REVIEW:
COAST BY JAY MCLEAN
"You hope for a better tomorrow. And if it doesn't come? Then you cherish a greater yesterday."
From the occasionally twisted (and often genius) mind of Jay McLean comes the anxiously awaited sequel to Kick Push, and whew... it's a beast!
“We loved in ways that can’t be explained, hurt in ways that can’t be justified. We felt every possible emotion under the sun."
Have you ever been terrified to read a follow up book because the first book was so emotional and heartfelt and it just hit you where it hurts?! Clearly, you have if you finished the first book in this dynamic duet. I was beyond scared to read Coast. Josh and Becca hold this super special place in my heart (the place where McLean shanked me with the feels) and I was so worried that things might not end up like I was hoping for, or that I'd be left wanting. To be honest, it took me a very VERY long time to come to terms with my feelings over the first book because it was so painfully realistic (to me). Ha! What the heck was I even thinking?!
"I wonder how it’s going to be possible for my heart to function when she won’t be around to make it beat. Make it live. Make it ache in a way that lets me know that living is just breathing, but living with her means living with purpose. With awareness. With love."
Jay has done what she does best, she has given us nothing that we're expecting and absolutely everything that we've been needing and she makes us feel every single second right now, in real time. This book is simply unlike any other, it's intense and dripping in so much reality that you can almost reach into your e-reader and give your new favorite characters a great big hug (or slap in the face, depending on where you land on the Becca/Josh scale). Every single barb of pain, every whisper of longing, every sob of defeat, every giggle of joy, every sigh of love, every single feeling... Jay McLean owns them all in Coast. I am currently living with the biggest book hangover that I have EVER had.
"I kiss him until the questions disappear, and we’re nothing but tangled limbs and urgent emotions on a bed of memories. Our hands touch, tease, re-familiarize."
Things pick off right where KP left off, and immediately the emotions are running at full steam, don't expect a second of cushioning or kid gloves in this story. Prepare for your heart to be rubbed raw and full of so much pain, longing and misunderstanding that you'll feel ALMOST broken. Sounds rough, huh? It is! Much like real life, there is no sugarcoating the hurt that both Josh and Becca are feeling. It is hard to read, but it's done with so much beauty and artistry that you'll smile through the ache.
"I was jealous of everyone and everything around you. I was jealous of the air you breathed, the paths you walked, even the hearts you’d crush. Because they all got to be around you and I couldn’t.”
Each one of our beloved main characters has a LOT of growing up to do, they have mountains (or lists) of unresolved issues that need to be addressed before they can even begin to figure out who they are to each other. It might be difficult at times, you want everything to fall together into perfect pieces... but they won't. It takes time and understanding and I loved the slow burn that this book provided.
Josh and Becca are living separate lives when we find them, and it's fascinating to get to learn how and why they ended up exactly where they are. Becca is in college, living her life through a series of fabulous photographs and making new friends while gaining a fresh perspective about her family. She's attempting to work through all the emotional issues that plague both her reality and dreams. Becca is growing, developing, and becoming a more secure person. As always, she's easy to root for given her selfless nature and giant heart. Basically, Becca is my homegirl and I would be thrilled to add her to my best book friend group.
"I want you to look at the stars and realize that there’s a whole universe out there, and this world you and I live in is so tiny in comparison. But there’s nothing—not a damn thing in the entire universe you could possibly ever say or do that would make me mad at you. I’m sorry if I made you think that."
Josh is crazy busy. He's working hard to find a balance between his personal and blossoming professional life. He struggles to figure out who he wants to be versus who he feels like he should be in order to make everyone proud of him. He's still completely dedicated to his son (swoon), and there are plenty of new Tommy induced laughing fits. Despite his successful career and slew of new friends, Josh still battles his own set of personal demons and he needs to slay his own insecurities before he can build a promising future. In Coast we get to see these once lovesick teens grow up and become enlightened adults.
"Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep and if I should die before I wake... I pray in heaven, I can skate."
Amidst the amazing angst and heartbreaking confessions, there is that McLean charm. Love and laughter fill every page, even the ones that you'll struggle to see (because of allergies, not tears, of course). Each little joke and goofy one liner provides you with a quick intake of air. That's right, you'll smile through the sobs and the sporadic humor will undoubtably give you just enough juice to keep forging on until you get to the finish line.
"I’ll keep trying. Over and over. Until you realize that you could have come to me shattered, broken, in an infinite of pieces, and I would’ve made you whole. I would have loved you. Every damaged piece of you. In all ways and for always.”
What more can I say? The book is fanfreakingtastic. It's provides all of the much needed closure that you needed after Kick Push and so so so much more than you could ever even wish for. Right here, in the pages of this story, I found personal clarity. I am once again in awe of what a perfectly executed story can provide you with. How can I thank an author who gave me a new perspective on a seemingly dire situation? I can't! All that I can do is urge you to take a crazy journey with skater boy and emerald eyes and maybe, just maybe, you'll find answers of your very own. Don't just read through this book... consume it, breathe it in and let out a long exhale because once you have finished you can finally coast. I will cherish this book in all ways, for always.
"My safe place is the knowledge that when I fall, they will help me fly. Help me soar. Help me coast."
Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | B&N | GR
From the occasionally twisted (and often genius) mind of Jay McLean comes the anxiously awaited sequel to Kick Push, and whew... it's a beast! “We loved in ways that can’t be explained, hurt in ways that can’t be justified. We felt every possible emotion under the sun."
Have you ever been terrified to read a follow up book because the first book was so emotional and heartfelt and it just hit you where it hurts?! Clearly, you have if you finished the first book in this dynamic duet. I was beyond scared to read Coast. Josh and Becca hold this super special place in my heart (the place where McLean shanked me with the feels) and I was so worried that things might not end up like I was hoping for, or that I'd be left wanting. To be honest, it took me a very VERY long time to come to terms with my feelings over the first book because it was so painfully realistic (to me). Ha! What the heck was I even thinking?!
"I wonder how it’s going to be possible for my heart to function when she won’t be around to make it beat. Make it live. Make it ache in a way that lets me know that living is just breathing, but living with her means living with purpose. With awareness. With love."
Jay has done what she does best, she has given us nothing that we're expecting and absolutely everything that we've been needing and she makes us feel every single second right now, in real time. This book is simply unlike any other, it's intense and dripping in so much reality that you can almost reach into your e-reader and give your new favorite characters a great big hug (or slap in the face, depending on where you land on the Becca/Josh scale). Every single barb of pain, every whisper of longing, every sob of defeat, every giggle of joy, every sigh of love, every single feeling... Jay McLean owns them all in Coast. I am currently living with the biggest book hangover that I have EVER had.
"I kiss him until the questions disappear, and we’re nothing but tangled limbs and urgent emotions on a bed of memories. Our hands touch, tease, re-familiarize."
Things pick off right where KP left off, and immediately the emotions are running at full steam, don't expect a second of cushioning or kid gloves in this story. Prepare for your heart to be rubbed raw and full of so much pain, longing and misunderstanding that you'll feel ALMOST broken. Sounds rough, huh? It is! Much like real life, there is no sugarcoating the hurt that both Josh and Becca are feeling. It is hard to read, but it's done with so much beauty and artistry that you'll smile through the ache.
"I was jealous of everyone and everything around you. I was jealous of the air you breathed, the paths you walked, even the hearts you’d crush. Because they all got to be around you and I couldn’t.”
Each one of our beloved main characters has a LOT of growing up to do, they have mountains (or lists) of unresolved issues that need to be addressed before they can even begin to figure out who they are to each other. It might be difficult at times, you want everything to fall together into perfect pieces... but they won't. It takes time and understanding and I loved the slow burn that this book provided.
Josh and Becca are living separate lives when we find them, and it's fascinating to get to learn how and why they ended up exactly where they are. Becca is in college, living her life through a series of fabulous photographs and making new friends while gaining a fresh perspective about her family. She's attempting to work through all the emotional issues that plague both her reality and dreams. Becca is growing, developing, and becoming a more secure person. As always, she's easy to root for given her selfless nature and giant heart. Basically, Becca is my homegirl and I would be thrilled to add her to my best book friend group.
"I want you to look at the stars and realize that there’s a whole universe out there, and this world you and I live in is so tiny in comparison. But there’s nothing—not a damn thing in the entire universe you could possibly ever say or do that would make me mad at you. I’m sorry if I made you think that."
Josh is crazy busy. He's working hard to find a balance between his personal and blossoming professional life. He struggles to figure out who he wants to be versus who he feels like he should be in order to make everyone proud of him. He's still completely dedicated to his son (swoon), and there are plenty of new Tommy induced laughing fits. Despite his successful career and slew of new friends, Josh still battles his own set of personal demons and he needs to slay his own insecurities before he can build a promising future. In Coast we get to see these once lovesick teens grow up and become enlightened adults.
"Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep and if I should die before I wake... I pray in heaven, I can skate."
Amidst the amazing angst and heartbreaking confessions, there is that McLean charm. Love and laughter fill every page, even the ones that you'll struggle to see (because of allergies, not tears, of course). Each little joke and goofy one liner provides you with a quick intake of air. That's right, you'll smile through the sobs and the sporadic humor will undoubtably give you just enough juice to keep forging on until you get to the finish line.
"I’ll keep trying. Over and over. Until you realize that you could have come to me shattered, broken, in an infinite of pieces, and I would’ve made you whole. I would have loved you. Every damaged piece of you. In all ways and for always.”
What more can I say? The book is fanfreakingtastic. It's provides all of the much needed closure that you needed after Kick Push and so so so much more than you could ever even wish for. Right here, in the pages of this story, I found personal clarity. I am once again in awe of what a perfectly executed story can provide you with. How can I thank an author who gave me a new perspective on a seemingly dire situation? I can't! All that I can do is urge you to take a crazy journey with skater boy and emerald eyes and maybe, just maybe, you'll find answers of your very own. Don't just read through this book... consume it, breathe it in and let out a long exhale because once you have finished you can finally coast. I will cherish this book in all ways, for always.
"My safe place is the knowledge that when I fall, they will help me fly. Help me soar. Help me coast."
Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | B&N | GR
No comments :
Post a Comment