ARC Review: There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones

This is such a beautiful book.

I can't really find the words to describe my feelings after reading, but I can say this: There You'll Find Me is heart wrenching and emotional. It's a wonderful story about loss and love and one girl's struggle to put back the pieces of her life shattered by a tragedy.

Title: There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones
Pages: 320
Release Date: October 4th 2011
Published by: Thomas Nelson
Source: Booksneeze / NetGalley
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:


In a small cottage house in rural Ireland, Finley discovers she can no longer outrun the past.

When Finley travels to Ireland as a foreign exchange student, she hopes to create a new identity and get some answers from the God who took her brother away and seems to have left her high and dry.

But from the moment she boards the plane and sits by Beckett Rush, teen star of the hottest vampire flicks, nothing goes according to Finley's plan.

When she gets too close to Beckett, a classmate goes on a mission to make sure Finley packs her bags, departs Ireland-and leaves Beckett alone.

Finley feels the pressure all around. As things start to fall apart, she begins to rely on a not-so-healthy method of taking control of her life.

Finley tries to balance it all-disasters on the set of Beckett's new movie, the demands of school, and her growing romance with one actor who is not what he seems. Yet Finley is also not who she portrays to Beckett and her friends.

For the first time in her life, Finley must get honest with herself to get right with God.

I had to pause for a while and gather my bearings after I finished reading this. I was a bit misty eyed when I leafed through the last page.

One of the most adorable and charming pairings I have ever had a chance to read about is Beckett and Finley. There were moments where I just drowned myself in laughter over how entertaining they are just throwing random verbal exchanges to each other. They were over the top, certainly, and very funny. But there are also times where my heart feels like its breaking a little more and its those parts I find the hardest to read, but they're also the ones I love the most. Grief is a delicate and a difficult emotion to deal with. It doesn't go away for a long time, and sometimes it stays too long with people to the point that it's all they see, it takes over their lives. But once a person is over that, then what? What is left? The aftermath is what scares Finley. She was so afraid of losing grip in her emotions, her pain for the loss of her brother that she thinks she wouldn't have anything left once she gets past that.

I guess in more ways than one, Finley and Beckett were similar. Both living fake lives, pretending to be happy and just fine. Beckett lost himself amidst the new persona created for him to become a star, and when the time came for him to be just himself, he couldn't go back. He's probably a little selfless, always thinking of other people and he has yet to stand up against a father who treats him as an investment, a tool for money. I love how Beckett has his moments where he was himself even when he's a disguise. Even when their relationship went downhill, they're good for each other. They understand each others pain and suffering and the need to be honest and come clean once and for all. Finley's lucky to come across a guy who can help her through the darkest moment of her life, a popular actor even!

I have to admit I hated Finley, at one point, with all my heart. A person will never admit he/she's an addict, or sick, until someone notices it, sometimes not at all. I've had a hard time connecting with her during those first few moments when everyone keeps on telling her she's sick, that she needs help, that she needs to fix her life (which is not easy, I have to admit) and not be like Mrs. Sweeney but what did she do? Get angry, throw a tantrum, lock herself in her room, refuse to talk to her only friend and ruined her relationship with the only guy who can ever see through her. How is that for ruining yourself big time? I just get so frustrated when main leads act so out of it when you can clearly see what the right thing to do is, when it's right up there staring at their faces and they just won't take it.

Ireland just sound a little bit more magical to me. My mind conjured up images of lush green fields and hills, great scenery and friendly people. There are points in our lives where we feel the need to connect in a deeper level with Him and I felt it while I was reading this book. I am not a very religious person but I loved this particular aspect in the book where Finley travels to Ireland and just drink in every thing, every gravestone, every cliff, every field she sees, and they're all part of God's wonderful creation. Those moments make me appreciate life even more. It makes you want to stop for a little while and think of life even for just a little moment.

That little rant there just goes to show how emotionally invested I have been with the characters. Readers wouldn't help but empathize with them. There You'll Find Me has such dynamic characters with colorful personalities which will touch the reader's hearts. Every single one of them, especially Finley and Beckett, will fill nooks and crannies in your heart.

There You'll Find Me is a touching journey of finding something you once have that you've lost: yourself, love, your faith in people and in Him, in a place where you least expect it to be. It has a little bit of everything; drama, romance, heart breaking and breath taking moments which makes it worth reading. It talks about faith and religion without being preachy, and its something everyone can appreciate reading once in a while.

I have a new favorite author and that is Jenny B. Jones!

My rating:

Content (plot, story flow, character):

SIMPLY AMAZING!!!

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:

The green tones remind me of Ireland.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.