Book Review: I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

I'll Meet You There 

by Heather Demetrios

Genre: YA, contemporary, romance

Published February 3rd 2015 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Source: Publisher

Purchase: Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Book Depository

Local order/purchase: Fully Booked * National Bookstore

Blurb (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. 

My Thoughts:

Sometimes I hate it when I start a book but because of the odds and my crazy schedule, I have no choice but to read only bits of it on a little time. Most books I read this way were most likely would be an 'okay book' or 'not-for-me book'. That's why I found myself scrolling again on the Goodread page of I'll Meet You There (been there done that, even before I receive my review copy. That's how excited I am) and determined to find out what did I miss. Why most of my GR friends and reviewers loved it. I want to  know. Because I can't accept the fact that I'll Meet You There, a Heather Demetrios novel and one of my highly anticipated books, turned out to be an okay book. Usually I'd know if it's the book or my fault. But not this time.

Heather Demetrios crafted her characters like a pro. Skylar Evans, apart from not being a typical Creek View girl, is also different the way she cared about her mother. Despite always being drunk, associating with a no-good man, and as good as throwaway life, she deeply cared about her mom, to the point she'd forget the college dreams and stay with her. I like her passion towards her mom and the people around her. While Josh Mitchell is a womanizer before-one leg soldier after man. He's probably the most ruined and imperfect male character I've read, whether it's about his past or former life and reputation. They were both different in many ways--not  star-crossed type--but fit perfectly. They're like mismatched socks but can be worn at the same time. That's the thing I like the most about this book. The author's ability to make something ruined to fixed, and different to the same. The chemistry is great and their story is touching. I was thinking about why it was titled as I'll Meet You There, but after knowing Skylar and Josh's story--personal and romantically--I understood the deeper meaning. Like two different ends meeting in the middle. Perfectly matches them.

I also liked that the author had love and knowledge about the marines. It was clearly shown in the book. I get to have a closer look at the marines' life in the field and post-war. It was touching and heartbreaking. I guess what I didn't like was the pace and probably I just had higher expectations. If I didn't, I think I'd appreciate this book more. I'm not saying that this book is bad, though. It's really good and will touch the hearts of many. I guess there were just many things that was thrown to me before reading this book: the hype, expectations, mood, and time. Try it and you might love it more than I did.

*Thank you so much Macmillan International for the review copy in exchange of an honest review!

Rating: