Rewind to You by Laura Johnston Pages: 336
Published by eKensington on September 15, 2014
Genres: Drugs, Alcohol, Substance Abuse, Emotions & Feelings, Love & Romance, Social Issues, Young Adult
Source: eARC from Publisher
One last summer before college on beautiful Tybee Island is supposed to help Sienna forget. But how can she? This is where her family spent every summer before everything changed, before the world as she knew it was ripped away.
But the past isn’t easily left behind. Especially when Sienna keeps having episodes that take her back to the night she wants to forget. Even when she meets the mysterious Austin Dobbs, the guy with the intense blue eyes, athlete’s body, and weakness for pralines who scooped her out of trouble when she blacked out on River Street.
When she’s with Austin, Sienna feels a whole new world opening up to her. Austin has secrets, and she has history. But caught between the past and the future, Sienna can still choose what happens now…
Rewind To You is a heart-breakingly emotional story about forgiveness and loss and love. I expected it to be a happy go lucky summer romance, and while the romance was sweet and adorable, there are much deeper and darker emotions at play for many of the characters in the story. There is a lot going on in this story and it will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I really loved the setting of Rewind to You. I have always wanted to visit Tybee Island in Georgia, and the book had the characters visiting all parts of the island and it made me want to go even more.
Sienna doesn’t want to be back on Tybee island. She always used to come here with her father, and now he is gone. This book is a tough journey for Sienna. I really felt for her. And while I didn’t always like the choices she made when it came to how she dealt with the Kyle and Austin situation, it is really hard not to like this girl. She is a total sweetheart. Laura Johnston does a fantastic job making you fall in love with her characters. And as much as I liked Sienna, I freakin’ loved Austin. This guy is a white knight if I ever saw one. He has his own issues to deal with of course, but with Sienna he was so wonderful. Honestly, his only downfall is that he was going to be a Gator football player and not a seminole. 😉 I will forgive him for this lapse in judgement because I loved him oh so much.
Rewind to You is an onion of a story. And by that of course I mean that it has so many layers. You cannot possibly predict everything that Laura is going to throw at you. It was so nice to see a fresh plotline and story progression. Not to mention I am kind of in love with Laura’s writing. It is beautiful and fresh, and very very moving. I loved Sienna’s “rewind” moments with her dad, and I loved even more when Austin made his way into her moments. For so much of the story Sienna takes main stage, even during Austin’s point of view chapters. But about 70% through the book, the focus shifts in such an unexpected way and Austin is in the spotlight for a while with some of his demons and issues. I loved that both characters had their moments in the story. It felt very complete because of that.
Rewind to You is a fantastic young adult book. It has it all and it does it all so very well. Romance, heartbreak, loss, growth. You really can’t ask for more with a book. Laura Johnston created a little master piece in this otherwise unassuming young adult contemporary. If you are thinking that it is just like all the other young adult and new adult contemporaries, stop right now! It isn’t. This one is special. And I think Laura Johnston is an author to look out for. If this is what she did with her first book, I can’t wait to see what else she is going to write.
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Ends 10/13/14
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kindlemom1
Yay! I loved this too so I am so happy to see your review!
Michelle @ Book Briefs
Wasn’t this one great? I really loved it. It moved me in surprising ways.
Christy
Wow. I’ve gotten more picky about the YA books I read lately, but this definitely sounds like one I need to grab.
Michelle @ Book Briefs
Christy, this one just touched me. I really loved it.
Laura Johnston
Thank you for the great review and all the kind words said. I really appreciate you participating in the tour!
Michelle @ Book Briefs
Laura, Thank YOU for writing such a great book. I really really enjoyed it!