The Truth About Letting Go

The Truth #2

by Leigh Talbert Moore

Ashley wants to smash everything in her once-perfect life.
Charlotte wants to walk in Ashley's seemingly charmed shoes.
Colt wants to turn Smalltown USA on its ear--with Ashley at his side.
Jordan wants to follow his heart--but Ashley is the one sacrifice he never expected to make.

Up until now, Ashley Lockett has always followed the rules. She's always done the right thing, played it safe, and then her ideal life is shattered when her dad dies suddenly.

Fueled by anger and grief, she vows to do everything opposite of how she lived before. She rejects safety, the rules, faith, and then she meets Jordan.

Jordan has big dreams, he's had a crush on Ashley for years, he's a great kisser... but he's also safe.

Enter Colt. He is not safe, and he's more than willing to help Ashley fulfill her vow.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Realistic Fiction, High School

277 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 18, 2013

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Reviews

[Kristin (KC) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4 WONDERFUL YA STARS!*

Wow! What an incredibly breathtaking read! I adore the innocence of Young Adult books and love how they typically transport me back to my youth...but this story was so much more than that. It was honest and raw; filled with faith and heartache—and I loved every minute of it. I was reluctant to see it end and sad to say goodbye to such an amazing cast of characters.

Ashley is a high school senior who is suffering the tragic loss of her father. With a brother who isn't around and a mother who chooses to remain distant, Ashley deals with the loss the only way she sees fit; by rejecting her faith and abandoning all hope. As her despair spirals out of control, she basically becomes a 'badass'...only, being bad is not truly in her heart. But it is where she'll hide, because if you're already down, you're safe from disappointment and further hurt, right??...

Ashley takes a difficult journey towards becoming whole again and makes some unlikely friends along the way. Jordan and Colt, who could not be more opposite in character nor in physical appearance, represent good and evil in an almost literal sense....and Ashley curiously and boldly juggles between the two.

I love the important, specific role each character plays. No one is sent by chance and none of them are immune to the challenges of life. The way they all play a part in the other's transformation is touching. Jordan, with his tender and caring persona, captured my heart immediately and I felt the most strength portrayed through his lovable character.

The writing in this story was brilliant! Pulled me in with its engaging and realistic dialogue and I found myself forgetting that I was simply reading a story. I have definitely found another go-to YA author!

Although this story displayed much heartache, I found it offered more strength and inspiration than pain. It's about seeing the goodness in front of you and not taking that for granted. It's about learning how to cope. It's about putting others before yourself and delighting in their triumph. It's about letting go and running towards something good, rather than away from all that's not. The subtly of the symbolism was perfection; nothing in-your-face, but when you uncover its meaning, it's quite powerful. This is isn't an earth-shattering, life-altering read; but sometimes a simple story told well can be just as profound.

If your a fan of Young Adult books, do yourself a solid and read this story!

Here is my 'mental casting' for Ashley and Jordan...(Jordan—my teenaged self LOVES you!)




*Copy of book kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review*

Book Stats:
▪ Genre/Category: Young Adult
▪ Steam Caliber: Clean
▪ Romance: Tender and heartwarming. Slight angst.
▪ Characters: Well-developed, realistically flawed, and charming.
▪ Plot: Coming of age story focused on overcoming heartache, and moving forward with an open mind and a welcoming heart.
▪ Writing: Engaging, witty, and sweet.
▪ POV: 1st Person: Heroine
▪ Cliffhanger: None

[xrysa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good!


I really enjoy it because it was an easy read and it was exactly what I needed to read after a few intense books.
Unfortunatelly I cant rate it with more than three starts because it didnt blow my mind away.



Ashley



She lost her dad and she is devastated.
Time is a great healer.

She is hopeless and she choses not to believe in god anymore because she thinks he abandoned her.

This made her stronger but firstly it changed her in a bad way.

Jordan
[image error]
They didnt talk to each other until her father's death.He want to interview her and this leads them to create a relationship.
In the beginning things between them were innocent.





And what they had remained innocent.

Colt
He reminds her of her dad and that's the reason she is attracted to him.
I didnt like him.
I didnt even understand why she was messing up with him and it annoyed me.



At the car scene I was almost sure that he would rape her.Fortunatelly nothing bad happened but my expression was like

Colton was bringing out her bad behaviour but Jordan was always there to make her a better person.


In this book there is also a girl Charlotte.
I think I was supposed to like her , right?
OMG I found her extremely creepy and there wasnt an obvious reason.



They were only talking about her dead father.Yeah I know she was a fan but still something seemed wrong.

All in all this was a very good book and an easy read.
I loved the author's writing style and I'd love to read her other books.




The ebook was provided kindly by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Ash Wednesday · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS

"There's so much more going on in the world (other) than sex."
"Not when you kiss me."

This genre gets enough pain as it is from me and this month I found myself distancing from it in favor of wizards, succubi and assassin nuns. I never thought I'd see the day when I would have a hankering for a contemporary YA with a blurb hinting at a love-triangle.

And yet here I am, fangirling over Jordan who owns a denim suit, ate glue in grade school and is a Jonas Brother.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

This was a story of mourning. About the girl we love to hate, the perfect girl who was living it up at seventeen suddenly dealing with the pain of losing a parent in a way that leads her to question everything she's been taught. It's a story of finding reprieve from all the grief in the most unexpected places. The good and the bad kind.

That's as generic as you can get in this genre but wait! It gets worse! Because ofcourse she finds her way in the middle of two guys, each a complete opposite of the other. One embodies everything that's good, everything that she's running away from while the other smells of Eau de Bad Boy, promising her all the havoc she wants to wreak after everything that's gone down.

Cheesus H. that sounds awfully "special", I know.

But it really wasn't that bad.

True, it's a little too Hallmark-y for my jaded tastes and it pushed some of my buttons, not all necessarily good, but in the points that matter to make this a read worth taking a chance on, it did pretty well. Because unlike the standard New Adult fare where the heroine grieves the loss of a parent by going to New York and edge her little slutty self in the middle of a love triangle, this dug deeper.

People in grief, I feel, is a pain to read about as much as dealing with in real life. Every irrational behavior, every selfish choice can be excused as dealing with it. Which is really kind of cheating. So while Ashley's instant attraction to Colt, making out while in church, The Marshmallow Play and the non-rape wrestling should really bother me, I let them pass. Especially seeing as the sole reason she's initially drawn to Colt was his striking resemblance to her dead dad.



Clearly this girl has issues outside the Selena Kitt Universe of Squick yet I can't really muster any rage towards Ashley no matter how many times she seems to like slamming herself against the Colt Wall while trying to keep it together.



Though the repeated referencing of losing her virginity as "breaking the seal" was cutting it close.

Talbert Moore did a fine job making the reader sympathetic to Ashley's pain. I've read her other historical YA and I feel her writing is best suited for this genre, making the angst easy to digest while keeping the characters emotionally accessible. My main problem was that while her writing is pretty easy to get in to, it tends to get bland. While the experience was pleasant enough, nothing stands out in the plot that will make me remember it a few books after.

Though this one I'll probably remember better because of Jordan.

I'm having the creepy need to collect all the beta heroes I can find. And Jordan is a pretty addition to my collection of 2. It's nice to see a spade called a spade in this genre for once and a good, decent guy willing to stick to his choices, no matter how uncanny, is painted favorably. Because let's be honest, in real life, the generic douchebag you come across does not have an angsty backstory. He really is just a douchemoron and not the hero in your CR alternate reality.

My mild gripe was the heavy religious context, so much so that one scene may have inadvertently brushed into some paranormal implications. For personal reasons, I'm not a fan of this device and I know some readers will be put off at the mere mention of this as well. It didn't really niggle much and I'm sure the author has her reasons, but it's one of those things I'm not overly fond of getting sneaked in my reads. I found it admirable that Jordan is saving himself for marriage but I figured it would've worked just as well, if not better hadhis core values and beliefs weren't solely rooted to his plans of being a pastor. Stepping outside the stereotype is always good, right?

This book didn't necessarily re-write any new rules in this genre and there's nothing earth shattering with the story that was told. But an old story done well is still a story worth telling and reading. So I'm definitely picking up the first one in this series (I didn't even notice it was the second book!) on the strength of this author's grasp of the mysterious language of this genre that keeps me from writing it off altogether.

ARC provided by All Night Reads thru NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Duchess Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is the story of Ashley, a popular senior in a small-ish high school. But instead of worrying about college and boys and cheerleading and prom, Ashley has spent her senior year with her dying father, watching the once health nut, exuberant man waste away from cancer.

The book starts in the aftermath of the funeral, in which Ashley has to endure well meaning but pointless platitudes. She's in a bit of a fog, and instead of leaning on her brother and mom, Ashley begins replacing her despair with...well, ANY other feeling she can find. Some of these feelings come from placing herself in questionable positions with Jordan...and also Colt. Love triangle? Sort of.

Jordan is the nerdy good guy... compassionate and kind and thoughtful, he sees through her act and tries to help. Colt is the new local bad boy...he wants to help also, but in a very different way.

THE GOOD: I loved that each character was multilayered. At time, I wasn't sure how I was supposed to perceive some of the actions of the characters. Colt is definitely a careless bad boy, but is he heartless? He's cruel at times, but then he also has moments of levity, moments of understanding in which he's just another teen, dealing with life in the only way he knows how. Jordan, on the other hand, was awfully good...super understanding, extremely kind, awfully close to being a goodie goodie. But he had a couple of instances in which I thought (hoped?) that he'd crack, put his foot down, give in, or give up...

Ashley's Mom and brother were two characters that we don't get to see much of, but I think that was the point. They both dealt with their own grief but sort of let Ashley alone...maybe not the best way to handle the situation, but who's to say what's right and wrong when your Dad and Husband dies?

Ashley's best friend: She's the popular, judgmental mean girl, and SHE NEVER CHANGES. The author also never alludes to a change in her, nor makes apologies for her. However, her loyalty to Ashely is incomparable. Just because she's snooty and rich doesn't mean she's flighty and a traitor. I loved this aspect so much, though I don't know why I focused on it so much.

THE BAD: At times...okay, a LOT of the book felt preachy preachy and fairly predictable. Ashley questions her faith...someone pushes her to believe. She is making questionable moral choices, and yet she's still going to church, albeit involuntarily. While the overall message here was beautiful, I wanted for Ashley to show some kind of lift, some kind of connection with God again. I mean, it's completely understandable that she question God's purpose upon the death of her father. But what's the point of that particular story arc if there isn't a follow through? For me, it was left up in the air...even though the particulars DO point in the right direction, it just wasn't enough for me.

The ending, AAAAAAaaaaahhhhh! Happy for now endings are a pet peeve of mine, so this is completely personal preference. This one had a VERY open-ended Happy for now, and it drove me crazy. I would have been MUCH more satisfied with a thorough epilogue. Closure, it's needed!!
---------------------------------------------------------
Overall, I was satisfied with this read. Sort of a Sarah Dessen feel, but with a bit of a bite to it. These characters aren't innocent little flowers, all introverted and sweet. This was edgier than I expected, but I think the story needed that edge. This was more real life, less hidden behind closed doors. And despite my complaint about the ending, I DID like how a few things were left open to interpretation...some of the friendships in trouble, and Ashley's relationship with her Mom and brother...on the mend but not fully healed. This is a great book for teens and young adults who need a boost of faith...both in God and their friends and family.

Copy generously provided by Leigh Talbert Moore in exchange for an honest review

[Leigh Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

My newest contemporary romance is a companion to The Truth About Faking. (It's set in the same town, but with a different cast of characters.) It's a little edgier, more emotional, but it has the same "feel" as its buddy book.

Letting Go is about how one girl handles the loss of her dad. Ashley is angry, and she keeps having the urge to break things. She's got one guy (Jordan) who wants to help her heal and another (Colt) who wants to help her act out. And for the most part, she clings to #2.

She also meets a girl who teaches her to stop being so self-absorbed. All of the characters she encounters during this time steer her to her ultimate realization about life and death and letting go. It's the getting there that makes the story.

Thanks for reading, and be sure to leave a review!

Best~ <3

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to author Leigh Talbert Moore.)
17-year-old Ashley has just buried her father, and it seems like she’s never going to stop hurting, never going to get over it, and never going to feel normal again.
Starting back at school seems like both a good and bad idea, but she’s not the same Ashley she was before, gone are the pretty spring dresses she would normally wear, and she no longer wants to be a cheerleader. Her best friend Mandy’s constant gossiping and nattering is starting to annoy her too.

It seems that Ashley has made (in Mandy’s eyes) some strange new friends though. Charlotte, the fat girl who seems to have idolised Ashley’s dad and his keep fit tips, and Jordan, the geeky boy who has the locker next to hers. Ashley doesn’t care though, charlotte seems easy to talk to, which is what she needs, and Jordan makes her feel different – raw and on fire, and not so sad any more.

When Jordan tells her that he’s thinking about becoming a pastor, and that he’s saving himself for marriage, Ashley is annoyed. She may not have ‘broken the seal’ herself yet, but she desperately wants to do it with Jordan.

Taking this anger and trying to get over it, Ashley begins playing pranks with the new school bad-boy Colt instead, but it’s still Jordan she’s thinking about really.
How long will it be before Ashley feels better over the loss of her father? Can Colt ever be a replacement for Jordan? And how many other people will let Ashley down?


This was a great story about love, loss, friendship, and grief. I enjoyed it, and if you like contemporary YA, you’ll probably enjoy it too.

I really liked Ashley. She was struggling with so much after the loss of her father, and I really felt for her. The way that even small things became a challenge at times, and how magnified her feelings were about things that may otherwise have not been a big deal, was real testament to her grief, and I thought the author portrayed this realistically and with great feeling.

Jordan was a sweetheart, and I liked the part he played in helping Ashley work through her grief. I thought that the mini makeover was a nice touch, and showed us a little glimpse of Ashley before her grief, as well as how much Jordan was willing to sacrifice to make her feel better.
I thought the romance between the two was really sweet, but also something that Ashley needed, and I could understand her frustration over Jordan wanting to be a pastor, and not wanting to have sex until he was married. It was actually nice to come across a teen girl who wasn’t shy about suddenly feeling ready to have sex, or ‘break the seal’ as she referred to it, even if it was maybe in part due to her grief. She wasn’t unselective about it though, she knew that it was Jordan that she wanted, and she was sure about it.

Charlotte was a little more difficult to get a feel for. It was difficult to really put a finger on her intentions towards Ashley, and why she behaved so differently towards her in different situations. I also wasn’t that big of a fan of Colt either, and I was glad that Ashley managed to keep her head around him most of the time.

I liked the storyline in this book, and I thought the subject of grief was handled well. I liked the romance storyline between Ashley and Jordan, and I liked the progress that Ashley made in coming to terms with her dad’s death. I also liked the way that Ashley came to realise that her actions had consequence, and was ready to accept that.
I sometimes find that books like this can have a very open ending, as there is often no end to grief, but this book did have a well-defined beginning, middle, and end which was good!
Overall; a great YA story dealing with love, loss, and grief.
7.5 out of 10.

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book....this book was amazing and even now, I get all chocked up just thinking about it. It might have torn my heart in two.

I absolutely loved Ashley. I felt for Ashley, my heart ached for her. I am a complete Daddy's girl, so this book just about killed me while reading it and feeling all the feelings I could imagine Ashley was going through.

I wanted to reach through the pages, grab Ashley and just give her the biggest hug imaginable and never let go. I felt her sadness, her despair, her anguish and I felt her heart breaking into tiny little pieces over and over again. I wanted to help her pick them up and let her know that it was going to be okay. That what she was feeling was okay.

Jordan. Oh how I loved him. I think I will just leave it at that. I loved him. He was great for Ashley. I wanted her to be with him so bad, I truly was rooting for him from the moment he dropped his books and got all flustered looking at her. He was the sweetest thing.

Colt. What can I say about the hot bad boy that was all wrong for Ashley? Really, I couldn't help it, I sort of liked him despite his bad boy self. He wasn't a typical bad boy, he was really bad but, in the end, he showed a side of himself that redeemed him a little in my eyes. I couldn't help but smile when thinking about him towards the end. I would actually love for him to have his own story. I think it would be really interesting. I would love to get that look deeper into him, I just know there is so much more there.

This book did have some religious aspects in it, nothing too preachy which I appreciated but still, it is there. With a book about death and letting go, it is sort of hard to not bring it up in one form or another. But I think even those that don't love religious talk of any kind, will be okay with this read.

It really was a heartfelt emotional read. One filled with great characters and some pretty deep messages about forgetting, letting go and moving on.

I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Lauren at Live Read and Breathe Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
For this review and more Live Read and Breathe

Live Read and Breathe Giveaway

I had the Truth about Faking it on my TBR list for ever so when I got the chance to read this book I jumped on it. I was in a reading rut and needed a good heartfelt YA book. This book definitely did the trick.

It was a emotional journey for Ashley who suffered a terrible loss which made her questions her belief system in everything from faith, friendships, family and love. When tragic things happen it is so hard to see why it happened or how can we possibly learn from this tragedy.

I was captured in Ashley's journey and wrapped into her emotions and I got frustrated at times with her decisions and actions but I held onto to the belief that she would find herself again and was not disappointed.

Now that high school was like 20 years ago for me I see the big picture of how we thought everything was so monumental but in reality those years were just a blip on the radar scale. But those blips are part of our foundation that make us who were are as adults.

I fortunately have not dealt with the loss of a parent so I have not a hot clue how it would effect me especially as a teenager where we need that unconditional love the most even though we push the concept away beceause we feel we don't need it. Since I don't know what its like I feel Leigh did a great job depicting these emotions because I was feeling Ashley's loss and new love through her.

Great book and I have already boughten the first book to read and if there are more in the series I will for sure be reading those.

[Christina Hoyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short and sweet young adult read about loss, grief, faith and love. I think it sends a beautiful message to teenagers about how to deal with tough scenarios like bullying, being honest, sex and faith. I liked the plot, but I wish we would have gotten glimpses of what Ashley's life was like before her dad died. I wanted to mourn her father with her, but I couldn't because I never got to know him. I think the book would have had more of an emotional impact on me if I could have felt that loss deeper. The end had a rushed feeling towards it and I thought there was going to be more of a dramatic climax involving Charlotte, Colt and Mandy. I knew from the beginning that Ashley was going to end up with Jordan, so it was a bit predictable. I would have been very disappointed if Ashley didn't end up with Jordan though, so thank you Leigh Talbert Moore for giving us readers what we wanted!

Character Casting:

Ashely: Amanda Syfried


Jordan: Drew Seeley


Colt: Zac Efron

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This book was powerful, beautiful, and real, addressing several issues within a great story in a very smooth, uncluttered way. Rarely have I read a book like this one, that felt so real it could be true. I felt a kinship with the teens, especially Ashley as she used self-destructive behavior and distractions to cover up her pain. Her spiritual struggle was also very true to life and understandable in those circumstances. I admire Ms. Moore's inclusion of church, religion, and faith in this book. Too often such discussion or mention is excluded from books because it is considered to not be politically correct or is seen as offensive or too sensitive a subject. I think the near constant exclusion of the subject in realistic fiction is unrealistic. Faith, or lack thereof, often plays a large part in one's life, especially during the years and time of self-discovery. Though this book is not at all preachy, I'm glad that the subject of God/faith was broached. The pace, tone, and voice of this book were great. The ending is perfect for the story. Not too much, not too little, but just right for what the story is.


General thoughts: The Truth About Letting Go is just....so real, and so beautiful, even in the pain, despair, harsh realities, and confusions. I just loved it. 5 stars. I definitely recommend it.

[Marianne (Boricuan Bookworms) · Rating 2 out of 5]

More reviews can be seen on my shared blog, Boricuan Bookworms

ARC provided by Publisher via Netgalley

Oh boy. Prepare yourselves, because I am going full-on rant mode with this book.

First of all, I read this book without reading the first one (this is a companion novel, so it doesn’t really matter), so I had no idea what this book was about.

So, we have this 17-year-old called Ashley, and she just lost her dad. At first I felt really sad for her, and I really thought she was legitimately going through a rough time. She starts reinventing herself, and realizing that the whole “status quo” thing isn’t what everyone believes it is.

I was really rooting for Ashley. I thought she was great at first: strong-willed, independent, outspoken, and an all-around nice girl. Then, she has to screw it up. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH A NICE GIRL. NOTHING! I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY NICE GIRLS HAVE TO CHANGE!

Ashley starts talking to Jordan, a guy that she normally wouldn’t have given him the time of day before, but after her father’s death, she befriends him. He wants to interview her for an article, and Ashley accepts. I always rooted for Jordan. Jordan is the underdog of this story and I felt really bad for him. I always wanted Ashley to stop with her stupid indecision and just pick him.

Jordan is the guy that Ashley needs to pick up the pieces, but Ashley’s tired of her “boring” life, so decides to go to Colt: The Bad Boy.

Guys, Colt is a douchebag. I hated Colt with every fiber of my being. Everything about him just screamed “Serial Rapist! Beware”, but Ashley just ignored EVERY.SINGLE.WARNING. Because she was still “grieving” and wanted to “forget”.

“We’ll be back, and I’ll be in your pants in under thirty.”

If you ask me, Ashley was just a whiny, unreliable, and emotionally damaged character. She doesn’t know what she wants; all she does is juggle from one boy to another, until she feels emotionally complete.

There’s even this one scene with Jordan, where they’re making out and everything’s hot and heavy. This scene is what made me love Jordan so much. Jordan fucking stops the whole shenanigans, because he wants to *gasp* be a gentleman and RESPECT (a word that Ashley doesn’t seem to understand) Ashley. Ashley proceeds to dump him and not talk to him for a long time.

On the other hand, Colt does everything short of RAPING Ashley, and she keeps coming back to him! It was ridiculous! And what was her excuse? “I just want to FEEL something”. That is sad and pathetic. I’m sorry.

Don’t even get me started on some secondary characters. (Oops, got me started)

The Worst Best Friend of the Year Award goes to *drumroll* Mandy!

Mandy is a horrible best friend. She doesn’t even try to understand how Ashley is feeling and she’s completely blind to her feelings. All Mandy cares about is hooking up with guys and how Ashley dresses. In one point of the book, she actually tells Ashley to let a guy have her way with her, and then forget about it.

“Be easy, do whatever he wants, and then he’ll get bored with you”

Also, was I supposed to like Charlotte? Charlotte was a creeper. She basically shot down Ashley even when she was genuinely TRYING to be a good friend to her. I can’t even believe how mean Charlotte was.

If I keep ranting, I may end up saying some things I may regret later. This book doesn’t get 1 star from me, because I enjoyed some of the dialogue and I did laugh at loud at a couple of situations. I don’t recommend this to anyone, sorry.

Rating: 1.5 stars.

[Anni · Rating 1 out of 5]

The summary sounded so promising but sadly I was really disappointed by this book. I didn't like the way the story played out and I didn't really feel any character development... I'm sorry to say this but Ashley's relationships seemed to be very superficial to me. I didn't root for her or anyone.. also I really didn't like her. Everything she did was contradictory. I didn't even feel sorry for her which makes me feel like a bad person but she just annoyed the hell out of me.

As fir Colt's character he was just confusing (SPOILER) his pranks were kind of immature, the way he treaded Ashley was just terrible and in the end he made a 180 and suddenly he can be a nice and understanding guy? That did not work for me at all!

And what about Charlotte? Apart from the fact that I find it very sad that she doesn't like Ashley just because she is pretty and skinny - what kind of message is that? You cannot be pretty if your overweight? And skinny people cannot be friends with overweight people (lost count of how many times Charlotte said "people like you aren't friends with people like me" Hello American High School Movie Clischee!) - what bugged me even more about her was that it seemed to me like she had no real influence on the plot. Her short appearances did not really change anything for Ashley or at least it seemed that way to me.

As for Ashleys bestfriend - what's her name again? Maggie? - I did not feel the "besties" vibe from those two. Like at all.. maybe if they'd had one real conversation I would have felt different about them.

Finally Jordan.. sorry but he was simply annoying! So he asked Ashley out and the first thing she does is go to some fancy hairdresser and clothing store and give him a make over? And then she makes out with him because - oh gosh - suddenly he is oh so handsome? I find it really sad that he wasn't considered 'dateable' while being dressed like a geek... Again what kind if message is that - that it is okay to change who you are in order to make someone else happy? That is not love.

Well.. I could go on and on about what bugged me about this book but I guess I have said enough. I guess it just wasn't for me.

[Lisa (lifeinlit) · Rating 5 out of 5]

** Originally posted on Lost in Literature.

4.5 stars!

This story was not what I expected. I thought it would be more of a sappy love story type of romance, but this was nothing like that. It was more of a gritty and emotional contemporary romance. I'm definitely into that kind of story lately, and this hit the nail on the head. It was so enjoyable and entertaining to read.

After fighting a losing battle with cancer, Ashley's father passes away. Ashley's previously perfect life is instantly changed. The good girl that always got good grades and never got into trouble decides to rebel against everything and everyone after the loss of her father. She can't stand the sadness in her heart, so she decides to cover it up with instant gratification... at whatever the cost. Jordan, who has always been a classmate of Ashley's though she's never noticed him before, all of a sudden shows up on her radar. Though he's dorky and not her type, she begins to feel drawn to him. Then comes the new guy in school, Colt. The bad boy who's full of fun and always down for a good time. Ashley starts to think that Colt is exactly what she needs right now.

The Truth About Faking is a raw look at a teenager's rebelling to deal with overtaking emotions. The characters are realistic and definitely relateable. I loved how Moore developed these characters, each so different but yet so alike. It was a deep book, though fun at the same time. One I really enjoyed. The Truth About Faking was right up my alley, and I'm so happy I was given the chance of reviewing it. Other than a few spelling/grammatical errors, it was awesome. I would definitely recommend this book to contemporary lovers, such as myself. It's a must-read!

[Ashley Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Truth About Letting Go is a wonderful book on the subject of grief and moving on after loss. LTM does a great job pulling you into Ashley's world of pain and anger. It's so much easier to loose yourself then deal with the anguish. I can't say that I've personally felt the loss of a close loved one, but I can tell you that I'd probably feel the same as Ashley.

Cover and Writing
I really like the cover, its contemporary (my favorite) and kind of whimsical. You wouldn't think that there were some sad issues just by looking at the cover. The writing style is also great. It is in the first person from Ashley's POV. The style is easy to read and relate to.

Main Character
Ashley was a daddy's girl, and the sudden loss of her father has completely devastated her. I can relate to her grief, however sometimes she seems a bit childish.. which is understandable. I also don't like the fact that it takes her until the end of the book to decided that Jordan's secret is not the end of the world. I mean really!

Swoonworthy Points: 7.5
The first kiss shared between Ash and Jordan was enough to get your heart pumping! Sweet Baby Jesus!! There were other swoonworthy scenes in this book too. I think though, that this book was more centered on moving on and dealing with grief than romance.

Final Thoughts
I think TTALG is a great read, it takes you through a range of emotions from sad to steamy. It was a pretty quick read that leaves you wanting to know what happens next.

[Mary BookHounds · Rating 4 out of 5]

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

Ashley's heart is broken when her father passes away and her perfect world comes tumbling down, at least to her. In her anger, she turns her back on everything and would love to destroy everything that seems false to her now. Charlotte thinks Ashley lives a perfect life and would love to be in her shoes not realizing that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. So Ashley decides to do everything out of her comfort zone. She falls in with the rough and tumble boy, Colt, who is probably not her best choice in a guy but very attractive. Jordan, honest to a fault, is a good guy but not exactly Ashley's first choice.

With this mix of characters, Moore builds a believable world with characters that will speak to you and evoke some serious emotions. There are some heartbreaking and heartwarming moments here. I admit I wanted to tell Ashley to grown up a bit by the end of the book and I am so glad she listened to me. I really enjoyed this quick and easy read. I think this is best suited for teens due to some amazing kisses that were a little on the hotter side. SIGH.

[Abi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating - 3.5

I liked Ashley, and I felt really sorry for her. It's awful to lose someone close to you.
I really wasn't a fan of Colt, but Jordan was completely different, and I really liked him.

I didn't have high hopes for this after reading The Truth About Faking, but I was pleasantly surprised, as it was much better!

[Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about hope. A book about moving forward. A book about learning to not numb the pain, but accept it. A book about finding yourself. A book about learning to open your heart to love.

4/5!!!

[Court · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reviewed this title at MustReadBooksOrDie with my friend Shelley.

Shel: Courtney and I have read quite a few books focusing on a variation of tragedy, loss, and sadness in the last few weeks so I was a little nervous about reading this; I wasn't sure if I could take another sad read. I'm happy to report that while this story does have some sad moments, I ended up feeling more at peace with the entirety of the novel rather than suicidal.

Court: Hahaha, yes....we've had a few talks bringing us back from the ledge lately. I was worried too, since it was for sure the first young adult title we have read in a while and I didn't want to not connect with this girl and her relationships. I'm glad we took the plunge though! I had read The Truth About Faking so I was familiar with Leigh's amazing ability to make a story about a love triangle become so much more in the sense of a young girl finding herself more than finding love.

Shel: Ashley is grappling with the death of her father and rather than plunge herself into the pain and emotion of it all, she tries to bury it in the kisses of Jordan and Colt. Both of these guys make her feel something--something that rids the lung squeezing pain of grief--and so she spends much of her time trying to figure out which of these two can best give her what she needs. Here's the problem: she doesn't know what she needs. All she knows is that she's in a lot of pain and her mom and brother don't seem to feel it the way she wants them to, she's sick of the sympathy of strangers and the looks of pity, and these two guys are able to make her forget one kiss at a time. Obviously this could present some problems.

Court: She feels a lot for both boys, but definitely uses them each for completely different things. She gets sparks and conversation and peace with Jordan...but gets upset with him when their current life choices do not match up. I thought this was an amazing plot line, because they reached a "where do we go from here" point and realized one would have to make significant sacrifices for the other. At almost 18, that is a heady thing to have to realize. Colt on the other hand...he was a firecracker. I love a great bad boy, but he weirded me out a bit there in the middle...almost too much...so watch out for him. He redeems himself by the end, so don't quit on his account!

Shel: Just as she is conflicted about her interactions with Jordan and Colt, she's also trying to figure out who she is and how her friend Mandy and her new, sort of friend, Charlotte fit in to the picture. Mandy has been her best friend for years and they've cultivated a reputation for being shallow, rich, bitches. Mandy is a great friend to Ashley but horrible to anyone she doesn't like . Charlotte is a new friend who consoles Ashley in quick little meet ups at a nearby creek. She's also cynical about their improbable friendship and is as equally bitchy as Mandy is when Ashley tries to be friendly to her in public. Poor Ashley, she's flailing about and it feels like she doesn't have anyone or anything to help her through it.

Court: These scenes I liked because those were the parts where these girls are really finding themselves. We see this through Ashley's eyes but I liked that she realizes the way she used to be and what is important to her now that she has experienced something tragic. Mandy and Charlotte both were really irritating but in the end were necessary to Ashley's growth and realizing the parts of the old Ashley that the new Ashley wanted to keep.

Shel: Ashley fights her grief by making poor choices and internalizing much of her pain. After one particularly bad episode, Ashley finally quits fighting everything and starts dealing with results of her actions (or inactions). I think this is why I didn't feel as sad as I might have. Ashley begins working through her grief and is willing to be honest about where she is in her life. Even though the ending doesn't tell us exactly where she ends up or how she gets there, there is a definite feeling of hope and resolution.

Court: She grew a conscience! No, really I totally get why she acted out and in some ways she went too far, but I was glad of the ways that she didn't... (ahem, Colt). She was really close to her Dad and being young and confused and unprepared to deal with things was very hard on her. I loved the resolution to this story, and the casual mentions of the characters from the first book (and I mean casual! No series worry here). I want to find time to read Leigh's other titles now!!!

Shelley: 3 1/2 Stars
Courtney: 4 Stars

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review at: http://harleybearbookblog.blogspot.co...

Plot 8/10: This book could not have come at a better time in my life personally. If you've been following my blog you know I was recently diagnosed with Crohn's Disease which has put me on bedrest for months. Much like the main character Ashley, who has lost her father in the beginning of the story, I'm left wondering why did this happen to me?

Ashley's journey to understand faith, love, grief, and acceptance really hit home and was almost a comfort to know someone else, even if they were fictional, had gone through the same thoughts when dealing with something so difficult.

Ashley's process was a little more extreme than mine...it's kind of hard to deface school property from my couch, but I did have moments just like her where I questioned faith and wanted to just scream or do something crazy so I could stop feeling so depressed and helpless. But just like Ashley I was able to figure out that I'm not the only one who's gone through this and being depressed doesn't really help anything. I just wish I had a hot geek like Jordan to help me figure it out like she did!

Characters 7/10: Enough about me. Let's talk about the characters. Ashley, the popular semi rich kid, got under my skin from page one. I wanted to slap her at one point to get her out of her funk, which I guess is kind of hypocritical. She accused her mom and brother of not caring about her father's death. And she basically used everyone around her so she wouldn't have to feel upset anymore without caring how they felt. But by the end of the book I grew to understand her and...even like her!

Charlotte, her new friend, was one of my favorite characters. She felt so real. I kinda wish she had been in it more. I just felt bad everytime Ashley thought mean things about her being overweight. Oh and her brother. I wanted to see more of him too!

Jordan was cute and one of my favorite guy leads. He's genuinely a good person. How often in YA do we see a male lead that is good to the core? It's refreshing and it did help that he's extremely tall and has cute hair.

Colt is the bad boy we've all dated at some point. He's hot and rude, but we over look that because it's a thrill to date them. At some points though I really questioned why Ashley would put up with him. But in the end of the book, when I understood him more, again I kind of liked him. Gasp!

Mandy was the typical popular best friend, but she was a really good friend by sticking up for Ashley even if she was really rude to others.

Setting 9/10: Aside from the first novel, The Truth About Faking (this is a companion), I hadn't read anything in a town like this lately. It's a small, safe, tight nit community. It feels realistic and not too far off from home. I love the creek that so many good scenes took place by.

Pacing 9/10: The pacing was pretty steady throughout the whole novel. I love that right from the first chapter drama is already starting.


Style 8/10: I loved Leigh's first novel and I'm so glad I read the companion. While this had some hard issues in it, it was still a pretty light Contemp read which I love. Her writing always leaves me thinking a little and ultimately at the end, smile. Will there be another companion maybe?!

If you're a fan of Sarah Dessen novels that aren't afraid to deal with hard topics like death and religion you should definitely pick this one up. It almost felt more like New Adult than YA for me so if you're a new fan of New Adult it might be a good transition book for you. Also, look at that gorgeous cover!!!

Total 91/100

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ebook copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Within an hour after finishing THE TRUTH ABOUT LETTING GO, the song "Move Along" by the All-American Rejects played on the radio. It could not have been more perfect to describe what this book is about. "Even when your hope is gone, move along, move along just to make it through." Perfection!

The story opens up right after Ashley's father has died from cancer. Her father was a health and fitness guru and someone you'd never expect to get sick. The cancer came and took his life in 6 short months. Ashley is beyond heartbroken, as you can imagine. The story follows her over the next month or so, going from a broken girl who has lost all hope to figuring out who she is and how to move on and let go. She meets a girl her age that looked at her dad like an idol, determined to make a change in her life to get fit and healthier. Charlotte is someone Ashley would never have talked to before but she provides a relief from all the pain of losing her father. Charlotte inspires Ashley to make a change in her own life. Insert Jordan, a freakishly tall geek whom Ashley never even noticed before her dad died. He's the perfect gentleman and truly cares about Ashley, if only Ashley would give him that chance. The hot new resident "bad boy," Colt, is exactly
what Ashley is looking for. A rebel, someone who isn't afraid to take some risks, a guy totally into how hot Ashley is. The more she hangs out with Colt, the more her depressed feelings she has about the loss of her father seem to slip away.

THE TRUTH ABOUT LETTING GO is about about loss, grief, and how to handle it. Ashley doesn't handle it well and feels like being rebellious is the only way she can make herself seem happy. But is she really the bad girl type material? Jordan doesn't seem to think so. Every time he tries to convince Ashley that she is better than how she's acting, it pushes her farther and farther away. You can tell from the very first page that this novel is going to be about personal growth and finding a way to continue life, even with a critical member of your family missing. Moore portrays Ashley excellently. I've never lost a parent before but I can only imagine how devastating it must be. She's raw, emotional, and not afraid to break down once in awhile. She's real and the actions she takes in the novel are completely realistic and relatable. I enjoyed watching her discover herself and how to live her life without her dad. I thought the characters were thoroughly
developed and despite some of them not being the best influence, Moore instilled an admirable aspect in each of them. Even the bad boy had a good side that was revealed towards the end!

A surprising theme of the story is belief. The belief in yourself, belief in others, a belief that everything will eventually be okay. Christianity also played a big role in the novel. Jordan is exploring the idea of being a pastor when he grows up while Ashley has ceased to believe in anything after praying for her dad to live didn't play out as she wanted. Ashley goes from thinking her and Jordan can never work because of this difference to understanding that things maybe will work out well in the end. THE TRUTH ABOUT LETTING GO focuses on having faith, in both the religious sense and not.

Ultimately, with well developed characters who all experience their own trials and tribulations, THE TRUTH ABOUT LETTING GO is the perfect contemporary read for those looking for a novel with a great message, character growth, and learning how to cope with a difficult situation--not to mention a swoon worthy romance. This novel sums up everything I look for in a YA contemporary story! I enjoyed every minute reading this and can't wait to read more books from Moore!

[Rachmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I never expected Ashley Lockett will be the subject of book 2 of The Truth series. She only had a few lines on The Truth about Faking. On the sequel of the series, I usually read about someone who is close with main characters of the prequel. So, it kind of surprised me to read about her life since I didn't know about her at all. On the other hand, I think it's a good thing. I didn't have any idea who Ashley is hence I read her story from new eyes and it can be read as a standalone book.

Although this book and also its prequel are YA books, it isn't only about YA drama such as falling in love and heartbreak. The Truth series is more than that. Leigh Talbert Moore wrote it with a lot of things that readers can think about. But Ashley's story is much more complicated than Harley from The Truth about Faking. I think it's because their age different, Harley is younger when she told her story than Ashley here. It makes this book heavier, darker and more serious with a lot of emotions in it.

I love everything in this book, the writing, the story, the characters, the setting and even the dialogue between the characters.

But there are two things that quite bother me. First, when Cole almost rape Ashley in the car why it never become a big deal in the story. Secondly, I really don’t like Ashley’s mom. If I have to choose who is the most responsible for Ashley's behavior other than herself, it will be her mom. I don't like the way Mrs. Lockett acts and thinks. I understand she has her own issue regarding her husband death and I know everyone deal the death with their own way. But she has to know that her daughter needs her. Ashley is already an adult, legally, but it doesn't mean she doesn't need someone older to guide and accompany her. In this case she needs her brother, Will and especially her mom. If Mrs. Lockett feels she cannot approach Ashley, she has to try harder until she can do it, which I didn't see it, not until it's too late. In some way I think she's so selfish because her daughter is her top priority now. And the way she acts to Ashley after Dr. Eric James, the psychiatrist, comes make things worse. She thinks Ashley need a psychiatrist, I agree with her but she also have to understand that her daughter needs her mom more that the neighbor psychiatrist. She cannot think if Ashley talks to him everything will be okay. And Dr. Eric James, of all people should know this. It just sad for me to read that she's the one who realize that she has to fix her relationship with her mom, but all Mrs. Lockett do is become angry when Ashley disagree with her and doesn't understand the changes when her dad died.

This house is too big now anyway, especially if it’s just the two of us… I softly tap on her door. No answer. I try the knob, but it doesn’t turn. She’s locked me out. Again
I take a breath, wondering how we manage to keep shoving each other out when we should really be pulling together.
I haven’t seen Mom since our conversation-breakdown, and I silently wish again she’d talk to me. I want to tell her I can help.
I’m angry that once again, the only time she wants to talk to me is to lay down some rule. Not to ask why I couldn’t make it, not to talk about the problems we’re facing. Just to dictate.

I think readers can learn both from Ashley and Mrs. Lockett’s story. Therefore this book is good not only for young adult but also for parents.

[Merin · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who enjoyed Leigh's first book, The Truth About Faking, I was looking forward to reading its companion, The Truth About Letting Go. This book is set in the same town, but focuses on new characters, so while the names of the previous book's characters are mentioned, it's not necessary to read it first. And while I liked The Truth About Faking, I can honestly say that this book is even better, not only in terms of the plot and characters, but also in the strength of the writing. I really liked this one a lot.

The Truth About Letting Go is a book that focuses on a lot of issues. Ashley, our main character, has just lost her dad, and is dealing with her immense sadness over that, as well as the fact that her mom has basically disappeared into her work. Add to that a crisis of faith - Ashley decides there must not be a God, because she prayed to him for the six months her dad was ill to no avail -and she's very unsure of who she is, or who she wants to be. This story is very much focused on Ashley's personal journey, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading every single second of it.

As well as Ashley, who I couldn't help but love even though she was making some very poor choices, there is a rather fascinating cast of characters that surround her. From her older brother, to the two love interests, to her best friend Mandy, I found each of them to be engaging and unique. Each of the characters (except perhaps Mandy) has their own backstory that's fleshed out and makes them feel real, which really added to the whole overall feel of the book.

There is a sort of love triangle, but not in the traditional sense, because it’s pretty clear who Ashley has actual feelings for. Normally love triangles turn me right off, but this one is realistic and done in a way that really portrays Ashley’s state of mind, particularly her anger and sadness over what's happened. I couldn’t help but be drawn to both boys, even though I obviously had an opinion on which one was better for Ashley (and she knows it, too).

As a heads-up, there is quite a bit of religious talk in this book, as well as some pretty hot and heavy makeout scenes that are quite steamily written. Because I know that both of those subjects are red flag issues for some, I wanted to make sure I mention it. Everything is handled very tastefully, though, and nothing is shoved in your face, at least in my opinion, but obviously your mileage may vary.

All in all, this was a really well done book. It covers a lot of topics, but it’s mostly about a girl who’s trying to rediscover who she is and what she wants. Ashley doesn't always use the best judgement as she tries to figure herself out,  but everything is handled in a realistic and touching way that really draws the reader into her story. If you're looking for a satisfying contemporary read, do pick up The Truth About Letting Go! You won't be disappointed.

A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

***

To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

[Laura P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moore has created a realistic and beautifully crafted story about grief, and the way people work through loss. Full of (mostly) likeable characters, family conflict, and high school drama that we can all relate to, The Truth About Letting Go pulls at the heartstrings and doesn’t let go, even when you’re done reading.

Ashley Lockett’s father has just died from a short, severe, battle with cancer. He seemed perfectly healthy one day, then gone six months later. Ashley is struggling to understand how cancer could have happened to her family, and questioning everything she believed in before. Good-boy Jordan represents everything Ashley would have wanted before her father’s death. He is passionate about his faith, and confident that through faith and prayer Ashley will be able to heal, but the ‘new’ Ashley doesn’t agree. Bad-boy Colt represents Ashley’s newfound need to change. With Colt, Ashley is able to live dangerously. The grief and intense pressure she feels lessens when he pushes her out of her comfort zone, and distract her thoughts.

The thing I appreciated about this novel the most was the soul, and the purpose. While there was a love triangle element, family conflict and friendship conflict, the focus is always on Ashley’s struggle to manage her grief. Her grief and her confusion over her feelings are intense, and learning how to handle these things is really important. For me, Leigh T. Moore has really captured and represented grief and loss in such an honest, relatable and beautiful way, despite it being such a difficult subject.

The people Ashley surrounds herself with are huge influences on how she handles her grief. My favorite relationships were not the romantic ones (though I loved Jordan’s character), but those with the more secondary characters. Ashley’s brother handles his grief in such a different way from Ashley, but they have such a close relationship and they are able to lean on each other, even when their coping mechanisms are so different. Charlotte (one of the seemingly unpopular ‘fat’ kids) I found to be a really interesting character, because their friendship helps both girls figure out who they are and who they want to be, while breaking down clique barriers in their high school. Charlotte comes into Ashley’s life at the right time, and they find in each other someone to who they can count on to be supportive.

Overall I really like this novel. I connected with Ashley’s struggle even if I have never lost a parent. At times I found Ashley’s rebellions to be slightly melodramatic and out of character, and I also wasn’t the biggest fan of Colt’s character, but through the rebellions I think Moore has really represented how the grieving process can be irrational, painful, and most significantly, individual. This book definitely has a strong focus on Christian beliefs, so if that’s not your thing, it’s probably not for you. But if you love contemporary fiction, romances, or drama novels, definitely give this one a read.

Rating 9/10

** I received a copy of this novel from the publisher to read and honestly review. I was in no way compensated.

This review and others like it are available at http://confessionsofanadultteenreader... (Including a review of the first book in Moore's new series Dragonfly!)

[Christianna Marks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me feel so many things during my time with it. It was like an emotional roller coaster. Sometimes I just wanted to get off of it, because it made me sad and other times it took me for a ride that I enjoyed so much. There were times I wanted to cry (ok I might have), times I chuckled at things, times I cringed and times I wanted to tell characters to go take a freaking hike.

The magic of this novel and others by Moore is that she is able to write real, tangible characters that you care about. Now how you care about them is up to you, but you undoubtedly will feel something about them. And that's where the magic lies. That she makes you care about her characters. She makes you want to know what is going to happen to them. Makes you want to yell at them. Makes you want to hug them. It's rather awesome!

The book consists of a High School senior Ashley and how she deals with the death of her father. It flips her world upside down and leaves her grasping at straws. Straws that she can turn into anything. It's about her finding out who she is after loosing someone special. And she decides to start from square one, turning her back on everything she's been raised on, including church. Trying to figure out how she wants to live and getting lost in trying not to feel anything. Let's be honest, she gets herself into some pretty sketchy situations. In the beginning I wasn't that impressed with Ash, but as I got to know her, I decided that I do actually like her as a character. She dynamic and conflicted. She's kind of like the girl version of the conflicted bad boy. It's cool to watch. Though the part where she dresses a guy in clothes she likes made me cringe.

The boys of this novel are brilliant and totally different. I have to admit that I did not like Colt one bit. But it makes him no less brilliant. He's a badass, a total jerk and a horrible manipulator. He doesn't know where to draw the line, which becomes clear fairly early on. And he's in to some pretty weird ish. But then he does have his moments of surprise sweetness, but guys like that always do.

Now Jordan on the other hand was brutally honest. Which is a delightful contrast to Colt. He wasn't afraid to talk, to build people up or to wake them up making them face reality. But he did it all in the sweetest way possible. He was the ultimate nice guy, who still had some issues. It was nice that both guys had issues, instead of one being perfect and the other being corrupted. They were both just people and that's awesome. But back to Jordan and his awesome nerdyness as well! Got to love a tall, dark, nerd! So much to like about this guy.

Ashley's relationships with the other girls in her life were also interesting to watch. It showed a part of Ashley that we didn't get to see when she was with the boys and it was nice break from some of those crazy moments, though they had their own as well.

Hands down, you've got to read this one if you like Contemporary novels!

(See the review on my blog here: http://thewhiteunicornfiction.blogspo...)

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I wonder what she'd see in my future. If it would be the same thing I see. I wonder if it would scare her, too."


So this happens to be the second book in the series, and I haven't had the chance to read the first one yet. I don't usually like to jump ahead in a series, but I was assured it could stand alone, so I gave it a shot. I have to admit, if this book were by any other author, I might have passed it by. There are too many contemporary romances to possibly have a chance to read them all. BUT this book isn't by any other author. It's by Leigh Talbert Moore! <3

What do you do when you lose your anchor? You drift. Ashley is paddling hard, trying to stay on course, when all she really needs to do is... let go. This book is not a sweet love story. If anything, it's a bitter love story, but mostly it is about grief, and how we deal with it. Grief is such an individual experience, but Leigh managed to nail it exactly. It felt natural to the character, and so, natural to me.

When I was in university, I met a girl: lets call her Lisa. She was this boisterous bolt of energy, busy and loud. She was also a devout Christian, determined to become a missionary. One day, over coffee at the local Applebee's, Lisa decided to pray for me. Well... not for ME, per se, but for my eye. Yup, my EYE! I was having issues with it, and so she prayed for it. Loudly. First off, I was kind of flattered that she deemed me prayer worthy, but I was also a little embarrassed. People were staring! You're probably wondering what the point to this little tangent is. Here it is -----> Reading books with religious characters has always kind of made me feel like I did that day in the restaurant; a little embarrassed. That being said, this story, through all of the grief and bitter-love, was bordering on Inspirational. AND I DIDN'T MIND A BIT! Leigh has a way of introducing philosophical and religious debate without making me uncomfortable in the least. Maybe because it's wrapped in a New Adult genre, mixed in with some serious heat!

This brings me to my one complaint about the book. While I understood Ashley's motivations, I found it a little unbelievable how quickly she gets physical with both Jordan and Colt. She seems almost over-eager to throw away the big V, especially considering she has very little experience with guys.

Summed up in one word? Compelling! I stayed up WAY past my bedtime with this one! Even though I knew that everything had to work out in the end, I loved that Ashley had to work hard for her happily ever after. Now, I definitely have to read The Truth About Faking!

A copy of this book was provided by Netgalley.

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[Rowena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book by Leigh T. Moore that I’ve read and I’m pretty stoked to say that she keeps getting better and better with each read. I am definitely a fan of her work. This book is about Ashley Lockett’s journey to coming to terms with her father’s death. Her father died of cancer and she’s struggling with her grief and the grief that she doesn’t see her mother or brother showing. She’s angry with God for not answering her prayers to cure her father. She’s angry that her mother has thrown herself into work and isn’t showing an ounce of grief over the loss of her father and she’s angry that her brother has gone on with his life as if nothing has changed.

To make matters more complicated, Ashley is pulling away from her friends for reasons that she’s not aware of. Her best friend feels like a complete stranger to her and the only girl that she looks forward to talking to is a plus size girl who she meets down by the creek. The creek that she goes to, to think. To clear her head and to talk about her Dad with someone who had nothing but good memories of him, along with her.

Ashley is mad at the world and she’s looking to be a little bad. The very last thing that she wants or needs is someone to care about and to care about her but when she meets Jordan, thing start to get away from her. Her intention to go after the bad boy Colt, her intention to do anything and everything that would make her forget her grief.

When we first met Ashley, I wasn’t at all sure that I was going to end up liking her because of the way that she lashed out at her brother Will and her mother. She’s out of her mind with grief and she doesn’t know how to deal with it and she acted like a total brat about the whole thing. I’m not a fan of teenagers who think that it’s their right to be douches because they’re hurting or because they’re sad. But Ashley wasn’t that bad. She didn’t step over the line of no return and I’m glad for that. I really enjoyed getting to know her as the book continued on. It was pretty neat to see her come around and it made the story even better when the alleged bad guy, turned out to not be bad at all.

The characters all came to life for me throughout the book as well. Jordan was a fabulous character that wormed his way into my heart at the very beginning and even though I should have hated Colt for being a punk for a lot of the book, I didn’t hate him. I liked him and saw the goodness that he didn’t show many people. Ashley’s family were pretty great too. It was good to see Harley’s parents from The Truth about Faking It and it was nice to hear that Harley and Jason are still going strong.

Overall, I’m glad that I got this book for review. I’m glad that I read this book and I definitely recommend this if you’re in the mood for a good, coming of age contemporary YA novel. Leigh T. Moore is a great author that really knows how to weave a story in a way that keeps the reader invested throughout the entire story. I enjoy the way that she tells Ashley’s story and I’m looking forward to reading even more from her. Kudos to Leigh T. Moore on another winner of a story.

[Chapter by Chapter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tore my heart apart! I was literally crying like a baby at one point that I had to put the book down and walk away…I just couldn’t take it anymore! Me and father/daughter books man…I’m telling ya! They get me every time…

Ashley Lockett has lost her father to cancer and she’s having an extremely difficult time with it. Her mother is never home anymore, her brother is off at college, which pretty much leaves Ashley alone to wallow in her pain. Because of this pain, Ashley has decided to change things in her life…and it’s not always for the better.

At first, Ashley befriends people that she never would have dreamed of associating with pre-the death of her father. But Ashley finds some solace in her new found friendship with Charlotte; an overweight classmate who was a huge fan of Ashley’s father. Ashley also finds herself inexplicably attracted to one that she formerly thought of as a geek, Jordan. She finds that she can speak easily with Jordan and talk about anything. But Jordan’s future plans conflict with Ashley’s beliefs and so she turns to the dark side.

Enter sexy, bad boy Colt. He’s is so wrong for Ashley, and brings out the worst in her…and Ashley can’t seem to stay away. The adrenaline she feels when she’s with Colt has a way of making her forget the pain that she is experiencing, but Ashley is dangerously spiraling to a life that her father would never have wanted for her…and Jordan seems to be the key to helping her find her way out of the dark.

I am such a huge fan of author, Leigh Talbert Moore’s writing, and The Truth About Letting Go just solidified the fact that she has become one of my favorite authors. The story behind this book went straight to my soul. It had me yearning to speak with my father, and hold my kids a little longer, and lover my husband a little harder. The Truth About Letting Go had me going through so many different emotions, and I absolutely loved riding this emotional rollercoaster ride.

The characters, whether they be main or co-star, were easily believable, and easily relatable. They are all given their own distinct personalities that you can’t help but become totally engrossed in the drama that unfolds in these pages. And can you say hot! There were moments in the book that seriously made me blush…and crush on the bad boy himself (obviously!) And Jordan is such a sweetheart with so much patience and such a kind heart. How could I not help crushing on him too!

Leigh Talbert Moore does and amazing job at successfully showing the pain that a child goes through after losing a parent. Not only that, but she also does a believable job in how that loss affects the whole family. She does a fantastic job in convincing the reader just how much pain Ashley is, and how devastating a loss it is.

I would recommend this read to fans of emotional contemporary reads. If you’re looking for a read that may very well leave you misty eyed and fumbling around for a tissue, don’t hesitate in grabbing a copy of The Truth About Letting Go by Leigh Talbert Moore.

[n · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, thank you to the author for kindly providing a review copy and then waiting very, very patiently while I took forever to actually get around to writing the promised reviews, because sometimes when I work too many night shifts in a row I decide it’s too much effort to boot up my laptop. (This is why I can’t write nice things!) Anyway. On y va!

TTALG takes place in the same town as The Truth About Faking, with a character we see very briefly in the first book taking the main stage here. Ashley’s father has just died and she is deep in the throes of grieving. Having spent her entire life playing by the rules—exercising, eating healthy, going to church, hanging out with the right crowd—Ashley finds the only thing that eases the pain of losing her father is rebelling with the town’s new bad boy, Cole, and she finds herself ignoring her attraction to resident nice guy Jordan because of his religious calling. He is safe; Cole is not. And Ashley is done with safe.

Of the two companion novels, I liked this one more—it had that dark side to it that TTAF was lacking. Ashley’s crisis of faith isn’t easily resolved and her grief is so strong that at times it reads like a separate character. Having lost someone close to me as a teenager, I found it almost painful at times to read this story, because it was so easy for me to relate to what Ashley was going through. I’ve been where she was and I wanted to hug her and tell her it gets easier (although she probably would’ve told me to piss off). TTALG is still mid-range YA (although there are some moderately racy bits) so the edge to the story isn’t the edgiest edge I’ve ever read. But that darkness, that exploration of grief and what it does to a person and a family, sucked me into the story.

Minor gripes: Charlotte sort of creeped me out, at least until her motives came to light. She was just always... lurking. In the woods. Only giving herself away by her breathing. It was strange. As was Ashley’s initial attraction to Cole and how part of it had to do with how much he looked like her father; personally, I would not be able to make out with someone who reminded me that much of my dad. And Mandy was just terribly unsupportive. She kept saying she was trying to understand what Ashley was going through, but there was never any evidence of that. I kept thinking, Dude, the girl’s dad just died, like, a month ago. Maybe give her some time before you start harping on her about her hair? It seemed liked a friendship based purely on convenience and a mutual high social status, and that just made me sadder for Ashley, because I can’t imagine going through high school and a huge personal loss without any real friends. I’m getting kind of depressed just thinking about it.

Overall, the good far outweighed the bad. It’s a sad book, so I’d feel weird saying I enjoyed it, but I certainly did like it. I’d recommend this for fans of realistic YA fiction and authors like Sarah Dessen.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welp, as I'm finding all too common in this YA genre, the pacing in this book is offensively ridiculous. But honestly, that's really my only (albeit serious) gripe with this book.

After Ashley's dad dies - even though he had been sick for months - she is devastated, and is having a hard time getting back to her normal routine. She hardly listens as her BFF drones on and on about the same old cheerleader/prom/boys nonsense. College apps are still to be filled out, and rapidly collecting dust. She's lost her appetite, taken to dressing in drab, basic clothing, and in general has lost all ability to give a fuck.

She finds solace in three people she would never have given the time of day to before her dad got sick - an overweight girl who lives a couple of houses down who she's never noticed before, a cute but quirky geek whose locker is next to hers, who she also has never noticed before, and an unrealistically hot bad boy who just transferred to their school - and who her BFF has a major crush on. Throwing caution to the wind, she explores developing relationships (platonic and otherwise) without caring what anyone thinks or who gets hurt in the process.

Now, this all sounds like the makings of a cliche, prototype YA novel - complete with love triangle. And it could have been. But it never felt that way. It felt like a girl coming to grips with loss, with faith, with clawing her way out of her depression the best way she knew how. This book isn't some trite story about boys, it isn't about growing apart from her shallow friends, it isn't about finally realizing that the other 800 kids in your school who aren't cheerleaders or basketball players are still decent, kind, funny teens who like the same music you do. And yet it's about all those things.

What I really enjoyed about the book was that Ashley's emotions felt real. Her grief, and the way it both clouded her judgment and made her question everything she believed, was completely legitimate. Even though we don't get to see what Ashley was like before her dad died, and can only assume she was your typical pretty, popular cheerleader, this is a book with actual fucking character growth! (I KNOW, RIGHT!?!?!)

The pacing....good God the pacing is atrocious. I don't know why relationships always develop in like 4 days in these books, but that is honestly my only complaint. I was going to give this 3 stars because I have a hard time giving lots of credit to lightweight reads, but you know what, since this book surpassed all my expectations - especially in this genre - I'm going with 4 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read other book reviews at Book Junkie Joint.

The most apt description for this story is that it is about pain, yet it's also so much more. It's about angst, loss, mourning and finally letting go. It's about coping up with pain, and how different people deal with it in their own way.

The strength of this story comes from its slice-of-life feel. The first thing it deals with is the loss of a loved one and how such tragedy could affect a family. The death of her loving father was especially hard for Ashley as they were close. It also caused a riff between Ashley and her mother, bringing greater pain to both. As a heroine, I find that Ashley has a good head on her shoulders, not all the time, but it's there. Throughout the story, Ashley was a little unpredictable that I often found myself worrying for her despite understanding why she was acting the way she did.

Truth be told, I was more interested at how Ashley's relationship between Jordan and Colt progressed. There were moments that I cringed at the way she handled things, but I felt that she was just learning to live with the fact that her father was gone and she was entitled to make mistakes. She's young. She's bound to make mistakes.

What I liked best about this story is that masterfully depicted how different people had different ways of coping with pain. Others find that acting reckless gave them a sort of high which made them feel alive. Others simply move on and move forward. The key point is that different people have different ways in dealing with pain. It's not the same for everybody. This was how it was for Ashely and Colt. It was also the reason why I understand Ashley's compulsion to be with Colt.

Another thing I really appreciate about this story is that Ashley's life was told from a different perspective: Charlotte. She couldn't be more different from Ashley but they developed a strange relationship. I love that through Charlotte, Ashley could she just what it was that she was blessed with at the time when she felt down the most. Through Charlotte, the issue of self-image and confidence was also brought to light.

Oh, and another thing I liked best about this story is Jordan. He's not your usual alpha male and he's not exactly a typical male lead. He's not a charismatic bad guy like Colt but he could hold his ground. And I love how Jordan stands up for the 'Nice-Guys', the kind of guys that most parents endorse for their daughters to end up with.

All in all, this story combines just enough angst and romance to portray a believable story of loss, love and letting go. I highly recommend it!