Would you dare to defy destiny? Are our destinies written in stone? Do we become nothing more than the self-fulfilling prophesies of other people's opinions? Or can we dare to become who we believe we were born to be?
“A gorgeous, heartfelt journey of redemption and love” (Wendy Higgins), ONLY A BREATH APART is a young adult contemporary novel from critically acclaimed Katie McGarry. “Haunting, authentic, and ultimately hopeful” (Tammara Webber), ONLY A BREATH APART is now available!
About ONLY A BREATH APART:
They say your destiny is carved in stone. But some destinies are meant to be broken.
The only curse Jesse Lachlin believes in is his grandmother’s will: in order to inherit his family farm he must win the approval of his childhood best friend, the girl he froze out his freshman year.
A fortuneteller tells Scarlett she's psychic, but what is real is Scarlett’s father’s controlling attitude and the dark secrets at home. She may be able to escape, but only if she can rely on the one boy who broke her heart.
Each midnight meeting pushes Jesse and Scarlett to confront their secrets and their feelings, but as love blooms, the curse rears its ugly head…
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“Gritty and real, Only a Breath Apart is a story of hope conjured from pain, strength drawn from innocence, and love earned from self-respect. Beautiful, poignant, and fierce.” ―Kristen Simmons, critically acclaimed author of the Article 5 series
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~SCARLETT~ A scraping of a chair, a tray full of food and I glance over with my practiced smile in welcome. It’s not Camila, Evangeline, or anyone else from the group. It’s green eyes, red hair, a familiar mischievous smile that used to be reserved only for me, and my blood pounds with excitement as if someone lit a sparkler in my chest. Then I frown because I’m not supposed to feel this way. Not with him. Not with anyone.
Jesse Lachlin winks at me as he sits across from me like no time has passed from when we climbed trees together. “What’s up, Tink?”
Another thrill runs through me but then my muscles tighten. Stupid, antiquated reaction belonging to a dead past. “What are you doing here?”
Jesse pops a fry into his mouth, chews, then picks up another as if he has no intention of answering. I scan the cafeteria. Several people are watching us, curious as to why Jesse Lachlin is sitting with me, or is event at lunch, or even at school.
From the lunch line, Camila’s and Evangeline’s eyes are bugging out of their heads.
What is going on? Camila mouths.
I raise my eyebrows to inform her I have no idea. Jesse digs into his corn with his fork and that’s crossing a line. “Maybe you didn’t hear me, but I asked what you’re doing here.”
He lifts his eyes to meet mine and there’s a glimmer in them that causes my lips to flatten. Fantastic. He’s here to make my life a living hell.
“It seems obvious,” he says.
If he remembers anything about me, he should recall I was never known for my patience and that he should be speaking, and speaking soon. “Just answer the question.”
“I’m eating lunch.”
I honest to God groan in frustration. “There’s no room at the inn.”
He surveys the table, takes in the empty seats, my books, and then gives me a good look. A slow look. As if he’s trying to memorize every inch he’s drinking in. My cheeks redden because that somehow feels a little too intimate for lunch. Feels a little too intimate for someone I’m no longer friends with. It feels too intimate if we were friends.
I glance away, but I sense him still staring at me. God help me, I want to stare back.
Katie McGarry Bio: Katie is the author of the PUSHING THE LIMITS series, THUNDER ROAD series, SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME, and the upcoming YA novel, ONLY A BREATH APART. Her novels have received starred reviews, critical acclaim and have won multiple awards including being a multiple Goodreads Choice Award Finalist for YA Fiction, multiple RT Magazine's Reviewer's Choice Award Finalist for Best YA Fiction, including a win in the category, and she was a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Teen Pick.
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Only a Breath Apart was, to me, a little bit of a departure from your typical Katie McGarry novel. It will never be said that Ms. McGarry doesn't deliver an amazing YA story, and for someone who has never read any of her previous books, they won't even notice, but while I was entertained, I felt there was a bit of something missing.
Scarlett and Jesse are great characters and their friendship/relationship is a great back and forth friends-to-enemies-to-friends-to-lovers type thing. Even though there are plenty of other characters in the book, Scarlett and Jesse feel very isolated. I missed the sense of family/community that I'm used to getting in McGarry's stories. Her secondary characters usually hold more prominent roles and it has dramatically changed the feel of this story. Jesse and Scarlett both have friends that could've been excellent characters, but it felt a bit like their lives were cut short.
This book tackled some heavy themes and McGarry handled them in a great way. Never once did I think, "A teenager would never act that way." McGarry always seems to write as if she is still a teenager herself. She captures teen angst and heartache so completely.
Like I said, this story has some incredibly heavy and serious scenes that can sometimes be hard to read. However, there is also a lightness at times that lifted my heart and brought a smile to my face. I loved the mental picture of Jesse as Peter Pan. I am a preschool teacher and have 3 boys of my own. I totally understand the power of a boy's impish grin. I don't blame Scarlett one bit for sneaking out and following Jesse wherever he would lead.
It may not be my favorite Katie McGarry book, but I know that it will resonate with a lot of people. Readers will be entertained, crushed with heartache, and sewn back together with a hopeful future. What more could you ask for?
4 Out of 5 Stars
The Meaning of It All - Delta Rae
Thank you so much for sharing! ~Jessica, InkSlinger PR
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