Begin Again

Forgive and Never Forget #1

by Brittney Mulliner

Escaping her past, Aubrey Tate moves to Southern California for a fresh start with her older brother, Brandon. Starting over at a new high school seems easy with her cousin, Mckayla, and her two best friends at her side–but handling the boys is another matter. Aubrey finds herself being torn apart between three rival boys that each want her to themselves, but is she ready to take a leap into love again?

Determined not to let the past control her future, she learns to let go and live life by focusing on her friends and first true love–dance. How will she navigate her new life while she’s still haunted by her past?

Genres: Young Adult, High School, Romance, Contemporary

265 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 31, 2014

About the author

Brittney has been an avid reader since she can remember. Her parents' form of punishment for her growing up was taking away her books and making her go outside to play. She was born and raised in Southern California, with a brief hiatus in Arizona. She loves the beach, exercising, sleeping in, and cookies. She is an obsessive dog lover, although her affection currently has no outlet. Something that she is planning on remedying soon. She and her husband currently reside in the Rocky Mountains exploring and hiking as much as possible.

Reviews

[hala · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free ebook copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Begin Again started out pretty slow, but by the end I was totally enthralled with the story. I like Aubrey a lot, she is relatable and funny. And while I've never experienced what Aubrey went through, I definitely sympathize with her and her actions and thoughts felt realistic. I also love Aubrey's friends, they are so sweet and loyal and I like their bond. I also like Brandon, Aubrey's older brother.

The writing is quite good too, although I noticed a few typos. And the plot was very interesting. I liked watching Aubrey adjust to her new life.

There were only a couple things I felt the story could have been better without. The first is the fact that there are so many love interests! Not one, not two, but four . Four love interests! Luke was alright, but kind of a dumbass sometimes. Gage and Carter I really liked. And Mike. Oh my God, I hated Mike. He seemed nice at first but he eventually showed his true colors (see my status updates for more details). God, he was such an asshole.

Another thing is the character of Sydney. She is the stereotypical mean girl who, for some unknown reason, hates Aubrey immediately. Aubrey is a nice girl, I don't know why Sydney is so mean to her! But more importantly, her character is one-dimensional and her character doesn't actually serve much to the story.

Overall, I thought this was pretty good. A few things here and there bothered me, but I do recommend it.

[Phoenix · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 out 5 stars

I received this book from the author for an honest review.

What I love most about this book is the redemption factor. Here Aubrey has been through a horrific experience and yet she is able to still trust and see the good in people. This book attacks so many problems my head spins now that I think about it. Not only are there 3+ guys for her to juggle, a dance, friends, dance, her mother, but she is also struggling with her past and redefining herself as much as she can. With the problems of an adult but the mind-set of a teen, Aubrey tackles problems (and there are many) with finesse and kindness. This book read so fast that I happened to look down and realized I only had 33 minutes left in the book. I just kept wanting to know what would happen next and who would she finally choose. But beware of the cliffhanger and be ready for book two!

For more reviews, go to bbsbookreviews.com

[Shannon Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, let me say that I love how the summary for the second book doesn't give anything away, so that if you haven't read the first book, this summary won't ruin anything for you. Plus, it enables me to do a double review, which I just love!!

When I first started Begin Again, I wasn't sure I was going to like it because I felt like I had missed a book somehow and came into the story in the very middle. It took me a little bit of time (not much) to realize this was intentional, and that the author chose to rather skillfully pepper the backstory in little by little. Once I realized that, I actually preferred it and, like I said, thought it was some pretty skillful storytelling to do it that way because the reader was able to discover things along the way as they came out.

I loved the characters! I felt immediately for Aubrey. She's been through something very traumatizing, and it was refreshing to me that it was something a little different from some of the storylines I've read in the past. She does indeed have several guys clammoring for her, and I like how she kept her options open and didn't commit to any particular person. She's trying to start her life over right now, and was smart not to jump into a relationship. So by the time she actually does pick the right one, I felt like I'd gotten to see that journey of falling for someone a lot more thoroughly. Which I loved! And let me tell you... she picked the right one.

I was actually really surprised by this choice. At first, he was the last one I would have thought of, but as things began to develop, I knew it couldn't be anyone else but him. I loved him, loved him, loved him. I loved his protective instincts, loved his sweet but sexy personality, and I thought he was the perfect match for her.

When the big reveal came around, I have to admit I was shocked. I really didn't expect the who and how that was revealed. This is unusual for me, as I'm typically able to predict pretty well, but this one took me completely by surprise. So kudos to the author on that one.

This series is just the two books, and I like how the author didn't try to drag it out beyond where it needed to go. So great characters, great storytelling and pacing, some wonderful shocks and surprises, and some good, emotional depth. I really loved this series.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books that I'm mixed on. It was full of drama, which I like in a book, but I had a hard time connecting with it. Aubrey has a traumatic experience and needs to start over. She moves in with her brother Brandon and goes to school with her cousin Mckayla. She meets several guys who attract her attention for different reasons. I think it's great that she has plenty of options but I didn't feel like I got to know the guys well enough to root for anyone in particular. There was a lot of hot and cold between her and them as well. I'm not holding this against her, though, since she's a teenager and, of course, I don't feel like she needs to choose her soul mate right now. However, I like to have a relationship to cheer on and don't feel it with any of them. There is one guy she seems to be leaning toward and, I don't want to spoil it, but their relationship is weird to me.

Aubrey is finding herself and I didn't feel like I got a good handle on who she is. There are issues with her mom and step dad which made it easier for her to leave home. She gets along with her Aunt Diane and cousin Mckayla and feels close to them, even though it's been a while since she's seen them in person. She also feels close to her brother Brandon and they have a great relationship. She makes friends easily and gets along with almost everyone. I did enjoy the friendships she formed with Mckayla and her friends and they had some dramatic, fun scenes to read.

The writing held my interest enough to keep reading but I felt like I was waiting for something to happen through most of the book. Something big does happen at the very end. I'm interested in reading more of the series since I want to know what will happen next and what Aubrey's life will look like in the end. I hope to see growth in her as the series progresses.

I received a copy of this book to review. My opinion is 100% my own.

Mel's Shelves

[Kristi Cramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This read like Clueless, with a healthy dose of suspense thrown in. (I loved Clueless, so that is a good thing.) It was a fascinating look into a world I have no experience with and don't relate to, since not only has it been decades since I was a teenager, but I grew up lower middle class in Oregon, which is culturally a world away from SoCal. That being said, I felt like these kids were well drawn and real. Their actions and reactions felt believable to me. The pacing was pretty good. Just about every time I was getting too bored, a breadcrumb back to the suspense would drop. So the storyline was good, as a YA novel.

However...the execution left a lot to be desired. There were run-on sentences that left me breathless, and the switches in narrative tense took me right out of the bubble. Wrong word choices and missing words, too. Drove the editor in me to distraction. I never got to a point where I could just read and relax into the story.

I will be reading book 2, since this one ended on such a cliffie, and I'm interested to know what happens. I won both of them in a contest back in December. Not sure I would have bought them...

I'm waffling on my star rating. Very tempted to knock off a half star for the "technical difficulties" with this one, but my enjoyment of the story has me hanging on to the 4. Maybe I'll call it 3.75.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I was given a copy of this book as a gift from Stephanie's Book Reports in exchange for an honest review.

Aubrey Tate has been through a lot in her short life. After suffering a
traumatic event, she moves to California to live with her older brother,

Brandon. With her cousin, McKayla, attending the same high school , it seems that Aubrey will have a smooth transition into her new life. but that is not the case.

She catches the eye of so many boys that I felt like my head was spinning. The story line jumped from boy to boy so quickly, I didn't feel like I connected with any of them. Aubrey's feelings toward the boys changed constantly, and I had to keep reminding myself that she was just a 17 year old trying to find where she fits in.

This was just an okay read for me. The story parallels another well known series with a similar story line. Even though this was not the book for me. I would recommend it to the reader who enjoys a teen read filled with lots of drama

[Christine (Shh Moms Reading)]

wow what a cliff - def want more to see how this ends.

[Brittney Mulliner · Rating 5 out of 5]

He struggled to swallow as he laughed. Shaking his head, he looked up at me. "You know, when it was decided you were going to come live with me I was nervous about what I was getting into."
"What do you mean? Parenting a teenage girl?"
"Well, that too. I was more worried about the state you were in. I thought I was going to pick up a complete wreck from the airport, and that was before I knew what you had gone through, but you are the strongest person I know."
"I don't know about that." I felt uncomfortable discussing this. I preferred the joking relationship we had over discussing my feelings.
"You have thrown yourself into school and dance. You already have a busy social life. I was convinced I would be dragging you out of bed every day."

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet book not an RH for anyone looking for one! Not enough romance for me but there were cute moments.

[Today We Did · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today We Did

Aubrey Tate is the new girl in school. She has moved in with her brother on the Californian coast after a traumatic incident in her Chicago home. Her mother packs her off quickly, hoping that starting over will allow her to move on from the past. Aubrey falls on her feet, finding a safe haven with her brother, easy transition to school with her cousin, McKayla, and a new dance studio to attend. Though she is trying to leave some boy troubles behind, she quickly finds herself the object of attention for numerous boys at school.

Begin Again is a teen drama. The story follows Aubrey’s new start living with her brother, Brandon, and how she adjusts to her new school, making friends, meeting boys. The plot is simple, but well written. The setting and characters are described in detail allowing the reader to get to know them. The Page’s house sounds divine, and the view from Brandon’s condo is very refreshing (wish I had a view like that!) And, wow, there are a lot of good looking kids at Aubrey’s school! Everyone is so hot, beautiful, gorgeous, tanned…. do people like this really exist in such numbers? And money, money, everywhere. These kids have way too much money for their ages, especially considering not many of them seem to have a job. There are swanky cars and endless wardrobes, huge parties and intimate dates. I was amused by the complex plans the girls put into action to ask the boys to the winter formal, so much effort, but sweet too. Maybe we do things differently in country Australia, but I don’t remember high school quite like that!

Despite being rich and beautiful, both Aubrey and Mckayla seem somewhat oblivious to their assets, and they don’t use what they have to better themselves. They have insecurities and doubts, and spend too much time at the mall, like many teenagers. Aubrey and McKayla are fairly average teenagers, just with plenty of dough to splash about. I liked them both. Their best friends, Alexis and Talia, were also likable, though I felt like I didn’t get to know them as well. For the most popular girls in school they are far nicer and down to earth than expected. On the other hand, Sydney is pretty mean and catty, mostly out of jealousy and spite. She isn’t a nice person, she is just kind of pathetic. So is Aubrey’s mum. She really lacks parenting skills, and is far more concerned about her own image than she is about her daughter. She only wants reflected glory from Aubrey, no hassles or hiccups. This isn’t fair to Aubrey.

As for the boys in Aubrey’s life, there are enough to make life interesting and complicated. Mike is the protector, always defending Aubrey, Luke is the hottest guy in school, but he’s also obsessed by his surfing, and Gage is the mysterious bad boy that everyone warns Aubrey away from. And then there’s Brandon’s best friend, Carter, the older and off-limits man, who may think of Aubrey as just a little sister. They are very diverse, apart from their attractiveness. I’m intrigued by their histories, especially Gage’s. I would have liked a little more background, though their histories may yet be revealed in the next book. I liked them all in different ways, and there were things about all of them that I disliked too, such as Mike’s control issues, or Luke’s instability.

Cliffhanger, anyone? The book ended rather abruptly in the middle of the story! Nothing was resolved, or completed, it just ended. What??? Okay, so there is a sequel, and I started reading the sequel immediately upon completion of Begin Again, but still, I felt a little cheated at the end. There was a nice dramatic twist, but I wanted more, no, I needed more. I now have to find out what happens in Aubrey’s life, what happens with all the boys, her friends, her brother, and her past. The story really drew me in.

This engaging book is best for middle to upper high school students, especially those keen on realistic teen drama. When you get Begin Again, make sure you have the sequel, Live Again, waiting in the wings, you’ll want it straight away!



*I received this book as a digital copy from the author, who asked me for an honest review of this book. I did not receive any other remuneration, and the review is composed entirely of my own opinions.

[Jennifer G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm mixed about Begin Again. The writing is solid, the characters developed. It was full of enjoyable drama and angst. Aubrey had a traumatic experience back home in Chicago and needs a fresh start.She moves to California to live with her brother Brandon and go to school with her cousin Mckayla. She quickly becomes the hot new girl with the school's male population. Several catch her attention as well. It's hard to root for her with any of them, because she flip-flops emotionally too often. The only guy that feels right for her is off limits, at least for now. I didn't mind the silliness of her instant best friend status with Mckayla's group or her ridiculous amount of popularity among the boys, but I didn't like the way the word love was thrown around. I couldn't figure out if this was teasing or cases of insta-love or teen-age goofiness. My favorite relationship was between her and her brother Brandon. That one I felt was truly sincere. The rest lacked depth.

The story starts out as a basic high school tale, but then inserts a bit of mystery and danger. The suspense is good, but there is a cliffhanger. Since the ending is abrupt and leads into the next book, you might want to have Live Again ready to continue on with Aubrey's story.

[Charity Bradford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, it must be YA week for me! Here's the second one in just a few days. This one is more of a contemporary suspense story.

Possible spoilers, but I'll try to be vague. :)

Okay, first, there are quite a few characters and names to get straight, but once you do this is a really good read. Aubrey might look like she lives a charmed life, but she's a normal girl with a few extra fears. And with good reason. As a mom I couldn't believe how callous and non-responsive her own mother is. I totally understood how Aubrey tries to convince herself she's over-reacting simply because the people who should care the most keep brushing off her concerns. The scary thing is that even after Aubry has moved across the country to live with her brother, her mother continues her "nothing is wrong" attitude, putting Aubrey in unknown danger.

Moving looks to be a great thing for Aubrey. She's getting to reconnect with her brother and cousin as well as making lots of new friends. What I really liked is that the high school is different than most in YA novels. Okay, there is still the mean jealous girl, but she plays a small roll. Most of the school is welcoming and supportive. Aubrey is looking for friends, knowing she doesn't want a boyfriend right away, however, there are lots of guys stepping up for her attention. I like that she keeps telling them "just friends" and she hangs out with all of them. It's the guys causing drama in this story!

The ending is a cliff hanger. You see it coming, and once it's confirmed the story is over. I'll be waiting for the next book to see how Aubrey stays safe.

I give Begin Again a 4.5. There were some typos and extra words, but they weren't too distracting.

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Brittany Mulliner for sending me a copy of this book for review. I LOVED it!

For various awful reasons Aubrey is ready for a new start, so she moves from Chicago to California to live with her older brother Brandon. She has to deal with a new school, new friends and a new life whilst also trying to forget her past and the reasons why she moved.

This story is so emotional and you can help but love Aubrey, she is broken but still so strong, she doesn't see how beautiful and kind she is, she is such a likeable character and somebody you can really relate to. When we learn about her past it felt so real and there are a lot of cases like this when nobody believes it, so I found it very intriguing hear her story and how it eventually played out.
We see Aubrey trying to deal with everything herself before realising people do care about her, she attracts a lot of male attention straight away which I thought may change her and make her a bit full of herself but it didn't at all. There was a guy that I was rooting for and hoped he would win Aubrey over in the end but I think we might have to wait for the next book to see who she will choose.

I thought there was going to be a twist throughout the book but this did not come until the very end, usually I don't like waiting for it but with this book I didn't mind. The story was so addictive and well written that you just get completely sucked in and don't want the book to end.

I don't want to reveal too much about this book as I think it is much more powerful if you read it knowing as little as possible, but let me tell you, it is well worth a read!

I would highly recommend Begin Again to anybody that likes an easy to read, YA novel with lots of emotional roller-coasters! I couldn't put this book down and I am so thankful Brittney provided me with the next book because I NEED to see what happens next for Aubrey. This is one of the best YA books I have read this year!

[Donna Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHAT IT'S ABOUT
Escaping her past, Aubrey Tate moves to Southern California for a fresh start with her older brother, Brandon. Starting over at a new school seems easy with her cousin, Mckayla, and her two best friends at her side, but handling the new guys is another matter. Aubrey ends up in the middle of three rivals that each want her to themselves. Mike claims her first and declare himself her friend and protector. Luke is the school heartthrob that stops Aubrey in her tracks, speechless. Gage is the mysterious, dark outsider that Aubrey can be herself around. How will she navigate her new life while she’s still haunted by her past?

MY TAKE
The story in this first book was entertaining and the characters generally likable. Aubrey's a really nice girl, and she's lucky to have so many people take to her and befriend her. For some, that might be a stretch, but I always remember something that Stephenie Meyer said when people complained about Bella suddenly being so popular in the new school. Some found it unbelievable, but Meyer said she'd based that upon her own experience when she went away to college. The key was that it was "new girl" novelty. It's then up to the person to prove worthy of the attention, so to speak.

For me, there were just too many potential love interests, but this is a YA story, so I imagine girls this age will love that aspect. The mystery and the stalker mostly make up for that. Mostly.

Warning. This book ends on the worst kind of cliffhanger. It's like the story just stops. No resolution at all. About anything. So, in essence, this "book" is really only half of a book. I enjoyed it and will read on, but be prepared to buy both books, or you'll be miffed like I was. I'd have rated it a full star higher if not for this.

3 1/2 stars, rounded up to a 4.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a big tv or movie watcher. I would rather read and that's mainly because I can really get into a book. I can connect to characters by their thoughts and feelings. A book is deeper than a story played out on screen. I felt like I was reading a movie with this one. The characters are superficial and I really wanted depth. I wanted to know why they were feeling the way they do or what they were thinking about different situations. I wanted to be in their heads.

Aubrey has had a traumatic year and is ready for a new start. She moves from Chicago to Southern CA and lives with her older brother. As her past comes out, I found myself appalled that NO ONE believes her, especially her mom. Aubrey is consistent with a teen and maybe that's why she's shallow. The story floats along and I kept expecting some twist, but it didn't come until the end.

When Aubrey moves in, she immediately attracts the attention of four different guys. Typically, I have a guy who I'm rooting for to win her over, but I had a hard time with this one, probably because I didn't really get to know any of them that well. They all have great characteristics and they all have their flaws.

I did enjoy the relationship that Aubrey has with her cousin. They haven't seen one another for a few years, but they pick up right where they left off. I also loved the relationship she shared with her brother, Brandon.

Readers who enjoy an easy teen read with a touch of drama are sure to enjoy this one.

Content: mild descriptions of abuse, stalking, and attempted rape; mild kissing; a girl and a guy stay overnight together, but nothing happens. Clean for an older reader.

*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*

[Terry Deighton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this is a good read. It will certainly appeal to the teen girls it is meant for. As other reviews have mentioned, it seemed a bit far fetched that Aubrey has four completely different guys vying for her within a couple of weeks. However, it serves to show that what seems perfect at first is often filled with challenges. I was a little put off that everyone, and I mean everyone, in the book is gorgeous. Again, the message that even pretty people have problems comes through. Even with these minor irritants, the book flowed along, and I became more and more involved. Since the ending is abrupt and leads into the next book, you might want to have Live Again on hand, so you can keep on going.

[BostonTerrierLuv · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me by surprise and I really enjoyed reading it! I loved all of the characters for different reasons and, honestly, I couldn't even pick just one person as a favorite by the end of the book. I don't think I've ever enjoyed so many characters at once in a single reading!

I didn't expect a cliff hanger somehow but now that I've read this book, I'm way too hooked and invested so I can't wait to pick up and read the next one! :)

[Shanae Branham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely a young adult book. I love how supportive the story is for the main character, Audrey, especially since she is running from such a terrible incident. It was enjoyable to experience moving into a new high school with her. The story develops at a lazy pace, but the ending leaves the reader on the edge of their seat. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a good young adult read.

[Loni Mcneil · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing was very ingenious and kept your interest from start to finish!! Could not put it down until the very end. The ending makes you scream for more. Can't wait for the next book and hopefully future books from this author. Best book I have read in a long time.... truly awesome. This one is a winner!!

[Suey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A typical high school romance-y story about Aubrey who has moved to California to live with her brother. She merges well with the new life style, but has she really escaped her scary and terrible past?

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute story.

[Solasia Graves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Begin again

It was as fast paced read. It got slow a few times but it certainly kept me guessing. I can't wait to read the sequel