There is something about the books by Katie McGarry that are completely engrossing. They are very romance-y and highly appealing. But there is so much more to them. In this chapter (the third in a series) we finally get Isaiah's story and his burgeoning romance with Rachel. As with all of McGarry's books, the characters have deeply problematic personal and family lives. She has given each characters a past that is troubling them to them--issues that all teens can relate to in at least one of the characters. In this book Isaiah deals with his abandonment by his family, and the child-care system in addition while Beth has an overprotective family with unbearably high expectations and panic attacks.
This was an excellent book--captivating and appealing. I am getting a bit tired of the male character in books always wanting to protect the female character. Although kudos (spoiler) for Rachel not standing back and being protected.
I hope McGarry keeps writing (maybe one for Abby--my favorite character akin to the waffle loving harbinger in Hold Me Closer, Necromancer).
