Love, and its deep complexities, is the main theme that runs throughout this novel posing the question all too often to the reader: just how far would we go for love? Would we give up everything? The story centred around two main characters who were both very relatable as individuals. I adored the slightly flighty, spontaneous and passionate nature of Xo but also saw traits of myself in the cautious and vulnerable Elliot. They were at times a slightly unusual match but the tentative way that this novel unfolds proves that they do indeed share many qualities that make them right for each other. What I also appreciated was how intricately explored the character’s back stories were and these themselves provided a strong backbone for the novel and its many twists and turns. The subtle and slow way that the character revealed the hidden layers of Xo and Elliot also made for intriguing reading and I found myself gripped as I waited for answers as to what they were hiding or running away from. As with any love story, there are many twists and turns but these aren’t unbelievable due to the aforementioned reasons. The sceptical side of me did question how quickly certain aspects of Elliot and Xo’s romance blossomed and certainly why there was a sudden rush; approximately two thirds of the way into the novel I began to wonder where the story was now actually going to go but Sirkka Smith swooped in and provided an excellent recovery. I would however, if I were to read this book again, treat it as two novels within one, which you will understand should you wish to read it yourself. I had the wonderful opportunity to review this book after being sent it from the voracious readers. With an indulgent mixture of teen fiction vibes and literary references, this novel fell into the brackets of easy reading and was the perfect novel to curl up with on a cosy Sunday afternoon. For this reason, I award the novel 4 stars.
Not Available to Buy at The Book Dragon
