Teaser from Samantha Young's website

Read chapters one and two

From the moment we'd met, he'd dragged me into the deep swearing to me he was in there with me. It was a lie. He's waded back out to the shallows and left me to drown.

Almost four years later, they meet again at the University of Edinburgh. Time has passed, but feelings simmer below the surface: regret, guilt, anger, pain, longing, and heartbreak. The story is told alternating in past and present and slowly unfolds as they try to deal with their present re-connection and come to terms with the past.  The mystery and suspense as the story was told in increments added serious tension. I swear I was in deep anticipation most of the time....waiting to find out what happened to break them, waiting for them to face it, waiting for them to realize they were meant to be together. I was torn between wanting it  to move faster to know what happened immediately and wanting to savor the story. It was so full of emotional and sexual tension that it made me on edge for most of the book.

In the present they have a core group of friends who were fun, supportive, unique and interesting. So their lives become intermingled and they are thrust into the same space often. That means Charley also has to deal with her issues with Jake, but also see him with his current girlfriend. It is a big mess of longing, miscommunication, and mixed feelings. And the tension not only occurred between Jake and Charley, but also their best friends Claudia and Beck who had their own set of issues, intense attraction, and resistance of feelings. These two couples affected the whole dynamic of their group of friends. 

Jake was sarcastic, cocky, and devoted as a teenager. But he became broken and suffered from circumstances. But in the present, he is still charismatic, funny, caring, and deeply emotional. But he is in a difficult situation and struggles between trying to do the right thing and make everyone happy. And there is no way to do that without someone getting hurt. But he has already hurt Charley in the past and he is guilt ridden and regretful. I really liked him a lot and felt for him, but sometimes he annoyed me with his decisions.

Charley went from being a  young free spirit who gave Jake total trust, to a woman that  is guarded, fearful, jealous and confused. Deep down she knows what she wants, but is terrified of the idea and getting hurt again. It is much easier to employ sarcasm, distraction, and avoidance techniques. Once trust is shattered, it is hard to come back from that. But sometimes I just wanted to shake sense into her as well.  

They have a magnetic pull, a strong bond, and undeniable chemistry. But will being around each other again heal them or ultimately just cause more pain?

"Baby, I don't think I ever moved on...And I'm starting to hope for the first time that you haven't moved on either."

All along, I felt the intensity between Jake and Charley and knew they were meant to be together. It was hard and painful to see their trials past and present. Some loves can be broken, but never really forgotten. They had a deep, soulful connection,  passion that would not die, and chemistry that would not quit. 

"I knew after weeks of meeting you that I was never going to love another girl like I love you. You're it for me. They write books about what we have..."

"But peace...that comes with feeling complete, and I haven't felt that way since I was seventeen and I walked away from a girl who could me laugh harder, feel harder, and burn harder than another other person in my world. You gave me peace, Charley, You did, You do."

It is a journey towards understanding, forgiveness, and reaffirmation of feelings. But it is complicated and does not happen easily or quickly. I have to admit that sometimes the pacing drove me crazy as I wanted it to move faster so I could see what happens next. And even though it did not end in a cliffhanger, they still have some issues to resolve and there is definitely more story to tell. The next book Out of the Shallows  is expected in 2014.

This was told in Charley's point of view (except for a bonus at the end in Jake's point of view).  I look forward to seeing the continuing story of Jake, Charley, Beck, Claudia, and their crazy friends. This book was well written, switched effortlessly from past to present, and pulled at many emotions. The characters were fully developed, passionate, intense, humorous, and emotional. I was very invested in these couples and was deeply affected by their beautiful story. This was a unique story of young love, lost love, and second chances.