This was a touching and romantic novel about the doomed relationship between two lovely young people, one of whom knows precisely when and where the other will die. It’s beautifully written, but I do wonder at the point of it. What’s I trying to tell me?

I suppose if you just take it as a purely a love story, it’s all very nice. But it’s ultimately a tragedy because two people who are meant to be together, aren’t. Ok, so they make the most of it, but neither one is with the person they really want to spend their life with. I would have like to see how the author dealt with the situation if they had stayed together with Joel having to keep Callie’s fate a secret from her. That would have been a more challenging storyline.

I see there is a sequel planned for this year. I’d like to read it just to see if Joel gets a happy ending.

Synopsis:

Joel is afraid of the future.

Since he was a child he’s been haunted by dreams about the people he loves. Visions of what’s going to happen – the good and the bad. And the only way to prevent them is to never let anyone close to him again.

Callie can’t let go of the past.

Since her best friend died, Callie’s been lost. She knows she needs to be more spontaneous and live a bigger life. She just doesn’t know how to find a way back to the person who used to have those dreams.

Joel and Callie both need a reason to start living for today.

And though they’re not looking for each other, from the moment they meet it feels like the start of something life-changing.

Until Joel has a vision of how it’s going to end . . .

Review:

GRAB THE TISSUES BECAUSE THIS ONE IS A DOOZY. I’ve been contemplating if I will include spoilers in this review or not, and I believe I think I can do it without spoilers.

This book, this book is special. Honestly it has taken my breath away. The first half is a little tedious. For me it did take some time to get really into it. but around the 70% mark I honestly didn’t put it down. The story of Joel and Callie is truly a love story you’ll want in your life. It takes a while to wrap your head around Joels “ability” but there’s enough going on in the end that it’s not the weirdest thing in the world.

The writing is exquisite. I became attached to the characters very early on, and even felt a loss for Grace, a deceased friend of Callies. The descriptions in the book really make you feel like you can put yourself in the scene and you’re there with the characters. It is an incredible and unique talent to be able to do that, I personally find it is a rarity.

This book was almost 5 stars for me. Especially because I was steaming through the end like life itself did not exist and it was only me and the book. But the first 30% ish of the book was a little slow burning for me. It didn’t ruin it though, it just didn’t grip me as much as the second half of the book did. Or the last 30% anyway. I suspect it will vary between readers.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette for a copy of this book in exchange for my review. I’m going to go cry myself to sleep now.

4.5/5 stars

My initial impressions of this book was that it was going to be a suspenseful thriller. And yet it contained some suspenseful moments, but it also contained a heart-breaking, romantic and emotional story that I did not expect. The premise behind Joel's visions was not what I thought they would be, and I was so glad I read to the end to see where this story would go. Callie and Joel were meant to connect for several reasons, and they may not be the reasons they both wanted or for then endings that they had, but their connection was meant to be. Joel and Callie both needed a reason to start living their lives again, and it is the heartbreaking sacrifices of this story that made it worth the read. I also did not expect the level of romance that was in this book, as it was like no other I had read. There was such a depth to Joel's love for Callie, and there was such a realness to their relationship; the awkwardness was so real!. And I think that is where it made for such a suspenseful and emotional read. For someone who was so haunted by the future, Joel lived his life as a realist, and Callie balanced this well in their relationship.

Heartbreaking and brilliant.
An engaging plot with great characters that will stick with me for a long time.
Highly recommended.