Evie wakes up in the hospital, attached to tubes and thoroughly bruised and bandaged. She only knows three things for sure-she is sixteen, she must have really gotten drunk at the party (what party?) last night to land in the hospital, and her mum and best friend Bree aren't at the bedside. But she soon finds out that she is actually 29 and married to the school golden boy/love of her life, the car that they were in fell over a cliff and her husband Oliver died, and she had no contacts in her phone for her mum or her friend. Evie remembers nothing of the last 13 years of her life and is diagnosed with temporary amnesia. She finds out that Oliver and his parents were rich society dwellers, his funeral will be lavish and exclusive, and decides to escape before the reception. The nurses were nice enough to catch her up on the latest technology so she phones an Uber, dashes through the paparazzi outside the church, and gets into one of the cars. Turns out that he isn't the Uber driver after all, but she confides her plight to him and he starts helping her...just as he has done for the love of her for the last thirteen years. But Drew must let her remember things on her own so she won't die of despair at the way her life really turned out.What a set-up, right?
Grey, the author of several YA novels, paints a beautiful picture of her native Australia that might be considered another character in the book. As Evie and Drew alternate telling their stories in flashbacks, we learn why she felt sorry for dark, brooding Drew, whose mum was battling cancer. Through a school photography project they became friends, but before Drew could tell Evie his true feelings, she was swept off her feet by Oliver, the girl magnet. For some reason, she had captured his attention and he began to pursue her (not that she needed much pursuit). Readers also follow Drew and Evie in the present where Drew helps Evie learn why neither her parents or her friend Bree want any contact with her.
This is a wow of a book-I read it in two days. Feed the dog, do the wash, silence your phone, because when you start you'll have to see it through to the end. I envy you!
Reviewed by Donna Ballard
Publication date - November 12, 2024
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