I really wanted to love this book. Finally, a story that paints the possessive and controlling boy the way he should be. I wanted to see it in this genre because this type of hehavior does not equal love and devotion. And in the end, it can be very hard to walk away.

In all reality, I though the author does a fantastic job telling us the back story. The book switches back and forth from the present to the past. Clara is already at the beach with her father and she's struggling with her thoughts on what has happened. We gradually get flashbacks of her relationship with Christian. I think the author gets it right. Christian seems wonderful at first, the perfect boyfriend. He's very slow to show his true colors. I think the first couple of time, Clara writes it off and vows to be more careful with what she says and does. By the time he is in full control, the relationship has been going on for so long that Clara doesn't know how to leave. She loves him and thinks he loves her. In her head, she's the one that needs to be better. Which is so how this often works. (I had a friend who was in an abusive relationship in high school. She ultimately died from an accident that occurred because she was unable to tell him no. Something Clara says in this story sounded like something my friends said to her mom right before the accident).

Ultimately, it was the present tense that I just couldn't get into. Clara's behavior just didn't fit with the same person we meet in the flashbacks. For someone who just got out of a controlling relationship (and the one before that seemed abusive), she seems to jump right into the next one. I liked Finn, and he really seemed to understand Clara. Even after Clara tells him what happened, he takes it all in stride. But, it was too soon. I didn't trust Clara's judgement, even if Finn really is a great guy. Granted, there are still times you can tell Christian's voice is still in her head telling her what to say and do. I think she would have been more like that the entire time.

I also thought the side story with her father was distracting. It was too much going on it one book. If the focus would have been Clara, her relationship with Christian and Finn, I think it would have felt more even. For Clara to have to endure all she does in the story is just overload. She handles it all beautifully though, and I'm sure she's a much stronger women because of it.

The Book Admirer (Michigan, USA) - )

Contains Spoilers

Stay boyfriend Christian. It started out as an instant attraction felt by the both of them, they were drawn together into what Clara and Christian though would be forever. Their love started out intense and it ended intense when Christian became obsessive and controlling. He started fights, constantly needed to know where Clara was and what she was doing, he also became paranoid and thought she wanted to be with other guys. Clara decided she had enough, breaks up with him and after he tries to hurt himself, Clara runs away with her Dad for the summer where she meets a hot sailor.

For me, Deb Caletti's books are hit or miss, mostly miss lately. While I was very excited about this book after learning what it was about, it just didn't live up to my expectations. It wasn't a bad book, it just wasn't good enough. The only character I thought was fleshed out enough was the mother and she is but a memory. The character of Clara was kind of confusing to me, she seemed one way then turned around and was different. Christian didn't have enough depth to him except that we knew he was suppose to be the bad guy, and what was the deal with the father? I think I would have liked the book more if Christian was straight up abusive to her. I get that yes there was emotional abuse going on, and he was controlling, but I never got the feeling that he was going to hurt her. I kept waiting for something to happen and to learn what the big event was with all the clues Clara gave only to be let down. All the hiding from him and being afraid only to have him go away and send her a card once a year? And for someone who was trying to deal with a bad relationship and become a stronger person and deal with her issues she sure overcame all that pretty fast as soon as she set eyes on Finn. She just didn't seem broken to me.

I am giving it three stars because I didn't find it terrible but I didn't love it. I liked the character Finn although I wish he was fleshed out a little more along with the other standby characters. But like I said, it could have been better, but it could have been worse too.