Title: Echoes Between Us

Author: Katie McGarry

Pub. Date: January 14, 2019

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Veronica sees ghosts. More specifically, her mother’s ghost. The afterimages of blinding migraines caused by the brain tumor that keeps her on the fringes and consumes her whole life haunt her, even as she wonders if it’s something more…

A girl with nothing to live for and a boy with everything to lose–can they conquer their demons together?

This will be a spoiler free review.

THIS. BOOK.

I was fortunate enough to be able to get a copy while at ALA this past June and I devoured it while on vacation. It was the first book I read, and I sat on the beach and fell in love with the characters.

I’m not usually a big contemporary reader, but this book and Only a Breath Apart have easily become two of my favorites. Echoes Between Us struck oddly close to home, which I found strange because I legit have nothing in common with either of the characters and experienced none of the extremes they do throughout the novel. I was in tears at one point and felt like I was right there with the characters. I do think that my reaction and feelings towards this book are a testament to just how amazing of a storyteller and writer Katie McGarry is.

You know that feeling you get in your chest when you’re anticipating something? How it filters down to your hands, and you feel this need to shake them to expel the energy? Or when you stop breathing because you’re so engrossed?

That was me while reading this book. Wholly and completely.

Especially in these last two books, I love this sort of fantastical/fate element that plays a huge part. It plays a huge part in this book for Veronica, who can see ghosts due to a tumor in her brain. She lives everyday as if it could be her last, not caring what people think, and choosing to surround herself with people who don’t fit the typical mold.

Sawyer on the other hand, at least from outward appearances, fits the typical attractive high school jock, but like Veronica, he deals with his own issues. Fate ties them together in a way that shows them that it’s okay to be scared, to face your fears, because there are people who will be there for you.

Veronica and Sawyer’s relationship starts off rocky, but they soon realize that outward appearances don’t define who they are. Veronica comes across as weird and cold, while Sawyer comes across as having the perfect life. It only takes time for Sawyer to figure out that Veronica does as she pleases because she knows it doesn’t matter, that she doesn’t have a future. It doesn’t take long for Veronica to realize that Sawyer is barely keeping it together, his home life isn’t perfect and he’s putting himself in danger to take the edge off. They grow together, becoming better people. They care deeply for each other, their feelings coming on strong and fast.

The writing in this book was beautiful, about accepting help, admitting you might have a problem, and getting back up when you’re knocked down, even when it seems impossible. This isn’t a direct sequel to Only a Breath Apart, but a companion novel. It was nice getting a bigger view of this world and the characters that inhabit it. I can’t wait to see what Katie McGarry writes next. This is definitely a new favorite, and everyone should check it out when it’s published in January 2020. I’m already looking forward to a reread in the future.