by
Alex Richards
Seventeen-year-old Evie Parker is devastated in the wake of her father's sudden death. But she knows something her mother doesn't: the day of his heart attack, her dad was planning to move out. After finding his packed bags, an impulsive Evie puts everything away to spare her mom more heartache.
To make matters worse, Evie soon learns the reason her father was going to leave: he had been dating his twenty-two-year-old receptionist, Bree, who is now six months pregnant. Desperate to distract herself, Evie signs up for a summer photography class, where she meets a motley crew of students, including quirky and adorable Declan. Still, Evie can't stop thinking about her father's mistress. Armed with a telephoto lens, she caves in to her curiosity, and what starts as a little bit of spying on Bree quickly becomes full-blown stalking. And when an emergency forces Evie to help Bree, she learns there's more to the story than she ever knew . . .
Alex Richards crafts a riveting new story about betrayal, complicated family secrets, and getting to the heart of what matters--ultimately asking readers how far they'd be willing to go to unravel the truth.
One would think the description of this book tells the whole story, but it doesn't. Evie, the main character grows and develops at a steady, but believable pace. She is introduced during a time of distress in her life. The story unfolds, revealing deeper, more intimate parts of her inner self. It's quite moving watching how each step propels her forward or sets her back. Anyone who has experienced loss can relate to the reality of how she has to learn to live with pain. The healing process is not linear. Grief is messy. This story demonstrates that in a solid, yet not overwhelming way.
The other piece of the story I appreciated, was the use of photography in the plot development. Every character needs their "thing" but in this case, the camera was a very thoughtful touch. Evie's uncle Luke arranged for her to attend a photography class. He then let her borrow his camera. This gesture showed the reader (and the main character) that he actually SAW her, something everyone desires. It not only opened up the space for a strong plot line, it provided the means for the reader to SEE Evie, too.
In the beginning, I was mildly afraid Bree would be a stereotyped "other woman". In some ways, she was introduced that way, but as time when on, she became better developed as a character. While at times, I struggled with wanting to get to know her, it eventually happened. Maybe this was the goal of the author? Maybe it wasn't. Either way, the character played an important role and I am glad I got to know her.
The climax and closure of the story proceeded at the same steady pace as the character development of Evie. By that, I mean I was able to take in all in and appreciate the process. I didn't devour it super fast. That doesn't mean I found it boring. I actually took the time to enjoy it. Sometimes, events unfold so fast, I need to reread it to appreciate the complexity. The ending of this novel was soft, but satisfying.
Overall, this is a good book to read. It contains elements of pain and loss, but it is balanced well with hope and growth. To some, this story may not be believable. I say to those people that life is stranger than fiction. Give it a try. The writing is good. The characters grow. It's worth your time.
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