Love Me, Love Me Not
S.M. Koz
Published by: Swoon Reads
Publication date: June 19th 2018
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Family, abandonment, and forbidden romance are at the core of SM Koz’s powerful and emotionally charged novel about a teen who falls for her foster brother.
When Hailey Brown is removed from her home and put into foster care, all she wants is a safe, comfortable place where she can finish school and move on with her life. It’s not easy adjusting to a new school and a new life, but Mr. and Mrs. Campbell and their teenage son, Brad, welcome Hailey with open arms.
As Hailey begins to adjust to her new life, she and Brad grow closer. For the first time, Hailey feels like she might have a real shot at a future. Soon, however, Hailey realizes her relationship with Brad has crossed the line from friendship into something more. But being with Brad would mean giving up the perfect life that Hailey has waited so long to have.
Can Hailey and Brad resist the feelings that are developing between them—or will they risk it all to be together?
Chosen by readers like you for Macmillan’s young adult imprint Swoon Reads, SM Koz delivers a powerful debut about the ups and downs of being a foster child.
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My Review:
4 Out Of 5 Stars
Genre: Heart-Wrenching, Romance, Teen--
Hailey has had a hard life, bouncing around from her mother who doesn't want her to many foster homes that keep kicking her out from the things her boyfriend Chase makes her do. When she is given a last chance with a new family and a new high school for her senior year, she is terrified she will screw this up too. But it seems like the Campbell's are different from any family she has been around before, they really want her, and Hailey wants them. Not to mention her new "brother" Brad is just about perfect. But Hailey's past has a way of showing up at the worst of times, which may just ruin her future.
So far, 2018 has delivered some great, compelling YA contemporary books that I have been lucky enough to read, and Love Me, Love Me Not was right up there with my favorites. The cover first caught my eye because it is pretty and then I read the synopsis and knew I would need to read this. In case you don't know this about me, I do enjoy some inappropriate relationships in my romances and a foster sibling scandalous relationship was not one I had read yet but most certainly wanted to.
Oh my geez, the feels! This was an intense, emotional read that dealt with a lot of hard, mature issues such as abuse in all it's ugly forms, prostitution and pimps, manipulation, hurtful relationships, family dysfunction, control, and the danger of bad choices. I knew going into the book that this would be a more serious YA contemporary read, but I had no idea the emotional conflict I would experience right along with Hailey. Hailey walked a very fine line, waiting for her old life to ruin her new life, waiting for Brad and the Campbells to not want her, waiting for her life to go nowhere- the stress of it all was overwhelming! I was so caught up in her struggles and mindset, tension building between her and Brad as well as the fact I knew something terrible was coming, kept me on the edge of my seat, plotting every wrong thing that could happen. Hailey was such a sweet, kind person, so not made for the world she was born into where she was used and abused but felt like she deserved it. I could not put myself into her shoes per se because her personality was so different from me but I did like watching her learn to have confidence in her self and trust others.
I don't want to be too spoilery, but the ending was filled with such hope and happiness, a complete 180 from where the book started. I thought this was a standalone but based on things I was reading online (ah, the joys of the book community and gossip!) I guess there will be another book coming. I am a little stressed with how that book will play out because I want this to end happy (hey, Hailey needs a little HEA), but I will read whatever S.M. will come up with next and keep my fingers crossed for the best.
I received an early copy of this title to review.
Author Bio:
SM KOZ is a medical writer from North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, two sons, and numerous pets. She has a BS in Biology from Duke University and a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from North Carolina State University. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys reading, photographing nature and her family, gardening, travelling, and attempting, usually unsuccessfully, to decorate birthday cakes. Love Me, Love Me Not is her first traditionally published novel.
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