Review for Take Heart by Lauren Michelle Smith

Release date for Take Heart is September 23rd through Story Merchant Books on Amazon

Synopsis:

Twenty-two-year-old Amelia Foster just can’t seem to catch a break. After surviving the sudden death of her father, she’s forced to drop out of college in order to support her alcoholic mother. Dealing with years of non-stop verbal abuse and strife, Mia decides she’s finally had enough. She packs her bags and moves to Austin, Texas—leaving the remnants of her old life behind. On her first night there, she unexpectedly meets Chase.

Chase Williams plays a carpenter by day and a bartender by night. With his supreme confidence, unapologetic sarcasm, and undeterred motivation, he will stop at nothing to get what he wants—including Mia. Attracting women has never been a problem before, but getting Mia to come around, well, that’s something else entirely. Instead of spending all of his energies charming her, he must do damage control so he can secure a first date. When she ultimately succumbs, sparks fly, and an intensely passionate relationship ensues.

As Mia tries to move forward with her new life, she finds that escaping her past isn’t as easy as she thought. Will the love from a reformed womanizer make her stronger? Or will the demons of her not-so-distant past tear everything apart?

*Contains strong adult content*

Review:

WARNING: There may or may not be spoilers throughout this review!!!! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!

This is the saddest, most beautiful book I've read in a long time. Take Heart is about a girl who is trying to get away from the dark and miserable life that her mother has flung her into. Mia's mom wasn't always a horrible, mean drunk; she was once a sweet, loving, and kind mother, until life happened to her. Now it's taking everything in Mia to do what's best for herself, and that is to get away and finally LIVE. She wants a new life where she can finish school, work and make money for herself, and maybe even get a boyfriend.
In walks Chase, playboy extraordinaire. He can have any girl he wants, and he does... until Mia walks in with her aviators on and her sass at full throttle! She can match wits with anyone and that intrigues the hell out of Chase. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! Chase wants to do everything in his power to get Mia... and keep her. With her, he wants MORE.

"Say it, baby," I murmur against her.

"I need you," she pants.

"Then say it." I nip the inside of her thigh and she jerks.

"Fuck my pussy with your mouth and do it now," she commands.

That a girl.

Meanwhile, Mia's best friends, Eric and Raven, are trying to figure out their own relationship. They don't know if they want to be together and risk their friendship, or just stay friends. They're both extremely loyal friends, but they also know how to put their foot down when Mia needs a reality check.

When Mia's world comes crashing down, all of her friend's try to be there for her, but she just shuts them out. She doesn't know how to exist right now. Poor Chase doesn't know what to think; his world is also turned upside down... and he just doens't know what to do. He wants Mia.... but does she want him???

The very first moment I laid eyes on you, I knew I was a goner.

This is not a super long book. It's a little under 300 pages. That being said, it was one of the best books I've read this year. I cried a few times... It wasn't an ugly, snot slinging cry, but it was sincere and real. My heart hurt for Mia and Chase. It seemed like, for a while there, my eyes wouldn't stay dry. However, I also laughed my head off during other parts! Some of the things they said and did just shocked me and I couldn't stop the giggles! I give this book 5 stars!!

~Review done by Tab~