “second star to the right and straight on till morning”.

I loved this book so much, and I hope you do too. It’s now one of my top four favorite contemporary novels (all are tied for first place) and all have given me the same kind of feeling.

I don't know why, but going into this I wasn't thinking contemporary, I was expecting something futuristic or maybe a bit more paranormal; I'll take the awesome story we got instead. If you're a long time reader or follower you are well aware of my love for Katie's writing and her stories. This story took me out, I wasn't ready for all of it and man it slayed my emotions and I fell into the story and didn't want to come out.

I literally writing this right after I finished the book and I still can't process. Reading this and knowing that there are teens living this everyday breaks my heart. I wanted to rage at the adults in the scenarios that they were failing the children, As the story moved on and we realized that much of what was happening was generational we could see the setup to whether or not Jesse and Scarlett would be able to pull themselves out. Does what everyone else in town believe about you really make you who you are??

We go into the story from Jesse and Scarlett's perspectives, when they met as children and learned to rely on each other for friendship and complicated love. I absolutely love that they had each other to help weather the storm of growing up. As the story progresses and we see the adults pushing their agendas, and ideas ( read that as fears, their failings, and fears) onto the kids and knowing that young children absorb whatever they believe will help I just wanted to yell, no that's not true don't believe it. Jesse's home life is complicated, his mother doesn't really know how to parent, but luckily for her, her family is there to help even when she can't see it. For Scarlett, her world changes one summer when her best friend, the boy she's always known distances himself from her and leaves her without a rudder in a world that is slowly suffocating her with its expectations and demands of perfection.

My heart broke so many times reading this, I wanted to yell that talking would help, but then realized the characters were right, it didn't always help. There were so many lessons to be learned here by both Jesse and Scarlett. I absolutely loved Glory, Pastor Hughes & Marshall. As adults, there were pretty amazing for the two to have in their corners and learn from. I loved how Glory was such a great catalyst for change in their lives, was a great sounding board when they needed it and place to come to rest.

I would have loved more from the friends than we got in the story. I do understand the story is really about Jesse and Scarlett, however, their friends made many choices and chances for them and pushed them when needed and I wanted to know more about V, what made her tick, and why the lost boys ended up there. I wanted to know how their story changes and progresses as well. I'm not sure I like all of Scarlett's friends because of the situation they put her in.

I was so invested in what was happening and I was so nervous the closer we got to the end of the book. I could see some of the solutions that were needed and understood the steps necessary for the characters to grow and change; I was super excited when those came through and understood why Katie made the decisions she did for the characters. I was fully invested in their development and the progress being made. In the end, I felt proud as if they were my friends because I was so happy to see the success and growth.

I love, love that nothing was glossed over and made perfect, Katie shared the reality of the situation and how it doesn't always go the way we plan or hope. I absolutely love the scenes where they are viewing the apartments because I had the same thoughts and was like Girl?!! I loved that Jesse knew not to say anything but let her learn the hard way the reality of the situation. One of my favorite things wasn't the adults who stood for them when they needed, it wasn't the amazing friendships they had, it wasn't even that Jesse and Scarlett had such an amazing bond. I loved that therapy was seen and shown in such a positive light. I loved that the adults who cared gave them room to come to them but also let them know without a doubt I would believe you. I loved their connection to the land as well, the fact that they felt the Earth breathing and could connect down to that?? Another of my favorite moments.

If you can't tell by now, I highly recommend this one. Be ready to be emotionally invested, to be angry and afraid to be nervous for the characters. To be excited as friendship becomes more, to be sad when reality crashes into the scenes and know fear.

Like all of Katie's books, this one also comes with a soundtrack and I think the songs she picked were perfect. I'll have that up this weekend along with a link to the Youtube playlist.

I love Katie McGarry's books, but this one is a bit of a departure from her usual writing style - and I have to tell you, I LOVED IT! Yes, there's still romance, yes it still had the ability to make me feel strong emotions and even cry a little, but the whole idea of curses and psychic characters was up a different but equally awesome alley than McGarry's usual books about trauma and kids-from-the-wrong-side-of-the-tracks-falling-for-a-good-girl/guy.

Up until now Echo and Noah were my favorite of McGarry's couples, but Jesse and Scarlett were pretty fantastic. I couldn't get enough of them together - their past, their reconnecting at Jesse's grandmother's funeral, their chemistry, and the potential for their future together... just gah. So good!

Overall, I highly recommend this book for both those familiar with this authors books and those just reading her for the first time. It's gritty, emotional contemporary romance... with a twist!

McGarry has a great ability to give you a situation with two people, who if you are lucky tolerate each other, usually working together with some goal in mind and eventually becoming more. All the while you are put through a rollercoaster of emotions as you follow the characters, rooting for them, getting mad at them, and finally accepting the outcome. This book is another example of one of these great reads! A book where you have two people with a different problem, but look for help in an unlikely place and then become a refuge when the storm comes. It is beautifully written and definitely worth reading!!

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

Katie Mcgarry is one of my favourite authors. After I read her Pushing the Limits series, I knew I wanted to read all the books she puts out.

There are some trigger warnings in this book. There is talk about abuse - physical and verbal.

This story was truly emotional in every way, making me laugh one minute and the next want to ugly cry. I love that about Katie’s writing style. She gets you right in the feels and the story resonates with you for a while.

Jessie and Scarlett both have gut reaction stories that they both have to over come, I won’t go into to much detail because i don’t want to ruin it for you. Jessie’s grandmother recently dies and in her will has left a piece of land to him but there’s a catch before he gets it. Scarlet lives with a abusive/controlling father, but will he let her follow her dreams? I think you all should check out there love story if your looking for a truly emotional read.

If you are a fan of a YA or a Mature YA novel and have read anything by Katie McGarry, then you need to pick up this book.

As most readers know Katie McGarry is known for her YA romance stories. She is also known for being able to make her stories and characters relatable to any type of reader. Only A Breath Apart is no different. This book will suck you in and consume you until you are finished.

Going into this book I really didn’t know what to expect except that it was a YA romance. What I didn’t expect was how emotional this story was going to be. This book is definitely NOT a light and fluffy high school romance. Katie talks about a subject that could be a trigger for some readers. She also adds in a otherworldly aspect to this story. NO it is NOT a paranormal read, but she adds a twist onto this story that we don’t normally see in a YA book. I will say this that if you don’t normally read YA because they tend to be based in a High School setting and we get the normal high school angst, this book is different. Yes they are high school aged but the focus is outside of school. You’ll understand more when you read this book.

In this story we follow Jesse and Scarlett’s story. Jesse has just lost his grandma and is fighting to keep the land that he grew up on. He is also known in town as a bad boy, but he is more just misunderstood. Scarlett is a Senior in high school and is just looking to leave her house and go to UK for college. But she lives in a home that from the outside looks perfect but in reality is anything but. Jesse and Scarlett were best friends when they were younger but for reasons Scarlett didn’t know, Jesse cut her off and stopped talking to her. Now years later they both need each other to move forward with their future plans. Can these two pull it out in the end?? Will they get the futures they want?? Read this book to find out.

Only A Breath Apart is a standalone novel and told in Dual POV. I thought the flow of the story worked well for Jesse and Scarlett’s journey. But I will say at times I thought the pace was on the slow side. I thought there were some things that could’ve been left out and it would’ve helped move the story along a little faster. But even with that said it was an entertaining read and one I think all YA readers should read.

Oooooweeee.

Okay. So, I had an idea of what I was getting into when I dove into this baby, but Whoa. Things get quite heavy, distressing and even disturbing at times and yet all of that upheaval was tempered by sweet moments and a whole lot of grit and heart and a feeling of hope that kept me turning the pages until the very end.

I really liked Jesse and Scarlett. I did. They were very much teens on the cusp of young adulthood, trying to figure out who they are and what their next steps in life were going to be. Unfortunately they both have way more on their plates than just passing tests and writing papers and watching them both struggle against all they’d ever known and believed was all at once heartbreaking and yet the sense of hope that things would work out for both of them was strong.

As for their journey. It was all kinds of sweet, second chance romance and I honestly enjoyed watching as they worked through what happened in the past and learned to trust each other again, or in their cases, more than they had before their friendship fractured and I liked where they were at, separately and together, when the book ended.

This is my first read by the author and I really enjoyed it. The writing was engaging, pacing good and dual first person POV was well done. As I said, things in this one get quite heavy, and uncomfortable, with the issues that both Jesse and Scarlett deal with but they were realistic and I like the way everything was handled. As for the secondary cast of characters, some I liked, some I wanted to Gibbs smack while some I wanted to hurt, but they definitely gave depth to the story and made things feel real. Glory was my favorite and I really enjoyed how she looked at and utilized her psychic abilities.

While I enjoyed this book on some levels, there wasn't really anything particularly unique or different about it. The characters felt a little flat and in some cases cartoonish in their broad-stroke execution (except for the psychic, Glory) and the plot followed a predictable path. I never really believed in Jesse's curse or the attachment he had to the land he was so desperate to own, despite the number of times he stated the connection.

And Scarlett's situation didn't ring true to me either. If her father really was as controlling as he seemed to be, I don't believe she would risk breaking his rules so often. Sure, that kind of control can stifle, but if being caught results in violence against the people you care about, I don't believe that's something she would risk.

And finally, if Scarlett really does have even a glimmer of psychic ability, wouldn't she be able to predict when breaking the rules is a bad idea and choose not to? Even if she wasn't entirely aware why she felt that way, a gut feeling, or a little voice in her head might alert her to the fact doing what she is doing will not end well for her.

And don't even get me started on romances that begin as intense childhood friendships. I know they do happen, but in most cases, as people grow up, they change. Their interests and ideas diverge and a friendship that once felt inseparable, just drifts apart as people find new friends who better fit the person they have become.

It was not a difficult read, and certainly filled a long ferry ride adequately, but it doesn't make the top of my list of favorite romances. Thanks to Net Galley for the chance to read in advance.

This book was well written. I have read another contemporary YA novel by this author that I enjoyed. Personally it was difficult for me to fully get into this one since it is centered around a curse. Just know it has some of those elements in the story and isn’t completely a contemporary romance.

This was a very interesting take on YA romance – Jesse believes he is cursed to hurt anyone he loves and only the land his grandmother left to him can save him. The trick is that he can only get his land when he turns 18 by a majority vote, where the voters are his uncle, pastor, and childhood friend turned enemy. Jesse tries to get his land, break the curse, and get the girl. I am a fan of the childhood friends turned lovers trope and this added a unique, lightly supernatural spin to it. The author also delves into the topic of physical and mental abuse, but does it in a delicate and empowering way.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a book that will stay with you long after you are done reading it. A double point of view really gives you a glimpse at what each person is going through.

Exactly what I've come to expect from Katie McGarry...and this is a good thing. I always pick up her books when I see a new one is coming out and happily read them. I also always purchase for my high school library and recommend to students regularly. This particular story was pretty deep, dealing with abusive home situations and the effects it can have on teens and those around them. I think it will resonate a lot with some of my students. I will definitely be ordering.

Oh, I loved McGarry’s newest story! I thought brooding Jesse was authentic and thus complicated. Life usually is. I adored the neighbor from across the street angle too. Students and teachers alike are reading this book and loving it!

What can I say about Only a Breath Apart? That would give it justice. The newest from Katie McGarry pulled at my heart string and threw me into this world of Jesse and Scarlett.

I loved every minute of it. I loved how these two grew together even when they were apart. The writing feels poetic and I feel saying it was beautiful is not the right word. This story is one of those that will hide within your heart. Maybe in a sense make you stronger, maybe you learned something from Jesse and Scarlett. You need room to soar, and you need to take adventures, even if that adventure is finding yourself.

I love that Peter Pan is a part of this story.. I remembered as a child and watched the movie. And how Tinker Bell was my favorite. I knew how much she met to him and thought that it made you feel even more for these two. There’s always a story that will touch you in some way. It didn’t make me ugly cry, but it brought tears to my eyes, and it filled my heart. I read to escape, and I was able to escape into their world.

Overall, Five Boundless Stars

This book was absolutely amazing. Katie McGarry did such a beautiful job with this story. Dealing with such a strong topic of abuse, she handled it in a very empowering way. The plot was perfectly timed, I felt it wasn't rushed or stretched out. The character development was everything. This book made me cry 3 times.
Scarlett was very shy in the beginning but as the story went on and she went through trial after trial, she became this strong and independent woman we can all admire. Jesse was like this mysterious bad boy that was "cursed" and everyone should stay away from him. And I was completely obsessed with both of them.
The ending was probably one of the best endings I have ever read. Absolutely recommend.

I’m going to be very honest, this book was difficult to stick with in the beginning. I’m a firm believer that a book is like a well, as the great Stephen King said. You have to prime the pump. I make myself read 10% of a book, and if I’m still not liking it, I’m done. If it’s caught my interest, I’ll keep going. I have enjoyed many a slow-to-start book this way, and hopefully not wasted too much time. This book definitely was one that I’m happy that I stuck with. It turned out to be a well written book, and despite the slow beginning, one that I was genuinely curious about how the characters were doing. I’d love to see a follow up with these characters, showing the next chapter in their lives. Good writer, but she definitely loves going for the emotional factor, which can get a bit old. All in all, a solid book and I’m happy I read it!

This book is in short amazing, It's not a run of the mill YA. This book tackles some serious issues, such as abuse. It's handled beautifully by the author, This book has so much depth to it, the depth of the story, the depth of the characters, all make this book flow seamlessly, The characters have so much to overcome. While not yet adults, they have to make adult decisions. In this day and age, that isn't unheard of. It does show a strength of character. The flow of the book is flawless, there is always great dialogue and inner dialogue as well. Told in dual pov, this is a heart wrenching all the feels sort of book.

DNF at 30%

I wholly appreciate what the author is doing with this book, which is why I've chosen to stop here and leave off a rating (I've only included the one star here by necessity and have left off a rating on any other platforms), as I'm simply not the right reader for this novel. Content Warning to sensitive readers for graphic physical and verbal abuse. Many thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to give this one a try.

This is my second time reading a Katie McGarry book and once again, I'm happy with her writing style and story. 

Only a Breath Apart is a very interesting story. It's heartbreaking and heartwrenching. It's filled with heartache. It highlights the importance of bravery and strength. In accepting yourself, building confidence and standing up for what you believe in. 

I definitely found myself to be drawn to the characters. Both Scarlett and Jesse are broken. They're struggling with the curves that life throws at them. But they end up finding their strength and their bravery through each other. It is an interesting journey throughout the book and one that I enjoyed. I also thoroughly enjoyed the slow burn of their relationship. Nothing is rushed and everything feels quite natural.

I tend to stray away from 'dark' storylines. The inclusion of abuse (whether emotional, physical, mental or verbal) is incredibly disturbing at times. But this also demonstrates the realness of this story. One that I wish was not real for so many people. 

While I enjoyed Walk the Edge by Katie McGarry more than this one, I still enjoyed it overall. I'm definitely curious to read more of McGarry's books in the future.