These Things I've Done

Such a great book - the author manages to avoid a lot of the pitfalls of some YA authors who make all their characters a little too "larger than life". All of the characters in this book are real - and their emotions come across as genuine. Once you start this book you won't want to stop - so make sure you have blocked off time in your day to finish it. And have tissues ready - lots of tissues.

I've read this book three times now: just so full of emotion and the romance is unforgettable!

Emotional doesn't even begin to describe this story. It's a heartbreaking tale of a girl who loses her best friend and blames herself. Overcome with guilt and grief she looses herself too. Dara was once a brave, fearless young girl before the accident. She's nothing but a shell of her former self. Can she ever feel anything other than pain and guilt? Determined to make things right she returns home where she left her devastating past behind, and a very broken not so little brother of her best friend. Can they forgive and move forward? Perhaps forgiveness isn't necessary but love is.

I loved that this book took a very difficult subject--being accountable for contributing to the death of her best friend--and didn't candy coat it. It felt raw and painful, yet offered hope that one can rise above their mistakes. I loved the characters, Dara, Aubry, Ethan, they all felt real and believable. Nice job!

Such an incredibly emotional read that I could not put down! I loved it!