Book Review | I'll Meet You There

Title: I'll Meet You There

Author: Heather Demetrios

Publication: February 3rd, 2015
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Source: Got an ARC at ALAMW
Series: No

Rating: 4.5 - 5 out of 5 stars

Indie Bound | B&N | The Book Depository

Synopsis: If seventeen-year-old Skylar Evans were a typical Creek View girl, her future would involve a double-wide trailer, a baby on her hip, and the graveyard shift at Taco Bell. But after graduation, the only thing standing between straightedge Skylar and art school are three minimum-wage months of summer. Skylark can taste the freedom - that is, until her mother loses her job and everything starts coming apart. Torn between her dreams and the people she loves, Skylar realizes everything she's ever worked for is on the line.

Nineteen-year-old Josh Mitchell had a different ticket out of Creek View: the Marines. But after his leg is blown off in Afghanistan, he returns home, a shell of the cocksure boy he used to be. What bring Skylar and Josh together is working at the Paradise - a quirky motel off California's dusty Highway 99. Despite their differences, their shared isolation turns into an unexpected friendship and soon, something deeper. (from Goodreads)

Review:  This book cut my heart up and glued it back together again, just like one of Skylar's collages.  There is so much to love about this book that I don't know where to start. I heard a lot of love for this one around the blogging community and I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to jump onto that train (haha - see what I did there?) or not, but I'm so glad that I tried this book out and I have most definitely jumped onto the train. 

Having grown up in a very small town, similar to Creek View (in fact my parent's house was and still is right in front of/bordering the trailer park). I saw a lot of characters described throughout the book, and also the feel of the town. The driving an hour to get to a bigger shopping area, the only store in town has high prices, but it's the closest thing when you need something, the lack of availability for jobs. I even spent a year cleaning rooms at the local motel (which only had three rooms and was the only motel around). This book hit home for me and I dealt with the same feelings that Skylar had when I graduated high school years ago. I couldn't wait to get out either, and I did the moment I could. 

This is one of the most realistic contemporaries that I have ever read. I think this aspect of realness begins with the characters. I related to Skylar on a whole different level and maybe even more than I've ever related to a character. I'll spare you the personal bits on why, but I found Skylar's character to be completely realistic and a great example of a modern age independent, tough, and strong willed girl that's just trying to have a better life for herself. And Josh, I've known a few military people, and I think his character was so accurate and painfully real. 

This story is a beautiful one and one I would recommend to just about anyone and everyone. I have this urge to start sharing this book with so many people, starting with my amazing friend in the Airfare that's stationed down in Texas. I think about her and miss her all the time. She's a hero of mine. 

This book was a roller coaster to read, but one that I could find myself going on again. There were a few tears shed, but such a lovely story of love, loss and life. I think this one is going to be sticking with me for a long time. 

Have you read this one and if so, what did you think of it?