Hi everyone, I hope you all are keeping warm over there in the north. The heat is fairly bearable down here, especially if you live close to a beach. I managed to dip my toes in recently and found the cooler sea waves refreshing after a week of completing assignments indoors!! The title I’m reviewing this week is a teen title I found myself drawn towards. I hope you enjoy it!!
Title: The Ethan I was Before
Author: Ali Standish
Genre: Fiction – contemporary
Publication details: Harper Collins Publishers; NY, 2017
ISBN: 9780062433381 (Hardcover)
What this book is about: Ethan Truitt has been many things, a skateboarder, Red Sox fan, and even a sidekick to his big brother, Roddie. He was up for a laugh, willing to accept a dare, and always ready for an adventure with his best friend Kacey. But that was before. Now Ethan just wants to escape from painful memories of the accident that lost him everything. When he and his family move from Boston to the small seaside town of Palm Knot, Georgia (the Hidden Jewel of the South), he doesn’t know what he’ll find. That is, until he meets Coralee Jessup, a girl with a big personality and even bigger stories – a girl who may just give Ethan a second chance he needs. But Ethan isn’t the only one with secrets, and Coralee’s are catching up with her. Ali Standish delivers a debut novel on friendship, forgiveness, and, ultimately, hope.
My review: A poignant and captivating story on the bonds of family and friendship. Ethan’s young life and all that he’s been through is described exquisitely in this read!! I liked the school scenes and the way his friendship with Coralee grows. The whole mystery of what happened to Kacey unraveled slowly which was a bit too suspenseful for me so I read further. Once I found out, the raw emotion described and the events that led to Ethan’s family moving away made me realize it was a bit graphic and mature. I must say that the brother Roddick’s intentions and emotions were ones I didn’t expect. Despite it all, I found myself drawn to this great cast of characters and well-described setting. I even liked the author’s note about the red wolves at the end. As the story unfolded, I realised that much of the content would be better suited for older readers as the characters deal with some complex issues, but all in all, I found it a good read.
My rating: 4 ⭐
Miss Mahee's Library of Reads 