This Side of the Hudson

by Julia Bodwell

For fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty, All the Bright Places, and My Life With the Walter Boys comes a star-crossed story of loss and forgiveness, and the two teens who must decide if love is worth fighting for.

Nick Webber and Kennedy Winters are from two different worlds. She's a private school Manhattanite with a musical prowess that could rival Beethoven. He's a public school Jersey boy destined for UCLA on a soccer scholarship. But when Kennedy's family dies and she's sent to live with her aunt and uncle in New Jersey, their worlds collide.

They're drawn to each other immediately. Kennedy—the mysterious new girl—is different from anyone Nick's ever met. Smart and withdrawn, she makes him want to be different, too. To be better. And Nick—with his goofy smile and penchant for cheesy jokes—shows Kennedy that, even in the face of loss, she's still allowed to find happiness.

But as the pair grow closer, painful truths surface that threaten to tear them apart. With love on the line, Kennedy and Nick must decide if happiness is worth the heartache.

276 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 26, 2025

About the author

JULIA BODWELL is the author of contemporary young adult novels with strong emotion and depth. A former middle school teacher, she now owns and operates The Gilded Page bookstore in Tarpon Springs, Florida, where she lives with her husband and their rescue cats.

Reviews

[Kathy Church · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book

Although I am sixty seven I enjoyed this young adult book. It has a good storyline and plenty of food for thought.

[✧ Leia ✧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

One thing I love that this author does is star crossed lovers that are actually star crossed - the closer the two leads get, the more you feel how much it will hurt each of them if secrets are revealed

I cannot even communicate how satisfying that is to me, I love angst

The most important thing that makes it all work is the great chemistry between the couple - many of my favorite quotes were all moments they shared together, like this one -

“Breathe, you idiot, I remind myself as I watch her go. You won’t be able to teach her anything if you die from asphyxiation.”

Also, the way Kennedy found out was *chef’s kiss* the worst possible way, which is personally what I like for a climax like that

[AlienRosey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much! Such a captivating read. I found myself chugging through this, eager to find out what happens and how these two characters intertwine. The chapters are generally short which keeps you hooked and looking for more. Loved the emotional stakes and tension, the exploration of grief and regret. And Nick and Kennedy are just plain cute! 💞 I also noticed this author knows how to write how teenagers talk. The cast all felt like very real people and you feel for each one. Read this on a rainy day with a hot cup of tea, and maybe some tissues cause it gets emotional in the best way 💔

Thank you so much to the author for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Cheli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't make it past the first couple chapters without crying a little. I'll continue to say that Julia does such a great job leading her readers through her character's emotions. I enjoyed how everyone's stories tied into each other and how Bodwell primes you for that sinking feeling once you meet one of the characters while leaving breadcrumbs to where the conflict is headed beforehand.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. Characters are realistic

[Diane Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good YA book. It had love, friendship, hardship. The ending is a bit open ended but very encouraging since Kennedy goes to college with Nick. Even though every Romance book has to have a hurdle to get over, this one doesn’t seem forced or repetitive. It is sweet and made me think of my HS romance even though that was 40 years ago. I would find this appropriate for HS kids to read and has a message about drink driving to learn.

[Courtney Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like as we get older we forget what it feels like to fall in love for the first time. This read helped me remember.
The feelings of young love are so well captured and it instantly transports you back to a time when new love felt like magic. It's a story of new beginnings, tragedy, and not just surviving grief, but living a life through it. This was one of the best books I have read all year!

[Heather Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written. A sweet story of two teenagers overcoming grief while letting their hearts feel again. Love, heartbreak, grief, secrets, resilience, forgiveness. All of the emotions, all of the feels. It brought me back to my youth. An excellent read.

[Sun Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect indie ya doesn’t exi—


…..




Yes, yes it does and this is it.
Julia captured teenage angst and heartbreak in the best possible way. I know the focal point was Kennedy’s family dying but the grief was like a damn gut punch because it was so accurate. Realizing things they are going to miss, losing places that are special like a house, going through life just wanting to talk to them one more time more than anything and it’s just not possible. Those things were described perfectly all while dealing with typical teenage drama.
I’m glad she sprinkled in some first kisses and some wholesome sisterhood moments because damn I needed a break from crying my eyes out.

Go read this now!

Also thanks to the author for the ARC! 💔

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many emotions throughout this story, yet handled really well for such a heavy topic at times. I really liked how the bits of their stories took time to show just how intertwined everything was.

I received a copy from a Goodreads giveaway.

[Annette Masters · Rating 5 out of 5]

An invisible string connects a group of teens to a complex web of tragedy, love, and consequences in this compelling and emotionally charged page-turner. As secrets unfold, Bodwell balances gripping tension and intriguing twists that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

This Side of the Hudson is my favorite YA read of the last few years! I was honored to receive an advanced copy, and it blew me away. Bodwell weaves a tricky romance that leaves readers deeply invested and desperately rooting for a love story that is threatened by mysterious secrets and untold truths. The writing is phenomenal, the characters are both incredibly well developed and genuinely likable, and I’m still reflecting on the plot. Bodwell’s beautifully crafted narrative demands that you feel while inspiring you to think as it masterfully depicts the butterfly effect of a few decisions that will change too many lives forever.

This story pulls you in and it never lets go. It is a MUST READ!

[Laura Westley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, riveting, and gut-wrenching story that’s impossible to put down. Once again, Julia Bodwell tears your heart right open with a dramatic tragedy, yet mends that same broken heart with characters who display the utmost of resilience and fortitude. Despite being a YA novel, readers of all ages will love this compelling story and feel immersed in both the lives and inner-worlds of the two dynamic protagonists. Be sure to read this, along with Julia’s other two novels.

[Cate · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well written book about two high school seniors from very different worlds, but with traumatic secrets in their recent pasts. It's unusual for me not to see a twist coming, and I was surprised, and pleased to be surprised, by the twist in this one.

[Janelle Gabay · Rating 5 out of 5]

The suspense of 'who did what' will have you on the edge of your seat until the end. Bodwell has created an authentic cast of characters that are good and kind, and yet they carry heavy secrets that could hurt their friendships. It's also a nice coming of age, young love story with all the feels.

[AMAO · Rating 5 out of 5]

💯💯💯💯💯

[Ro Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Side of the Hudson has an impressive balance of YA fun and more serious topics. I enjoyed how the author explored the idea of grief and how healing isn’t always linear. It was beautiful to see the individual characters growing and changing with their relationship.

[Kim Catanzarite · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julia Bodwell has a gift for building tension and bringing on the big twists. I love this novel and recommend it to YA readers and older adults as well.

[Nicole Fincher · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this is a YA book, it can be enjoyed by anyone that loves a story about self-discovery, redemption, forgiveness, and of course love.
Two teens from different worlds, a tragic accident that affects them both, and secrets that have the ability to destroy everything they've built together.
Written in a way that elicits deep feelings and connection to the characters. You will be drawn into the story and become fully invested in Nick and Kennedy's lives.