Shattered

by Elizabeth Lee

Alyssa Boyd had big plans. Big plans that included getting the hell out of the little town she’d grown up in with her two best friends. When she decided it was time to let one of them know her true feelings for him; a change of plans resulted in a tragic turn of events. Now, Alyssa is left alone to find her way out of the darkness that an untimely death has left in its wake.

Jesse Vaughn was never good at letting people in. He’d learned a long time ago that it’s easier that way because people leave, or, unfortunately, die. The one person he wanted to let in doesn’t want him anymore. The only problem is he can’t stop thinking about her. Jesse returns to the childhood home he left behind with one goal in mind… to convince her that they should be together.

When Jesse finds Alyssa she’s not the same girl he left behind. She’s wild, reckless and hell-bent on not giving Jesse a second chance. Lucky for Jesse, his stubborn streak has always been a mile-wide and he’s not about to give up on her.

When your life has been shattered can you really pick up all the pieces and move on?

Genres: Romance, New Adult, Young Adult, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Ebooks, Fiction

270 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 25, 2012

About the author

Born and raised in the middle of a Midwestern cornfield (not literally, that would be weird), I’ve spent my entire life imagining stories. Stories where the right guy always gets the right girl, first kisses are as magical as they are on the big screen and anything is completely possible if you believe.

Although this journey began years ago, it recently took on a whole new life. After years of devouring hundreds of Romance, YA and New Adult novels, I had an epiphany... I should write a book. And I did it!

If I’m not reading, writing, enjoying drinks with my amazing group of girlfriends or chasing around a sarcastically funny kid, I’m probably watching television shows that were created for teenagers, while my husband teases that I’m too old to watch them.

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars!



Shattered is a story about three best friends. Alyssa, Jesse and Garrett. They each have a special place in the relationship. They’ve been best friends for years.

The dynamic of the Terrific Trio was this... I was the dramatic one, Jesse was the stubborn one and Garrett was the one who reminded us both to breathe. He was always the one to calm me down, when I swore my world was ending. He was the one who would convince Jesse to come down off his high horse and compromise. More than just that, he was the one who held us together.


When tragedy strikes and Garrett dies in an untimely accident, everything changes between Alyssa and Jesse. Jesse leaves town, leaving Alyssa alone.

Alyssa’s senior year passes in a blur. She’s not really living, just surviving day by day, the best she can. She feels like Jesse blames her for the accident and thats why he took off. The truth is, Jesse never blamed her. He’s always cared for Alyssa and really thought him leaving was what she needed to heal. No matter who he’s been with or what he’s done, Lyss has been the only girl thats ever really meant something to him. He knew it the very first time he laid eyes on her. 


Until I saw those brown eyes, I could have cared less about wanting a girl to notice me. I was in 8th grade. I just wanted to play basketball and ride four-wheelers with my friends. Then I saw her and everything changed.

Garrett always knew about Jesse’s feelings for Lyss and encouraged him to go for it. He never followed through. After leaving town for so long, is now the right time to confess his feelings for her?



Jesse Vaughn was the very best part of this book! I adored this guy! Jesse was standoffish to Lyss some of the book, but he was that way for a reason. Alyssa drove me a little crazy at times, but I ultimately liked her too. It was nice to have the back and forth, flashbacks of the past. I liked getting to know Garrett that way and seeing how the pasts of these two people brought them to where they are now. Dual pov is always a plus, especially in books like this where you want to be able to see both sides.


Overall, Shattered was a good read for me. Emotional, full of heartbreak, love and healing. I enjoyed reading it, the ending was wonderful and the leading man was swoony! My biggest issue had to do with the last 40ish%. I felt that it was rushed once they finally got it together. You wait the whole book for this to happen, and it just felt to hurried for me. If it was a little longer, maybe that would have helped? Regardless, if your looking for a quick read, friends to lovers that may make you shed a few tears, pick this one up!


[Lucia · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Alyssa and Jesse:

"What started out as wishful thinking, angel given signs from above, was now just an imprisoned lot of dirty, broken pieces that used to belong to beautifully glistening wholes. Just like I used to."

Alyssa's life changed completely and her dreams were gone on a day when one of her best friends died in a car accident, followed by her other best friend, Jesse, leaving her to grieve on her own. All the emotional pain she had to go through lead her into depression and she gave up on her life. But things are never black or white. Jesse had his own reasons why he left the town after his best friend's funeral. And now he is back, trying to manage impossible - get back into Alyssa's life and fight for her love...

OMG, this story was one huge emotional rollercoaster full of drama and heart-break. Shattered is book about cruel reality of life, misunderstandings between people and finding power to live your life even when you feel completely broken. Jesse was a sweet farm boy with stubborn character and I really liked him from the very beginning. Alysse was a drama queen and even though she frustrated me with her over-reacting, it was painful to read about how she changed from energetic girl to walking zombie.

There were 2 features of writing style that I really liked about this boook. #1 Dual point of view - I like to see perspective of both main characters and see what exactly they are thinking. #2 Past/Present moments - It is always interesting to have story set in present with occassional glimpses to past and to have gradually revealed what had happened.

Shattered is the book that cannot be rushed. Even though there were parts that really broken my heart, overall I enjoyed reading it.


MORE REVIEWS ON MY BLOG

[Tee Loves Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every so often I stumble across a book that deserves far more attention than it's gotten, and never before has that statement been proven more fitting than with this incredible story. Elizabeth Lee has created the story of a love that captivates your every thought, grips at your heart, and moves you to tears as two broken souls try to find their way back to each other. It was heartbreaking romance in it's perfect form, and I loved every minute of it!!!

Alyssa Boyd is a hollowed-out shell of her former self, trudging through her days in her small hometown as she tries to forget what she's lost. With a mother that is cold and unfeeling and a father who can't be bothered, she has little reason to bother with life. It doesn't take long for the reader to be sucked into the abyss that is Alyssa's existence, and oh did I ever feel her pain right along with her. As we see flashbacks of her years with Garrett and Jesse, you can't help but feel the incredible loss that tore a gaping hole in her heart.

"What started out as wishful thinking, angel-given signs from above, was now just an imprisoned lot of dirty, broken pieces that used to belong to beautifully glistening wholes. Just like I used to. The relationship I'd once had with Garrett and Jesse was now comparable to a broken window." ~ Alyssa

"I let the idea of taking her away, and my heart, shatter into a million pieces. ~ Jesse

The loss Alyssa had to endure was so incredibly heartbreaking, especially since we see it from both her perspective and Jesse's. As more of her past with the boys is revealed, I grew to love these characters dearly, and it was so painful seeing her cope while feeling like the one person she'd ever truly loved just tossed her aside. When numbing herself to the pain and living in the moment became Alyssa's solution, it was like watching a loved one walk head-on into an oncoming train. She was in a downward spiral, the guilt and agony slowly turning her into someone she didn't recognize, and the moment Jesse came into the story my heart was racing. I desperately wanted him to be her knight in shining armor and breathe life back into her soul, but he had demons of his own that were eating away at him. The tug-of-war that Jesse and Alyssa go through as he tries to make a place for himself in her life kept me glued to every page, and so did the intense sparks that were flying between these two! It was a battle of wills (and lack of communication-men!) and sexual tension at it's best, and I just loved it!!



Lee takes her readers on a thrilling, captivating journey with these unforgettable characters, and as they struggled to find their way out of the fog and past the obstacles, this became an incredible story that I will hold dear to my heart. I'm giving Shattered a glowing 5 stars only because I can't give it more, but I very much look forward to more from this talented author!

You can also find my review at:http://www.autumnreview.com/2012/12/e...

[Tough Critic Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the best stories never told...

Elizabeth Lee had an amazing story to tell, but I only caught glimpses of it here and there. It was a four/five star book hidden underneath things that could have been less and under developed by things that could have been more. I needed more.

I totally fell in love with the idea of this book! Never regretting for one second getting to know Alyssa and Jesse! I would have loved for the story to have started with the three of them being best friends allowing a deeper relationship between Garrett, Jesse, and Alyssa. It would have caused me to feel...more! I wanted to be shattered! The flashbacks helped and would have been great to show the progression of their relationship, but I wish so badly I could have gotten more from the year before the tragedy.

I just found myself wanting so much more of what I didn't get and feeling a lot of what I did get...unnecessary. I will say that the first step to being an amazing author is having an amazing story to tell. This was an amazing story. I think with a little experience, a few more beta's, and a little better development Elizabeth Lee could be on her way to greatness.

It is an amazing story begging to be told! READ ON!!!

[Elizabeth Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found my Jesse & Alyssa... You know, just hanging out!
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[Akanksha❤ Søren♰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely story, beautifully written.

Loved loved loved Jesse!!
Liked all the characters and how they were written, would have liked a little more of Jesse's parents stuff.. btw at a point, I wanted to SLAP Alyssa! I mean, woman.. I would probably marry the guy in a breath's time if he went and beat some slacker up to protect my honor!!
Her mother was a A grade BITCH!!

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a story that can make me smile and cry MANY times during the read.

[Farah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am truly amazed to have come across this beautiful story....
This is why I am so thankful for Goodreads and thee most amazing chat groups on here which makes us discover books like these. I hadn't heard of this book ever and I'm so glad I did.
I got the book immediately and read it in ONE day!!

This is an emotional story of great friendship till death and love.... Unconditional love!

The story starts with Alyssa... A girl in deep pain. She had two BEST friends in the whole world and they were literally her world... Jesse and Garrett

They did everything together, 3 friends who were basically joined to the hip for years. Garrett was the best friend and the one who always calmed Alyssa and Jesse down. Jesse had a temper and Alyssa was a drama queen.
Alyssa and Jesse always 'had the hots' for each other but never told each other... The one day that Alyssa decided she was gong to tell Jesse how she felt.......

TRAGEDY struck...........
Garrett was in his truck alone and as in an accident and he died. A part of Alyssa and Jesse died too that day...
Alyssa was in a deep depression surviving on antidepressants pills to numb the pain. To make matters worse the only other person who was experiencing that kind of pain with her LEFT her.... JESSE left..... Alyssa was Shattered!

Alyssa's mother told Jesse to leave because Alyssa couldn't see him right now and he listened to her and left! 9 months later, Alyssa is picking up the pieces of her broken life and Jesse decides to come back...

She is hurt, emotional, angry.... So many real emotions go through her and you can almost feel the hurt and pain as you read this story...

After fighting and getting past the hurt they both feel and Alyssa's rebelling with the towns bad boy Collin (after he hits Alyssa) they finally get to open up and tell each other that that they love each other... That they always have....

Alyssa Gives herself to Jesse and he is also the first man to 'be with her'
When Collin tries to burn down Jesse's apartment/family bar, Jesse goes after him after Alyssa tells him not to and he breaks that promise... This is all too much for her and she says that if he breaks his promises and keeps running and leaving her she can't do this.
You can see the inside battle she is having with herself, not wanting to loose him and letting him go in fear of loosing him if she falls to deep..
She moves out for a while and......


Jesse fights for her back! They finally do the things they were planning to do before Garratt past away.
This book makes you believe in the saying LOVE IS FRIENDSHIP.
The basis of their love is the friendship and the greatest thing in this world is being in love and BEING with your best friend.

I wish this book was longer. This is the first time I've heard if Elizabeth Lee and definitely will read the next novel she writes!

[moonlightfairyprincess · Rating 4 out of 5]

" I noticed small cards sticking out from each cluster of flowers. All with my name scribbled across them. I pulled the first one from the Roses: the first time I saw you in the junior high hallway. The Lilies: The day you stuck the jeep in the mud. The Peopnies: The night of your birthday, when you wore the green sundress. The Hydrangas: You in the navy blue prom dress, the one your mom hated. The Tulips: The day you said you'd be my girl. The Daisies: everyday that you wake up in my arms. ... "what are these?" I held up the notes. "All of the times I've fallen in love with you." I couldn't not look at him after that.

Yeah, that is one helluv an apology especially since Jesse was never sure Alyssa would see it!

Okay, so first off, I have to get the negative stuff out of the way because I really liked the story. The editing or lack thereof is terrible and most of the time I wouldn't be able to give a book with so many flaws a good rating but I really enjoyed the story so it gets 3.5 STARS It would have gotten 4 STARS if someone had taken the time to edit. However, the editing flaws didn't cause any incomprehensibility in the story so it's more a matter of stumbling over the awkwardness caused by the mistakes.

There is a little bit of the cliche: stubborn boy and stubborn girl= miscommunication and road blocks but, it wasn't enough to get on my nerves and the relationship between Jesse and Alyssa was written in unique way.

I absolutely loved the idea of the Terrific Trio: Garrett, Jesse and Alyssa. The fact that two guys in junior high would take in a girl as part of their "pack" was unique because they really were best friends together first and foremost. Because Jesse was to insecure to ever tell Alyssa how he really felt when he first saw her, Garrett stepped up to nudge his best friend and it turned into something even bigger. The dynamic of the relationship between the three was so genuine which, when Alyssa and Jesse are remembering Garrett, make the story bittersweet and sad. Garrett is a character you only meet through the memories of others but has an impact so completely on the story that the reader can feel a connection to him. Their fun loving quirky trio was, as the book is so aptly titled, shattered.

Jesse and Alyssa have a lot of obstacles to overcome before they even have a chance together: insecurities, guilt, and trust. Those are not easy issues to deal with and while I don't condone how Alyssa dealt with her grief, I kind of understood it in much the same way the I understood how Jesse dealt with his. It wasn't right, but it was, in a sense, realistic. A bond like the three of them had as griends doesn't just get severed without consequences.

At times, the book would move really fast. I think it had to do with the fact that so much time was spent on overcoming issues to get Jesse and Alyssa to a point where they could be together that when they finally were together, to keep the plot moving, things happened in rapid succession. For this story, it works because Jesse and Alyssa had know each other for years so it doesn't entirely feel like they just magically ended up together - their relationship had been in the works for awhile. But, at the same time, there were moments that I stopped and thought "wait, things are going a little fast here..." compared to the steady pace of the first three quarters of the book.

The integration of memories and flashbacks were fairly well done. Not all authors can pull off flashbacks without disrupting the flow of the story or having an awkward transition but these were well placed and gave a sense of the characters and why they were experiencing certain emotions and hang ups. Each flashback gave a meaningful piece of the character with it. Sometimes authors place unnecessary flashbacks that give details that are mostly irrelevant but the flashbacks from Jesse and Alyssa give us the story and help us to understand the attachment Garrett, Jesse and Alyssa had to one another.

The end was well rounded.

Jesse and Alyssa fulfilled the dream that the "Terrific Trio" had made together. Even though they had to do it without Garrett, they learned to remember their friend, move on. They didn't just let the dream die. And, I think Garrett would have been thrilled that his years of nudging Jesse had finally gotten a positive result even if he wasn't physically there to see it.

[Angela Mclaurin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe one of my all-time favorite YA books!!

Shattered was a brilliant and thoughtfully written YA love story. The small town setting was personal for me and took me back to that unsure time being a teenager myself with dreams reaching far beyond my own small town.....

“The only thing greener than the money in the vault were the John Deere tractors that help generate it.”

Alyssa, a young girl in a small town, grew up with two boys as her best friends who would eventually change her world forever. As she began to fall for one of the boys as more than a friend, a tragic accident shattered all of their dreams for the future. The author seamlessly took us from past to present as the lives of these three young people crumbled. The glimpses back to the past moved the story along effortlessly and provided more depth to the present happenings. These transitions stood out to me and were brilliantly executed, making this a stand- out book on my list!


Upon finishing this book, everything fell into place for me and I was able to see how thoughtful and purposeful Elizabeth’s writing truly was. Their dreams shattered, their lives shattered, the glass from the accident shattered, and Alyssa collected colorful pieces of glass as a reminder of the things in her life that used to be whole. The symbolism was phenomenal and took this novel to a whole other level of greatness!

“What started out as wishful thinking, angel given signs from above, was now just an imprisoned lot of dirty, broken pieces that used to belong to beautifully glistening wholes.”

If you are a fan of YA, this book deserves a place at the top of your list! The story of Alyssa, Jesse, and Garrett will break you, bring you to tears, and fill you with warm fuzzies. I can’t wait to hear everyone’s thoughts and find out if you loved this book as much as I did!

[Annie Brewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

~Review to come~

I loved this book!! I kept seeing my girl Erin rave about it in one of our reading groups. So I immediately went to Amazon and bought it. We have similar or the same taste in books so I knew her opinion would matter and she did not disappoint.

As soon as we get into this book...we meet Alyssa Lyss Boyd whom is graduating from high school. Upon graduation, she is struck with the tragedy of her best friend's death that happened less than a year ago. The gym is too hard a place for her to be without feeling the effects of his presence. She runs out unable to deal with it. She is finally a graduate, free to get out of the small town she's planned on...but the two most important people in her life are gone. One, not by choice and the other left when she needed him most.

Jesse left town after Garrett's funeral. He couldn't face it anymore. He moves to Florida to help run his uncle's boat business..which was the plan all along for Garrett, Lyss and him to move away once she graduated. But after the tragic accident that tore them all apart, he couldn't wait. Now he's back and wants to fix things with Lyss. But is she willing to do so after he up and left her with no goodbye or warning? But wait, that's not really how it happened. So now they must face the reality of the accident, face their guilt and face their unknown future-if there is one.

I loved this book. I loved it the moment I turned the first page. Lyss was an incredible character. I could relate to her in so many ways. I felt her pain, her guilt and her love for Jesse. Hello???? SWOON. Jesse is all man and he is hot!!! The characters felt real and very realistic. I loved Jan and Hap. I loved Kelly, even the small scenes we got with her. She was pretty awesome. I loved Garrett. Even though he wasn't really in it, the flashbacks had me loving him and wishing he was. I wanted more of Garrett. He was the voice of reason when it came to Lyss and Jesse and he always made sure they got over their stubborn ass issues. When he was gone, I was sad. How can one like a character when they're not even really in the book? I don't know, but Lee did a fantastic job of making him feel so real. I loved Jesse most of all. Everyone that knows me, knows how much I love the guy's POV...so thank you Elizabeth for giving us his side of the story. Afterall, there are two sides to every story. And I feel like I never got enough of him. He's flawed and made mistakes, he's not perfect...but he wasn't afraid to admit when he was wrong. He tried to fix it instead of justifying his actions. I loved him. I swooned him. Hot damn did I love those sex scenes.

The end. I. Loved. The end. It was the perfect ending to this story. Both Lyss and Jesse had to deal with so much shit but once they got through, it was a great reunion. It made their bumpy road of love that much better. Great job Elizabeth Lee. I really enjoyed this story. I really loved the scene with her parents too, made me smile that things got settled and fixed. And ahhhhh Jan and Hap...that was just so damn amazing!!! I loved those two. Their love was beautiful as well. I was so happy and giddy when I finished this, I cried happy tears. Can't wait for more books from this author!

I do have to say, I saw some grammar and spelling errors but unlike a lot of people..I am not letting it take away from the story. There are so many books out there...including text books that still have mistakes. There is no perfect book...never. So yeah, even though I noticed I still loved this book! Great job!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love, love, love books that make me feel something. They do more than tell a story; they get into my heart and bring me on that rollercoaster ride that makes me feel alive! This book has a definite sad tone throughout the first half as Alyssa tries to cope with life without her two best friends. The story was unique, well-written and the characters captured my heart.

Alyssa is a very sad and depressed teenage girl and after reading about her home life and her recent losses, it is very easy to understand why. She has given up on happiness, essentially, and lives her life on auto-pilot. Her life is spinning out of control; she doesn’t care what people think of her or how she looks or even if she has clean clothes.

“Every time I feel like I take a step forward, the walls come down on me and I’m right back where I started. It is not as if I like feeling this way. I’d give anything to go back to the way things were.” – Alyssa

Jesse, how I love thee! Jesse was everything I love in a guy and so much more. He was sweet, protective, bad but not too bad, sexy, romantic, honest and really he was EVERYTHING! His character was very well-written and his personality fit so well into the story line. The way he approached Alyssa upon returning to town and giving her the space she needed was very believable. Don’t get me wrong, when he returned to town, I wanted him to hurry up, go to her house and get his girl but in Alyssa’s state, that probably would not have ended well.

“Please, I can make you happy. It’s going to be hard. I’m stubborn, I know, but we can make this work. I can make this work. I can be the man you want me to be.” – Jesse

My favorite romances are friends who become lovers. If written well, it is easy to feel the connection and why they are attracted to each other which was the case here. The one person who held Alyssa and Jesse together, who kept the sanity, was now gone and neither of them quite know what to do with that. Add in a few meddlers and it just makes things all the more complicated! If there was one thing I wanted it was more of Alyssa and Jesse, which is a good thing! The complimented each other so well.

I liked the flashbacks of the three friends in happier days. It really connected me to their loss, their connection and why Jesse left town. If there was one thing I would change, it would be the level of Collin’s “involvement” and some of the incidents that were caused by him. I thought the story could have been great and beautiful without it!

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a raw, emotional Mature YA/New Adult read by an amazingingly talented new author!

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the Terrific Trio. Alyssa-the drama queen. Jesse-the sarcastic bad boy. Garrett-the all around good guy and the glue of the group.

Alyssa is one year younger than Jesse and Garrett. They take her on in the 7th grade as their new friend. Jesse felt bad for her as she looked sad because her BFF January gained a new boyfriend that year. From that day forward they became inseparable. Until one fateful night in to the first week of Alyssa's senior year of high school. That's the night Garrett has a tragic accident. He leaves behind two grieving friends who hearts are broken, who's lives are shattered and who don't know how to be there for each other or pick up the pieces.

Jesse does what he does best, leaves. Alyssa is left behind hurting for 9 months until Jesse comes back in to her life. Little does she know the key player and reason for why Jesse left in the first place. She's ticked and acts out and fights being near him again. Jesse will do anything to make her listen to him because the one thing they both want more than anything, is to love one another and to have each other back as best friends. Jesse's not about to let anything or anyone stand in his way again. He's going to go the distance to win Alyssa back. Not only to win her back but to win her heart over too. Once and for all.

I loved this little country town themed book. It reminded me a little bit of these two books: The Vincent Boys & Forever My Girl. (Which I loved both books).

Elizabeth Lee did such a good job of making you fall in love with Garrett that it made you wish for the real Garrett and not just the memories of him.

What I loved the most about this book:
1. The flowers & the reasons I ...
2. The flashbacks of the good times
3. Garrett
4. Jesse-I thought he was super sweet and tried really hard with Alyssa
5. The little town and country feel
6. Jan & Hap
7. Jesse & Alyssa together
8. The Epi

[♥ Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

If the characters and plot were fleshed out, and explored further, the story could have been 5 star worthy; Shattered definitely had potential. I enjoyed the flashback scenes and the narration, but the execution was weak, consisting of mostly telling rather than showing. I felt like I was reading a summary of every thing important, and being force fed information, rather than being shown what was happening, and deciding what was important for myself. Also, the initial misunderstanding between Alyssa & Jesse seemed downright silly...

Nevertheless, very safe & predictable read with characters we've all seen before. Jesse was your typical "manly" man who had problems with "showing" emotion, yet had major anger issues. Also, he was crushing on Alyssa since Jr. High, he confesses he "loved" her, yet he bangs every other "slut" and justifies himself by explaining that "it didn't mean anything, because, well, they were sluts and not Alyssa..." Sigh. Maybe I'm too old for these kinds of stories. I just kind of found myself rolling my eyes and aggravated with this kind of double standard, bullshit excuse. I just didn't buy it. All that potential: wasted on mediocre, shallow character & plot development...Overall, OK, enjoyable read, but I couldn't help feel some kind of loss for what could have been.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

GAH... A unique and un-common story with an envious friendship, and an en epic love story....what's not to love?! This book stole my heart from the beginning and owned it by the end!

[Kellie Maddox-Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Alyssa Boyd feels guilty.
Numb
And alone.

Her plans after high school were to leave the small town called home behind and run away to Florida with her best friends Jesse and Garrett.
They meant the world to each other.

The dynamic of the Terrific Trio was this... I was the dramatic one, Jesse was the stubborn one and Garrett was the one who reminded us both to breathe. He was always the one to calm me down, when I swore my world was ending. He was the one who would convince Jesse to come down off his high horse and compromise. More than just that, he was the one who held us together.

The a terrible accident happened and Garrett’s life was taken.
And Jesse left town.
Without Alyssa.

So now she is just trying to get through high school. With her BFF Januaury and her boyfriend Hapley trying to keep her sane.

Alyssa starts to make stupid mistakes towards graduation. Drinking too much. Partying with the wrong guys.
And then Jesse comes home.
He’s come back for her.
Will she give him a chance to explain why he left her?
You’ll have to read to find out!

MY HONEST OPINION
This book had a lot of potential.
Written in dual POV between Jesse and Lyss, it included past flashbacks and also the present.
I could have done with a few more flashbacks personally. It was great to see the dynamic between them, especially when you see why they stopped by Alyssa’s house the first time! What a good friend.
It was like I was being told how to feel. Not shown. And I love having my feelings played with in books.

Ok but honestly.. it felt like we were waiting forever for Lyss to get her head oit of her ass and talk to Jesse about everything they were feeling. And then when it did..
NEK MINNUT! Was like someone hit the fast forward button. Everything just happened way too fast.

And another part of the storyline that pissed me off were Lyss’ parents.
Yep I got her Mum had a shit life once it was explained to me, but that doesn’t excuse her behaviour. Her Dad should have told her a long time ago instead of Lyss feeling like she did. It was kinda pushed under the rug with an apology.
I was happy with the ending though. I mean seriously who doesn’t love a HEA. And a standalone HEA? Who doesn’t love that!

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alyssa Boyd, Garrett Reynolds and Jesse Vaughn were all best friends starting at the age of 13. It all started when Alyssa’s best friend started noticing a boy and hanging out with him more, leaving Alyssa alone. The two boys happen to oversee this and start a friendship that will last for years. Instead of hanging out with girls, she hangs out with these two guys. They even make a plan to leave Harrington, a really small town, together once Alyssa graduates. A tragic event happens to Garrett and Jesse and Alyssa have to deal with it. With all the emotions flying around, they have a hard time dealing with their emotions and a misinformation leads to Jesse taking off. Well, after nine months, he’s back. He can’t stay away. He wants to know if she will give him a try at something more than friends. When Alyssa sees him the first time, she’s upset. How can he leave her like he did and expect her to just forgive him? Jesse is determined and eventually starts to wears her down…but someone’s jealous might split them up or even cost them their lives just to get revenge…

If you don’t like flashbacks in your books, I wouldn’t recommend reading this book. There are flashbacks throughout the book, but my personal opinion, it added to the book. Each flashback showed why that individual was thinking what they were. I was totally fine with the flashback.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone (or at least a lot of us) has lost someone we love or were very close to. This book is about a girl who is trying to deal with the death of her best friend and the "abandonment" of the other, it is a very real and tough subject. I loved how Jesse really loved and fought for Alyssa, he saw his best friend slipping away and did what he could to bring her back (don't we all need and want a Jesse in our lives?!). This book made my throat grow tight and my eyes water in a couple places. Sweet story, great characters. I felt is was pretty realistic and I found myself missing Garrett and wishing he was alive along with the characters.

I usually try to stay away from books like this. We all live in the real world with pain, suffering, and loss, I tend not to like to read it in my books (I'll take drama and angst any day but I don't like reading books about death... so final). But this book really focused on the great memories they had with Garrett and was more about over coming the grief then the over whelming sense of loss. And let me tell you, and I am ALL for a story of overcoming something. :)

Don't know what else to say but that. Great read, real emotions, definitely worth the money.

[Lauren at Live Read and Breathe Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

For this review and more Live Read and Breathe

I am always a big fan of friends that turn into lovers and this book did NOT disappoint. Right from the beginning you felt for Alyssa with the loss of her friends and than having a raging bitch for a mom.

The friendship between Jess, Garrett and Alyssa was beautiful and your heart does get shattered with the loss of Garrett. I can only imagine what that loss could do to a person especially if you feel it is your fault. After that so many obstacles get in the way between Alyssa and Jesse from miscommunication, manipulation and fear.

With Jesse you love him right away and are routing for him the whole way through. His love for Jess is breath taking and real. When they are together their connection is real yet passionate.

It is so crazy the effects that parents can make and with Alyssa and Jesse their parents made quite the impact on them in a negative way. However their friends and good family make up the difference. Hap, Jan, Kelly and Craig show them what love and family is supposed to be like. This book is about love, hope, finding oneself and loss.

I really enjoyed this book and will be looking forward to future work of Elizabeth Lee.

[Radiant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alyssa heart is shattered..she's a zombie for past few months after the sudden death of her one of best friends Garrett ..too add that her other best friend Jess and her long crush/love leaves her without telling her anything and now he comes back?

Jesse didn't think seeing the girl he loved all her life like dead will break his heart more than that it is..but he knows he was a reason for it..cos he left..but now he came back and hes going to get her back from herself...even if she denies..cos they both are stubborn.

Jesse is trying hard to talk and explain to Lyss..but she doesn't listen to him and tries to spend with the town bad boy..making Jesse mad.To add Lyss mother's is no help with snarky comments and remarks..Lyss is confused,broken,guilty and alone..even her BFF Jan can't help her.

But when secrets are revealed...Jesse and Lyss try to solve their past misunderstanding's and try to move on..can their love alone be enough..when they are too stubborn and there some out out their looking for a little payback.

The story was really good and it was a great read :)

sri.

[Marochka · Rating 2 out of 5]

До ужаса скучная и банальная книга.
Вот хоть и любимая моя тема про друзей, но.. в ней есть каждый штамп современного романа, таких авторов с "фантазией", надо в детстве отстреливать:
- смерть от рака и в автокатастрофе (кто-нибудь в курсе вообще, в книгах-романах еще как-то умереть можно? Я навскидку романов 30 сейчас с таким сюжетом назову, сил уже нет);
- плохие отношения с родителями;
- идиотское недопонимание, которое привело к тяжелым последствиям;
- все винят себя в произошедшем;
- «я всю жизнь тебя любила, как и ты меня, мы столько вместе преодолели, и вот мы наконец вместе, но нам надо расстаться из-за вот этой фигни»;
- буду мстить, тусуясь с парнем, который явный идиот и потом меня или изобьет, или изнасилует, ну а что делать?
Автор, ну хоть немного включи воображение. Я месяц назад книгу один в один про влюбленных друзей детства, катастрофу, гибель их друга и вину читала. И даже не суть важно, что было написано вперед, потому что наверняка оно все тоже списано с чего-то еще. Жуть.

[Anne OK · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a classic example of the little book that could have – should have – would have – but just didn’t. I certainly didn’t hate it -- nor did I love it. The story had great potential but something was just missing from start to finish. The bittersweet storyline is at times very sad and there’s angst running rampant which are my usual preference. The characters appealed to me but lacked depth in their development. I needed to feel more from their friendship before the accident. I just had hopes for something deeper and more meaningful. And again, there is still a need for better editing in this edition.

I’ve got my eye on this author because I think she truly has the potential for writing some quality stories. I enjoy her writing style and the roads she takes readers down.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Shattered!!! I was looking for a cowboy themed book and Jenn found this which wasn’t really a cowboy book but about kids growing up in the Midwest which I can totally relate too. I’m so glad Jenn picked this to read. I couldn’t put the book down. I was swept up in the flash back of the Terrific Trio of Garrett, Jesse and Alyssa. The cat a mouse game between Jesse and Alyssa was getting a little frustrating as the book went on but by the ending I was so happy and in love with Jesse. I couldn’t get the smile off my face.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book quite enjoyable. It is a new adult book about friendship, tragedy, and love.

This is the story of Alyssa and her two best friends, Garrett and Jesse. They have been inseperable since Jr. High when January got herself a boyfriend and the boys rescued Alyssa from being sad and lonely. A tragic accident tries to tear the friendship apart, but in the end love helps them heal. I love stories of love that develop after being childhood friends. That part kind of reminded me of That Boy. Great book! 3.5 stars

[Yona Racheva · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the storyline and the book but there was something missing - it just didn't seem very real- the emotions, the conversations, the reactions of the characters.

When Alyssa and Jesse were telling the story it seemed like they were talking about someone else like their weren't the ones living trough it.

[Kethnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good. Loved the characters. The characters actions isn't entirely predictable and the situation is reality based. I loved that their relationship was entirely focused on sex when they got together.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!! I thought the characters were great, and I loved how well the author went from the present to the past...Definitely can't wait for more from this author!

[Deena Bright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Shattered. I would define it as the PERFECT book. Nice work Ms. Lee. I hope to have stacks of your future books decorating my at-home library....in HARD BOUND COVERS!

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful and heart wrenching story, it had me hooked. Elizabeth Lee is an author to look out for her writing draws you in and holds you till the very end .

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purely loved this book. A must read! Hope to see more books from the author!