Title/Author: I’ll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios
I received this book for free from the publisher via Netgalley. This in no way affected my opinion of the book, or the content of my review.
Rating: 4 stars
From Goodreads:
If seventeen-year-old Skylar Evans were a typical Creek View girl, her future would involve a double-wide trailer, a baby on her hip, and the graveyard shift at Taco Bell. But after graduation, the only thing standing between straightedge Skylar and art school are three minimum-wage months of summer. Skylar can taste the freedom—that is, until her mother loses her job and everything starts coming apart. Torn between her dreams and the people she loves, Skylar realizes everything she’s ever worked for is on the line.
Nineteen-year-old Josh Mitchell had a different ticket out of Creek View: the Marines. But after his leg is blown off in Afghanistan, he returns home, a shell of the cocksure boy he used to be. What brings Skylar and Josh together is working at the Paradise—a quirky motel off California’s dusty Highway 99. Despite their differences, their shared isolation turns into an unexpected friendship and soon, something deeper.
Do I even read what books are about because I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT.
I finally read…well, finished…a book by Heather Demetrios and I am not disappointed! Exquisite Captive was a miss for me and I’ve owned Something Real for what seems like my whole life but still haven’t read it.
I really felt for Skylar and her tough life – she becomes the sole provider for her family after her mom is fired from Taco Bell and can’t find another job in their tiny town. Like, Bakersfield is their big city, is how tiny Creek View is. Bakersfield may be the 9th largest city in California, but it’s wikipedia page boasts that it has “5 multi-screen movie theaters” as if that’s an accomplishment, so.
Anyway. Skylar. She really had me feeling sorry for her until she started flip-flopping on whether or not she would take the full-ride scholarship that would get her out of her one horse town. All she’s ever wanted is to leave, but with her mom’s situation and Josh’s return, she starts thinking about giving it all up. The mom thing is understandable to a point, but it’s not like Skylar’s mom ever took care of Skylar! And why would you stay for a guy who also wants to get the hell out of dodge – he could move closer to where you are (which isn’t even THAT far away)!
Sometimes it’s frustrating to read about 18 year olds making life decisions as someone who is verrrrry close to 30. It’s so easy to see the solution from this point in my life, but I can at least kind of remember how dire and impossible everything seemed. And I know this review seems pretty complain-y for 4 stars, but I read I’ll Meet You There about a month ago and didn’t take the greatest notes (oops). Contemporary lovers and especially fans of Something Like Normal are sure to count this one among their favorites of the year.
Paperback Heart 