Sheltered

by j dill

"My mind is my enemy and my best friend. My protector and a liar, desperately seeking truth. I live here, aware but sheltered, protected from the gifts of vulnerability..."



Alex's songs always began with the pencil he kept behind his ear, the place Sarah created when he first met her in high school, and high school was where they started a conversation they never wanted to finish.



But life isn't high school, and adolescence ended for Sarah and Alex when they graduated in 2006 and continued onto colleges near their Midwestern hometown. The pair remained best friends as they approached the lives that had been handed to them but never asked for.



Alex had always been a dreamer who wished to become a musician. And he loves Sarah, but he's never known how to balance his dreams with responsibilities, and one of his dreams is to believe that she might love him back. His hopes are complicated further when the grandmother who raised him developed dementia, and he found himself running her business full-time while struggling to care for her.



Sarah had been burned one too many times. Finding a date was always easy--she was beautiful, smart, adventurous, and proud. Finding the right connection was a different story. And she couldn't help but long for connection. She loved sharing her knowledge with others and learning about the stories they had to tell. Sarah didn't start dating with low expectations...They slowly developed over time.



Although Sarah and Alex have remained friends through the hardships of growing up, they find themselves burdened with responsibilities and recovering from pain they never imagined they might endure.



Will Alex and Sarah learn how to navigate the habits they've learned to survive and set them aside for something more? Or does the aftermath of life's cruel events take root so deeply that love could never grow beside it?

258 pages, Paperback

Published January 24, 2024

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sheltered is a wonderful book written by debut author, Jenna Dill. While the story focuses on the two main characters, Sarah and Alex, their life experiences and expectations are not always of their making. I easily identified with parts of many of the characters, their thoughts, fears, anxieties, and other emotions. These characters are multifaceted and Jenna doesn't skimp on the trials and self-reflection Sarah and Alex face as they maneuver through their lives and friendship.

I was completely engaged throughout the whole book. I could have read all night to finish it, but I'm too old to function pulling an all nighter anymore ! ;) While the trope of friends turn into more is present, their story was compelling and a page turner.

What is obvious is that we need more to read from this author!!!

[Jamie Meyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I enjoyed most about Sheltered is the characters. I was able to identify with both Alex and Sarah on so many different levels. The obstacles these characters navigate is not only relatable, but it is REAL life. J Dills ability to express a character's emotions is unparalleled. I look forward to reading more from this author

[Jonathan Shaheen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, this will teach me to be pickier about grabbing random books off the shelf at the library. Bland writing, stilted dialogue, and a boring story made it a rough read. I don’t like leaving books unfinished, but signed off on this one about halfway through.

[L. Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knock knock, Netflix. Here's your next big show!