Author: D. Nichole King
Book: Love Always, Kate
Other Book in Series:
tl;dr recommendation: This book is emotionally draining and beautifully written. 4.5 stars
Book Summary:
Dear Diary,
Leukemia’s been my life since I was eleven. Now, six years later, I want my life back. Only I’m not sure what that is. The test results came back today. 22,000. Which means I’m officially out of remission—again. I have three options:
1) Another round of chemo.
2) A super-new experimental drug.
3) Dump it all— forget the meds and treatments and enjoy the time I have left.
I think I know what I want. Then, in walks Damian, changing everything.
I mean, everything…
He’s got his own set of issues. It binds us together, you know? We understand what it’s like to lose what matters most in seconds. Still, the last thing I need is to have someone else to crush if I can’t fight hard enough. And the last thing he needs is someone else to grieve.
Never mind. I’m down to two options now.
Somehow I know that whichever one I choose, the result will be the same. With the sand in my hourglass seeping to the bottom, I hope there’s enough left to show Damian that life’s worth living.
Worth fighting for. Worth dying for.
Love Always,
Kate
Longer Review:
Instead of sleeping, I sprawled out in bed, read this book and tried not to hiccup cry. jesssssus. THIS BOOK.
King had a string tied straight to my tear ducts. She lightly tugged and my world blurred through the haze of large, wet, disgusting, ugly tears. I didn’t make it even to half-way through this book before I started the ugly crying. Unless you have a black soul of steel, I do not recommend reading this book in public.
It reminded me a bit of The Fault in Our Stars, but a more romantic and less caustically sarcastic version. I was totally ok with that, by the way.
Kate’s probably one of the most mature, strong characters I’ve ever read. I suppose knowing that you’re probably going to die soon may allow for sobering maturity to spark early – but I think she really just has an old soul. The way in which she handles her disease is beautiful and courageous, and her relationship with Damien grows from innocent to a deep and life-changing love.
Damien is less mature. Much Less. But for whatever reason, Kate finds her soulmate in him. She doesn’t allow his flaws to change their love and she accepts him – every chipped and rough piece of him. I was consumed by Damien’s journey to become the man that he wanted to be for Kate. I was gutted when his efforts were a few days shy of a enough. I was horrified at his quick reversion to his prior ways. I was uplifted as Kate’s spirits never waned and she gives Damien exactly what he needs, even though he doesn’t know what to do with it.
This book is emotionally draining and beautifully written. It’s a fantastic expression of strength, love, courage and commitment – no matter how long your lifespan may be. It doesn’t have a happy ending, but that just gives you a reason to read book 2 😉
– 4.5 stars –
June 29, 2015 at 11:59 am
Thanks so much!! <3