Title: Me Since You
Author: Laura Wiess
Rating: ★★★★

Me Since You is about more than just a romance after tragedy. In fact, the romance plays major second fiddle to the main message about grief. This book is about how people handle grief. Some can move past tragedy. Some struggle. Some just can’t find a way to move on. This book was not about Rowan moves on from tragedy after finding a kindred soul in Eli. It was about all the pieces of her life finding a way to come together again after they’ve been torn apart and ripped to shreds.

Every little choice in life affects more than just a single moment. It all ripples out and has an impact on lives. What starts out as Rowan skipping school, Eli walking his dog, and a man without choices ends in ways no one thought possible. Lives are shattered, people are brought together, and relationships are tested. Add grief into those little ripples and things become even worse. Grief is a hard thing to handle, with no right answer on how to free yourself from it. Me Since You does a great job of showing that.

I felt for Rowan. Her one choice to skip school is only a small part of the giant story, but it’s a huge weight she carries. She’s a teen who no longer sees her father as the great hero she thought he was when she was little. That doesn’t mean he’s not on a pedestal anymore. It hurts Rowan to see her father fall. She may not idolize him anymore, but even as teens we view parents as strong and superhuman. For Rowan, the realization that her father is only human comes hard and fast, leaving her dizzy, confused, and hurt.

Eli is not in the novel to “fix” Rowan. He is there for her, but makes no grand gestures of mending. He is a piece of the larger puzzle, playing his own part in the events before and after. He is good for Rowan and helps her heal, but is not the only piece that does this. I loved his role in the book. His entire story is one I’d love to explore more. There was just enough of him to be perfect.

Me Since You is a fantastic look into grief, depression, and the ripple effect of the choices everyone makes. It’s realistic and tough to read at times, but worth working through. It doesn’t shy away from any of the less than pretty parts of grieving. This is definitely not a happy read, but it is worth picking up.

If Me Since You sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
IndieBound

Thank you to Edelweiss, Simon & Schuster, and MTV Books for an advanced copy of the novel in exchange for a honest review.