Book Review and Giveaway for Heartache and Hope by Jay McLean

HEARTACHE AND HOPE
by JAY McLEAN

Ava Diaz needs saving.
She just doesn’t know it yet.

Just like she doesn’t know a thing about the boy she sits next to on the first day of senior year.

He thinks she’s a brat.
She thinks he’s entitled.

Maybe first impressions don’t always last…
Because Connor Ledger’s about to save her.

He just doesn’t know why.

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REVIEW: 5 GUTWRENCHING STARS
"It feels like I'm on fire and she's holding the match."

Tummy-Twisting
Emotional
Deep
Heartbreaking
Real
Intense

There are so many words I can use to describe this book, but none of them will come close to actually explaining the emotional impact it had on me. This book was the epitome of YA emotions on CRACK. It was organic. It grew naturally and it moved me. Gosh, it made me follow with half a hitch in my breathing - I was breathing funny!! That buildup, that crescendo that you saw coming but couldn't avoid, and that inevitable ending - I am heartbroken right now. Absolutely broken. I think the best and worst part about this book is that I read it in ONE sitting in ONE day. I am such a slow reader, I don't do that on the regular, but I couldn't put the darn book down. I just couldn't. It was amazing, for the lack of a better word. And the title to this book is so fitting -- oh my gosh, so easily recommended. I cannot tell you that enough. All the good things. All of them.

Ava and Connor will top my favorites list this year. Their circumstances alone were ones that found my heart weighed down with pain, but there was a certain levity in their dispositions too. Their outlook was refreshing even with all the turmoil their lives held. They had humor and wit also, but they had some serious emotions - REAL emotions. I wanted to crawl into the story and hug them both. But what I found fascinating was the amount of emotions that I could connect with not only based on her words, but on the memories she made me 'feel' too. I could remember that feeling of needing to be close to someone. That desire to just kiss and be around someone. That love that if it wasn't reciprocated was the most devastating feeling ever. Oh my gosh, those butterflies you get when you are around the one that sings to your heart. McLean brought me back to 17. She made me remember the pain that comes with a first love, but also the ultimate high that comes with falling in love for the first time. And that first kiss... <sigh>

"He whispers my name as if it's air in his lungs."

YA can be a rough one for me to read because of the fine line between a bratty, spoiled whiner and honest, teenaged emotions. A line between immature and acting from the heart with good intentions, no matter how bad that decision may be. I love that I can read one of McLean's books and know that she has the angst down, she has the emotions well written, and she has the drama TRUE TO THEIR AGE. That's the one thing that sends me over the roof - overly dramatic, teenaged drama, or drama that makes you want to punch the characters. But not this one. Not these characters or this story. It's real drama for a 17 year old. It's real to them and therefore, it's real reactions. I freaking LOVED it.

There are only TWO authors that I willingly jump into their YA books without question, and McLean is one of them. She totally puts into perspective how YA should be written. And honestly, she is actually the reason I started willingly reading YA again. There is a level of maturity to her characters and her books. It's not whiny teenage crap, but it's honest and pure. It's heartbreaking and emotional. I love the way she tells me a story. It's an intimate read, always, and there isn't any question in my mind about the validity of what's going on.

So this is a duet and I may be wallowing by myself in the corner, hugging my knees to my chest. I absolutely loved this one, without a shadow of a doubt. One of the best YA books I've read all year, and easily on my Favorites List for 2019. But now I'm frantic because my heart feels like it's on pause waiting for the second book. I might die. I need someone to check in on me.

I've missed Jay McLean. It's been a while since she has released a book, but don't let that deter you. She came back full force, with a vengeance with this one. It's soooo good. I can't get over how amazing this one was. It's books like these that put the whole genre into perspective for me, and I like knowing where I can go to get a well written, emotional adventure between two hearts and souls that belong to each other. I feel like I want to just spill my emotions without sounding like a fangirl, but then I decided that is not an available option for me right now so please excuse all the gushing.

Confession: I messaged McLean while I was reading this one. Clearly different time zones, but I didn't care. I needed somewhere to vent to, so I told her, and I quote: "You're doing everything I need you to do to obliterate my heart with a love story so pure. Ugh! You're killing me soooo gooood!!!" Because, make no mistake, this book is going to tear up your heart.

"Ava: You're something else."
"Connor: You're something MORE, Ava."
~BEE

PURCHASE: AMAZON - KINDLE UNLIMITED

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First and Forever is the second book in the Heartache Duet and will release on July 12th.

FULL SYNOPSIS TO COME

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~MEET JAY McLEAN~

Jay McLean is an international best-selling author and full-time reader, writer of New Adult Romance, and most of all, procrastinator. When she’s not doing any of those things, she can be found running after her two little boys, playing house and binge watching Netflix.

She writes what she loves to read, which are books that can make her laugh, make her hurt and make her feel.

Jay lives in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, in a forever half-done home where music is loud and laughter is louder.

~CONNECT WITH JAY~

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