ABOUT THE BOOK
It was never easy for Cassie and her mother, struggling to make ends meet in their tiny apartment in The Bronx, but they had each other and that was enough. When her mother dies suddenly from an aggressive form of cancer, Cassie is forced to finish high school in California while living with the wealthy family of her mother’s closest friend—a women she never knew existed.
Living with the Stantons is the complete opposite of what she’s used to—the massive house, a father figure, and Cody, the spoiled, insanely good-looking son with the bedroom across the hall.
Broken with grief and struggling to fit in, Cassie meets Mila, a female powerhouse that helps her cope with a hidden past, the overwhelming present, and a shared experience no one should have to endure—a nightmare they both thought was over.
Warning: Although this book is classified as Young Adult, I recommended it for mature readers due to explicit language.
MY REVIEW
Have you ever read a book and it just clicked? This is one of those books. The characters, the plot line, and the theme are written so superbly.
No one at school will say anything against him—fear of retribution and all. No one wants to be on the wrong side of popular.
Cassie’s life changed in an instant from losing her mother to cancer, to moving across the country living with strangers and completing her last year of high school at a new school. But that isn’t all, a boy she trusts attacks her and she finds out she has family she didn’t know about. It seems like a lot to cover, but Ms. York does a great job which had me reading this book in one sitting. A wonderful feat for a first novel!
I went through it all as well. But dirt can be washed away, and violation is a state of mind, as is feeling like a victim. Like I said, it all makes us who we are. Who you choose to be is up to you—weak, beaten, or kick ass strong!
The relationship between Cassie and the family she moves in with is cherished and endearing. Roxanne and Jeff are caring people who care for her unconditionally. But the bond between Cassie and Cody is what captivated me with their hilarious banter which grows from friendship to much more.
Ms. York tackles the difficult subjects of death, alcoholism, and teen sexual abuse with effectiveness and polished skill. I highly recommend this excellent book for young adults and parents! One of my top picks for 2019.
Thank you to Ms. York and YA Bound Book Tours for giving me the opportunity to review this book without expectation of a positive review.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rayna York grew up with hippie parents that liked to adventure, so being the new kid was always a challenge. Where change was the norm, books were her constant–a way to escape. As an adult, many careers came and went, but writing has always been her passion. Everything I knew to be true is her first published novel.
Follow Rayna on her website, Goodreads, Facebook and Instagram.
