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Meet Me Here
In a single night—graduation night—Thomas has to do what everyone has always expected of him, or forge an entirely new path? Bryan Bliss’s absorbing examination of one boy struggling with expectations and realities will appeal to readers of Sara Zarr and Chris Crutcher.
Thomas is supposed to leave for the Army in the morning. His father was Army. His brother, Jake, is Army—is a hero, even, with the medals to prove it. Everyone expects Thomas to follow in that fine tradition. But Jake came back from overseas a completely different person, and that has shaken Thomas’s certainty about his own future. And so when his long-estranged friend Mallory suggests one last night of adventure, Thomas takes her up on the distraction. Over the course of this single night, Thomas will lose, find, resolve, doubt, drive, explore, and leap off a bridge. He’ll also face the truth of his brother’s post-traumatic stress disorder and of his own courage. In Bryan Bliss’s deft hands, graduation night becomes a night to find yourself, to find each other, to find a path, and to know that you always have a place—and people—to come back to.
Thomas is supposed to leave for the Army in the morning. His father was Army. His brother, Jake, is Army—is a hero, even, with the medals to prove it. Everyone expects Thomas to follow in that fine tradition. But Jake came back from overseas a completely different person, and that has shaken Thomas’s certainty about his own future. And so when his long-estranged friend Mallory suggests one last night of adventure, Thomas takes her up on the distraction. Over the course of this single night, Thomas will lose, find, resolve, doubt, drive, explore, and leap off a bridge. He’ll also face the truth of his brother’s post-traumatic stress disorder and of his own courage. In Bryan Bliss’s deft hands, graduation night becomes a night to find yourself, to find each other, to find a path, and to know that you always have a place—and people—to come back to.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 31, 2016
29 people are currently reading
2401 people want to read
About the author
Bryan Bliss
13 books129 followersBryan Bliss is the author of No Parking at the End Times, Meet Me Here, and We’ll Fly Away, which was longlisted for the 2018 National Book Award. He lives in Saint Paul, MN with his family.
You can visit him online at www.bryanbliss.com and on Facebook and Twitter.
You can visit him online at www.bryanbliss.com and on Facebook and Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
April 6, 2016
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss.)
This was a YA contemporary story about a boy who decided he didn’t want to join the army even though he’d signed up.
I felt quite sorry for Thomas because it was obvious how much his family expected from him, and he was quite brave to admit to himself that joining the army wasn’t what he wanted, even if he wasn’t brave enough to tell his father that.
The storyline in this took place the night before Thomas was supposed to be starting his army training, and involved Thomas looking for his older brother Jake who had gone missing, as well as spending time with an old friend. The pace in this was pretty good though, and things moved along quite nicely.
The ending to this was also pretty good, and I was satisfied with the way things worked out for Thomas.
7.25 out of 10
“A familiar tightness pulls at my lungs. If there was a time to tell anyone, this is it. It would be so easy: open my mouth and say the words.
I’m not going to the army.”
This was a YA contemporary story about a boy who decided he didn’t want to join the army even though he’d signed up.
I felt quite sorry for Thomas because it was obvious how much his family expected from him, and he was quite brave to admit to himself that joining the army wasn’t what he wanted, even if he wasn’t brave enough to tell his father that.
The storyline in this took place the night before Thomas was supposed to be starting his army training, and involved Thomas looking for his older brother Jake who had gone missing, as well as spending time with an old friend. The pace in this was pretty good though, and things moved along quite nicely.
The ending to this was also pretty good, and I was satisfied with the way things worked out for Thomas.
7.25 out of 10
September 29, 2024
The nostalgia is strong in this book that reading it makes me miss my childhood days and my childhood friends. In a stressful life I have right now, remembering and reminiscing my days as a child is such a sweet thing; a fulfilling moment that spread a warm feeling in my heart. And I'm thanking Meet Me Here for that.
Bliss's second YA novel is a remarkably well-written and well - told book. A profound novel with good pacing and realistic characters. Even the story only happens in one night, it conveys a lot of desirable things that made this book a worthy read. It's absorbing and it's absolutely gut-wrenching.
First and foremost, I like how this is nostalgic in a way where Thomas and his long-estranged friend, Mallory remembers and relives their past. I like the subtlety of it all that I thought Meet Me Here is all about Thomas and Thomas alone. It wasn't. I like how the characters grow in each chapter of this novel, especially Thomas who comes up on his own term to face the inevitable. I like how the book shares knowledge about the trauma of war. And I like the open-ended ending the book has, justifying that Thomas has lot of choices with his life; his future.
Meet Me Here is all about choices and decision and the struggle with reality and expectation. And it's relatable.
In this novel, Thomas is to decide whether he will follow the path taken by his father and brother-- being an Army (which is expected to him by the people around him, especially by his father). Or to embark a new path for himself especially after his brother came back as a completely different person.
It's almost the same with everybody, right? That expectations and pressure from the people around you. That feeling of reluctance and confusion whether to follow the current or flow against it. That indecisiveness to push through a concrete plan you made for yourself after witnessing an unexpected turn of events. It's difficult and exhausting. Fulfilling their expectations, weighing things, deciding and all that.
Bliss's second YA novel is a remarkably well-written and well - told book. A profound novel with good pacing and realistic characters. Even the story only happens in one night, it conveys a lot of desirable things that made this book a worthy read. It's absorbing and it's absolutely gut-wrenching.
First and foremost, I like how this is nostalgic in a way where Thomas and his long-estranged friend, Mallory remembers and relives their past. I like the subtlety of it all that I thought Meet Me Here is all about Thomas and Thomas alone. It wasn't. I like how the characters grow in each chapter of this novel, especially Thomas who comes up on his own term to face the inevitable. I like how the book shares knowledge about the trauma of war. And I like the open-ended ending the book has, justifying that Thomas has lot of choices with his life; his future.
Meet Me Here is all about choices and decision and the struggle with reality and expectation. And it's relatable.
In this novel, Thomas is to decide whether he will follow the path taken by his father and brother-- being an Army (which is expected to him by the people around him, especially by his father). Or to embark a new path for himself especially after his brother came back as a completely different person.
It's almost the same with everybody, right? That expectations and pressure from the people around you. That feeling of reluctance and confusion whether to follow the current or flow against it. That indecisiveness to push through a concrete plan you made for yourself after witnessing an unexpected turn of events. It's difficult and exhausting. Fulfilling their expectations, weighing things, deciding and all that.
June 5, 2020
★★★★★ 5 AMERICAN-GRAFFITI-WORTHY STARS !!!
OMG I was just telling everyone how I might be too old for YA books already since I couldn't connect or relate to my last few books at all. And then THIS. THIS BOOK HAPPENED (and now I love YA again lol).
For those who couldn't make sense of what I was trying to say; American Graffiti (directed by the epitome of genius Mr.George Lucas) is probably one of the best coming-of-age movies ever existed (only second to something like The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller's Day Off). And Oh Boy, does this book remind me of that movie...with a twist, of course.
It’s the last day of youth. For the senior kids of Hickory, North Carolina, the graduation parties were held, the plans were set, and tomorrow’s where the future began. But Thomas Bennett had a plan of his own, and he was more scared and confused than ever. Following it meant betraying the whole town and disappointing his family. But anything could happen in one night, and with a help from his friends, old and new, tonight’s going to be the kind of night where everything changed.
Music: Explosions In The Sky
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ziw4y...
I’m looking for a way to do this book justice. On the surface, there’s nothing relatable between me and this book at all. I’m a city girl my whole life, so I have no idea what it’s like growing up among friends in a place where everyone knows my name. Hell, I’m not even American. I have not the slightest clue about life in North Carolina. I have no in-depth experience on military culture. Driving a truck, shotgun-shooting beer cans and taking trips to the waffle house in the dead of the night sounds like a joke to my ears.
But somehow I get it. I get Thomas and his struggle. I get Mallory and her decision. I get Jake and his PTSD ghosts. I just get it. My heart ached. I wanted to weep for some things I couldn’t define.
All my life I work hard for this one thing; to get out of the city and never ever look back. It doesn't mean I hate my hometown. It is and always will be part of my existence, one of the tiny little things that define who I am. But I guess the feeling of wanting to break free is universal. Some people are just destined to be lost witg a hope to find the place they truly belong, simple as that.
As we accompanied Thomas through his last day in town, we’d get a glimpse into his life prior this very day; his friends, his family, his fears. *FRIENDSHIP-GAME-IS-ON-POINT ALERT* The friendship among characters would definitely warm your heart. Mallory was probably a bit one-dimensional, a manic pixie dream girl to ease Thomas’s indecisiveness toward his looming future (the next day, to be exact). Wayne and Sinclaire were also an amazing addition to the story. They reminded me of my childhood friends whom I lost contact with from years ago.
This book will warm your heart by reminding you of the old days, when you were young and hopeless, full of dreams and heartbreaks. The time when you felt like you’d conquer the world – if you’re first allowed to overstay pass the curfew, of course. Also it brought you an insight on American military family and how war could affect one’s life beyond the battlefield. A fast-paced, easy read that would stay with you for quite some time. It’s totally worth it.
Find out more at:
https://thebleedingeyes.wordpress.com
"I want to believe that we make our own plans. I want to believe that we are the ones in control of our lives."
OMG I was just telling everyone how I might be too old for YA books already since I couldn't connect or relate to my last few books at all. And then THIS. THIS BOOK HAPPENED (and now I love YA again lol).
For those who couldn't make sense of what I was trying to say; American Graffiti (directed by the epitome of genius Mr.George Lucas) is probably one of the best coming-of-age movies ever existed (only second to something like The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller's Day Off). And Oh Boy, does this book remind me of that movie...with a twist, of course.
Most of them are going to college; none of their parents want them anywhere near the army, even if the chance of active duty is remote. They don’t want heroes, just happiness.
It’s the last day of youth. For the senior kids of Hickory, North Carolina, the graduation parties were held, the plans were set, and tomorrow’s where the future began. But Thomas Bennett had a plan of his own, and he was more scared and confused than ever. Following it meant betraying the whole town and disappointing his family. But anything could happen in one night, and with a help from his friends, old and new, tonight’s going to be the kind of night where everything changed.
Music: Explosions In The Sky
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ziw4y...
I’m looking for a way to do this book justice. On the surface, there’s nothing relatable between me and this book at all. I’m a city girl my whole life, so I have no idea what it’s like growing up among friends in a place where everyone knows my name. Hell, I’m not even American. I have not the slightest clue about life in North Carolina. I have no in-depth experience on military culture. Driving a truck, shotgun-shooting beer cans and taking trips to the waffle house in the dead of the night sounds like a joke to my ears.
But somehow I get it. I get Thomas and his struggle. I get Mallory and her decision. I get Jake and his PTSD ghosts. I just get it. My heart ached. I wanted to weep for some things I couldn’t define.
All my life I work hard for this one thing; to get out of the city and never ever look back. It doesn't mean I hate my hometown. It is and always will be part of my existence, one of the tiny little things that define who I am. But I guess the feeling of wanting to break free is universal. Some people are just destined to be lost witg a hope to find the place they truly belong, simple as that.
As I watch them walk away, I’m struck by how much I’m going to miss Hickory no matter where I end up, a thought that until now hasn’t really materialized for me. This town, these people are like DNA. Pulsing in my veins, making my body work. It’s why I’m so worried about leaving, about letting them down. It’s like denying a part of my flesh.
As we accompanied Thomas through his last day in town, we’d get a glimpse into his life prior this very day; his friends, his family, his fears. *FRIENDSHIP-GAME-IS-ON-POINT ALERT* The friendship among characters would definitely warm your heart. Mallory was probably a bit one-dimensional, a manic pixie dream girl to ease Thomas’s indecisiveness toward his looming future (the next day, to be exact). Wayne and Sinclaire were also an amazing addition to the story. They reminded me of my childhood friends whom I lost contact with from years ago.
“I think courage is somewhere between doing what you want to do and what you need to do,” he says. “And that’s on you, man.”
This book will warm your heart by reminding you of the old days, when you were young and hopeless, full of dreams and heartbreaks. The time when you felt like you’d conquer the world – if you’re first allowed to overstay pass the curfew, of course. Also it brought you an insight on American military family and how war could affect one’s life beyond the battlefield. A fast-paced, easy read that would stay with you for quite some time. It’s totally worth it.
Find out more at:
https://thebleedingeyes.wordpress.com
February 29, 2016
Meet Me Here is an amazing read that will capture your heart right from the beginning. It deals with some tough issues that teens face everyday. From decisions on where to go to college to deciding on whether or not to get married, to deciding on whether or not to join the army.
In one day Thomas Bennett will go through hell and back. It is graduation night and Thomas is supposed to be partying and saying goodbye to everyone before he goes off to the army. Only Thomas does not want to go to the army because his older brother came back from war and he is messed up so he does not want to go off to war and come back like his brother.
While Thomas is at a graduation party he rekindles his friendship with Mallory. They were best friends when they were younger but Thomas's father put an end to that and on this night Thomas and Mallory will put their hurt aside and have a night to remember. Thomas will learn a very valuable lesson and so will Mallory.
The one thing I did not like was the ending. I needed to know what happened to Thomas, Mallory, and Jake.
In one day Thomas Bennett will go through hell and back. It is graduation night and Thomas is supposed to be partying and saying goodbye to everyone before he goes off to the army. Only Thomas does not want to go to the army because his older brother came back from war and he is messed up so he does not want to go off to war and come back like his brother.
While Thomas is at a graduation party he rekindles his friendship with Mallory. They were best friends when they were younger but Thomas's father put an end to that and on this night Thomas and Mallory will put their hurt aside and have a night to remember. Thomas will learn a very valuable lesson and so will Mallory.
The one thing I did not like was the ending. I needed to know what happened to Thomas, Mallory, and Jake.
April 15, 2017
Meet Me Here by Bryan Bliss *3.5 Stars*
For one night we follow Thomas in his pursuit of happiness. It’s graduation night and Thomas, an eighteen-year-old boy, is struggling with taking the path that he wants or meeting his father’s expectations. Thomas is supposed to be like his father and brother and join the Army. But after going to war, his brother Jake, came back from Afghanistan emotionally damaged and Thomas can’t recognize his own brother. That has made Thomas re-think what he truly wants to do with his future.
Mallory, a childhood friend persuades Thomas to rekindle their friendship by doing things they used to do when kids. Thomas is avoiding the necessary talk with his father and Mallory is avoiding the talk with her boyfriend, and together they spend the night searching for one last adventure.
Honestly, the book’s blurb tells you everything about the book.
I enjoyed the read. It was quick paced, and the characters were very relatable. Their graduation night was fun and I was happy with the way things developed. That being said, I’m not a fan of stories that happen in one day/night/setting. I still enjoyed it though.
3.5 stars.
For one night we follow Thomas in his pursuit of happiness. It’s graduation night and Thomas, an eighteen-year-old boy, is struggling with taking the path that he wants or meeting his father’s expectations. Thomas is supposed to be like his father and brother and join the Army. But after going to war, his brother Jake, came back from Afghanistan emotionally damaged and Thomas can’t recognize his own brother. That has made Thomas re-think what he truly wants to do with his future.
Mallory, a childhood friend persuades Thomas to rekindle their friendship by doing things they used to do when kids. Thomas is avoiding the necessary talk with his father and Mallory is avoiding the talk with her boyfriend, and together they spend the night searching for one last adventure.
Honestly, the book’s blurb tells you everything about the book.
I enjoyed the read. It was quick paced, and the characters were very relatable. Their graduation night was fun and I was happy with the way things developed. That being said, I’m not a fan of stories that happen in one day/night/setting. I still enjoyed it though.
3.5 stars.
March 21, 2016
This just wasn't for me and it wasn't really what I was expecting.
It makes me sad to say that.
Full review to come.
It makes me sad to say that.
Full review to come.
February 7, 2017
Heck, that was beautiful. I'm definitely going to read whatever Bryan Bliss writes.
August 17, 2017
Meet me Here makes me so sad, guys.
And I get it. There’s a lot of shitty things going on. Thomas has a really sad life, his brother is not himself, his parents are abusive, and he has no say in anything. However, that doesn’t mean that by bringing in an old flame will solve his damn problems. This book is just a joke. I just hate how the plot is, the way Mallory randomly shows up in his life. Why? No? Stop? On top of all of this, Bliss has made the story insanely predictable (and I say this while skipping over quite a large chunk of it). By this, I mean that despite the story being about the way Thomas and his brother are different, their relationship is nothing new. The brother is the go-to golden boy who loses all sense of himself. now, I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with this, what I am saying is that it is played out and not executed as well as it could be because the only times we really hear of him are when their father comes into play.
I wish I could have liked Meet Me Here but it lacks in every area. The writing is nothing stellar, the character are extremely dull and of the generic kind, and the plot…well what plot is there, really? I mean, nothing matters in this book. Instead, if you’re looking for brother relationships with war themes, I recommend Something like Normal and The Things a Brother Knows.
And I get it. There’s a lot of shitty things going on. Thomas has a really sad life, his brother is not himself, his parents are abusive, and he has no say in anything. However, that doesn’t mean that by bringing in an old flame will solve his damn problems. This book is just a joke. I just hate how the plot is, the way Mallory randomly shows up in his life. Why? No? Stop? On top of all of this, Bliss has made the story insanely predictable (and I say this while skipping over quite a large chunk of it). By this, I mean that despite the story being about the way Thomas and his brother are different, their relationship is nothing new. The brother is the go-to golden boy who loses all sense of himself. now, I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with this, what I am saying is that it is played out and not executed as well as it could be because the only times we really hear of him are when their father comes into play.
I wish I could have liked Meet Me Here but it lacks in every area. The writing is nothing stellar, the character are extremely dull and of the generic kind, and the plot…well what plot is there, really? I mean, nothing matters in this book. Instead, if you’re looking for brother relationships with war themes, I recommend Something like Normal and The Things a Brother Knows.
July 28, 2016
I don't really know what I was expecting from this, but I just didn't feel attached to the book at all. I didn't really care about any of the characters, and the plot didn't interest me and it never felt like it was going anywhere. It just wasn't for me.
October 15, 2021
This book wasn't bad but I predicted the ending like 50 pages in and I was right so nothing really surprised me idk. I'm not exactly sure how I feel about it tbh. I definitely don't have strong feelings about it good or bad. I almost stopped reading about half way because I was bored but I am glad I finished because the ending and the beginning were fairly good. Most of the middle just kind of felt like filler.
July 11, 2024
I was expecting to find out more about what Thomas’s decision ended up being, but I think the way the book ended also still worked.
All in all a good book that I ended up finishing in 3 hours!
(also it honestly gives off very slight TBDATE vibes…)
All in all a good book that I ended up finishing in 3 hours!
(also it honestly gives off very slight TBDATE vibes…)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2022
Bryan Bliss is such a great MN author! I really enjoyed this one.
December 30, 2024
Spoiler free, TLDR review: A one star or two? As of writing this sentence, I have no clue. This book was ridiculous. None of the characters seem to like each other, nor do they really change from the beginning to the end. Mallory is a manic pixie dream girl who doesn’t impact the plot at all, and the best aspect of the entire book (the dysfunctional military family struggling with a returned son’s PTSD) was treated like an awkward subplot. Reads like a discount John Green novel (and I can’t stand most of John Green).
Spoiler-riddled review:
Things done well: Jake coming home a broken man while Thomas prepares to meet a potentially identical fate in the army is very well narrated, when it’s approached. Thomas is obviously terrified and feels horrible about his hesitation. The dynamic in dysfunctional military families is a fantastic place to analyze in YA novels, especially as many teenagers might be preparing for similar decisions. Thomas’s mom trying to make up for the pressure and physical violence of her husband, their father, is heartbreaking and raw, painting a picture of a woman who can only love her hypermasculine family in the way she can while still being a part of the problem.
Phil and Ray are just about the only enjoyable side characters. They are just cheerful and tough enough in a hardened-former-military way to be charming. They remind me of my own military family members. They exist serendipitously, but I appreciated that they helped form a connection between Jake and Thomas, connecting military brotherhood to familial brotherhood while showing us who Jake might have once been and who he might become when he’s received healing.
On the fence: I guess there were a few quotes that I thought were alright. Jake discusses courage as the middle ground between doing what you want to do and doing what has to be done. Still, I had a tricky time swallowing them when I know that most of the quotes didn't impact Thomas or change his mind. They seemed to bounce off of him, adding to his guilt but not to his actions.
Thomas’s decision not to join the military could have changed a little bit during the book, with Thomas debating the pros and cons of each in a way that truly makes audiences believe he just might go, but it’s understandable that it doesn’t. Thomas does NOT want to go, and nothing will change his mind. I understand that thought process completely, but for the purposes of the narrative, the point of the novel is to answer the question of “What decision will he make?” We don’t get the satisfaction of the answer when we already know what it is a few pages in.
Some of Thomas’s narration was fluid and enjoyable. He throws in the occasional artistic, complex thought when thinking about North Carolina, his brother, or his feelings about Mallory. Mostly, though, the writing style gets the job done. It could do without the millions of swear words, which really should elevate this book from a YA piece to Adult fiction, but what are you gonna do.
Room for growth: What doesn’t fit in this section?
Thomas’s relationship with Mallory is odd. She’s secretly engaged to her boyfriend but doesn’t want to be married young because it’s cliche and she wants to be free. This is all totally fair! What isn’t fair is her striking Will, running off with Thomas, and still expecting a relationship by the end of the night. She leads Thomas on by dragging him all over town, holding his hands, burying her face in his chest, etc. Say what you will about the nature and “maturity” of teenage relationships, but I just couldn’t stomach Mallory. For some reason, she is written into the story as if she’s meant to be a main plot point. It’s her impact that is supposed to change Thomas, but she largely carts him around from party to party, nostalgia point to nostalgia point, and then disappears for several chapters with little wrap up. When she reappears, it's for a check in and an "I love you," said with full intention to go back to her boyfriend. I had no idea if this was intended to hint that there was potential for more in the future or not, but I just don't know what she was doing in this novel.
In all honesty, I couldn’t stand Mallory. She’s the definition of a woman written by a man, a manic pixie dream girl who leaps into Thomas’s truck after seven years of silence with the sudden determination to become his best friend for the rest of the night. She’s stubborn and often a little abusive, often hitting or verbally attacking people she knows will never hit back but can never quite jump into the fray when fists are really flying. Mallory didn’t feel like a real character; she seemed like a fantasy, and an asinine one at that. I understand that crazy things happen as high school wraps up, but most real high schoolers wouldn’t dare rush out of a crowded party into the arms of some kid they were best friends with in elementary school. I barely know people from elementary school willing to look me in the eye, much less to drive all over town remembering a friendship from years and years ago. If their friendship ended just a few months or years before the book, that would be one thing. If this novel took place in college and they were friends all throughout high school, that would also fit. But Thomas and Mallory have no chemistry and no reason to be together, which makes their relationship feel like more of a jab at Will than an actual opportunity for growth for Mallory and Thomas. I wonder if Mallory only picked Thomas because the rest of her friends were drunk or didn’t have a car, not because they had this secret friendship/platonic love that was just waiting to be rekindled. That would be a hilarious plot twist.
The side characters are horrendous, barring Phil and Ray. Wayne and Sinclair are insufferable teenage drunks with very little purpose, except for Wayne’s comparison to Jerry Lee. Mallory is ridiculous (see above). Jake is about as two dimensional as it gets, and the mystery of his backpack is solved and resolved in paragraphs that make the entire relationship feel dull. It’s like nobody was quite certain if the tone was intended to be comical or resolute, satirical or serious. None of the characters seem to like each other very much, and I couldn’t find myself liking a single one of them.
The dialogue and narration also felt stilted and hollow. Thomas’s occasional enjoyable narration felt like a repeat of itself. At least three times in thirty pages does Thomas say (in the same awestricken tone) that he’s never seen Jake so present/alive in months, all while doing different things. Though the penalty for desertion is discussed multiple times, Thomas is somehow shocked when Jake tells him that he might go to prison. There were a few places where I questioned the editing or consistency.
Main character: Thomas is about as bland a main character as they come. He has little to say. He doesn’t really have a goal, other than to not join the military. He’s aimless, flighty, and awkward in almost every scene. He is well meaning, I think, and he has some interesting conflicting traits or beliefs-- Thomas dives into a river to save Jake’s medals, things that mean everything to their family but nothing to Jake, then chucks the rock from the Middle Eastern church into the river without a second thought because it means everything to Jake but not to Thomas. He verges on complex thought a few times, what with his attempting to balance the desires of himself and his desire to make his family proud, but he’s made the decision not to serve long before the book has begun. I can see that cutting things off after Thomas’s conversation with Mallory under the bridge can leave room for ambiguity, but without getting to see his decision and the aftermath (which the entire novel leads up to) we leave Thomas where we found him: actionless and unsure.
Reason for rating: I just wouldn’t recommend this to anybody. It was a short read, thank goodness, but that doesn’t give me my two hours back. In all honesty, I didn’t feel a deep, burning hatred for this book, but for something that had such potential to be a deep, heartfelt novel about contemporary war-torn families and the choice between duty and self-preservation, I left feeling disappointed. I don’t give one star lightly, but this was pretty weak. And crass. Abhorrently crass for a YA book. I don't run for cover at the first swear word, but the dialogue was like I was sitting in a middle school locker room listening to teenagers wield curses like marshmallow guns. The language didn't enrich the story or strengthen anyone's development, it just made the characters sound stupid.
Content Warnings (spiciness, swearing, etc.): This book is riddled with crude humor, incredibly strong language, and crass references to sex. Multiple fights where blood is drawn. Characters enter a trailer full of drug addicts and dealers. Violence between family members. A character gets stitches. Underage drinking is present/encouraged on nearly every page, and almost every character is drunk the entire time. A father who forces his children toward the military. Heavy discussions of military influence on soldiers, such as PTSD or death. Emotionally distant parents and potential abuse. No sex scenes or romance, really, but a boy kisses a girl without her consent. He apologizes, but it’s never discussed again.
Book Club Adaptability: Read something else. I’ve heard that My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier is good, if you’re looking for a heartfelt military read.
Spoiler-riddled review:
Things done well: Jake coming home a broken man while Thomas prepares to meet a potentially identical fate in the army is very well narrated, when it’s approached. Thomas is obviously terrified and feels horrible about his hesitation. The dynamic in dysfunctional military families is a fantastic place to analyze in YA novels, especially as many teenagers might be preparing for similar decisions. Thomas’s mom trying to make up for the pressure and physical violence of her husband, their father, is heartbreaking and raw, painting a picture of a woman who can only love her hypermasculine family in the way she can while still being a part of the problem.
Phil and Ray are just about the only enjoyable side characters. They are just cheerful and tough enough in a hardened-former-military way to be charming. They remind me of my own military family members. They exist serendipitously, but I appreciated that they helped form a connection between Jake and Thomas, connecting military brotherhood to familial brotherhood while showing us who Jake might have once been and who he might become when he’s received healing.
On the fence: I guess there were a few quotes that I thought were alright. Jake discusses courage as the middle ground between doing what you want to do and doing what has to be done. Still, I had a tricky time swallowing them when I know that most of the quotes didn't impact Thomas or change his mind. They seemed to bounce off of him, adding to his guilt but not to his actions.
Thomas’s decision not to join the military could have changed a little bit during the book, with Thomas debating the pros and cons of each in a way that truly makes audiences believe he just might go, but it’s understandable that it doesn’t. Thomas does NOT want to go, and nothing will change his mind. I understand that thought process completely, but for the purposes of the narrative, the point of the novel is to answer the question of “What decision will he make?” We don’t get the satisfaction of the answer when we already know what it is a few pages in.
Some of Thomas’s narration was fluid and enjoyable. He throws in the occasional artistic, complex thought when thinking about North Carolina, his brother, or his feelings about Mallory. Mostly, though, the writing style gets the job done. It could do without the millions of swear words, which really should elevate this book from a YA piece to Adult fiction, but what are you gonna do.
Room for growth: What doesn’t fit in this section?
Thomas’s relationship with Mallory is odd. She’s secretly engaged to her boyfriend but doesn’t want to be married young because it’s cliche and she wants to be free. This is all totally fair! What isn’t fair is her striking Will, running off with Thomas, and still expecting a relationship by the end of the night. She leads Thomas on by dragging him all over town, holding his hands, burying her face in his chest, etc. Say what you will about the nature and “maturity” of teenage relationships, but I just couldn’t stomach Mallory. For some reason, she is written into the story as if she’s meant to be a main plot point. It’s her impact that is supposed to change Thomas, but she largely carts him around from party to party, nostalgia point to nostalgia point, and then disappears for several chapters with little wrap up. When she reappears, it's for a check in and an "I love you," said with full intention to go back to her boyfriend. I had no idea if this was intended to hint that there was potential for more in the future or not, but I just don't know what she was doing in this novel.
In all honesty, I couldn’t stand Mallory. She’s the definition of a woman written by a man, a manic pixie dream girl who leaps into Thomas’s truck after seven years of silence with the sudden determination to become his best friend for the rest of the night. She’s stubborn and often a little abusive, often hitting or verbally attacking people she knows will never hit back but can never quite jump into the fray when fists are really flying. Mallory didn’t feel like a real character; she seemed like a fantasy, and an asinine one at that. I understand that crazy things happen as high school wraps up, but most real high schoolers wouldn’t dare rush out of a crowded party into the arms of some kid they were best friends with in elementary school. I barely know people from elementary school willing to look me in the eye, much less to drive all over town remembering a friendship from years and years ago. If their friendship ended just a few months or years before the book, that would be one thing. If this novel took place in college and they were friends all throughout high school, that would also fit. But Thomas and Mallory have no chemistry and no reason to be together, which makes their relationship feel like more of a jab at Will than an actual opportunity for growth for Mallory and Thomas. I wonder if Mallory only picked Thomas because the rest of her friends were drunk or didn’t have a car, not because they had this secret friendship/platonic love that was just waiting to be rekindled. That would be a hilarious plot twist.
The side characters are horrendous, barring Phil and Ray. Wayne and Sinclair are insufferable teenage drunks with very little purpose, except for Wayne’s comparison to Jerry Lee. Mallory is ridiculous (see above). Jake is about as two dimensional as it gets, and the mystery of his backpack is solved and resolved in paragraphs that make the entire relationship feel dull. It’s like nobody was quite certain if the tone was intended to be comical or resolute, satirical or serious. None of the characters seem to like each other very much, and I couldn’t find myself liking a single one of them.
The dialogue and narration also felt stilted and hollow. Thomas’s occasional enjoyable narration felt like a repeat of itself. At least three times in thirty pages does Thomas say (in the same awestricken tone) that he’s never seen Jake so present/alive in months, all while doing different things. Though the penalty for desertion is discussed multiple times, Thomas is somehow shocked when Jake tells him that he might go to prison. There were a few places where I questioned the editing or consistency.
Main character: Thomas is about as bland a main character as they come. He has little to say. He doesn’t really have a goal, other than to not join the military. He’s aimless, flighty, and awkward in almost every scene. He is well meaning, I think, and he has some interesting conflicting traits or beliefs-- Thomas dives into a river to save Jake’s medals, things that mean everything to their family but nothing to Jake, then chucks the rock from the Middle Eastern church into the river without a second thought because it means everything to Jake but not to Thomas. He verges on complex thought a few times, what with his attempting to balance the desires of himself and his desire to make his family proud, but he’s made the decision not to serve long before the book has begun. I can see that cutting things off after Thomas’s conversation with Mallory under the bridge can leave room for ambiguity, but without getting to see his decision and the aftermath (which the entire novel leads up to) we leave Thomas where we found him: actionless and unsure.
Reason for rating: I just wouldn’t recommend this to anybody. It was a short read, thank goodness, but that doesn’t give me my two hours back. In all honesty, I didn’t feel a deep, burning hatred for this book, but for something that had such potential to be a deep, heartfelt novel about contemporary war-torn families and the choice between duty and self-preservation, I left feeling disappointed. I don’t give one star lightly, but this was pretty weak. And crass. Abhorrently crass for a YA book. I don't run for cover at the first swear word, but the dialogue was like I was sitting in a middle school locker room listening to teenagers wield curses like marshmallow guns. The language didn't enrich the story or strengthen anyone's development, it just made the characters sound stupid.
Content Warnings (spiciness, swearing, etc.): This book is riddled with crude humor, incredibly strong language, and crass references to sex. Multiple fights where blood is drawn. Characters enter a trailer full of drug addicts and dealers. Violence between family members. A character gets stitches. Underage drinking is present/encouraged on nearly every page, and almost every character is drunk the entire time. A father who forces his children toward the military. Heavy discussions of military influence on soldiers, such as PTSD or death. Emotionally distant parents and potential abuse. No sex scenes or romance, really, but a boy kisses a girl without her consent. He apologizes, but it’s never discussed again.
Book Club Adaptability: Read something else. I’ve heard that My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier is good, if you’re looking for a heartfelt military read.
June 9, 2018
I could not put this down! Such a great story that sucks you right in.
June 1, 2016
This review was originally posted on www.125pages.com
Meet Me Here by Bryan Bliss had some amazing moments and one giant tired trope. Set over the course of one crazy night, Thomas and his childhood best friend Mallory set out to see if they can complete their younger selves' bucket list before Thomas leaves for basic training. Thomas is supposed to be Army, like his father and brother before him, but his brother came back from fighting different and Thomas does not know if he can go through the same thing.
The plot of Meet Me Here had so many great elements. A last hurrah night out for a teen boy, a veteran with PTSD, a long-lost friend re-surfacing; it could have been magical. And many parts of it were, however the ever-present horrible YA parents were present and I am just so over that. I did like the writing of Bryan Bliss. He was able to keep the action going and he was able to paint a vivid picture of small town life and the citizens in it in a really great way. The world he built was very real and I enjoyed seeing it through the character's eyes. The pacing, once the story got started was great. Set over one night, the story ebbed and flowed in a very realistic way. There were plenty of emotions in this read, but at times they seemed disjointed. When I thought someone should be angry they were not and this happened a few times. I enjoyed most of the characters in this tale. Thomas and Mallory had great chemistry and I enjoyed their banter. I loathed the parents, and while the other cast members were there, none of them were stand outs.
Meet Me Here is Bryan Bliss's début. I think it was a strong first effort, but the tired awful parents trope has got to go. I have said before that I really enjoy male leads in YA and I thought Thomas was done very well. Bliss created a character with real feeling and I enjoyed his journey. I also really enjoyed that the ending was very open-ended, as there are so many ways to picture what happened next. I will be interested to see what Bliss comes out with as a follow-up, because I do see true potential in his future.
Favorite lines - We stand there, facing each other, the skeletons of our childhood buried in the ground beneath us, the smell of the pine trees, the promises of everything we were to each other coming in every sound, every smell, every tiny speck of dirt that floats through the sunlight.
Biggest cliché - I have to do what my family wants.
Have you read Meet Me Here, or added it to your TBR?This book was most likely received free from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Meet Me Here by Bryan Bliss had some amazing moments and one giant tired trope. Set over the course of one crazy night, Thomas and his childhood best friend Mallory set out to see if they can complete their younger selves' bucket list before Thomas leaves for basic training. Thomas is supposed to be Army, like his father and brother before him, but his brother came back from fighting different and Thomas does not know if he can go through the same thing.The plot of Meet Me Here had so many great elements. A last hurrah night out for a teen boy, a veteran with PTSD, a long-lost friend re-surfacing; it could have been magical. And many parts of it were, however the ever-present horrible YA parents were present and I am just so over that. I did like the writing of Bryan Bliss. He was able to keep the action going and he was able to paint a vivid picture of small town life and the citizens in it in a really great way. The world he built was very real and I enjoyed seeing it through the character's eyes. The pacing, once the story got started was great. Set over one night, the story ebbed and flowed in a very realistic way. There were plenty of emotions in this read, but at times they seemed disjointed. When I thought someone should be angry they were not and this happened a few times. I enjoyed most of the characters in this tale. Thomas and Mallory had great chemistry and I enjoyed their banter. I loathed the parents, and while the other cast members were there, none of them were stand outs.
Meet Me Here is Bryan Bliss's début. I think it was a strong first effort, but the tired awful parents trope has got to go. I have said before that I really enjoy male leads in YA and I thought Thomas was done very well. Bliss created a character with real feeling and I enjoyed his journey. I also really enjoyed that the ending was very open-ended, as there are so many ways to picture what happened next. I will be interested to see what Bliss comes out with as a follow-up, because I do see true potential in his future.
Favorite lines - We stand there, facing each other, the skeletons of our childhood buried in the ground beneath us, the smell of the pine trees, the promises of everything we were to each other coming in every sound, every smell, every tiny speck of dirt that floats through the sunlight.
Biggest cliché - I have to do what my family wants.
Have you read Meet Me Here, or added it to your TBR?This book was most likely received free from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
July 27, 2016
Really good book. I liked it, which is weird… Keep reading. ;)
Some thoughts:
-This book was missing a lot of descriptions (What was Mallory's hair color, what was Thomas's eye color, what did their neighborhood look like), basic fill in the blanks. IT was hard to imagine the book in my head, but the story made up for it.
-This book is written from the leading male ,Thomas's POV. Guy POVs are hard to come by, but this one was written beautifully. It shows the emotions he's feeling from problems going on with Jake, his family (especially his dad), and his decision to go to the army.
-You'll think that it's a childhood best friends that grew apart but will fall in love AT FIRST. Let me say that NO ROMANCE is going on between the two main characters. Which is why it's weird that I like the book, because usually I don't like books without romance in it...
-The book is vague about what happened to Jake and what happened with Mallory and Will. This adds excitement while reading the book and an urge to finish it.
-It's more of a motivational book more than a YA Contemporary.
-It actually makes you think about what happens beyond high school and your decisions about what path you should take.
-It seems like a light read at first, kind of like Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between. Until you realize that it's waaaay different. Meet Me Here deals with more serious issues than a normal YA Contemporary.
-The story gets a little weird at a point when Mallory and Will suddenly take off, and we don't know what happens to her part of the story, but after a while I found this part to be really well written. I think the author is trying to portray that since the book is in Thomas's POV, we only know up to what he sees or thinks. Mallory's part of the story won't be explained really well, and I think the author had lots of skill for doing that.
-It's hard to understand this book until you reach the end and even then I didn't totally understand it, but it was worth it. I think the author left it at an open ending on purpose for us to think about/ guess what Mallory and Thomas will do with their lives from that point onwards.
Honestly, I really liked this book. A lot. It was such a beautiful book, and I think you should read it. It's very unique and unlike any other book I've read.
Some thoughts:
-This book was missing a lot of descriptions (What was Mallory's hair color, what was Thomas's eye color, what did their neighborhood look like), basic fill in the blanks. IT was hard to imagine the book in my head, but the story made up for it.
-This book is written from the leading male ,Thomas's POV. Guy POVs are hard to come by, but this one was written beautifully. It shows the emotions he's feeling from problems going on with Jake, his family (especially his dad), and his decision to go to the army.
-You'll think that it's a childhood best friends that grew apart but will fall in love AT FIRST. Let me say that NO ROMANCE is going on between the two main characters. Which is why it's weird that I like the book, because usually I don't like books without romance in it...
-The book is vague about what happened to Jake and what happened with Mallory and Will. This adds excitement while reading the book and an urge to finish it.
-It's more of a motivational book more than a YA Contemporary.
-It actually makes you think about what happens beyond high school and your decisions about what path you should take.
-It seems like a light read at first, kind of like Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between. Until you realize that it's waaaay different. Meet Me Here deals with more serious issues than a normal YA Contemporary.
-The story gets a little weird at a point when Mallory and Will suddenly take off, and we don't know what happens to her part of the story, but after a while I found this part to be really well written. I think the author is trying to portray that since the book is in Thomas's POV, we only know up to what he sees or thinks. Mallory's part of the story won't be explained really well, and I think the author had lots of skill for doing that.
-It's hard to understand this book until you reach the end and even then I didn't totally understand it, but it was worth it. I think the author left it at an open ending on purpose for us to think about/ guess what Mallory and Thomas will do with their lives from that point onwards.
Honestly, I really liked this book. A lot. It was such a beautiful book, and I think you should read it. It's very unique and unlike any other book I've read.
December 16, 2024
This book felt like a fever dream The more I read the more I felt like this could not possibly be a real thing Thomas he's something else letting the weight of expectations from his family way down on him heavily That's rough man that's really rough Mallory that girl is different I suppose she's the same and a lot of aspects to the other girls in some of the romance books I've read in the past she has a fiery personality he does what she wants well another son there is a little something else a scared little girl but all in all there's other characters like Thomas's brother Jake came from the war all fucked up like you pretty much you would expect but not like you would expect as you get to reading he pretty much blames a rock for why he's all fucked in the head but that rock to him is like some religious rock I suppose I don't know how else to put it his father He's a dick there's no one way or another about it He's a dick he is like the typical military father as like a lot of expectations for his children to fall on the same path he did He's not sharing his feelings on how he got to where he was at the start near the end you got a little bit of how he feels inside but very little he was scared at first as well joined in the military like anyone else he also was fucked up after when he got back but he also had children on the way as well and he did not know what to do so although he was an ass throughout the book I do understand why he was the way he was and did what he did the mother not much from her throughout the book she was just there and pretty much nothing else then there was Mallory's boyfriend will I wanted him to shut off the cliff so damn bad most of the time but as time went on going through page through page and through page of this book he was just irritated because of Mallory and what she did to him I didn't know why he did what he did until the end was not really the more like near little bit past halfway through the book to near the end so he's not as bad as I thought he was he is actually pretty good guy considering at least then there's sin and Wayne those two fuckers are fuckers they're cool they're quirky they're great what's not great is Wayne's brother that guy is a douche times 12 I thought the fucking dad of Thomas and Jake was bad this guy is a whole another douchebag I'm glad he's arm is broken fuck him piece of shit then there is the druggie that Wayne's brother hangs out with that guy also deserve what he got I was hoping he would have got iced but it is what it is and then after all that happened throughout the night throughout the whole 263 damn pages of this book the end met his father back at the house and tell him he didn't want to go of course him being him I'm talking about Thomas and Jake's father being the uptight military man that he is lost his fucking mind it wasn't until he looked at Thomas's phone and seen Mallory's name on the phone then he lost his damn marbles broke Thomas's phone when in the house after a while that was not until a certain situation where Jake and their father we're on the ground resting with each other over some stupid shit after all of that ended as I neared the 200 and like 40 page mark I started getting mass anxiety I had no idea how this is going to all tie together and I was dreading each page so at this point the whole confronting the father bit that was like 256ish pages in give or take how to take a little break to gather my thoughts then got back to reading it then the final chapter hit I had no idea how everything was going to come full circle with Mallory and Thomas I was thinking this is not going to be good I don't know what was going to happen until I read it I wanted at least some closure for the characters now I didn't get a full-on closure but I got some closure they nagged each other for a little bit but then touched hands changed words of love for each other Thomas explaining to Mallory that he's going to the recruiter office shortly after talking to her and she's like hey if you end up coming back we should get together but not in the sense of you know teenage hormones getting on type of thing now the end of the book after 263 damn pages it left me feeling somewhat empty because the ending wasn't a full ending to me felt like one of those endings where the author leaves it to interpretation on what the reader thinks happens in the future of the book even though the pages are no longer being written for it so in my mind after Thomas goes to recruiter's office and they kick his ass out because he has 16 sisters in his leg from earlier in the book he goes back to town meets Mallory and they end up together happy hour after That's how I feel and think how would have went down if it would have continued past 263 pages and the book didn't end where it ended That's what I'm going to interpret the way it added the real ending in my mind they got together had children got married and ended on a good note that happy ever after type shit but it didn't and it won't end up like that because the ending was cut short probably on purpose like I said either way that's how I'm going to take the ending is that after everything has been said and done they ended up together in my mind it wasn't made clear that they would have end up together or not but either way I'm going to say that they did cuz if the ending was put the way it did to be interpreted the way the reader wanted to be that's how I wanted to be now this review is really damn long and I usually don't give reviews on books but I just had to this book really pissed me off throughout the whole experience but after all in all page after page I really got attached to Mallory a lot Thomas I want to hit him right on the side of his head most of the time but anyways that's it I just had to get my thoughts out before I go on another journey through another book.....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2016
I received this book from a good reads giveaway :) This is a story of a teenage boy on graduation night facing the decision of whether or not to join the army as his father and brother have. During the several events taking place on this night he reconnects with Mallory, an old friend, and faces challenges. It's a great story written well ! I love the cover for this book and the storyline.I enjoyed reading this one. I wish that the ending was elaborated somewhat more on. I felt the readers could have been given some more insight. I also felt that there was a lot going on in one night. It made it hard to believe that this took place within a few hours... Anyway over all it was a good read ;)
December 19, 2015
This had potential. It's the story of a boy scared to death to go to war like his father and brother, who has PTSD and a whole lot of baggage, and it feels like that's a story that should be told. But there's just too much going on, not enough description (what color is the protagonist's hair? Is Mallory tall? What kind of house do these people live in? Basic fill in the blanks) and there are too many damn characters by the end, and it's just plot plot plot without any grounding (WHAT TIME IS IT?). I normally don't finish books that I'm not enjoying but honestly? I did not like this book.
July 11, 2018
This was just a big mess. It was all over the place and it felt like the author just strung together whatever words that came to his mind.
Firstly, the whole book takes place over the course of one night and I’ve never been a big fan of that. It was impossible to get attached. I just didn’t care about the characters or the plot. A plot that made no sense to me.
Idk what I was expecting but nothing mattered to me and it was boring.
And the way Mallory showed up back in Thomas’s life after years of not talking and going back to being the best of chums was so random and um that just doesn’t happen.
I guess this just wasn’t for me.
Firstly, the whole book takes place over the course of one night and I’ve never been a big fan of that. It was impossible to get attached. I just didn’t care about the characters or the plot. A plot that made no sense to me.
Idk what I was expecting but nothing mattered to me and it was boring.
And the way Mallory showed up back in Thomas’s life after years of not talking and going back to being the best of chums was so random and um that just doesn’t happen.
I guess this just wasn’t for me.
Read
July 25, 2016Graded By: Brian
Cover Story: Zombie Horde
Drinking Buddy: Meh
Testosterone Level: PG-13 (some violence, adult situations, alcohol and drug use, crude humor)
Talky Talk: And the Moral Is...
Bonus Factor: Wingmen
Bromance Status: Distant Admirer
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Zombie Horde
Drinking Buddy: Meh
Testosterone Level: PG-13 (some violence, adult situations, alcohol and drug use, crude humor)
Talky Talk: And the Moral Is...
Bonus Factor: Wingmen
Bromance Status: Distant Admirer
Read the full book report here.
August 25, 2016
I started to really enjoy this and how natural the dialogue began in the first few chapters. And then I found myself skimming through the paragraphs and pages. Not a good sign. So I stopped. I was excited for Meet Me Here. The cover is beautiful and the premise excited me. Unfortunately, I could not keep motivated to read and gave up.
June 28, 2016
I really, really liked this and am looking forward to sharing it with my students in the fall. I might even offer it as a read aloud option for my seniors. More Bryan Bliss books will be added to my TBR pile.
September 18, 2016
3.5 stars! I liked how I couldn't predict what was going to happen in the book. There were lots of possibilities. Although, I needed more. Great book, nonetheless!
July 13, 2020
Thomas Bennett just graduated from high school. He is scheduled to continue the family tradition of entering the military by shipping out to boot camp early the next morning. Instead, he spends his last night with his former best friend Mallory.
Throughout the book, Thomas is trying to decide if he really wants to fulfill his commitment to the Army and live up to everyone's expectations, especially his father's who is an Iraqi War veteran. He is scared that he will become like his brother Jake, who came back from overseas a hero but with PTSD. Thomas is fighting with trying to save himself or not be labeled the coward in his small town. He can't tell anyone, even though he comes close to telling Mallory numerous times on this fateful night.
Mallory just had a huge fight with her boyfriend Will in front of everyone. She is looking for Thomas to take her mind off of a decision that will also change her life. She won't tell Thomas who she once trusted more than anything.
Jake was the older brother that Thomas always looked up to. Thomas is worried about Jake ever since he came back from overseas with his medals. Jake isn't himself and carries around a backpack wherever he goes. Part of the reason Thomas feels that he can't leave is that he needs to take care of Jake but he doesn't feel this way out of any true brotherly loyalty. Thomas has learned to tell everyone that Jake is "Fine" and "Doing good" to keep the charade of the hero alive.
Thomas' parents are the typical YA genre parents. Dad is overbearing and always pushing Thomas to be more than he is. Mom is always in denial that anything is wrong. Mom sees that something is wrong with both Thomas and Jake but doesn't take command of the situations.
The book read like a high schooler's dream graduation stay out all night party. Thomas and Mallory kept getting into one situation after another for really no apparent reason. For example, they find out that Jake was seen with the local drug dealer. So what do they do? They go to the drug dealers house where Thomas demands to talk to the dealer, who we discover is making meth!
Both Thomas and Mallory also hint at a cause for the end of their friendship years ago, but neither will talk about it until almost the end of the book. It became very irritating that Bliss would have the characters reference the 'big event' and build up to a big reveal, and then have something happen that took the focus off of it. This happens numerous times in the novel.
Jake's PTSD doesn't even get recognition until the last 1/3 of the book. Thomas sees a glimmer of the old Jake he knew before he left for the Army, but by the end of the book, Jake is the Jake the reader met at the beginning of the book. No hope there!
I was hoping the book could have had a character that assisted Thomas with his big decision and could have given some resources for PTSD. How many YA readers may be going through the same questions as Thomas or even the same family situation as Thomas with a parent or sibling returning from active duty? This novel could have been so much more.
Throughout the book, Thomas is trying to decide if he really wants to fulfill his commitment to the Army and live up to everyone's expectations, especially his father's who is an Iraqi War veteran. He is scared that he will become like his brother Jake, who came back from overseas a hero but with PTSD. Thomas is fighting with trying to save himself or not be labeled the coward in his small town. He can't tell anyone, even though he comes close to telling Mallory numerous times on this fateful night.
Mallory just had a huge fight with her boyfriend Will in front of everyone. She is looking for Thomas to take her mind off of a decision that will also change her life. She won't tell Thomas who she once trusted more than anything.
Jake was the older brother that Thomas always looked up to. Thomas is worried about Jake ever since he came back from overseas with his medals. Jake isn't himself and carries around a backpack wherever he goes. Part of the reason Thomas feels that he can't leave is that he needs to take care of Jake but he doesn't feel this way out of any true brotherly loyalty. Thomas has learned to tell everyone that Jake is "Fine" and "Doing good" to keep the charade of the hero alive.
Thomas' parents are the typical YA genre parents. Dad is overbearing and always pushing Thomas to be more than he is. Mom is always in denial that anything is wrong. Mom sees that something is wrong with both Thomas and Jake but doesn't take command of the situations.
The book read like a high schooler's dream graduation stay out all night party. Thomas and Mallory kept getting into one situation after another for really no apparent reason. For example, they find out that Jake was seen with the local drug dealer. So what do they do? They go to the drug dealers house where Thomas demands to talk to the dealer, who we discover is making meth!
Both Thomas and Mallory also hint at a cause for the end of their friendship years ago, but neither will talk about it until almost the end of the book. It became very irritating that Bliss would have the characters reference the 'big event' and build up to a big reveal, and then have something happen that took the focus off of it. This happens numerous times in the novel.
Jake's PTSD doesn't even get recognition until the last 1/3 of the book. Thomas sees a glimmer of the old Jake he knew before he left for the Army, but by the end of the book, Jake is the Jake the reader met at the beginning of the book. No hope there!
I was hoping the book could have had a character that assisted Thomas with his big decision and could have given some resources for PTSD. How many YA readers may be going through the same questions as Thomas or even the same family situation as Thomas with a parent or sibling returning from active duty? This novel could have been so much more.
August 8, 2016
Minneapolis author, Bryan Bliss, seems on an upward trajectory. His most recent novel, "Meet Me Here," was written up in the "Star Tribune" as a young adult must read for the summer of 2016. With that in mind, one of the book clubs that I belong to decided to read it this month.
First person narrator, Thomas Bennett, begins,"This is supposed to be the best night of my life." But for Thomas it isn't the best night of his life. He has a secret. Tomorrow he is supposed to be reporting to a recruiter where he will follow in the footsteps of his father and brother, Jake, and join the Army. However, unbeknownst to everyone, he plans to take the money he has saved, jump in his truck before everyone is up, and head out to make a new life for himself. When his estranged friend, Mallory Carlson, disrupts their graduation party by slapping her boyfriend and demanding that Thomas take her home, his plans take a turn. He and Mallory began a one night epic adventure (including digging up an old Folgers can in which as kids they buried mementos, including a map with "meet me here" scribbled across the top) where they both are forced to deal with their secrets, grow up, and choose the life THEY want. Thomas says, "I'm tired of pretending tomorrow isn't a reckoning. That I'm not scared to death about what I have to do. Every last ounce of pretending inside me is gone." When morning comes, things have changed dramatically for both of them.
Though the issues that Thomas and Mallory face are realistic, important, and compelling, author Bryan Bliss tries to pack way too much into one night. I kept wondering, "What time is it now? How is it possible that they could fit all of this into one night? O.K. This must be the last adventure." The plot could have benefited from some editing of unimportant scenes and characters to make it more believable. For instance, the whole Clem thing wasn't entirely necessary. Though it adds some drama, it also adds just one more thing to another unbelievable night. I do like how Bliss keeps the reader guessing until the very end whether or not Thomas will show up at the recruiter's office in the morning.
That said, Thomas is a realistic protagonist with whom the reader empathizes and roots for. He takes on a lot of pressure to be what others want him to be, rather than standing up for himself and demanding that he be allowed to be an individual and follow his own desires. The same, we learn, is true for Mallory. Watching the two of them rediscover each other, and what was wrong and right with their friendship, is complex and compelling. The secondary characters are uneven in terms how well they are drawn. For instance, though Jake's issues are believable, there are aspects of his character that are confusing. For instance, the whole thing with the piece of rubble he brought back with him from his deployment is confusing and seems unfinished. OK, I get the symbolism of how he carries the weight of his war experiences with him and needs to unburden himself, but this isn't clearly conveyed to the reader. Bliss leads the reader to think Jake is going to commit suicide, but it's really all about dumping the rock? However, the father is a compelling antagonist, one whom we have seen in other books. His military discipline and anger, his abusiveness, are all traits we have read before. And I wasn't sure that characters like Wayne and Sinclair were completely necessary. Again, some editing in this regard would have been useful.
In terms of setting, Bliss could definitely do more to give us the flavor of life in North Carolina. The book is actually dedicated to North Carolina, "which is in my bones," yet the reader doesn't walk away with much (besides pick-ups and mud) in terms of the sights, sounds, and smells of North Carolina.
Compelling themes such as parental abuse, PTSD and the impact of war on those in the military and their families, freedom of choice, expectations, friendship, drug abuse, denial, facing fears, etc. are so worthy of our thought, discussion, and activism. Where war is concerned, I like how Bliss realistically portrays the enticements of war. It adds to the reality of Thomas's confusion. Memorable lines include:
p. 17 - "No one wants their was heroes broken. They want simple answers, ones that don't involve an emptiness so present in Jake that it's like he never existed any other way. They don't know how much he's changed, only to wish him the best, God bless America."
p. 23 - "Would she believe how Dad told me to grow up? That boys didn't play with dolls or wear pink, so why in the hell would I spend so much time with a girl?"
p. 25 - "We are the royal family of leaving things unsaid, of sweeping everything underneath the rug. And while I blame that on Mom and Dad, I know I'm just as guilty. I'm the one who's pretending to pack for a future that I gave up months ago."
p. 28 - "If you'd have asked me before, I would've told you that dying was the worst thing that could happen to you. But now I know sometimes it's worse to come back alive."
p.42 - "'Do you know what it is like to have somebody expect so much from you when you're not ready?'"
pp.66-7 - "If the past few months with Jake have taught me anything, it's that ignoring the facts does not transform them."
p. 98 - "'Life was better when we were kids, wasn't it? Do you remember how long it took for Christmas? For our birthdays? A year took forever. You Had to figure out all kinds of things to do while you waited. Now it's just like...zoom. Done. You make a decision, and it happens. You barely have to wait for anything."
p. 102 - "I see so many people at school who have succeeded in sports or academics, who are tough and brave, and they don't have to worry about this shit. The expectations they carry begin and end with personal happiness."
p. 114 - "'Sometimes you need to do what's best for you, even if it's going to make people upset.'"
p. 123 - "She stares up at me, her eyes feel like two hands pushing into my chest."
p. 131 - "'Listen to me...Everything you do follows you. And you need to know about it before you go. Every action has a reaction. Every good or bad thing you do has a way to fix it.'"
p. 141 - "My brother's inability to function in a spectacular way has bound us together in a new way, a connection I wish we never had to share."
p. 177 - "I am so ready for somebody to finally give me permission to let go, to get unhinged..."
p. 210 - "For a second I want it again. I want this brotherhood, this ability to look another man in the eye and know that you have shared experience. A connection that no matter what else you do in the world, how many times you fail or fuck up, you'll be able to measure yourself against. Something you've given your entire life for. A purpose. A meaning that's greater than nearly everything else in your life."
p. 234 - "Anybody who says they're not scared is lying and most likely the biggest coward you've ever met. Everybody's scared, and you have good reason to be. Better than most. If you aren't scared, then you'll never be courageous."
p. 245 - "'There are some things you just don't mess with. Things in the world that shouldn't be disturbed. I did this. And now I need to take care of it.'"
p. 256 - "'I think courage is somewhere between doing what you want to do and what you need to do...And that's on you, man.'"
p. 263 - "...I want to believe that we make our own plans. I want to believe that we are the ones in control of our lives."
"Meet Me Here" is a good read that I think will appeal to both male and female teens who are willing to suspend disbelief for the sake of where it leads.
*Educators and parents should be aware that the novel includes "language" and underage alcohol use.
First person narrator, Thomas Bennett, begins,"This is supposed to be the best night of my life." But for Thomas it isn't the best night of his life. He has a secret. Tomorrow he is supposed to be reporting to a recruiter where he will follow in the footsteps of his father and brother, Jake, and join the Army. However, unbeknownst to everyone, he plans to take the money he has saved, jump in his truck before everyone is up, and head out to make a new life for himself. When his estranged friend, Mallory Carlson, disrupts their graduation party by slapping her boyfriend and demanding that Thomas take her home, his plans take a turn. He and Mallory began a one night epic adventure (including digging up an old Folgers can in which as kids they buried mementos, including a map with "meet me here" scribbled across the top) where they both are forced to deal with their secrets, grow up, and choose the life THEY want. Thomas says, "I'm tired of pretending tomorrow isn't a reckoning. That I'm not scared to death about what I have to do. Every last ounce of pretending inside me is gone." When morning comes, things have changed dramatically for both of them.
Though the issues that Thomas and Mallory face are realistic, important, and compelling, author Bryan Bliss tries to pack way too much into one night. I kept wondering, "What time is it now? How is it possible that they could fit all of this into one night? O.K. This must be the last adventure." The plot could have benefited from some editing of unimportant scenes and characters to make it more believable. For instance, the whole Clem thing wasn't entirely necessary. Though it adds some drama, it also adds just one more thing to another unbelievable night. I do like how Bliss keeps the reader guessing until the very end whether or not Thomas will show up at the recruiter's office in the morning.
That said, Thomas is a realistic protagonist with whom the reader empathizes and roots for. He takes on a lot of pressure to be what others want him to be, rather than standing up for himself and demanding that he be allowed to be an individual and follow his own desires. The same, we learn, is true for Mallory. Watching the two of them rediscover each other, and what was wrong and right with their friendship, is complex and compelling. The secondary characters are uneven in terms how well they are drawn. For instance, though Jake's issues are believable, there are aspects of his character that are confusing. For instance, the whole thing with the piece of rubble he brought back with him from his deployment is confusing and seems unfinished. OK, I get the symbolism of how he carries the weight of his war experiences with him and needs to unburden himself, but this isn't clearly conveyed to the reader. Bliss leads the reader to think Jake is going to commit suicide, but it's really all about dumping the rock? However, the father is a compelling antagonist, one whom we have seen in other books. His military discipline and anger, his abusiveness, are all traits we have read before. And I wasn't sure that characters like Wayne and Sinclair were completely necessary. Again, some editing in this regard would have been useful.
In terms of setting, Bliss could definitely do more to give us the flavor of life in North Carolina. The book is actually dedicated to North Carolina, "which is in my bones," yet the reader doesn't walk away with much (besides pick-ups and mud) in terms of the sights, sounds, and smells of North Carolina.
Compelling themes such as parental abuse, PTSD and the impact of war on those in the military and their families, freedom of choice, expectations, friendship, drug abuse, denial, facing fears, etc. are so worthy of our thought, discussion, and activism. Where war is concerned, I like how Bliss realistically portrays the enticements of war. It adds to the reality of Thomas's confusion. Memorable lines include:
p. 17 - "No one wants their was heroes broken. They want simple answers, ones that don't involve an emptiness so present in Jake that it's like he never existed any other way. They don't know how much he's changed, only to wish him the best, God bless America."
p. 23 - "Would she believe how Dad told me to grow up? That boys didn't play with dolls or wear pink, so why in the hell would I spend so much time with a girl?"
p. 25 - "We are the royal family of leaving things unsaid, of sweeping everything underneath the rug. And while I blame that on Mom and Dad, I know I'm just as guilty. I'm the one who's pretending to pack for a future that I gave up months ago."
p. 28 - "If you'd have asked me before, I would've told you that dying was the worst thing that could happen to you. But now I know sometimes it's worse to come back alive."
p.42 - "'Do you know what it is like to have somebody expect so much from you when you're not ready?'"
pp.66-7 - "If the past few months with Jake have taught me anything, it's that ignoring the facts does not transform them."
p. 98 - "'Life was better when we were kids, wasn't it? Do you remember how long it took for Christmas? For our birthdays? A year took forever. You Had to figure out all kinds of things to do while you waited. Now it's just like...zoom. Done. You make a decision, and it happens. You barely have to wait for anything."
p. 102 - "I see so many people at school who have succeeded in sports or academics, who are tough and brave, and they don't have to worry about this shit. The expectations they carry begin and end with personal happiness."
p. 114 - "'Sometimes you need to do what's best for you, even if it's going to make people upset.'"
p. 123 - "She stares up at me, her eyes feel like two hands pushing into my chest."
p. 131 - "'Listen to me...Everything you do follows you. And you need to know about it before you go. Every action has a reaction. Every good or bad thing you do has a way to fix it.'"
p. 141 - "My brother's inability to function in a spectacular way has bound us together in a new way, a connection I wish we never had to share."
p. 177 - "I am so ready for somebody to finally give me permission to let go, to get unhinged..."
p. 210 - "For a second I want it again. I want this brotherhood, this ability to look another man in the eye and know that you have shared experience. A connection that no matter what else you do in the world, how many times you fail or fuck up, you'll be able to measure yourself against. Something you've given your entire life for. A purpose. A meaning that's greater than nearly everything else in your life."
p. 234 - "Anybody who says they're not scared is lying and most likely the biggest coward you've ever met. Everybody's scared, and you have good reason to be. Better than most. If you aren't scared, then you'll never be courageous."
p. 245 - "'There are some things you just don't mess with. Things in the world that shouldn't be disturbed. I did this. And now I need to take care of it.'"
p. 256 - "'I think courage is somewhere between doing what you want to do and what you need to do...And that's on you, man.'"
p. 263 - "...I want to believe that we make our own plans. I want to believe that we are the ones in control of our lives."
"Meet Me Here" is a good read that I think will appeal to both male and female teens who are willing to suspend disbelief for the sake of where it leads.
*Educators and parents should be aware that the novel includes "language" and underage alcohol use.
April 7, 2023
Thomas, a certified army brat, and Malory, a unique and goofy girl share their graduation night after six years of not talking. Finding this book was a challenge for me because I wasn't sure what I wanted to read. When I saw the cover art though, I knew this was the book for me.
The story starts With Thomas at a graduation party on his last night in his city. He is planning on leaving in the morning to ‘join the army’ but what he's really doing is running as far away as possible from his family and never coming back. Malory, a girl who just got in a fight with her boyfriend, comes up to Thomas to ask for a ride home. The two of them used to be best friends but haven't spoken in many years. To her surprise, he says yes and this kickstarts the two's crazy night. Together, they relive their old memories from their elementary years and hold fond memories close to them. Thomas’ brother had come back from the army a few weeks before and hadn't been the same, he is unresponsive and dead in his eyes. People parade around their family with words like ‘so brave!’ or ‘Great work, great family.’ but Thomas knows this is all a facade. His family has issues that no one else sees and the more people mention his family the Guiltier he gets.
At The end of the book, Thamoas has an epiphany. He realizes Jake hasn't changed as much as he thought he did and decides he wants to be there for his brother. His brother, Jake, has post traumatic stress disorder from the war, which causes him severe paranoia and stress. When Thomasrealizes this, he tells Jake he's not actually going to the war. He tells Jake he's running away for good and that he wants him to come with him. The end of the book hit me hard because the love story of two brothers is very hard to come upon. And these too haven't been super close. I can relate because sometimes I find it very hard to relate to my siblings and it makes things hard sometimes. My favorite part was when Jake and Thomas are hugging at the end because he decides to go with him, and Malory is watching from afar. When they see her, they call her over and she joins in. It's a perfect ending to the long night that they shared.
My personal opinion was that this book is very good. It touches on some serious topics that I think everyone can relate to. I think the type of person who would like this book is if you are struggling at home or with a friendship. It shows that you are not alone and that everyone struggles with things sometimes, and it will get better.
The story starts With Thomas at a graduation party on his last night in his city. He is planning on leaving in the morning to ‘join the army’ but what he's really doing is running as far away as possible from his family and never coming back. Malory, a girl who just got in a fight with her boyfriend, comes up to Thomas to ask for a ride home. The two of them used to be best friends but haven't spoken in many years. To her surprise, he says yes and this kickstarts the two's crazy night. Together, they relive their old memories from their elementary years and hold fond memories close to them. Thomas’ brother had come back from the army a few weeks before and hadn't been the same, he is unresponsive and dead in his eyes. People parade around their family with words like ‘so brave!’ or ‘Great work, great family.’ but Thomas knows this is all a facade. His family has issues that no one else sees and the more people mention his family the Guiltier he gets.
At The end of the book, Thamoas has an epiphany. He realizes Jake hasn't changed as much as he thought he did and decides he wants to be there for his brother. His brother, Jake, has post traumatic stress disorder from the war, which causes him severe paranoia and stress. When Thomasrealizes this, he tells Jake he's not actually going to the war. He tells Jake he's running away for good and that he wants him to come with him. The end of the book hit me hard because the love story of two brothers is very hard to come upon. And these too haven't been super close. I can relate because sometimes I find it very hard to relate to my siblings and it makes things hard sometimes. My favorite part was when Jake and Thomas are hugging at the end because he decides to go with him, and Malory is watching from afar. When they see her, they call her over and she joins in. It's a perfect ending to the long night that they shared.
My personal opinion was that this book is very good. It touches on some serious topics that I think everyone can relate to. I think the type of person who would like this book is if you are struggling at home or with a friendship. It shows that you are not alone and that everyone struggles with things sometimes, and it will get better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2019
“These are the final hours. And nothing-not graduation, or Jake, or even a natural disaster-can stop me from getting in my truck and disappearing once the sun comes up. No answers, no hesitation-just gone.”- Thomas
Meet Me Here by Bryan Bliss is a novel of a boy struggling with a choice that he has to make. As he battles with reality his decision may not be what everyone expects or live up to his father’s expectations.
Thomas Bennett has always known what he wanted to do with his life. Until recently he realized that maybe he’s not cut out for the army like his father and brother, but telling everybody is a different story. After Thomas’s brother Jake comes back from war with no physical injuries everyone is celebrating their new favorite hero, but Thomas notices a difference in his brother, one that most people choose to look past. Thomas detects that Jake is not the same with the distance look in his eyes and the few words he does speak it’s not hard to tell that something happened over seas. Before Thomas always wanted to be part of the Bennett history and go to war, but seeing Jake once again might be enough to change his mind.
In Meet Me Here Bryan Bliss makes people believe that following somebody else's footsteps is not always the best choice. In Thomas's character people learn that you have to create your own path or pave your own road to success. Thomas felt so real that it was easy to put myself in his shoes. Thomas's character can be real to so many people because his story is so common among people these days, with everybody wanting to be impress everybody else even if it means doing something they don't love. The only thing that made me give this book a four out of five stars is because the book takes place in only one night and it feels like a lot was crammed into those few hours. I would recommend Bryan Bliss's novel Meet Me Here to anybody who wants to carve their own path and create their own footsteps.
Meet Me Here by Bryan Bliss is a novel of a boy struggling with a choice that he has to make. As he battles with reality his decision may not be what everyone expects or live up to his father’s expectations.
Thomas Bennett has always known what he wanted to do with his life. Until recently he realized that maybe he’s not cut out for the army like his father and brother, but telling everybody is a different story. After Thomas’s brother Jake comes back from war with no physical injuries everyone is celebrating their new favorite hero, but Thomas notices a difference in his brother, one that most people choose to look past. Thomas detects that Jake is not the same with the distance look in his eyes and the few words he does speak it’s not hard to tell that something happened over seas. Before Thomas always wanted to be part of the Bennett history and go to war, but seeing Jake once again might be enough to change his mind.
In Meet Me Here Bryan Bliss makes people believe that following somebody else's footsteps is not always the best choice. In Thomas's character people learn that you have to create your own path or pave your own road to success. Thomas felt so real that it was easy to put myself in his shoes. Thomas's character can be real to so many people because his story is so common among people these days, with everybody wanting to be impress everybody else even if it means doing something they don't love. The only thing that made me give this book a four out of five stars is because the book takes place in only one night and it feels like a lot was crammed into those few hours. I would recommend Bryan Bliss's novel Meet Me Here to anybody who wants to carve their own path and create their own footsteps.
November 25, 2017
“Last night to go out and be free” stories are overdone in YA books, as far as I’m concerned. Between “last night we’ll all be together before college starts” stories and “last night before I ship out” stories, I’m done. I would include road trip stories in there, too. That’s beside the point. I’m done with them. This story felt like it could be solved with a bit of communication and maybe some therapy.
The book had too many plot lines, it was all over the place. And yet, the story didn’t really feel like it went anywhere. Pretty much everything was mentioned in the blurb. Most of the characters do dumb things and they got on my nerves. These stories about shooting beer cans in the dark of night and getting stuck in the muddy fields sound absurd even to me and I live in the middle of nowhere. Most of the characters weren’t fleshed out enough, hello Mallory, can you say manic pixie dream girl? I mean, we don’t even have basic descriptions of the main characters.
I do think it’s important to touch on veterans and PTSD and the effects that has on a family. I thought the image of small-town life was incredibly vivid. The pacing was well done, though there was little to no grounding and I did keep wondering how all of this could have possibly happened in one night. Wayne and Sinclair were fantastic characters. I did appreciate that this was not a book about romance, that trope is used far too often.
Overall, this book was a bit of a mess. It had highs and lows, but the scales were tipped in favor of the lows. This book is probably more for people that like stories that take place entirely in one night. Or perhaps people that don’t like to know anything about the physical descriptions of the main characters.
Originally posted on The Reading Raindoe
The book had too many plot lines, it was all over the place. And yet, the story didn’t really feel like it went anywhere. Pretty much everything was mentioned in the blurb. Most of the characters do dumb things and they got on my nerves. These stories about shooting beer cans in the dark of night and getting stuck in the muddy fields sound absurd even to me and I live in the middle of nowhere. Most of the characters weren’t fleshed out enough, hello Mallory, can you say manic pixie dream girl? I mean, we don’t even have basic descriptions of the main characters.
I do think it’s important to touch on veterans and PTSD and the effects that has on a family. I thought the image of small-town life was incredibly vivid. The pacing was well done, though there was little to no grounding and I did keep wondering how all of this could have possibly happened in one night. Wayne and Sinclair were fantastic characters. I did appreciate that this was not a book about romance, that trope is used far too often.
Overall, this book was a bit of a mess. It had highs and lows, but the scales were tipped in favor of the lows. This book is probably more for people that like stories that take place entirely in one night. Or perhaps people that don’t like to know anything about the physical descriptions of the main characters.
Originally posted on The Reading Raindoe
September 22, 2024
In a single night—graduation night—Thomas has to do what everyone has always expected of him, or forge an entirely new path? Bryan Bliss’s absorbing examination of one boy struggling with expectations and realities will appeal to readers of Sara Zarr and Chris Crutcher.
Thomas is supposed to leave for the Army in the morning. His father was Army. His brother, Jake, is Army—is a hero, even, with the medals to prove it. Everyone expects Thomas to follow in that fine tradition. But Jake came back from overseas a completely different person, and that has shaken Thomas’s certainty about his own future. And so when his long-estranged friend Mallory suggests one last night of adventure, Thomas takes her up on the distraction. Over the course of this single night, Thomas will lose, find, resolve, doubt, drive, explore, and leap off a bridge. He’ll also face the truth of his brother’s post-traumatic stress disorder and of his own courage. In Bryan Bliss’s deft hands, graduation night becomes a night to find yourself, to find each other, to find a path, and to know that you always have a place—and people—to come back to.
Thomas is supposed to leave for the Army in the morning. His father was Army. His brother, Jake, is Army—is a hero, even, with the medals to prove it. Everyone expects Thomas to follow in that fine tradition. But Jake came back from overseas a completely different person, and that has shaken Thomas’s certainty about his own future. And so when his long-estranged friend Mallory suggests one last night of adventure, Thomas takes her up on the distraction. Over the course of this single night, Thomas will lose, find, resolve, doubt, drive, explore, and leap off a bridge. He’ll also face the truth of his brother’s post-traumatic stress disorder and of his own courage. In Bryan Bliss’s deft hands, graduation night becomes a night to find yourself, to find each other, to find a path, and to know that you always have a place—and people—to come back to.
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