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Across the Distance
There’s a drawer I never open. It holds a picture I never look at. It reminds me of a day I hate to remember, but I’ll never forget.
I’d give anything to be like the other girls on campus. Going to parties, flirting with boys, planning for a future. But that’s not me. And hasn’t been since the day my parents died. The only thing that got me through was Griffin. Even though I didn’t have my family, I always had him. Only, now I’m not so sure I do.
It’s not just the eleven hundred miles separating us now that I’m at college. And it’s more than his band finally taking off, and all the gigs and girls suddenly demanding his time. It’s like everything is different—the way we talk, the way we text . . . the way he looks at me and the way his looks make me feel.
Griffin has been the only good thing in my life since that horrific day. I can feel our friendship slipping away—and I’m terrified of what will be left in its place…
I’d give anything to be like the other girls on campus. Going to parties, flirting with boys, planning for a future. But that’s not me. And hasn’t been since the day my parents died. The only thing that got me through was Griffin. Even though I didn’t have my family, I always had him. Only, now I’m not so sure I do.
It’s not just the eleven hundred miles separating us now that I’m at college. And it’s more than his band finally taking off, and all the gigs and girls suddenly demanding his time. It’s like everything is different—the way we talk, the way we text . . . the way he looks at me and the way his looks make me feel.
Griffin has been the only good thing in my life since that horrific day. I can feel our friendship slipping away—and I’m terrified of what will be left in its place…
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2015
23 people are currently reading
1087 people want to read
About the author
Marie Meyer
5 books204 followersMarie Meyer has been a teacher for sixteen years. She spends her days in the classroom and her nights writing heartfelt romances that will leave readers clamoring for more. She is a member RWA (PAN) and a 2017 RITA® Finalist. Marie's short fiction won honorable mentions from the St. Louis Writers Guild in 2010 and 2011. She is a proud mommy and enjoys helping her oldest daughter train for the Special Olympics, making up silly stories with her youngest daughter, and bingeing on weeks of DVR'd television shows with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
June 18, 2015
Jillian parents died when she was 6. Jillian and her sister had to move in with her grandparents. Next door lived Griffin who immediately became her protector. As years go by, they become better friends. Before Jillian goes away to college and Griffin leaves to pursue a career in a band, Jillian takes a chance and kisses him only to have him push her away. Jillian knows that there will be nothing between them, but they still continue to be somewhat of friends through Facetime and texting. Jillian has a hard time in college while Griffin is busy trying to get his career off by meeting with producers, etc. They lives become somewhat separate even though they try to continue a friendship and see if it could be more.
I have to be honest and say that this book was just frustrating for me. Griffin would say he was thinking about Jillian but I never felt he cared. There were so many times he left her hanging, plus there was his girlfriend. That whole relationship Griffin had with his girlfriend, I felt was to cause tension for the reader. However, it only made me not like Griffin and I started to disconnect. I did not like the way Griffin made Jillian feel. The way the relationship developed did not work for me. The heroine in this story, I felt, was the only one hurting and hoping. I wanted Jillian to have more and better. I love stories with angst. I love when the author tortures me but I have to first feel a true connection between the characters. I have to feel the love. I did not feel any love or deep connection outside of friendship and I am not even sure I felt friendship that from Griffin as they got older. In the end, I was disappointed with the story.
A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
I have to be honest and say that this book was just frustrating for me. Griffin would say he was thinking about Jillian but I never felt he cared. There were so many times he left her hanging, plus there was his girlfriend. That whole relationship Griffin had with his girlfriend, I felt was to cause tension for the reader. However, it only made me not like Griffin and I started to disconnect. I did not like the way Griffin made Jillian feel. The way the relationship developed did not work for me. The heroine in this story, I felt, was the only one hurting and hoping. I wanted Jillian to have more and better. I love stories with angst. I love when the author tortures me but I have to first feel a true connection between the characters. I have to feel the love. I did not feel any love or deep connection outside of friendship and I am not even sure I felt friendship that from Griffin as they got older. In the end, I was disappointed with the story.
A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
February 17, 2015
I was lucky enough to read this book early, and I'm so glad I did! I enjoyed diving into Jill and Griffin's lives.
I'll start by saying that I was hesitant when I heard that the 9/11 attacks were going to be part of this story, because I was worried it would be a tragic book (which I usually avoid), and leave me feeling sad. However, Meyer handles the topic very well and carefully weaves it into the characters' backstory, without making it into an issue book. It's a very moving and uplifting story, showing the strength of a character overcoming her past. I loved Jill's connection to her parents throughout this story. I enjoyed watching her mentally work through what had happened and slowly come to terms with it while honoring her parents' memory.
Things I loved about this book:
1. I'm a sucker for childhood friends who grow into lovers stories. I loved that throughout the book, we see snippets of how Jill and Griff met as children and started as friends, and how they grew up together.
2. I actually really enjoyed the relationship dynamic between Jill and her sister Jennifer. Jill has lived with her older sister since their parents died in 9/11, yet their relationship is far from close. Jennifer resents Jill, as she blames her for their parents' death. It was at times heartbreaking watching how this tragedy had gone on to influence both siblings' lives, particularly in Jennifer's failing marriage. While the siblings never become "close" (at least in this book), their relationship does develop throughout the story, which to me felt realistic.
3. I loved the friendships Jill forms with other girls in college. Chandra and Sarah are awesome friends to Jill, and it was a refreshing change from the gossipy, back-stabbing female friendship trope I'm so sick of reading. They supported Jill throughout the story, and they all felt really fleshed-out and real, with their own distinct personalities and voices. Meyer definitely has a gift for character development.
4. As a mental health worker, I'm always critical of how mental illness is handled in books. I thought Jill's history of depression and self-injury were shown respectfully and portrayed without stigmatization. I also loved that Meyer normalized Jill regularly seeing a therapist. It wasn't a big deal; she just *had* a therapist, and went in to talk to her when she was feeling down. I loved that.
5. I loved watching Griff and Jill's relationship develop. Their friendship-turned-more relationship felt so natural, and their chemistry practically jumped off the page. Also, did I mention he's a hot band boy? *swoon*
I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys new adult romance, or just romance in general. It was a great story, and I flew through it within a couple days! I'm looking forward to seeing more from Marie Meyer.
I'll start by saying that I was hesitant when I heard that the 9/11 attacks were going to be part of this story, because I was worried it would be a tragic book (which I usually avoid), and leave me feeling sad. However, Meyer handles the topic very well and carefully weaves it into the characters' backstory, without making it into an issue book. It's a very moving and uplifting story, showing the strength of a character overcoming her past. I loved Jill's connection to her parents throughout this story. I enjoyed watching her mentally work through what had happened and slowly come to terms with it while honoring her parents' memory.
Things I loved about this book:
1. I'm a sucker for childhood friends who grow into lovers stories. I loved that throughout the book, we see snippets of how Jill and Griff met as children and started as friends, and how they grew up together.
2. I actually really enjoyed the relationship dynamic between Jill and her sister Jennifer. Jill has lived with her older sister since their parents died in 9/11, yet their relationship is far from close. Jennifer resents Jill, as she blames her for their parents' death. It was at times heartbreaking watching how this tragedy had gone on to influence both siblings' lives, particularly in Jennifer's failing marriage. While the siblings never become "close" (at least in this book), their relationship does develop throughout the story, which to me felt realistic.
3. I loved the friendships Jill forms with other girls in college. Chandra and Sarah are awesome friends to Jill, and it was a refreshing change from the gossipy, back-stabbing female friendship trope I'm so sick of reading. They supported Jill throughout the story, and they all felt really fleshed-out and real, with their own distinct personalities and voices. Meyer definitely has a gift for character development.
4. As a mental health worker, I'm always critical of how mental illness is handled in books. I thought Jill's history of depression and self-injury were shown respectfully and portrayed without stigmatization. I also loved that Meyer normalized Jill regularly seeing a therapist. It wasn't a big deal; she just *had* a therapist, and went in to talk to her when she was feeling down. I loved that.
5. I loved watching Griff and Jill's relationship develop. Their friendship-turned-more relationship felt so natural, and their chemistry practically jumped off the page. Also, did I mention he's a hot band boy? *swoon*
I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys new adult romance, or just romance in general. It was a great story, and I flew through it within a couple days! I'm looking forward to seeing more from Marie Meyer.
April 22, 2015
Across the Distance was a YA that delicately crossed over into a NA. I loved it! Normally, I would write a book about a review, but in this case, I will simply say that this story was perfectly perfect. Jillian and Griffin were a sensational couple.
Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: NA
Status: M
Chemistry/Intensity: Yes
Conflict/Drama: Yes
Family Dysfunction: Yes
HEA: Yes
Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: NA
Status: M
Chemistry/Intensity: Yes
Conflict/Drama: Yes
Family Dysfunction: Yes
HEA: Yes
May 5, 2015
3.5 Stars
Review by Jen Hagen
Jillian is leaving for college. She has been looking forward to this day for a long time to get out from under her older sister’s foul attitude and continual blame towards Jillian. Their parents died 12 years ago when Jillian was 6, and Jillian’s sister has never been able to move past the blame-game. When their parents died, the sisters moved in with their grandparents. Griffin was the neighbor boy who immediately took the role of protector towards Jillian. Griffin and Jillian have been the best of friends, but their immediate future has them going separate way. Griffin is chasing his dream by being the lead singer for a band and Jillian has chosen to attend college 1100 miles away in an attempt to begin a new life. She is sad to leave Griffin, but knows that there will never be anything between them since the night that she kissed him and he pushed her away.
College isn’t the experience that Jillian thought it was going to be. She is alone, overwhelmed and misses Griffin horribly. She spends a lot of her time crying, and it seems like Griffin is the only person that can ever get her spirits and goals back on track. Griffin is a really good guy. He knows the difficulties that Jillian has faced in her life and the fear of the night he almost lost her lingers in his memories, never wanting to go down that path again.
The only thing that Jillian and Griffin have now to tie themselves together is the wonderful invention of modern technology – phone calls, texts, and Facetime. Things feel off though… Griffin is meeting producers and not including Jillian in on the details until after the fact making Jillian feel like she is a million miles away from him -- and of course there’s always Griffin’s girlfriend wanting his attention.
So are these two going to see that what they both want and need is what was there all along? Or will their friendship be the most important thing between them and not willing to be sacrificed?
I would willingly give my broken heart, my fractured soul, and scarred body to him if he wanted it.
Jillian finally has Griffin within her grasp, but no matter how hard she holds on there seems to be a stronger force wanting them apart.
He had never given up on me. I wouldn’t give up on him now. The images of Griffin’s tattoos popped into my head – Always hopes. Always perseveres.
I’ll hope. I’ll persevere.
As much as I love a friends-to-lovers coming of age story, this one just didn’t hold it for me. I am an angst lover and this was missing that. The writing was good, but for me it didn’t hold my attention long enough. If you are looking for a break from angst, then I would suggest this as it is a quick, sweet read.
Review by Jen Hagen
Jillian is leaving for college. She has been looking forward to this day for a long time to get out from under her older sister’s foul attitude and continual blame towards Jillian. Their parents died 12 years ago when Jillian was 6, and Jillian’s sister has never been able to move past the blame-game. When their parents died, the sisters moved in with their grandparents. Griffin was the neighbor boy who immediately took the role of protector towards Jillian. Griffin and Jillian have been the best of friends, but their immediate future has them going separate way. Griffin is chasing his dream by being the lead singer for a band and Jillian has chosen to attend college 1100 miles away in an attempt to begin a new life. She is sad to leave Griffin, but knows that there will never be anything between them since the night that she kissed him and he pushed her away.
College isn’t the experience that Jillian thought it was going to be. She is alone, overwhelmed and misses Griffin horribly. She spends a lot of her time crying, and it seems like Griffin is the only person that can ever get her spirits and goals back on track. Griffin is a really good guy. He knows the difficulties that Jillian has faced in her life and the fear of the night he almost lost her lingers in his memories, never wanting to go down that path again.
The only thing that Jillian and Griffin have now to tie themselves together is the wonderful invention of modern technology – phone calls, texts, and Facetime. Things feel off though… Griffin is meeting producers and not including Jillian in on the details until after the fact making Jillian feel like she is a million miles away from him -- and of course there’s always Griffin’s girlfriend wanting his attention.
So are these two going to see that what they both want and need is what was there all along? Or will their friendship be the most important thing between them and not willing to be sacrificed?
I would willingly give my broken heart, my fractured soul, and scarred body to him if he wanted it.
Jillian finally has Griffin within her grasp, but no matter how hard she holds on there seems to be a stronger force wanting them apart.
He had never given up on me. I wouldn’t give up on him now. The images of Griffin’s tattoos popped into my head – Always hopes. Always perseveres.
I’ll hope. I’ll persevere.
As much as I love a friends-to-lovers coming of age story, this one just didn’t hold it for me. I am an angst lover and this was missing that. The writing was good, but for me it didn’t hold my attention long enough. If you are looking for a break from angst, then I would suggest this as it is a quick, sweet read.
February 21, 2016
A new-to-me-author with a childhood friends to lovers forever after love story. I truly enjoyed this book which was well-written with a couple paired to steal your heart, and all the feel-goods any contemporary romance reader would demand. Jillian and Griffin's relationship was the kind that makes your heart go all "ahhhh" and you just can't keep from smiling and cheering for their happiness. Of course, there has to be some ups and down and angst, too -- but the relationship is at the center full-scale.
A fairly quick and easy read with plenty of chemistry and two very special and lovable protagonists.
A fairly quick and easy read with plenty of chemistry and two very special and lovable protagonists.
May 12, 2015
Across the Distance deals with a day that is emotional and tragic for most Americans, but especially for our main character, Jillian. On that day, she lost her parents and she has spent the last thirteen years blaming herself for what happened. She's punished herself in the worst way possible, but through it all she had her best friend Griffin at her side. He was there when she needed someone to lean on, and there to stick up for Jillian when she was too weak to stick up for herself. But when Jillian leaves for college, she's faced with a truth she can't ignore any longer: she is is love with Griffin.
This may seem like the typical best-friend-turned-lover story, but it isn't. Marie Meyer did a stellar job of weaving a very tragic day into this story, making her characters both sympathetic and believable. I think most Americans remember how they felt on September 11th, watching the devastation unfold on the TV, and I not only felt Jillian's pain, but was able to relate to it so well because I do remember that day so clearly.
Griffin is the perfect love interest for me since I'm not really a fan of the bad boy rocker persona that seems so popular in New Adult. I prefer the kind of guy I like in real life. The one who stands by you no matter what. The one you can bring home to meet your parents. Which is exactly who Griffin is. He's the kind of guy who can love you not only despite your scars, but because of them. Literally in the case of Jillian.
This book had all the ups and downs you'd expect to encounter in a love story tainted by tragedy. It had sweet moments and painful moments, laughter and tears, and amazing chemistry. The hurdles these two encounter have you not only rooting for them, but rooting against the people who get in their way - like Jillian's sister - and it was nice to watch Jillian grown and change throughout the story.
***I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This may seem like the typical best-friend-turned-lover story, but it isn't. Marie Meyer did a stellar job of weaving a very tragic day into this story, making her characters both sympathetic and believable. I think most Americans remember how they felt on September 11th, watching the devastation unfold on the TV, and I not only felt Jillian's pain, but was able to relate to it so well because I do remember that day so clearly.
Griffin is the perfect love interest for me since I'm not really a fan of the bad boy rocker persona that seems so popular in New Adult. I prefer the kind of guy I like in real life. The one who stands by you no matter what. The one you can bring home to meet your parents. Which is exactly who Griffin is. He's the kind of guy who can love you not only despite your scars, but because of them. Literally in the case of Jillian.
This book had all the ups and downs you'd expect to encounter in a love story tainted by tragedy. It had sweet moments and painful moments, laughter and tears, and amazing chemistry. The hurdles these two encounter have you not only rooting for them, but rooting against the people who get in their way - like Jillian's sister - and it was nice to watch Jillian grown and change throughout the story.
***I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 4, 2015
SAM'S REVIEW
4 STARS
Across The Distance by Marie Meyer is a sweet story of friends to lovers. Two characters who share a wonderful connection and the friendship they have is tested by distance.
Jillian has been dealt a pretty tough hand in her young life. Facing the devastation every day of her parents deaths, to growing up under the care of her grandparents and then the older she gets, living with her cold hearted sister, who ultimately blames Jillian for the cause of their parents death. Jillian has learnt to not get her sister fired up, just so she can have an easy life.
Jillian has one AMAZING person in her life who has always been by her side, her best friend Griffin. He is the neighbour who blessed her with happiness in her darkest times, he is fiercely protective of Jillian and wants to see her shine.
Jillian is attending college hundreds of miles away. She is deeply saddened that she has to leave Griffin, and is anxious over how it will affect their bond and connection!
I'm not going to spoil any more of the storyline of this book, because I feel nobody reads the same book. But this sweet YA/NA novel was an absolute delight to read. It is fresh, but also has a lot of depth within the storyline.
At times, I found Jillian a little frustrating, but I could understand WHY at times she was sheltered. Griffin was a beautiful Male lead, his strength, heart and protectiveness really was a beautiful thing to read.
The bond Jillian and Griffin shared was so real, and from the very first chapter, you cannot wait for them both to take that next step, together.
For those who love fast paced, sweet, friends to lovers books, without the angst..... you will LOVE this!
4 STARS
Across The Distance by Marie Meyer is a sweet story of friends to lovers. Two characters who share a wonderful connection and the friendship they have is tested by distance.
Jillian has been dealt a pretty tough hand in her young life. Facing the devastation every day of her parents deaths, to growing up under the care of her grandparents and then the older she gets, living with her cold hearted sister, who ultimately blames Jillian for the cause of their parents death. Jillian has learnt to not get her sister fired up, just so she can have an easy life.
Jillian has one AMAZING person in her life who has always been by her side, her best friend Griffin. He is the neighbour who blessed her with happiness in her darkest times, he is fiercely protective of Jillian and wants to see her shine.
Jillian is attending college hundreds of miles away. She is deeply saddened that she has to leave Griffin, and is anxious over how it will affect their bond and connection!
I'm not going to spoil any more of the storyline of this book, because I feel nobody reads the same book. But this sweet YA/NA novel was an absolute delight to read. It is fresh, but also has a lot of depth within the storyline.
At times, I found Jillian a little frustrating, but I could understand WHY at times she was sheltered. Griffin was a beautiful Male lead, his strength, heart and protectiveness really was a beautiful thing to read.
The bond Jillian and Griffin shared was so real, and from the very first chapter, you cannot wait for them both to take that next step, together.
For those who love fast paced, sweet, friends to lovers books, without the angst..... you will LOVE this!
April 8, 2015
***I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review***
Some Scars Never Heal…But They Can Be Soothed
I read this book in one sitting.
Is it the smooth writing that did it for me? Maybe. Maybe it's the way the characters interact and talk — their natural chemistry? Possibly. Is it because it’s fundamentally a story of second chances? That’s definitely there. What about the fact that it’s about two best friends, who are so good together, to each other, and for each other that you want and hope they’ll realize that they are better together than apart? Yes, that’s there too. Is it because Marie Meyer expertly ties all these elements together with a sub-plot of a tragic loss that is relatable on a visceral level? Absolutely.
Jillian, our protagonist, deserves a shot at happiness. Her scars are not only skin deep, but also soul deep. This is not another book that works in 9-11 just to get emotional points. This is a book whose emotions are so relatable that anyone whose lost loved ones to a tragedy, or understands that sometimes the smallest decisions have life-long implications, will want this young woman to find a path to happiness. And he’s right there — always has been -- her best friend, Griffin.
This is a beautifully written book, with a deep story line, set in a world that’s real…sometimes too real. Brilliant work, by a talented writer. I look forward to more books by Marie Meyer. The future of NA is bright! I highly recommend it.
Some Scars Never Heal…But They Can Be Soothed
I read this book in one sitting.
Is it the smooth writing that did it for me? Maybe. Maybe it's the way the characters interact and talk — their natural chemistry? Possibly. Is it because it’s fundamentally a story of second chances? That’s definitely there. What about the fact that it’s about two best friends, who are so good together, to each other, and for each other that you want and hope they’ll realize that they are better together than apart? Yes, that’s there too. Is it because Marie Meyer expertly ties all these elements together with a sub-plot of a tragic loss that is relatable on a visceral level? Absolutely.
Jillian, our protagonist, deserves a shot at happiness. Her scars are not only skin deep, but also soul deep. This is not another book that works in 9-11 just to get emotional points. This is a book whose emotions are so relatable that anyone whose lost loved ones to a tragedy, or understands that sometimes the smallest decisions have life-long implications, will want this young woman to find a path to happiness. And he’s right there — always has been -- her best friend, Griffin.
This is a beautifully written book, with a deep story line, set in a world that’s real…sometimes too real. Brilliant work, by a talented writer. I look forward to more books by Marie Meyer. The future of NA is bright! I highly recommend it.
May 21, 2015
Friends-to-lovers is one of my favorite romance tropes, and Jillian and Griffin's story did not disappoint. I love that Marie Meyer gave us a "good guy" rock star hero and a heroine with her own wants and interests. Issues of mental health were handled with care and grounded in reality.
Overall, a sweet love story with just enough heat. Can't wait to read book two and see how the story unfolds from Griffin's point of view.
*I received an eARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. However, I loved it so much I also bought my own hard copy of the book. Take that, FTC.*
Overall, a sweet love story with just enough heat. Can't wait to read book two and see how the story unfolds from Griffin's point of view.
*I received an eARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. However, I loved it so much I also bought my own hard copy of the book. Take that, FTC.*
July 7, 2015
I love, love, LOVED this book!!! Griffin is now my top book boyfriend!! Jillian's story broke my heart at times but I loved that Griffin was there to catch her every time and pickup the pieces. I'm telling you....he is awesome!!! I can't believe her sister!!! There is just no words....The twins...I loved them!! Griffs family was awesome and I loved Sarah and Chandra!! I loved that this book wasn't full of a bunch of drama as well. I was worried at the end but it was perfect. I didn't even want it to end. I see in August we will be getting a book in Griffins pov and cant wait!!!! Amazing job Mrs. Meyer...I can't wait for more!!!
July 3, 2015
4.5 STARS!!
I loved this story!! I do feel it could have used a bit more drama, as the story was sweet with a touch of sadness. I absolutely adored the characters, and I really enjoyed the author's writing. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I definitely recommend it to anyone that's a fan of NA romance!!
I loved this story!! I do feel it could have used a bit more drama, as the story was sweet with a touch of sadness. I absolutely adored the characters, and I really enjoyed the author's writing. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I definitely recommend it to anyone that's a fan of NA romance!!
December 18, 2015
This debut offering from Marie Meyer is surprisingly well-crafted with solid voices, issues and a nice balance that displays some angst without huge dollops of drama. Across the Distance is about surviving loss and change only to realize that sometimes the friend who was there in the hard times is JUST what you need for now.
Jillian and Griffin have been friends for years: snippets of their lives as children are sprinkled through the story. Now, Jill is away at university and Griff’s band is finally making a splash: Jill’s not sure that she can, or wants to handle yet another loss.
With several issues brought forward including depression, survivor guilt, self-harm and the attacks of 9-11 that took Jill’s parents, there are plenty of issues that could be quagmires for drama, overreach and angst. But Meyer adds these details in with sensitivity, never quite allowing them to be THE defining character traits, but pieces in the larger puzzle that is a person. Interactions and responses are beautifully drawn and develop with a natural feel, you want Jill to find some happiness and a sense of belonging, and it is the progression and growth that she shows that make her a standout.
Jill’s sister Jennifer and their trying relationship goes through changes and hits roadblocks as well, and while they never really find the closeness that I believe they both desire, they are taking steps to work toward those moments, even as Jennifer has her own trials to face. Additionally, Meyer uses the new friendships with Chandra and Sarah to enhance the story, thankfully free from the frenemy sort of ‘support’ that is half-hearted at best, detrimental at worst.
But just when the story could have stood as just Jill’s and her trials and struggles, we have Griff. As Jill’s protector and stalwart friend for years, the gradual reveal of his feelings for her, and the sweetness to which their friendship moved through tentative flirtation through a solidly HEA worthy romance was presented and grew organically and solidly. In some respects, this is a second chance at redefining a life, and making the best of the now, despite what ailed you in the past. Jill’s story is a hopeful and beautiful one, showing that the past will always have an effect on your future, but it needn’t define it, if you are brave enough and willing to take a chance.
A story that dances on the NA line of a YA read, it was a fabulous debut and well worth the time to read.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Jillian and Griffin have been friends for years: snippets of their lives as children are sprinkled through the story. Now, Jill is away at university and Griff’s band is finally making a splash: Jill’s not sure that she can, or wants to handle yet another loss.
With several issues brought forward including depression, survivor guilt, self-harm and the attacks of 9-11 that took Jill’s parents, there are plenty of issues that could be quagmires for drama, overreach and angst. But Meyer adds these details in with sensitivity, never quite allowing them to be THE defining character traits, but pieces in the larger puzzle that is a person. Interactions and responses are beautifully drawn and develop with a natural feel, you want Jill to find some happiness and a sense of belonging, and it is the progression and growth that she shows that make her a standout.
Jill’s sister Jennifer and their trying relationship goes through changes and hits roadblocks as well, and while they never really find the closeness that I believe they both desire, they are taking steps to work toward those moments, even as Jennifer has her own trials to face. Additionally, Meyer uses the new friendships with Chandra and Sarah to enhance the story, thankfully free from the frenemy sort of ‘support’ that is half-hearted at best, detrimental at worst.
But just when the story could have stood as just Jill’s and her trials and struggles, we have Griff. As Jill’s protector and stalwart friend for years, the gradual reveal of his feelings for her, and the sweetness to which their friendship moved through tentative flirtation through a solidly HEA worthy romance was presented and grew organically and solidly. In some respects, this is a second chance at redefining a life, and making the best of the now, despite what ailed you in the past. Jill’s story is a hopeful and beautiful one, showing that the past will always have an effect on your future, but it needn’t define it, if you are brave enough and willing to take a chance.
A story that dances on the NA line of a YA read, it was a fabulous debut and well worth the time to read.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
May 1, 2015
Do you want to have your heart broken? Do you want to fall head over heels for a super hot love interest? Do you want to ship a couple so hard you feel like you might explode if they don't get together? Then you HAVE to read ACROSS THE DISTANCE.
It was the kind of book I was devastated to finish because I was going to miss the characters so much. Jillian has gone through hell in her young life—losing her parents on 9/11 and forever blaming herself—and she has the scars to prove it. Rock god Griffin has always been there for her, even in her darkest hour, and despite touring America with his hugely successful indie rock band MINE SHAFT, he always makes time to stay in touch while she's away at school.
But are they willing to take the risk and go beyond the realms of friendship into something deeper?
Honestly, sometimes I felt Jillian's pain so deeply it was like it had happened to me—but Meyer uses a light touch so you don't feel like you're being beat over the head with it. And Griffin is just SO swoon worthy, I can't even tell you. I fell in love on the very first page. He's just amazing! Gah.
For me, one of the biggest strengths were the secondary characters. The friends Jillian makes at fashion school, the super sweet members of Griffin's family, the toxic sister with too many psychological issues to count. They all felt so real and fleshed out.
ATD was one of the most emotionally charged books I've ever read, so beware—you'll need the tissues at the ready. I'm so excited to see what Meyer comes up with next, because I'm going to be first in line to preorder!
It was the kind of book I was devastated to finish because I was going to miss the characters so much. Jillian has gone through hell in her young life—losing her parents on 9/11 and forever blaming herself—and she has the scars to prove it. Rock god Griffin has always been there for her, even in her darkest hour, and despite touring America with his hugely successful indie rock band MINE SHAFT, he always makes time to stay in touch while she's away at school.
But are they willing to take the risk and go beyond the realms of friendship into something deeper?
Honestly, sometimes I felt Jillian's pain so deeply it was like it had happened to me—but Meyer uses a light touch so you don't feel like you're being beat over the head with it. And Griffin is just SO swoon worthy, I can't even tell you. I fell in love on the very first page. He's just amazing! Gah.
For me, one of the biggest strengths were the secondary characters. The friends Jillian makes at fashion school, the super sweet members of Griffin's family, the toxic sister with too many psychological issues to count. They all felt so real and fleshed out.
ATD was one of the most emotionally charged books I've ever read, so beware—you'll need the tissues at the ready. I'm so excited to see what Meyer comes up with next, because I'm going to be first in line to preorder!
April 9, 2015
The concept of falling for your best friend is age-old but Marie writes it in a fresh way. Griffin and Jillian have been best friends since they were children, since Jillian lost her parents and moved in to her grandparents' house next door. Now, as Jillian goes to college (with a number of heartbreaking issues), Griffin is her rock...except now he's far away in Illinois while she's in Rhode Island and somehow the gap between them seems wider than ever.
I LOVED how Marie wove flashbacks into the story with hints left along the way. It made me want to keep reading so I could find out why Jillian was so troubled and why Griffin was so protective. I loved watching their relationship unfold from best friendship to more--she captured the development on Griffin's side so accurately, from the tentative looks to the uncertainty that comes with falling for someone who knows everything about you. By the end of the book, I'd fallen in love with Griffin as equally as Jillian! I thought their ambition was great as well--Griffin is a budding rock star and Jillian is in fashion design school with an incredibly loyal group of friends.
I'd recommend ACROSS THE DISTANCE to anyone who wants a love story with a little angst and a lot of heart. :)
I LOVED how Marie wove flashbacks into the story with hints left along the way. It made me want to keep reading so I could find out why Jillian was so troubled and why Griffin was so protective. I loved watching their relationship unfold from best friendship to more--she captured the development on Griffin's side so accurately, from the tentative looks to the uncertainty that comes with falling for someone who knows everything about you. By the end of the book, I'd fallen in love with Griffin as equally as Jillian! I thought their ambition was great as well--Griffin is a budding rock star and Jillian is in fashion design school with an incredibly loyal group of friends.
I'd recommend ACROSS THE DISTANCE to anyone who wants a love story with a little angst and a lot of heart. :)
April 23, 2015
I couldn't put it down once I began! Jillian and Griffin are so naturally in love with one another and I loved that! The two have grown up together with Griffin as her best friend and protector. The path to becoming a couple is less than easy when Jillian doesn't want to lose Griffin by pushing something other than friendship and Griffin trying to sort out how to convey his feelings appropriately to Jillian.
I loved watching Jillian begin to shape herself and grow. She made friends while away at college while processing her growing need for Griffin. I adored Griffin's character and how well he was suited for Jillian. The two fit together like two pieces of a heart puzzle. The sizzle between them is more than lust which makes the tumble into sex all the more sweet. If you are a sucker for childhood friends turning to lovers and protective make characters, this is so your kind of read.
I loved watching Jillian begin to shape herself and grow. She made friends while away at college while processing her growing need for Griffin. I adored Griffin's character and how well he was suited for Jillian. The two fit together like two pieces of a heart puzzle. The sizzle between them is more than lust which makes the tumble into sex all the more sweet. If you are a sucker for childhood friends turning to lovers and protective make characters, this is so your kind of read.
June 22, 2015
I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait to read the next book in this series which will be from Griffin's perspective. I loved Griffin and want one of him for my very own. It has been awhile since I've read a friends to lovers book and I forgot how much I enjoyed them in general and this one in particular. The 9/11 part of the story while important did not make for an overly grim story as it sometimes can. Jill as an excellent protagonist and whilst I could never warm up to her sister Jennifer she did play a key part in the plot. I think I may have found a new fav author in Marie Meyer.
May 16, 2015
Every now and then (too rarely, I might add), you come across a story that grabs hold of you from page one and doesn't let go until you reach the end laughing and crying, all at the same time. ACROSS THE DISTANCE is one of those rare gems. Thanks, Marie.
May 10, 2015
This was sweet, but (extremely) dumb. The writing was simplistic and juvenile. I likely will not read another book by this author.
However, I did enjoy the "positive female friendships."
However, I did enjoy the "positive female friendships."
didn-t-finish
August 17, 2015DNF @ 45%
May 24, 2015
Not usually the type of book I read, but I really enjoyed this. I loved how the hero had a Triumph motorcycle, that was cool! Can't wait for the next one!
May 24, 2015
This was a fun, steamy romance! I really enjoyed it!
May 5, 2015
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: A cute best friend romance that covered come tender issues. While I enjoyed this story it was very forgettable and had a few things that I found frustrating at times!
Opening Sentence: The tape screeched when I pulled it over the top of another box.
The Review:
Jill has spent most of her life wishing for things to be different. Her parents died in the Twin Towers when she was only a little girl and it has been hard for Jill to move on from that. She always felt that it was her fault even though logically she knows it really wasn’t. She has gone through endless hours of therapy, but the one person that really got her through everything was her best friend Griffin. He has been there for through every bad moment, but Jill is getting ready to leave for college a thousand miles away. She will leave everything and everyone behind to start over, including her rock Griffin.
For most of their lives Jill and Griffin has a strictly platonic relationship, but towards the end of her senior year Jill started to feel differently about him. At a graduation party she actually went as far to kiss him and it didn’t end very well. Thankfully their friendship is still in tack, but there has been crazy sexual tension between them ever since. He sends her a lot of mixed signals and there is no way she is going to put herself out there again just to get rejected, her heart can’t take that neither can her pride.
Now that she has left for college their friendship has started to fall apart. Griffin’s band just hit it huge so he’s crazy busy, but he always made time for Jill before. Before they wouldn’t go a single day without talking and now they will go weeks without any type of communication. Moving away has been a lot harder for Jill then she thought and some of her old demons are starting to resurface, but this time she doesn’t seem to have Griffin to rely on. Will she be able to finally face her past and be honest with herself about how she truly feels about her best friend before it’s too late?
Jill is a sweet girl that I could sympathize with easily. Her story is a sad one, but I admired that she was willing to move on from her past. Moving away for college and living her dreams was very difficult for her, but I loved that she took the chance. She had some serious depression issues growing up and she has always leaned heavily on others to help her, especially Griffin. Leaving him behind was a huge step for Jill and it was interesting watching her try to deal with all the feels that came with starting over. I found her story heartbreaking, but also very inspirational. There were times when she became more whiney then I normally like, but it didn’t bother me a ton. Overall, I enjoyed getting to know her and I am glad I got to read her story.
Griffin is a total swoonworthy boy, but I felt a slight disconnect with him throughout the story. Sure he is gorgeous, kind, and mysterious, but he also frustrated me. He sent so many mixed signals to Jill that it confused me. In one chapter he would be the perfect supportive best friend, and then in the next chapter he was pretty much non-existent. He would go weeks without talking to her, which I just didn’t really understand. I get that he was super busy with the band getting a record deal, but with how much he claimed to care about Jill, I felt that he should have made a bigger effort to be there for her. But on the flip side of things once their relationship started to develop into something more than friendship my feeling towards Griffin became much more positive. He turned into a really sweet guy that I could totally fall in love with. So in the end, I did like Griffin, I just felt like it took too long so I didn’t love him as much as I wanted to.
Across the Distance is a cute love story that covers some tender issues. I have always been a sucker for best friend romances and this one was done really well. It developed slowly and I could really feel the chemistry between the two characters. While the plot was predictable, the story as a whole was still very entertaining. I will admit that when I was reading this I was more in the mood for a love story and so there were times I started to skim through some of the more serious parts. It’s not that they were written badly or anything like that, it was more that I just wasn’t really in the mood to read them. The only negative thing I would say about this book is that it is forgettable. I read this a few days ago and I am already forgetting what happened in the story. I wonder if I was in a better state of mind if I would have connected with this story more, but I’m not sure. Overall, this was a quick, enjoyable read but it’s probably not something I would ever read again.
Notable Scene:
Griffin smiled back at me for a second more, then looked down at the acoustic guitar in his hands. He strummed a couple of slow, steady chords and then looked back at me. His simmering gaze sent goose bumps across my skin. I felt the meticulously constructed wall around my heart burning to the ground with each scorching glance. A couple of dark waves of hair fell into his eyes as he got ready to sing. I’d give anything to sweep them away…to run my fingers through his hair.
When he opened his mouth, a deep sexy baritone voice filtered through the speakers of my iPad. I watched him intently, taking in everything from the sway of his body when he played his guitar, to the way his mouth moved, remembering the way it had felt oh-so-briefly on mine. I watched in blissful silence, soaking up the rich sounds of Griffin’s song melting into my ears.
I was so ready to go home…to him.
FTC Advisory: Forever/Hachette provided me with a copy of Across the Distance. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: A cute best friend romance that covered come tender issues. While I enjoyed this story it was very forgettable and had a few things that I found frustrating at times!
Opening Sentence: The tape screeched when I pulled it over the top of another box.
The Review:
Jill has spent most of her life wishing for things to be different. Her parents died in the Twin Towers when she was only a little girl and it has been hard for Jill to move on from that. She always felt that it was her fault even though logically she knows it really wasn’t. She has gone through endless hours of therapy, but the one person that really got her through everything was her best friend Griffin. He has been there for through every bad moment, but Jill is getting ready to leave for college a thousand miles away. She will leave everything and everyone behind to start over, including her rock Griffin.
For most of their lives Jill and Griffin has a strictly platonic relationship, but towards the end of her senior year Jill started to feel differently about him. At a graduation party she actually went as far to kiss him and it didn’t end very well. Thankfully their friendship is still in tack, but there has been crazy sexual tension between them ever since. He sends her a lot of mixed signals and there is no way she is going to put herself out there again just to get rejected, her heart can’t take that neither can her pride.
Now that she has left for college their friendship has started to fall apart. Griffin’s band just hit it huge so he’s crazy busy, but he always made time for Jill before. Before they wouldn’t go a single day without talking and now they will go weeks without any type of communication. Moving away has been a lot harder for Jill then she thought and some of her old demons are starting to resurface, but this time she doesn’t seem to have Griffin to rely on. Will she be able to finally face her past and be honest with herself about how she truly feels about her best friend before it’s too late?
Jill is a sweet girl that I could sympathize with easily. Her story is a sad one, but I admired that she was willing to move on from her past. Moving away for college and living her dreams was very difficult for her, but I loved that she took the chance. She had some serious depression issues growing up and she has always leaned heavily on others to help her, especially Griffin. Leaving him behind was a huge step for Jill and it was interesting watching her try to deal with all the feels that came with starting over. I found her story heartbreaking, but also very inspirational. There were times when she became more whiney then I normally like, but it didn’t bother me a ton. Overall, I enjoyed getting to know her and I am glad I got to read her story.
Griffin is a total swoonworthy boy, but I felt a slight disconnect with him throughout the story. Sure he is gorgeous, kind, and mysterious, but he also frustrated me. He sent so many mixed signals to Jill that it confused me. In one chapter he would be the perfect supportive best friend, and then in the next chapter he was pretty much non-existent. He would go weeks without talking to her, which I just didn’t really understand. I get that he was super busy with the band getting a record deal, but with how much he claimed to care about Jill, I felt that he should have made a bigger effort to be there for her. But on the flip side of things once their relationship started to develop into something more than friendship my feeling towards Griffin became much more positive. He turned into a really sweet guy that I could totally fall in love with. So in the end, I did like Griffin, I just felt like it took too long so I didn’t love him as much as I wanted to.
Across the Distance is a cute love story that covers some tender issues. I have always been a sucker for best friend romances and this one was done really well. It developed slowly and I could really feel the chemistry between the two characters. While the plot was predictable, the story as a whole was still very entertaining. I will admit that when I was reading this I was more in the mood for a love story and so there were times I started to skim through some of the more serious parts. It’s not that they were written badly or anything like that, it was more that I just wasn’t really in the mood to read them. The only negative thing I would say about this book is that it is forgettable. I read this a few days ago and I am already forgetting what happened in the story. I wonder if I was in a better state of mind if I would have connected with this story more, but I’m not sure. Overall, this was a quick, enjoyable read but it’s probably not something I would ever read again.
Notable Scene:
Griffin smiled back at me for a second more, then looked down at the acoustic guitar in his hands. He strummed a couple of slow, steady chords and then looked back at me. His simmering gaze sent goose bumps across my skin. I felt the meticulously constructed wall around my heart burning to the ground with each scorching glance. A couple of dark waves of hair fell into his eyes as he got ready to sing. I’d give anything to sweep them away…to run my fingers through his hair.
When he opened his mouth, a deep sexy baritone voice filtered through the speakers of my iPad. I watched him intently, taking in everything from the sway of his body when he played his guitar, to the way his mouth moved, remembering the way it had felt oh-so-briefly on mine. I watched in blissful silence, soaking up the rich sounds of Griffin’s song melting into my ears.
I was so ready to go home…to him.
FTC Advisory: Forever/Hachette provided me with a copy of Across the Distance. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
March 23, 2016
Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick
I went into Across the Distance by Marie Meyer almost blind. I knew it was a friends to lovers romance, but I didn't know much more than that. I found myself sucked right into the story and read it in one sitting. I enjoyed this story a lot, and I loved the relationship between Griffin and Jillian. I will definitely be looking for more from Marie Meyer in the future.
Jillian has been friends with Griffin since they were kids. Over the years her feelings for him changed from just friendship to wanting more. But when she made a move and kissed him, he pushed her away. Rather than lose him, she went back to just being friends and tried to bury her feelings for him. But when she heads to design school thousands of miles away, they are separated for the first time and she feels him slipping away. As his band takes off and their popularity increases as well as the distance between them, she begins to talk to him less and finds her past demons resurfacing. But when Jillian and Griffin do get to see each other and talk to one another, she finds herself wondering if maybe he is beginning to feel the same way for her.
I really liked Jillian and Griffin. I was worried that this was just going to be another NA story that used 9/11 to garner sympathy for a main character and that the story would spend too much time on that. I was pleasantly surprised though that while that did affect Jillian, it wasn't a huge factor in this story. Jillian had struggled with losing her parents so young and how it changed her relationship with her sister. Jillian's sister was unlikable and she treated Jillian horribly. I was so glad that Jillian had Griffin and his family. They took her in and were always there for her. The friendship she developed with Griffin was so strong, and I really felt like these two were so fantastic for one another. They had so much love and support between them, and I liked that their relationship was always a positive one. They might have disagreed or had some issues with one another, but they never treated each other badly and it was so refreshing. Griffin was such a rock for Jillian, and he was always there for her no matter what. I will admit that Jillian needed Griffin far more than what I would think is necessary for most people, but I honestly didn't think that she was weak and it didn't really bother me. I thought that Griffin brought out the best in her and was a great source of encouragement for her to go after her dreams. He showed her that she could be strong and independent, but that he would always be there for her even if it was by phone rather than in person.
One of the best things about this book is the fact that it showed the growth and change between Jillian and Griffin. Things didn't happen overnight, and I really liked seeing them transition between friendship and being in a relationship. The slow build felt real and believable to me, and I really felt like it was the natural progression of things for these two. When Griffin had turned her down the first time she kissed him, he told her their timing wasn't right and that really felt true to me. It seemed like Jillian had needed the extra time to become stronger and deal with her past and pain before she could really be with Griffin. They were perfect together, and I could tell that things between them would be lasting because of all they had been through together. As much as I really loved Griffin and Jillian, I also really enjoyed the friends that Jillian made and was glad that she was able to open up to others as well as him. The one thing that I felt was missing in this story though was Griffin's POV. I really would have loved to see what he was thinking and feeling rather than just how he interacted with Jillian. I did see that Marie Meyer is releasing a book with Griffin's story, so I am hoping that we get to see more of what he was going through as well. I think if you are a YA or NA fan you will enjoy this book. If you aren't a fan of younger characters and the YA or NA genres though, this might not be for you. This book was sweet and entertaining, and I enjoyed it a lot.
**ARC Provided by Publisher**
I went into Across the Distance by Marie Meyer almost blind. I knew it was a friends to lovers romance, but I didn't know much more than that. I found myself sucked right into the story and read it in one sitting. I enjoyed this story a lot, and I loved the relationship between Griffin and Jillian. I will definitely be looking for more from Marie Meyer in the future.
Jillian has been friends with Griffin since they were kids. Over the years her feelings for him changed from just friendship to wanting more. But when she made a move and kissed him, he pushed her away. Rather than lose him, she went back to just being friends and tried to bury her feelings for him. But when she heads to design school thousands of miles away, they are separated for the first time and she feels him slipping away. As his band takes off and their popularity increases as well as the distance between them, she begins to talk to him less and finds her past demons resurfacing. But when Jillian and Griffin do get to see each other and talk to one another, she finds herself wondering if maybe he is beginning to feel the same way for her.
I really liked Jillian and Griffin. I was worried that this was just going to be another NA story that used 9/11 to garner sympathy for a main character and that the story would spend too much time on that. I was pleasantly surprised though that while that did affect Jillian, it wasn't a huge factor in this story. Jillian had struggled with losing her parents so young and how it changed her relationship with her sister. Jillian's sister was unlikable and she treated Jillian horribly. I was so glad that Jillian had Griffin and his family. They took her in and were always there for her. The friendship she developed with Griffin was so strong, and I really felt like these two were so fantastic for one another. They had so much love and support between them, and I liked that their relationship was always a positive one. They might have disagreed or had some issues with one another, but they never treated each other badly and it was so refreshing. Griffin was such a rock for Jillian, and he was always there for her no matter what. I will admit that Jillian needed Griffin far more than what I would think is necessary for most people, but I honestly didn't think that she was weak and it didn't really bother me. I thought that Griffin brought out the best in her and was a great source of encouragement for her to go after her dreams. He showed her that she could be strong and independent, but that he would always be there for her even if it was by phone rather than in person.
One of the best things about this book is the fact that it showed the growth and change between Jillian and Griffin. Things didn't happen overnight, and I really liked seeing them transition between friendship and being in a relationship. The slow build felt real and believable to me, and I really felt like it was the natural progression of things for these two. When Griffin had turned her down the first time she kissed him, he told her their timing wasn't right and that really felt true to me. It seemed like Jillian had needed the extra time to become stronger and deal with her past and pain before she could really be with Griffin. They were perfect together, and I could tell that things between them would be lasting because of all they had been through together. As much as I really loved Griffin and Jillian, I also really enjoyed the friends that Jillian made and was glad that she was able to open up to others as well as him. The one thing that I felt was missing in this story though was Griffin's POV. I really would have loved to see what he was thinking and feeling rather than just how he interacted with Jillian. I did see that Marie Meyer is releasing a book with Griffin's story, so I am hoping that we get to see more of what he was going through as well. I think if you are a YA or NA fan you will enjoy this book. If you aren't a fan of younger characters and the YA or NA genres though, this might not be for you. This book was sweet and entertaining, and I enjoyed it a lot.
**ARC Provided by Publisher**
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May 3, 2015The fact that I haven't written a review yet for Across the Distance when it's been released in TWO DAYS should give you an idea of how crazy my life has been over the last year.
So, back in 2013, I agreed to be a mentor in a contest, called Pitch Wars, that the fabulous Brenda Drake hosts every year. The premise behind Pitch Wars is that authors submit unagented and unpublished works for a chance to work with a mentor who is usually an agented and/or published author or someone connected to the industry. Authors and mentors work together editing the manuscript and then after about two months, the pitch & first 250 words of the manuscript are posted on Brenda's blog for agents to peruse. If they like what they see, they comment and request a sample. I had very specific criteria for my mentees. I wanted something rife with potential and I wanted it to be marketable.
Marie was my top pick.
A lot of editing ensued over the next two months. A LOT. I don't mean like tweaking or rephrasing, I mean like entire chunks of the book were cut or completely rewritten. Did I mention this was November into January? Right over the holiday season? And Marie has two kids? It didn't matter what I threw at her, Marie rolled with it and made it work. She completely revamped and revised her manuscript over two months.
As a native New Yorker, 9/11 is an important part of my history and one of the things that initially appealed to me about Across the Distance was how 9/11 was part of the story without being the focus of the story. Yet I started to question whether it really needed to be 9/11. Wouldn't the book still have weight and purpose if her parents died some other way? Wouldn't Jillian still be dealing with the same issues? I hadn't broached the topic with Marie yet when I received the next set of edits. I read the new chapters and I just started bawling. Marie had written a scene that was so poignant, so heartbreaking, it put all my doubts to rest.
Marie knows her characters to the extent that they're not just words on a page, but people.
After Pitch Wars, Marie got an agent (yay!) who sold the book (obvs!) to Forever Romance (yay!) and a wonderful editor who said this is a great start, let's make it even better (and they did!).
At its core, Across the Distance is a true new adult, a story of what happens when you move from one stage of your life to another. You leave some people behind, you bring some with you, and you meet new ones. It's a story that shows the past, who we were, it will never truly leave us, but that we can control how much impact it has on our future. Going away to college changes Jillian's life, but it doesn't magically make all her problems go away. Only Jillian can do that and over the course of the book, she fights for her future, for a chance to be happy. This is an angst-y book, but underneath it all, there's hope.
So I recommend Across the Distance for many reasons, but the most important one is this: if Jillian can do it, so can you. Fresh starts are possible and help will be there if you ask for it. Don't give up.
Across the Distance, May 5th, at your preferred e-bookstore.
So, back in 2013, I agreed to be a mentor in a contest, called Pitch Wars, that the fabulous Brenda Drake hosts every year. The premise behind Pitch Wars is that authors submit unagented and unpublished works for a chance to work with a mentor who is usually an agented and/or published author or someone connected to the industry. Authors and mentors work together editing the manuscript and then after about two months, the pitch & first 250 words of the manuscript are posted on Brenda's blog for agents to peruse. If they like what they see, they comment and request a sample. I had very specific criteria for my mentees. I wanted something rife with potential and I wanted it to be marketable.
Marie was my top pick.
A lot of editing ensued over the next two months. A LOT. I don't mean like tweaking or rephrasing, I mean like entire chunks of the book were cut or completely rewritten. Did I mention this was November into January? Right over the holiday season? And Marie has two kids? It didn't matter what I threw at her, Marie rolled with it and made it work. She completely revamped and revised her manuscript over two months.
As a native New Yorker, 9/11 is an important part of my history and one of the things that initially appealed to me about Across the Distance was how 9/11 was part of the story without being the focus of the story. Yet I started to question whether it really needed to be 9/11. Wouldn't the book still have weight and purpose if her parents died some other way? Wouldn't Jillian still be dealing with the same issues? I hadn't broached the topic with Marie yet when I received the next set of edits. I read the new chapters and I just started bawling. Marie had written a scene that was so poignant, so heartbreaking, it put all my doubts to rest.
Marie knows her characters to the extent that they're not just words on a page, but people.
After Pitch Wars, Marie got an agent (yay!) who sold the book (obvs!) to Forever Romance (yay!) and a wonderful editor who said this is a great start, let's make it even better (and they did!).
At its core, Across the Distance is a true new adult, a story of what happens when you move from one stage of your life to another. You leave some people behind, you bring some with you, and you meet new ones. It's a story that shows the past, who we were, it will never truly leave us, but that we can control how much impact it has on our future. Going away to college changes Jillian's life, but it doesn't magically make all her problems go away. Only Jillian can do that and over the course of the book, she fights for her future, for a chance to be happy. This is an angst-y book, but underneath it all, there's hope.
So I recommend Across the Distance for many reasons, but the most important one is this: if Jillian can do it, so can you. Fresh starts are possible and help will be there if you ask for it. Don't give up.
Across the Distance, May 5th, at your preferred e-bookstore.
May 5, 2015
Book Review- Across the Distance by Marie Meyer
Jillian is going to design school in Rhode Island. She can’t wait to move away from her sister, but she will be leaving Griffin, her best friend, behind. She doesn’t know what she will do without him. She lost her parents on September 11 and Griffin has been with her since she moved in with her grandparents.
She is now feeling overwhelmed with school. She feels like she can’t measure up and she is missing Griffin. His band is doing well and he isn’t around to talk to her every day. She is feeling forgotten and a failure. When she accidentally slices her finger with a razor blade and embraces the pain, she panics and calls Griffin. He makes her promise to call her therapist for help.
She gets herself under control and goes home for Christmas. Over break everything changes. Griffin is busy with his band for most of her break. She had to spend time really learning to understand what she wanted. She and Griffin finally are truthful with each other and it changes their relationship. Things are going great but when something unexpected occurs it can all come crashing down.
I really liked this book. Jillian is broken and blames herself for her parents’ deaths. So does her sister. The family is also broken. The only real support that Jillian has is Griffin and his family. She always has. The relationship was one of the central parts of the story. It was sweet and I was happy when it finally changed. I rooted for Jillian the entire time. I also really liked her character. She had issues and fears. She struggled with everything. The voices inside her head constantly tore down her confidence. She was very human and relatable. Grief and guilt rule her life. She used to cut herself to get rid of her pain. After she almost died she sought help. I like the positive message about that. Her doctor seemed awesome and what Jillian needed.
I also liked the accident. It made her face all her fears and embrace what she wanted. It was a great read. I loved it and definitely recommend it. I gave it a 5 out of 5.
Jillian is going to design school in Rhode Island. She can’t wait to move away from her sister, but she will be leaving Griffin, her best friend, behind. She doesn’t know what she will do without him. She lost her parents on September 11 and Griffin has been with her since she moved in with her grandparents.
She is now feeling overwhelmed with school. She feels like she can’t measure up and she is missing Griffin. His band is doing well and he isn’t around to talk to her every day. She is feeling forgotten and a failure. When she accidentally slices her finger with a razor blade and embraces the pain, she panics and calls Griffin. He makes her promise to call her therapist for help.
She gets herself under control and goes home for Christmas. Over break everything changes. Griffin is busy with his band for most of her break. She had to spend time really learning to understand what she wanted. She and Griffin finally are truthful with each other and it changes their relationship. Things are going great but when something unexpected occurs it can all come crashing down.
I really liked this book. Jillian is broken and blames herself for her parents’ deaths. So does her sister. The family is also broken. The only real support that Jillian has is Griffin and his family. She always has. The relationship was one of the central parts of the story. It was sweet and I was happy when it finally changed. I rooted for Jillian the entire time. I also really liked her character. She had issues and fears. She struggled with everything. The voices inside her head constantly tore down her confidence. She was very human and relatable. Grief and guilt rule her life. She used to cut herself to get rid of her pain. After she almost died she sought help. I like the positive message about that. Her doctor seemed awesome and what Jillian needed.
I also liked the accident. It made her face all her fears and embrace what she wanted. It was a great read. I loved it and definitely recommend it. I gave it a 5 out of 5.
June 17, 2015
Such a real story, too real to be fictional story.
Jillian had suffered so much heartache in her life. The lose of both her parents dieting in the collapse of the world trade center blowing up. Jillian feels it was her flat, and her sister blames her too.
They were raised by there grandparents in St Louis, Illinois. The only positive an saving grace comes from by way of her grandparents next door neighbor Griffin.
Three all the pain and darkness shrouding Jillian, she finds relief and adrenalin high in cutting her skin, to escape her guilt. Griffin being her best friend and always a constant supporter for Jillian. Griffin get Jillian counseling and loves her silently always promising to be their for Jillian. Even after both Jillian grandparents passes away. Griffin remain connected as a best friend to Jillian.
Jillian lives with her sister and her family, in which isn't healthy for Jillian. Because her sister Jennifer is a miserable an still blames Jillian for both parents death. Her sister lives a grieving unhappy live with her husband Matthew. Their relationship is strained as well.
Jillian goes 1200 miles away to college. To escape her sister, and tyres hard to put her painfully past behind her.
So in following her dreams in being a fashion designer, Jillian learns to be stronger and self reliant, all the while realizing just how much a force of LOVE Griffin is in Jillians life. While he is a lead singer an bassist in his Back Shaft.
The band fame explodes into popularity, and Griffin realizes more than ever the he misses Jillian and that he's truly an utterly IN LOVE WITH JILLIAN.
WHAT A WONDERFUL true to life story. Loved it!
I highly recommend the book. Believe me you'll want a read the next book, like I do Lol.
Enjoy
Melinda
Jillian had suffered so much heartache in her life. The lose of both her parents dieting in the collapse of the world trade center blowing up. Jillian feels it was her flat, and her sister blames her too.
They were raised by there grandparents in St Louis, Illinois. The only positive an saving grace comes from by way of her grandparents next door neighbor Griffin.
Three all the pain and darkness shrouding Jillian, she finds relief and adrenalin high in cutting her skin, to escape her guilt. Griffin being her best friend and always a constant supporter for Jillian. Griffin get Jillian counseling and loves her silently always promising to be their for Jillian. Even after both Jillian grandparents passes away. Griffin remain connected as a best friend to Jillian.
Jillian lives with her sister and her family, in which isn't healthy for Jillian. Because her sister Jennifer is a miserable an still blames Jillian for both parents death. Her sister lives a grieving unhappy live with her husband Matthew. Their relationship is strained as well.
Jillian goes 1200 miles away to college. To escape her sister, and tyres hard to put her painfully past behind her.
So in following her dreams in being a fashion designer, Jillian learns to be stronger and self reliant, all the while realizing just how much a force of LOVE Griffin is in Jillians life. While he is a lead singer an bassist in his Back Shaft.
The band fame explodes into popularity, and Griffin realizes more than ever the he misses Jillian and that he's truly an utterly IN LOVE WITH JILLIAN.
WHAT A WONDERFUL true to life story. Loved it!
I highly recommend the book. Believe me you'll want a read the next book, like I do Lol.
Enjoy
Melinda
May 18, 2015
I read this book in one night. All of it. In one sitting - or lying - since I was in bed. You may need tissues if you read it. I did, because the issues hit so close to home. SO close to home.
Marie Meyer has the ability to eloquently and masterfully write about characters who have lived through a horrific tragedy and writes their story so emotionally intense and real, while still telling a gorgeous story of love and trust and compassion. Her writing and descriptions of setting and action are beautiful. I always feel like I'm in the story with the characters. Whether I'm at Jillian's college, in design class with her or eating a blueberry muffin with Griffin (or I want to be, because UMMM hottie rock god!), I'm there. Meyer's voice is strong and funny.
There aren't enough words to describe Griffin. I'm not even talking in my usual hot Rock Star alert way. He was strong, sweet, loyal, compassionate. He never let Jillian down. And when "things" happen in the book, they don't seem forced or contrived for a plot line. It's a normal friendship, a normal relationship, the ups and downs of living life long distance from someone you love.
Meyer makes me feel the sadness and anger and emptiness of two girls who have to deal with the most horrible thing that could happen to children. My heart hurts for them. The portrayal of the differences in how two sisters grow up and handle grief is heart wrenching, yet extremely accurate.
ACROSS THE DISTANCE is a well written, heart-tugging, but still uplifting story. Meyer just sealed herself a spot on my "One-click the crap out of all her books" list.
Marie Meyer has the ability to eloquently and masterfully write about characters who have lived through a horrific tragedy and writes their story so emotionally intense and real, while still telling a gorgeous story of love and trust and compassion. Her writing and descriptions of setting and action are beautiful. I always feel like I'm in the story with the characters. Whether I'm at Jillian's college, in design class with her or eating a blueberry muffin with Griffin (or I want to be, because UMMM hottie rock god!), I'm there. Meyer's voice is strong and funny.
There aren't enough words to describe Griffin. I'm not even talking in my usual hot Rock Star alert way. He was strong, sweet, loyal, compassionate. He never let Jillian down. And when "things" happen in the book, they don't seem forced or contrived for a plot line. It's a normal friendship, a normal relationship, the ups and downs of living life long distance from someone you love.
Meyer makes me feel the sadness and anger and emptiness of two girls who have to deal with the most horrible thing that could happen to children. My heart hurts for them. The portrayal of the differences in how two sisters grow up and handle grief is heart wrenching, yet extremely accurate.
ACROSS THE DISTANCE is a well written, heart-tugging, but still uplifting story. Meyer just sealed herself a spot on my "One-click the crap out of all her books" list.
September 2, 2015
A story of best friends to lovers, which is full of angst, heartache, emotion and is certainly a tear jerker too.
Jillian is still dealing with the loss of her parent 13 years ago. They died in the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York and she blames herself for their deaths. Griffin is her best friend and they have been that way since they were very young. He always vowed to protect her and be there for her 'forever'.
I don't usually like stories that deal with real life events such as this, but I felt that the author handled this delicately and respectfully when weaving it into Jillian's backstory.
Jillian is off to college to study fashion design, leaving Griffin behind in their home town to continue working with his emerging rock band and the distance between them is felt very deeply when it's time for them to part ways. You can feel how difficult it is for the both of them and that gave this book major appeal for me.
The development of Jillian and Griffin's relationship is very sweet and moved along at a steady pace keep you interested throughout and both of these characters are adorable that I found myself getting anxious for them to find their happiness in one another.
It's well written and set at a good pace that keep me interested for the entire read. I recommend that you check out this solid read now.
Book was given to me by the author in return for an honest review
For more bookish fun - Sharon's Book Nook!
Jillian is still dealing with the loss of her parent 13 years ago. They died in the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York and she blames herself for their deaths. Griffin is her best friend and they have been that way since they were very young. He always vowed to protect her and be there for her 'forever'.
I don't usually like stories that deal with real life events such as this, but I felt that the author handled this delicately and respectfully when weaving it into Jillian's backstory.
Jillian is off to college to study fashion design, leaving Griffin behind in their home town to continue working with his emerging rock band and the distance between them is felt very deeply when it's time for them to part ways. You can feel how difficult it is for the both of them and that gave this book major appeal for me.
The development of Jillian and Griffin's relationship is very sweet and moved along at a steady pace keep you interested throughout and both of these characters are adorable that I found myself getting anxious for them to find their happiness in one another.
It's well written and set at a good pace that keep me interested for the entire read. I recommend that you check out this solid read now.
Book was given to me by the author in return for an honest review
For more bookish fun - Sharon's Book Nook!
May 8, 2015
I really enjoyed this book but couldn't make my mind up if I should give a 4 or 5 stars., I enjoyed the writing style , loved the whole storyline as well as the awesome characters .. What I didn't not quite like was the day in, day out boringness of everyday life of the main character Jillian goes through, but there was just enough drama, spice and the other main character Griffin to keep this book above water and have me hooked..
I have to mention the dedication .. Loved it .. I knew what was coming because of it, the day is still in my mind like everyone else who was old enough to witness the devastating event happen before our eyes over and over on TV near and across the oceans.. It still made me cry reading Jillians story it made this fictional story have some reality and beat with a strong heart beat..
Jillian's character has suffered a very difficult upbringing but her one solid "forever" has never left her side...
Griffin .., mmmm I loved him.,,but I am a sucker for a hot rocker
I have to mention the dedication .. Loved it .. I knew what was coming because of it, the day is still in my mind like everyone else who was old enough to witness the devastating event happen before our eyes over and over on TV near and across the oceans.. It still made me cry reading Jillians story it made this fictional story have some reality and beat with a strong heart beat..
Jillian's character has suffered a very difficult upbringing but her one solid "forever" has never left her side...
Griffin .., mmmm I loved him.,,but I am a sucker for a hot rocker
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