I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

Title: I'll Meet You There
Author: Heather Demetrios
Pages: 400
Genre: Contemporary/YA
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co (BYR)/ Raincoast Books
Release Date: February 3, 2015
Buy: Amazon| Chapters Indigo| Kobo| B&N
*Received for review from Raincoast/Macmillan Kids*

Summary (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.

Review:

This has to be one of the hardest books I have had to review because there are no words for how amazing I'll Meet You There was! It had ALL THE FEELS! Heather Demetrios does not disappoint, the book felt real and makes you want to re-read it again. I wish that I could read Something Real which is her first book because I heard amazing things about that one too. This is one of my top reads for the year. If you loved Something Like Normal by Trish Doller this one is the perfect to read because the characters are so similar and they both serve the military. 

Skylar Evans is a seventeen years old who lives in Creek View, where this town is in the middle of nowhere. She is counting down the days until she can leave to go to school in San Francisco. That is until her mother loses her job and falling apart. I really liked Sky because she was easy to relate to and could feel her emotions. She also is struggling financially, which happens to everyone about to enter school. Skylar acted like a real teenager, a little tense but when she reconnects with Josh her emotions drive her to befriend him as well as something more. It was great to see her grow through the entire book. 

Josh is one of those complex characters that you can see where he is struggling and even though his point of views where short they had such an impact that you feel sorry for him. He was dealing with his memories, the loss of his friends and the loss of his leg. Before going into the Marines he was a player and full of confidence. He wasn't the easiest character to like at first, but eventually you fall in love with him because he sounds realistic which is one of the things I loved about him. 

Skylar and Josh's relationship was one of the best building romances that I have read because you see them become friends and then more. Their relationship was like any others because it had bumps along the way. But that tension throughout the book was there which you were just waiting until they got to that moment. They seemed not the couple to be together but actually are perfect for each other. They understand each other. 

This beautiful story is about growing up, finding love in weird places. I'll Meet You There was emotional and heartbreaking but it had many moments that were sweet, romantic and even make you cry. If you are looking for a contemporary book that will warm your heart this is the book for you! Its a must read! 

5/5