A lot of people are going to love this book. Me? Well, I’ve got complicated feelings about it. Yes, the writing is excellent, the story will grip you, and you will go through a range of emotions. But it’s just got so many of the storyline elements that make me disconnect from a love story (more on that in a minute). I wanted to love it – and I did at times – but ultimately this just wasn’t a good fit for me. It’s my first time reading something from the author and while there’s obvious skill there, the twists and turns weren’t to my taste.

The story follows Mia and Leo, two young adults who both feel like they don’t quite fit in. Every time they start to get closer, problems get in the way. Their love story is a rollercoaster ride of emotions, filled with angst and drama. Due to the complexity of the story, I’m going to be vague about this one, but know that it’s a difficult story with content that might be triggering for some. This is a heavy romance with a push/pull relationship, featuring a young couple who sometimes let life get in the way.

Before I get into anything else, I do want to stress how well written the book is. There’s an intensity to the story that draws you in, and it’s certainly distinct. I was pulled in so many times even though this features elements that I just can’t get behind. And that’s where this loses points from me. Not only is it way, WAY too long – like, turn this into a duet long – but both of these characters do things that I really struggled with. A few vague spoilers to give you an idea of the kind of things that made me disconnect: it’s got OW/OM drama, extended separations, miscommunications, time jumps, problematic love scenes, and our heroine does some other things that I can’t come back from (I liked her less and less as the book went on). I was at least contemplating a higher rating until the second half, and then a few things happened that really ticked me off. Overall, I can appreciate the quality of the work without actually loving the story, and I personally feel that the back half should’ve gone a different way. I think a lot of readers are going to love this one, but I can’t say that it entirely worked for me. I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review of this angsty romance.

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BLURB

One single summer changed them forever, and one moment of devastating silence destroyed it all.

Growing up with six siblings, Leo Preston has always struggled to find his voice.

While his brothers are loud, greedy, and somewhat obnoxious, Leo is forever the quiet one.

The thinker. The listener. He watches his life pass by as an outsider in his own world, absent and alone. Lost.

Until he finds her.

For Leo, Mia Kovács is like a prize, a gift wrapped in passion and devotion.

And she’s his—his very own secret he doesn’t have to share. Together, they can overcome anything…heartache and destruction, guilt and regret.

Mia gives Leo everything he didn’t know he needed, including her fragile heart. The only thing she doesn’t give him… are secrets of her own.

Available on Kindle Unlimited!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Amazon US ➜ https://amzn.to/3kxrY4J

Amazon Global ➜ mybook.to/LeoPB⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Add to Goodreads ➜ https://bit.ly/3fs3CFZ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

GIVEAWAY from the author!

To celebrate the release of Leo, Jay McLean is giving away a $50 Amazon Gift Card! Stop by her Facebook page to enter!

https://www.facebook.com/jaymcleanauthor

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Writer. Reader. Mom. Wife. Master of awkward Sarcasm. Jay McLean is a full-time reader, writer of New Adult and Young Adult romance, and skilled procrastinator. When she’s not doing any of those things, she can be found running after her three boys, investing way too much time on True Crime Documentaries and binge-watching reality TV.She writes what she loves to read, which are books that can make her laugh, make her hurt and make her feel.Jay lives in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, in her dream home where music is loud and laughter is louder.

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