This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.
My Review:Title: This Love
Author: Anna Bloom
Published by: Indie
Release Date: June 2, 2015
Pages: 434
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Reading Challenges: CC's Goodreads Reading Challenge
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon
My rating:
Blurb:'An alternate title/cover for this ASIN can be found here An alternate title/cover for this ASIN can be found here.
Amber's always planned to leave her overbearing mother and their stifling small town behind as soon as she graduates. That is until her car breaks down outside Bale and Son's mechanics and she meets Freddy Bale. A boy who'd rather live in the moment than make a five-year-plan.
Ignoring her friends' warnings, Amber puts all dreams for her perfect future on hold, and dives into the romance heart first. On their last day of school, however, Freddy decides to call off their relationship, and Amber does the only thing she can think of: Run away and never look back. Just like she'd always planned.
Ten years pass before Amber sets foot in town again, only returning to look after her ailing mother. While Freddy wants to make amends, Amber is confronted with her own wrong choices from ten years ago. Choices that could change the lives of everyone she's ever loved.
When first love is given a second chance and the secrets of the past come hurtling into the present, will Amber and Freddy be able to lay their mistakes to rest and make this love the strongest one of all?
I enjoyed this book! The story was built in a steady pace and I liked the Before. It sucked me right in. I was a believer in love conquering all! The hardships they went through gave me chills and just proved it to me that they were feeling the real deal. But then it kinda stalled for me when we got to the After.
Amber’s choices really aggravated me once we got to the second chance part. It’s like her life just stopped after she left and I didn’t really get it. I didn’t understand her resistance to Freddie the second time around. I mean, I guess if he was an asshole then I would have understood. But Freddie was just amazing. Her selfish decisions robbed him of ten years. And the waste made me not like her stubborn ass. I was wondering what the heck Freddie saw in her TBH.
Freddie was a bit extra in the Before. His attraction to Amber was very intense from the start. Not in a creepy way, it was part of his charm. When he had to make the tough decision, you could tell he hated it and didn’t want to do it. But he tried to make her understand his reasoning. It also showed his genuine love for her by putting her first. It was heartbreaking to read. I really liked how he came to his senses and tried to find her shortly after. Unfortunately for him, Amber was intent on running away. I think that is what pissed me off the most, her cowardice. And he just forgave her. With no asking and no explanation. It came off a bit more one sided in the love department for me in the After part. I felt like Amber should have had to work harder or at least not be so entitled to his love when they finally got around to being together.
The climax wasn’t huge but I think the intensity of their reunion overshadowed it and rightfully so. I liked that it was subtle. I’d read more from this author.
Leave a Reply