Hold On Tight

by Angel W.

After losing her beloved daughter and husband in a devastating accident and enduring a severe mental breakdown, Camilla seeks refuge in her childhood home, where her parents provide solace and care. Months of isolation pass, with Camilla locked away from the world, until one fateful day when a familiar face from her past reappears at her doorstep.

Caleb, a former military man, has been diagnosed with brain cancer, prompting him to leave behind his picture-perfect life and return to the haunting house of his childhood. Little did he expect to find Camilla, his long-lost best friend, residing in the house next to his. Intrigued and determined to reconnect, Caleb's presence reignites a spark of curiosity within Camilla.

As they spend time together, the memories of their once unbreakable bond begin to resurface. Amidst their individual struggles and the little time they have left, they grapple with the question of whether their friendship can once again blossom.

This story contains mature scenes and is therefore rated 18+.

Genres: Contemporary

239 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 3, 2024

Reviews

[Sienasummerrreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

"We can't let that fear stop us from living. Dying is a part of life”

This follows Camilla 32 who goes through a tragic loss and moves back home to be cared for by her parents. Camilla is at a standstill and mentally struggling as time slowly goes by. But one day her childhood best friend Caleb knocks on the door which will change her path forever. Caleb is home for a reason and Camilla is determined to find out why. Will he be around for good though?

This was a good read for 229 pages. A lot was packed into this book and it was fast-paced. I did cry at the end and it made me feel a rollercoaster of emotions as it felt like blow after blow. Be mindful of the contents and themes in this book, I have listed them below. This book revolved around Camilla and Caleb with only Camilla's parents as side characters. It was like they were in their own bubble. I liked Camilla but her healing and development of moving on didn't feel realistic. Caleb was a great MMC especially for helping Camilla smile again and finding a way to live through such hard times.
Personally fast-paced books I struggle with and I do wish this was drawn out more. There was a lot of reflection on the past which built their story although I do wish we saw them go on adventures together instead of always being at the house.

I think it's a good story for the number of pages and I do recommend it if you want to cry.

If you love:

🔹Love After Loss
🔹Neighbours
🔹Friends To Lovers
🔹Grief And Loss
🔹Mental Health
🔹Touch Of Intimate Spice

Genre/Type: Romance 18+
APK: Kindle ARC
Release Date: 3rd Feb 2024
Pages: 229
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️
Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone
Tropes or Themes: Love After Loss, Neighbours, Friends To Lovers, Doctor-ER, Ex Military, Childhood Best Friends, Past Memories, Letters, Mental Health, Taken Care Of, Terminal Illness, Medical Content, Cursing and Sexual Content Mentions: Death Of Child, Past Secret Pining, Past Jealousy, Past Child Abuse, Violence, Depression and Suicidal Thoughts
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫

All Round Romance Reader 
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
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[Yves V.H. [Slow reading] · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, uhm...I didn't cry 💀

No, I don't think it's the book's fault. I think it's great. The style of writing is simple and very easy to follow. The story itself is very tragic specially for the FMC because just as the story was starting, something terrible already happened to her and when she's finally moving on, another terrible thing happened to her.

The pacing is fast too and there were no boring moments. It's easy to fall in love with the two characters in this story and I really wish they had more time.

'met but not destined to end up together' is the best way to describe the scenario.

I swear the story is a tearjerker. Idk why I didn't, at least, tear up. I think I'm dead inside 💀

💎 Received an ARC but all thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Nicole Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I’d technically give this 3.5 stars if I could. This was my first book by this author and I felt like it was a very easy, fast-paced read. The writing was pretty simple in my opinion and in some parts I felt it could’ve been stronger.

The main characters were easy to like. I liked that the story jumped between past and present because it gave us more context into Camilla and Caleb’s past and relationship. It was hard to hear that Caleb experienced a hard childhood but that Camilla’s friendship helped him in some way and that they were able to lean on each other in the present.

I felt like it was unique that the story mostly took place in one timeframe and setting and didn’t take us to too many places. It would’ve been nice to hear more about Camilla post-Caleb. There were some parts of the book that felt a little awkward/ unrealistic but overall it was an easy read and made me emotional in parts.

[Brittany selken · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this is the first time I have never read anything from Anne T. Thyssen before this book and let me tell you she is becoming one of my favorite authors to read books from. This story was so beautifully written and the characters that were in this story ugh my heart just broken for them both. But I’m glad they got to spent time together before he had passed and she finally found happiness after everything that she went through.

[Kez Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautifully tragic and powerful story, and I enjoyed every minute with these characters.
This story explores so much in a short time but I felt like I was living through every emotion alongside them. The grief, loss, trauma and pain is raw, but it's beautifully balanced with the healing, acceptance, understanding reconnection and love.
This is both a sweet love story and a tragedy, and the flashbacks to the past add so much depth to Camilla and Caleb's story.
My heart is shattered, this was the first book to make me cry, but I regret nothing. Camilla and Caleb are the sweetest and their journey will stay with me for a long time.

[Vonny Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first ARC for Anne and it was so much more than I expected!
It was gut wrenching and beautiful! I loved every minute of it, I wanted more, my only negative would be I would’ve loved if it was a bit longer!
A great read & I will be absolutely picking up more books by Anne!

[Tishana Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book that I've read from Anne and it won't be the last.

"Hold on Tight" was beautifully titled and fit the storyline perfectly. Anne's way of resonating with the characters and portraying emotions had me in tears.

The story follows childhood best friends Camilla and Caleb as they reconnect as adults, going through battles and stages of grief themselves. Camilla returns to her childhood home following the deaths of her husband and daughter, not wanting to move on with her life. Caleb returns to his childhood home to gain a sense of peace in the last few months following a terminal cancer diagnosis. While they both are internally broken over their battles, they reconnected fixing Caleb's homes and got closer than ever, even sharing things they kept hidden from each other as teens.

I loved how they both played a role in helping each other work through their grief and diagnosis. Caleb was the reason Camilla was looking forward to the future and showed her that there is a life that can be lived after losing people you care about. Camilla showed Caleb love and that you can live a wonderful life, day to day with moments that matter most than time itself. Their strength and love throughout the story touched me deeply. This love story will be locked deep in my heart as one of my favorites: so true, honest, and meant to be, even if time wasn't on their side.

Highly recommend this beautiful story if you want to cry HARD.

[larisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve cried the whole time while reading this, I had to pause a few times to gather myself …
This was such a good and well written book. it was amazing but so heartbreaking and soul crushing … I just can’t put into words how much this broke me …
I’ll need a few days to recover from this book 💔

It’s not fair at all what camila had to go through… she learned how to handle grief thanks to her old best friend/ first love. she fell in love again with him and had the privilege to spent this short time with him while she still could…
There were so many “what if” questions from both of them, it was simply so heartbreaking… i had a feeling about the ending but I was hoping until the very end for a miracle, I was hoping that there would be a turn of events but sadly no… so yeah this broke me really badly…
I mean just read this quote… "You get to live. For both of us."…. 💔 while thinking back to this I get all sad and teary again…

So if you’re looking for something soul crushing, heartbreaking but also a lovely(sad) love-story, where they get a second chance to be with their first love, then this one is for you…
Have your tissues ready !

Quotes:
“It made her hug him even harder, as if he might disappear from her arms”

"You get to live. For both of us."

"Because you were the only family I had."

“If he couldn't have her, no one could.”

Tropes :
*trauma/girf bonding
*second chance
*reunited with first love
*if I can’t have her no one can

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

***ARC REVIEW***
Name: Hold on Tight​
Author: Anne T. Thyssen
Rate: 5 🌟

~Even with the fair warning the author placed in the beginning of the book it was not enough!!! I never knew how many tears I will shed by reading this book!!! Anne I was not prepared… So readers please be prepared and have that box of tissues ready… The book starts with an unexpected tragic lost. Camilla FMC is an ER Doctor, so her schedule is always busy. She is married and has a daughter. On the night they planned to watch movies as a family, the family suffered a tragic accident. Poor Camilla lost everything, she broke down into depression that made her move back to her childhood home. One day Caleb MMC seen her getting her mail. He is an old High School friend. By him reaching out, Camilla finally started to get out her depression stage. They started to spend more time together and that old flame started to get lit again. If she only really knew why he was back home too… Caleb had a secret that he didn’t want to share but he finally told Camilla … I was sure not ready for it to end of it ended… Yes, I cried so much… I even asked myself why??? This book broke my heart. Anne sure out did herself with this one since I’m used to reading Dark stuff. I enjoyed reading all her books but this one hands down has a part in my heart….

[Simoné Wolmarans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hold on tight is definitely the right title because this was one hell of a ride!

Never before have I felt so distraught about a character in a book. I literally bawled my eyes out. Caleb was the most amazing character and I fell deeply in love with him.

I loved his strength and the way he always worked to be better than his father. I loved how he loved Camilla and I enjoyed their relationship and the growth thereof throughout the book so much.

I thought the beginning of the book was going to be the most heartbreaking but I was seriously mistaken. The ending shattered my heart and soul. It was so devastating and I think it was largely because I really thought they would get a miracle.

The book was well paced and beautifully written. I really enjoyed the characters and their development and dialogue. The story was real and so heart wrenching.

Camilla and Caleb will stay as a couple in my heart and I will treasure their love story forever.

Anne T Thyssen did an amazing job with this story. It was beautiful and so emotional. I will forever recommend this to everyone with a beating heart.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow need tissues and chocolate for this one x This book broke 💔 me, it made me cry so many times. Camilla the mfc goes through a terrible loss of her daughter and husband, she moves back home to be cared for by her parents, camilla is suffering from depression, as anyone would be. Celeb the mmc, him and camilla are childhood friends. I loved Caleb he was just so amazing. He loved Camilla so much, and showed her life can go on when you lose someone. Caleb has terminal cancer, the ending oh gosh even though I knew it was coming still wrecked me. Please read this book, it is so brilliantly written, a beautiful story and will stay with me for a long time, l loved it, thank you Anne for letting me do an arc reading x

[GKP2460 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grab a box of kleenex, get comfy and Hold On Tight! This author has brought an utterly gutwrenching, heart-rending story that left me completely depleted. I feel like my heart has been pulled from my chest, battered and put back together again. Camilla's journey is intense, emotional, sorrowful and at the same time a beautiful testament to the resilience that we sometimes forget we're capable of. Hold On Tight is about love, loss, survival and finally healing. Because of Caleb, a childhood friend, Camille was able to finally find her way back. This is truly a gutwrenchingly beautiful story.

[Manda Kadell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me in my feelings, to say the least. It is 3rd POV, which I typically don’t read, but this one fit perfectly with the story. The chapters were short & this book was very easy to finish. I finished it in 4 days, it was that good! It is the type of book that you need to know what happens next, and very hard to put down. I truly feel for Camilla, and all she went through. I also feel awful for all that Caleb endured. True childhood best friends, bonding over their trauma & rekindling what should have been in the first place. This book broke my heart in pieces, and mended it together at the same time.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

🩵 I have enjoyed a few of Anne T Thyssen’s books already and this one is another great read. Full of fast paced plot and emotions, you’re going to need a truck load of tissues and a pint of your favorite ice cream to get through this one.
🩵The tragic raw pain and heartache is powerful but combined with such beautiful love and passion to help soothe the soul. The evolution of Camilla and Caleb‘s relationship is very cathartic and written beautifully.
🩵The epilogue is the perfect Band-Aid and I will forever keep the story in my heart. Anne T Thyssen is becoming a favorite author of mine and I highly recommend her books.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me on an emotional roller coaster. Make sure that if you read this book, you have tissues on hand and hold on tight (literally)😭

Camilla's journey of loss, sorrow, heartfelt emotions, and healing. She shows so much resilience that I admire how strong this woman is.

As far as Caleb goes, I fell in love with his character. I love how he loves Camilla, and I admire his hard work, dedication, and his strong will to be better than his father after his upbringing.

This book does contain Trigger Warnings ⚠️

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I made the mistake of not having tissues next to me when I started reading this book.
I am not going to lie. This book completely destroyed me. It made me break down crying like I was the one living it. But it was so beautifully written, I can't even complain. I read it in one sitting. I couldn't stop once I started.
Be ready to cry if you decide to start reading it. But my advice would be, don't read it in front of people who don't understand when a book can emotionally control you, and don't read it in public.

[Hailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book!!!
reading about how much Camilla was going through after her husband and Maddy passed tugged at my heart strings so hard, and then reading about her glowing and getting better with Caleb made me so happy and nervous as I was hoping the book would end one way but then it didn't... when Caleb died I was like what! no! happy endings only! I know it still had a happy ending but I wasn't a fan of that happy ending. I wanted Caleb to get a call where they were like actually we can cure you or haha jk your actually not sick. still a great book and would recommend! Very fast paced read.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great read. Grab a tissue, get comfy on the sofa and literally "HOLD ON TIGHT!" Perfect title!!!

The book follows Camila who lost her husband and daughter suddenly after a tragically accident. Loosing herself through her inner termoil.
Caleb Ex forces, childhood best friend battling on in his life after a diagnoses.
Going back to their childhood homes brings them together, can they learn to live in the moment, how much time do they have.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

What Does Healing Look Like

The pace was nice, it fit the urgency of the situation. Im not one who enjoys flash backs but it was sweet and helped to understand the characters. I read this on my period so i cried a lot. It was fortifying to get the perspective of a woman who wasn't sure about her life choices and having to start over many times in life. I loved the dialogue between the main characters.

[Shaunie Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of Anne's best. Have a good supply of tissues ready when you read this one. Camilla has so much tragedy in her life. She lost her husband and daughter in a car accident so she moves home home to grieve a loss. While there she falls in love with Caleb a childhood friend. Follow their story to the end?

[Crestina Besario · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am having a tight chest upon reading this story. It shows what a great love can do. Being around with the person who means the world to you regardless of what ever the circumstances you are both in,yet you choose to spend your time and love for him/her😘❤️ it's a bittersweet goodbye 🫂
To the author 👍👍 💯❤️ great work

[Mckenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hold On Tight is filled with emotions and you might need some tissues. This follows Camilla through her journey of tragic loss and she moves back in with her parents. Camilla is struggling daily and time is moving slow for her. Until her childhood best friend moves back in next door. Caleb is home for a reason and Camilla wants to find out.

There is a lot packed into this book and it is fast paced. I do wonder how Camilla is going to do now that Caleb is gone. She lost 3 very important people to her. In seeing her moved on in the epilogue I just really hope she was able to heal and take the time for herself.

[Emily-Rose Brlevich · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Always Yours"
This story was such an emotional ride, that had me feeling everything!
I really connected with Camilla as I went through the same experiences she had loosing loved ones.
I loved this book! Such a beautiful story!

[Isela Morales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely gut wrenching! I don’t even have the words to be honest. I am a fan of Anne and her writing - it’s easy and quick to the point and this one did not disappoint. I was absolutely shattered in the end…sometimes you need those kind of reads.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hold On Tight is about love, loss, surviving, and healing 🙏 💙 ❤️
You definitely need a box of tissues with you while reading about this beautifully emotional story.
⚠️Please make sure to read the trigger warnings before starting this book ⚠️

[Arabela Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impossible to let go of this book until the end, although my heart was getting torn up in each chapter.
Keep in mind, people, that it is always better to express what your heart feels before it gets too late.
Forever Caleb ❤️ Camilla

[Brandi Warner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the premise of this book but the dialogue seemed awkward at times and the plot fell a little short for me. It felt like a lot of conversations but not a lot actually happened. However if you like sad hallmark movies this is definitely the book for you!

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this read, no matter how hard it was to read it. I loved that she was reunited with her best friend and realized what he meant to her; but I hated that he had to leave. I did like that she got her happy ending. But all be danged if I didn’t cry the whole time.

[Ashley Rabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it it’s a amazing book

[Mckenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

i really loved every bit of this book. Definitely a tear jerker but keeps you wanting to read more unable to put the book down