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Release date: September 12, 2017

Publisher: Lake Union

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Blurb: 

Abandoned by his mother when he was young, twenty-two-year-old Rave Wayne knows all about loss. That doesn’t mean he’s used to it. After he’s dumped by the girlfriend he assumed he’d spend his life with, Rave is longing more than ever to connect.

Then, as if by miracle, he receives an invitation from his grandfather, a man he thought was long gone, to come for a visit in rural Tennessee. Loyal, honest, and loving, dear old Tuck is everything Rave could have hoped for. He’s family. Soon, Rave finds himself falling for a down-to-earth local girl, and he thinks his life is finally coming together.

But the past isn’t through with Rave. When his mother returns after many long years, looking to reconcile the terrible mistakes that once defined her, Rave struggles to put together the unsettled pieces of his heart. Will this once-estranged family be able to come together to understand the meaning of unconditional love, the fragile bonds of family, and the healing power of letting go?

Review: 

What a beautiful, moving story this was! I fell head over heels in love with the characters and the gorgeous setting of small town Tennessee and was quite emotional when I was finished reading and it was time to say goodbye, Rave and Tuck stole a little piece of my heart. 

While this book had a really great storyline what made it special for me was the characterization. Rave and Tuck were very well crafted and Burch really made them come to life. Rave is a young man who’s entire life has been a struggle. When he is at one of the lowest points of his life he gets word that his grandpa, Tuck is alive and wants to meet him. Rave was told that he was long dead so the opportunity to meet him seems unreal. Rave’s mom has been gone for years and he thought she was the only family he had in the world. Tuck is a lonely old man with a heart of gold and watching these two begin to build a relationship was inspiring and so lovely. There was an authenticity to their relationship as well as to their personality traits and characteristics that rang so true to real life. 

At it’s core this is a story about forgiveness and second chances and the power and meaning of family. It was simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming and brought out so many emotions in me, I laughed, I cried, I reflected and I loved every minute. There is also a sprinkling of light romance as Rave meets and falls in love with Becca that was so sweet and tender. This was my first Burch book and I can’t wait to read more of her highly evocative, gorgeous books!

Overall rating: 4.5/5

I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thought’s Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.