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I'll Meet You There

Heather Demetrios

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Oct 07, 2014 Jasprit rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-galley, ya, contemporary, out-2015, read-in-2015

3.5 stars

For the past few months I have read several glowing reviews for Demetrios’ work. And now finally after reading I’ll Meet you There. I can see what all the hype is about. Demetrios’ writing is absolutely gorgeous. She is able to weave a story of heartbreak and hope so well that I had a hard time keeping my emotions in check.

The famous Josh Mitchell had returned from serving as a marine in Afghanistan, Skylar had worked with him at the hotel Paradise before he left, so was interested in 3.5 stars

For the past few months I have read several glowing reviews for Demetrios’ work. And now finally after reading I’ll Meet you There. I can see what all the hype is about. Demetrios’ writing is absolutely gorgeous. She is able to weave a story of heartbreak and hope so well that I had a hard time keeping my emotions in check.

The famous Josh Mitchell had returned from serving as a marine in Afghanistan, Skylar had worked with him at the hotel Paradise before he left, so was interested in when she had heard he had returned. However when she saw Josh, she didn’t expect to see what she saw. But Skylar being Skylar took it all in her stride and didn’t treat Josh differently because of it. It definitely had a huge impact on Josh’s character, before Josh was known to be a ladies’ man, he could easily charm anyone, but after his return you could say his confidence took a bit of a knock and Josh didn’t really know who he was, he had lost a lot in Afghanistan, so it was a massive step taking one day at a time. Skylar too thought she had it planned out, she would finally be leaving for San Francisco, she was tired of being cooped up in this town. But then things hit the fan and Skylar didn’t know what to do either. Skylar and Josh end up being two lost people that end up helping one another when they least expect to. Skylar has great friends in Dylan and Chris, but Josh seems to get her and ends up being there for her when she needs it the most.

I loved the slow build up of Josh and Sky’s relationship, I was at first really wary about Josh’s character, especially what I’d heard of what he was like before. But I loved getting into Josh’s head and learning and understanding about his character. For Sky it was a tough at times getting through to him, but I’m glad that she didn’t give up on him. The build up of their relationship of course wasn’t without obstacles; I did hate it when one particular event did take place and also the constant Josh mood switching. But slowly Josh was able to chip away at these feelings of disappointment that I had formed against him. I was kind of annoyed by how things went down, but in the end I think it was important for both Sky and Josh’s character development.

Josh and Sky’s character did have a huge impact on me, but Demetrios’ was able to include a great set of secondary characters which I ended up adoring too; Dylan, Chris and Marge. Dylan and Chris were like the two best friends a girl could ever ask for; they had their own stuff going on too, but would drop everything to be there for Sky. They were also great in livening up a scene with their bubbly personalities. And Marge was just an awesome motherly figure dishing out advice to Sky and Josh when they needed it the most.

Although I didn’t end up enjoying I’ll Meet you There as much as I’d hoped, it still was a beautiful story that I’m glad I gave a go. It has certainly given me the encouragement to pick up more of Demetrios’ books up soon. ...more

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Apr 04, 2015 Pili rated it it was amazing

My ratings usually come from gut feelings and when I've been through so many emotions and I've cried as much as I did with this book, it deserves 5 and more stars for sure. And this is particularly relevant for me since this one is a contemporary book, and it's not a genre that I am drawn to much. I usually am very picky when it comes to contemporaries and this one was an absolute bullseye for me!

Skylar is our main character and it's a girl that wants to get out of the small town she has always My ratings usually come from gut feelings and when I've been through so many emotions and I've cried as much as I did with this book, it deserves 5 and more stars for sure. And this is particularly relevant for me since this one is a contemporary book, and it's not a genre that I am drawn to much. I usually am very picky when it comes to contemporaries and this one was an absolute bullseye for me!

Skylar is our main character and it's a girl that wants to get out of the small town she has always lived in, and that dream of going away, all the planning and saving and thinking, is what has kept her sane through a very crappy and tough and all around messed up family dynamic, with her dad dead and her mum not being much of a parent for quite some time. Skylar has just graduated high school, has a scholarship for a fantastic art school and she just needs to get through a final summer before she can follow her dreams.

The relationship between Skylar and her mum was painful to read at times, but so raw and real and heartfelt. Skylar has been the one taking over the adult role and being the one responsible for herself and her mother for a lot time already and once her mum falls into another dark hole, Skylar feels like she'll have to give up everything to pull her mum out of it. It was very much a role reversal with the teen being the responsible one and the mum being the one in need of care. I found myself wishing that Skylar would stop feeling so responsible for her mum and would decide to focus on herself more, and feeling like crap for wishing that because her mum is her only family, and we do take care of those we love.

Then we got her friends, Dylan and Chris, both excellently written secondary characters that break through the possible sterotypes. Dylan is a girl that wears tight clothes and has a baby boy, a teen mother that is madly in love with her son's father and that has managed to graduate. Chris is Skylar's ally on the quest to leave their town, to be more and a genius at math. I loved how their relationship went through some hardships due to their different choices about staying or leaving for the future, and how despite it all they were there for each other through and through!

And then we got Josh, and he is such a broken and complex character and one that I simply felt for so much! He also wanted to leave town and did so as a soldier, to fight in Afghanistan, and he is injured, loses a leg and returns suffering from PTSD. A mess if there ever was one. I am very happy that we got both Skylar and Josh's POV, because his chapters if shorter, were even more emotionally heavy and poignant and made me cry like mad! Being in his head was both amazing and painful and was necessary to get us readers to not hate him after one pretty big mistake he makes, but seeing things from his POV... well, we know he made a BIG mistake and we still want Skylar to kick his arse but also to forgive him.

I'm glad that Skylar and Josh's relationship is built by working together, hanging out together, becoming friends by feeling like outsiders and not really belonging in a place, and after quite a few false starts here and there, with communication and a lil help from others here and there, they find a way to be together. They have to work on their relationship a lot, but they do have dreams to achieve and someone to share those dreams with. And an amazing black lab doggie that made me cry even more!

This book was an amazing read for me and not only because it was extremely emotional for many reasons and not just the romance, but so many important relationships like between parent and children, friends, co-workers, parental figures. And it makes you really think and wonder about the consequences of war for those that come from it and their families. A brilliant book through and through. ...more

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Jan 27, 2015 Grace Fonseca rated it really liked it

A totally interesting book that kept me very emotionally invested in Skylar and Josh. I really liked that this book felt like a very real and honestly raw look at what happens when life changes and how we got to roll with changes, upheavals and sometimes the unexpected new beginnings that come our way.

I totally enjoyed the characters of Skylar and Josh. For me, they are what made this book work so well. You can relate to both of these characters struggles. They have dreams and ambitions about wa A totally interesting book that kept me very emotionally invested in Skylar and Josh. I really liked that this book felt like a very real and honestly raw look at what happens when life changes and how we got to roll with changes, upheavals and sometimes the unexpected new beginnings that come our way.

I totally enjoyed the characters of Skylar and Josh. For me, they are what made this book work so well. You can relate to both of these characters struggles. They have dreams and ambitions about wanting to get out of Creek View. Josh has done it, but has come back because of him losing a leg in Afghanistan. This is deeply disturbing, plus his memories always are haunting him when he sleeps at night. Plus he wants to go college. This is admirable. Skylar is looking forward to going to San Francisco so she can pursue her dreams of having an art career. Skylar has issues of her own. Just as her life is going her way, her mother loses her job. Skylar and her mother were just scraping by as it was. Now Skylar worries if she can really leave.

The romance between Skylar and Josh really is wonderful to see develop. I like how at first they try to fight their feelings for one another. As they are working together at the hotel, they really do spend time and get to know one another. Plus their friends really are good sounding boards at times for both Skylar and Josh. Sometimes both Skylar and Josh need a kick in the butt to make decisions for themselves. As the romance grows, Skylar’s problems at home start to take their toll on her.

Skylar is very worried about her mother and then her mother makes some really weird decisions that has Skylar worried. Her mother’s new boyfriend is really bad in Skyar’s opinion. Yet Skylar’s mother and friends are telling her not to worry. This is her mother’s decision. Skylar needs to live her life and not try to take care of everyone else’s problems. Skylar takes that advice and as the book goes on, her mother starts to get better in a lot of ways despite Skylar’s reservations about her mom’s boyfriend.

I also like how Josh realizes that his life is not in Creek View. He needs to let go of what happened in Afghanistan. This I think was one of the hardest parts for Josh. People come back from bad situations not sure about how to move on. Through his friendships, family relationships, and his relationship with Skylar, he learns that life is about moving forward, not backwards. Also love that Josh was so tender with Skylar, that it was really one of the more wonderful parts of the book to witness.

Rating:

4 Hearts ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Oct 18, 2014 Glass marked it as to-read

Apr 05, 2015 Lauren rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-2015

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