Katy Regnery is one of my favorite authors. I’ve been a fan since I first read The Vixen and the Vet a few years back. It just so happens I’m a huge fan of the young adult genre as well, so when I found out she wrote a young adult romance under her new pen name, Callie Henry, I flipped. I jumped at the chance to get an ARC, and I’m so happy to report I wasn’t disappointed 🙂
This short book is a super sweet story that follows Hannah, a plus-size teenager with insecurities a mile long, and Liam, a young man who’s trying to overcome past mistakes and become a better person. They meet one another at Hannah’s sister’s wedding and the young lovebirds are instantly drawn to each other. Sparks fly, and so begins a short tale of young love.
Hannah was so relatable to me–sometimes painfully so. I’ve struggled with insecurity all my life, and it was especially bad when I was a teenager. I couldn’t help but wish this sweet book had been around when I was a teenager so I could have a female character I felt like I could relate to. I remember being so frustrated with all the female characters being beautiful and statuesque with clear skin; poise and confidence. I would have loved to read about Hannah; a young woman who isn’t the stereotypical model beauty, but she’s beautiful nonetheless.
And then there’s Liam. Adorable, charming, funny Liam. As a teenager, I would’ve fallen so hard for a boy like Liam. As it is, at 26, I think he’s adorable and completely swoon-worthy. He’s the perfect book boyfriend.
While being shorter than your average novel, this story packs a punch. It’s sweet without being unbelievable and even when there’s a bit of conflict, you can’t help but feel the underlying message of hope. Callie Henry knocked the ball out of the park with this one, and I’m absolutely ecstatic to follow along as she adds more books to this series. This is the perfect book for young adults and grown adults alike. I highly recommend 🙂
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