Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Caleb Becker has served his time, as a teen bent on having fun he hit next door neighbor in drunk episode, leaving her and ultimately arrested for the hit and run. He is ready to go back home and get back into a routine, but wishing it would be easy is far from what he receives. Rumors surround him now as a criminal, everyone waiting for him to screw up and he had not expected the damage he did to Maggie Armstrong to be a constant reminder of his mistakes.

Maggie not only lost her ability to walk that day, she lost her best friend Caleb's sister. Her friends quickly fell into the woodwork as she was tied to a wheelchair and recovering. Now she walks with a limp and is teased about it, the stares, the wish to be anywhere else but Paradise is constantly hovering in her thoughts.

The last person she wants to see is Caleb, but when her job and his mix they find that both are haunted with the past and experiencing similar issues as they try to move forward. Caleb falls for Maggie, Maggie is falling for Caleb but outside influences are determined to keep them apart.

I thought this was a profound story, initially I wanted to hate Caleb for his selfishness however you change your mind. He is angry and as the story evolves you learn a lot more about that fateful night that destroyed two futures. Maggie, oh Maggie, she is a tough one and you just want to embrace her with a huge hug. I am anxiously awaiting the next book, definitely kleenix worthy.

View all my reviews