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Great and Precious Things

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How do you define yourself when others have already decided who you are?

Six years ago, when Camden Daniels came back from war without his younger brother, no one in the small town of Alba, Colorado would forgive him—especially his father. He left, swearing never to return. Then a desperate message from his father brings it all back: the betrayal, the pain, and the need to go home again. But home is where Willow, the one person he still loves, is waiting, the one woman he can never have—because Alba has buried secrets that are best left buried.

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 25, 2020

7379 people are currently reading
46963 people want to read

About the author

Rebecca Yarros

67 books193k followers
Rebecca Yarros is a hopeless romantic and coffee addict. She is the New York Times bestselling author of over twenty novels, including Fourth Wing, The Last Letter and The Things We Leave Unfinished. She’s also the recipient of the Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence for Eyes Turned Skyward. Rebecca loves military heroes and has been blissfully married to hers for over twenty years. A mother of six, she is currently surviving the teenage years with all four of her hockey-playing sons.

Want to know about Rebecca’s next release? Check her out online at www.rebeccayarros.com.

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Profile Image for ❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books.
2,619 reviews10.9k followers
February 24, 2020
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MY REVIEW AND OTHERS: can also be found on my blog:
➽ KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
2ir3yw5 GREAT AND PRECIOUS THINGS: Is a full length, stand alone romance novel by Rebecca Yarros. Spoken in 'Dual Perspectives.'

All lovers of small town friends to lovers romance junkies will love this one, throw in a hot tatted up military hero and a slow burn romance and you’ll be sure to inhale this one in no time like myself. A heart warming all the feels romance novel done to perfection.

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Welcome to Alba, one of the most best preserved ghost towns in Colorado, a small town overrun with tourists in summer keeping the town thriving during their bleak winters.

Cam swore black and blue six years previously that he'd never come back, but one voicemail from his father had him uprooting his life and making his way back home, being labeled the bad boy that label seemed to stick even years later when he steps back on the towns soil. The towns folk don't welcome him back with open arms.

Being back on home turf it's not long before he encounters Willow.

Cam and Willow have a long standing history having grown up together as neighbours she'd always tagged along getting up to mischief with the three daniels brothers (Xander, Cam & Sullivan), but was joined at the hip to Cam more so than the other two brothers.

Willow was so untouchable that she didn't even go on the untouchable list. She went on the unthinkable one.

Willow is Cam’s dead brother’s ex girlfriend which makes her untouchable in Cam’s eyes even though he's always harboured feelings towards her, in respect to his dead brother he vows never to go there. But what if he was mean't to have always been with her instead of his brother?

There needs to be more military novels because I've come to learn that they are my kryptonite, the feels that come with these novels are my weakness.


Profile Image for Karen Mc .
1,105 reviews770 followers
February 26, 2020



It’s a rare gift to see the hidden beauty in things.


OOOMMGGG!!! Here I sit, days after reading Rebecca Yarros’ GREAT AND PRECIOUS THINGS, a story that stole my heart from the very page ... so stunning ... so special ... a marvel ... a meaningful masterpiece. This broken beauty held my heart hostage the whole time reading. A heart that continuously beat for this book, broke for this book, and belongs to this book.




Yarros paints such a vivid picture of poetic words where I felt like I too was a resident of small town Alba, Colorado, living among these compelling and compassionate characters who were caught in a battle of perception and reality as they searched for love and acceptance. A story that struck close to home from the lovable and perfectly imperfect characters to the military life to the dementia—all elements that made this journey in words personal. So real and relatable—as if a small piece of me is ever present in the worlds that Yarros brilliantly brings to life with each book she writes.

Darkness is drawn to the light.


Great and Precious Things is a rare gem that glitters and shines, then cuts deep in a novel that’s truly awe-inspiring, perception-defying, and devastatingly beautiful. This book is so broken, so brutally honest, and so beautifully told—a riveting romance and redeeming journey of worth that is truly worthy. It’s message is simple but so meaningful: Life and love are great and truly precious things.

”There is no me without you.”


Heartwarming, heart-wrenching, and oh so worthy, Great and Precious Things painted itself all over my soul, bleeding into my heart, and I felt its broken beauty everywhere. I read this heart-hitting tale with tears in my eyes as the words—full of wonder and wisdom—carried the weight of the world in a story that quickly became my world. I can’t stop feeling this story of sacrifice, soul, and second chances. I FELT AND STILL FEEL EVERYTHING this tale gave and everything this tale took. Great and Precious Things ... oh my stars ... IT’S EVERYTHING! If I could give this beautifully broken book 10 stars, I would. It’s that SPECIAL. SO PRECIOUS.

All great and precious things are lonely.


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ great and precious stars

Y’all MUST ONE-CLICK THIS MASTERPIECE!!! A TOP 2020 read, a top all-time read, and perhaps the best book this year! 💜💜💜

➡️ https://amzn.to/2vDQg88




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Profile Image for Casey Reads &#x1f338;.
432 reviews408 followers
August 20, 2023
Never thought this would happen, but I had to DNF a Rebecca Yarros book. 😱

I love this author, but I could not connect to this story. I made it about 70%, because I read other peoples’ reviews and they said there was twists at the end, so I just kept wanting to hold out for that. Finally, I got to the point where I just had to accept that I haven’t enjoyed reading the book, so I shouldn’t just keep pushing through.

I felt no connection with Willow and Cam. I also thought some of the conversations were cringy. Admitting that she was glad her boyfriend, Cam’s brother, died and that she would have been more sad if it was Cam. This isn’t romantic, it’s just wrong. It’s fine for a brother to have a connection with his dead brother’s ex, but the way it was written just seemed wrong.

This one was just not for me. I didn’t like the supporting characters either. Based on the reviews, it seems like others really loved it, so I am going against popular opinion with this one.
Profile Image for Syndi.
3,709 reviews1,038 followers
November 28, 2020
After a disappointed with Fight and Glory series, I finally falling in love with Miss Yarros again. Great and Precious Things is powerful, slow burn, second chance romance and military romance. It takes place in a small town in the middle of nowhere.

Willow and Cam went through tragic experince. Entangle with the family, lies, sacrifices and most of all love. I love Cam. He is truly great and precious thing and he is lonely. Inside he carries guilt over the dead of his brother.

I love the realtionship between Cam and Willow. They both push and pull, break and fix together. Their love grew stronger with every plot.

Overall this is wonderful story.

4 stars
Profile Image for Jaime Fok.
245 reviews3,245 followers
December 20, 2025
Unfortunately, didn’t love this one! Probably my least favourite Rebecca Yarros novel.

Things I didn’t love:
- 50/50 dual POV (took away from the intrigue/tension of the romance)
- overly angsty writing, I prefer more subtlety in a contemporary novel.
- small town council politics plot… was just a bit boring for me tbh?
- the fact that the protagonist just had to speak his truth to solve 90% of his issues, but wouldn’t. Was very frustrating to read.

Things I liked:
- RY writes a damn good first kiss 😂 even though I didn’t love the rest of the romance.
Profile Image for Hannah.
2,257 reviews471 followers
March 13, 2025
The basic story was ok, but the ending was awful. Big topics like forgiveness of self and others, dementia, agency, and regret, but all of it was too loosely put together. I don’t think I’ll read anymore of her books aside from the fanatasy books. It’s like watching a bad B movie.
Profile Image for Adriana Locke.
Author 98 books15.9k followers
December 12, 2019
Without a doubt, Great And Precious Things is Yarros' best work to-date. Few writers bring together undeniable romance and touching emotional moments like Yarros. She's a master at weaving together details so intricately that you feel like you're a part of the story as it's taking place. It's a talent that not all possess. She captures you so fast that by the second page, you feel like you're home. It's bizarre ... and addicting. It's one of the greatest things to find as a reader.

The themes of the story resonated so deeply with me. What family hasn't been touched by disease? How many of us hasn't felt like the black sheep at some point or another? This story entertains. Interestingly, it also nurtures you as you go along like a warm blanket on a chilly night. It's a story you need, a tale that scratches an itch that you couldn't quite put your finger on. It makes you believe in family. In community. In second chances and healing. It gives you hope at a time when we all need a little bit of that.

The characters are dynamic and Camden is the ultimate hero. He steals scenes quietly with his grit and chip-on-his-shoulder bravado. He's exactly what I'm looking for when I crack open the pages of a book. He's a treat, a wonderful concoction of sex appeal and a heart of gold that I fell head-over-heels for by the end of the first chapter. I love him.

Great And Precious Things is a tale I will remember. It's is a story that have me saying, "Oh, Colorado? I lived there once with a man named Cam ..."
Profile Image for  Sonya ♕Chatterbooks book blog♕.
1,017 reviews1,185 followers
April 18, 2020
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Great and Precious Things was an emotional slow burn battle romance that dragged your heart through every phase of an emotional turmoil. It was heartbreaking at so many times, deeply driven, and held a passion that you felt even when you’ve read the very last chapter.

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It’s been nearly ten years since Camden has stepped foot in his home town. After doing some bad things in his teenage years, going in the Army and having to bury his younger brother, he’s not exactly the small town hero. Looking to start fresh and help his father, Camden is trying his best to be a model citizen but if there’s one thing we all know about small towns: they never let you forget anything.

Willow has always loved her quiet simple life. A few years ago her world came to a halt when her boyfriend was killed in the military. Trying to move on in a small town is not easy but it’s about to get a lot more complicated when she sees her childhood friend return home for good. What happens when a long time love you've always wanted is suddenly right in front of you with hidden scars and all?

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“ There is no me without You”.

I love a good romance with a military background feel to it and this one was perfect for me. I felt the connection immediately between Camden and Willow and I loved that they took their time in their relationship. It was a beautiful slow burn that needed to be savored even a little bit more and it was natural and romantic. I haven’t really read anything by this author but if this is the way she writes, then I need to go back and read her other books.

If you’re looking for an emotional romantic heartbreaking friends to lovers romance, then you should give this one a try.


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Profile Image for Carmen Rae.
1,683 reviews187 followers
February 25, 2020
Whenever I pick up a book by the beautiful Rebecca Yarros I know one thing. I am going to get ALL the feels. So I try to do it at a time when I can afford to experience them which, with a house full of kids, is in short supply.

So I put my hand up for a review copy and waited for my rejection only to run through the house squealing when I got it. But then it taunted me. Every single time I opened my kindle, there it was And all I wanted was to crawl into my bed with a locked door and box of tissues and dive in but I adulted like a champ and waited.

Obviously it was worth the wait. No one writes like Rebecca. No one makes me care about everyone and everything like she does. Her words all have a weight to them that you can only experience while reading one of her stories.

Cam was such a beautiful character. I want to say he was broken but it feels wrong. He was too solid and dependable and perfect to be called broken. His life experiences had been brutal and harsh but he came through them with so much love and compassion he can't be described as broken.

Willow had her own strength and it so perfectly complemented Cam's, it was perfect. The connection between the two of them leapt from the page and held onto my heart for the whole book.

The background characters were perfect in that I felt them too. Their small mindedness and judgement felt all too real, like small town anywhere, where everyone remembers everything through the curtain of their opinion. But I enjoyed watching them have their eyes opened even if it was still a little less groveling than I would like.

Anyway the only thing you need to know about this book to go out and purchase it is that Rebecca Yarros wrote it. And of course it is as perfectly, devastatingly, beautiful and haunting as all her other stories. Bring tissues.
Profile Image for Sophie "Beware Of The Reader".
1,567 reviews391 followers
February 8, 2020
4 stars

 
“He’d protected me for the simple reason that I’d been theirs all my life. The girl who tagged along with the Daniels boys. The naive teenager who stayed behind when three brothers went to war. The woman who shattered when only two came home.”

 

This is a book about redemption. About a bad boy not being so bad and a perfect man hiding dark secrets.


It's a book about living in a very small town and not being able to outrun your bad reputation
and the mistakes from your youth.

A story of hidden jealousy and what it pushes us to do, what it will cost us one day.

This is also about long lasting love but bad timing and missed opportunities.

How a split second decision can simply be a matter of life or death, love or loneliness.

You'll also read about choosing your death, the right  to die with dignity, on your own terms.
And you'll also hurt when two brothers will be divided by their beliefs, each trying to do what he deems best.

You have guilt and remorse.
Love and hurt.
Hope and death.
Redemption.

 

And so many other feelings!

 

I loved Willow and Cam. Together and apart.

 

Cam …. Appearances are deceiving and he began as a man with a short fuse, prone to fight with his fists when he was young. Now after a decade of army training, he’s learned to rein his temper in.

But why would he fight often? Why would he be the bad boy to everyone but Willow, his neighbor? That’s what we have the pleasure to discover in the story because there is a reason why he rejected everyone! And my heart broke for him when I learned what happened.

 

Cam is huge, handsome, protective of Willow and dead set on caring for his sick father even if said father is rejecting him at every turn. His dedication and his stubbornness were admirable!

 

I loved Willow. She went for her dream despite what her father, the judge, wanted for her. She followed her own path all while trying to stay close to her parents, her sister and her niece. That’s not always easy to live in a small town!

She was smart, loving and ..funny in her own way!
“Maybe now was a good time to stand up and twirl around in my super-short red skirt like a matador with an angry bull.”

 

 

Cam and Willow’s love story was a slow burn, very heartwarming to watch. I love friends to lovers romance and forbidden romance, even if the “forbidden” aspect was quite mild all things considered.
“You two are a damned Shakespearean tragedy. It’s slightly entertaining yet incredibly painful to watch.”

 

The town of Alba and its inhabitants with their beliefs, prejudices and small drama feel like its own character and add to the reading’s enjoyment.

 

Rebecca Yarros wrote a very romantic story with some heartbreak, surprises, slow burn, strong and loyal heroes.

 

On a side of inside note, I loved how Rose tested her theory 😊

 
Have you read this book? Or any book by Rebecca Yarros?
 

Thanks for reading!

 
Sophie

Find me on:
Wordpress: Beware Of The Reader
Facebook: Beware Of The Reader
Facebook group : Beware Book Boyfriends Alert
Instagram: @bewareofthereader
Twitter: @BewareOffReader
Profile Image for seher.
894 reviews83 followers
January 16, 2024
although i’m very generous when it comes to rating a book, this one was a huge flop for me: everything under 3 stars is really not enjoyable and, in my personal opinion, just plain boring.

this was one of these extremely unnecessary and basic books — you forget everything about the characters right after reading the story because they’re so shallow and have zero interesting and unique personality traits.

everything about this book was packed with clichés. the love story was rushed and so implausible because wdym she always loved him but was in a relationship with his brother to get over him? how dumb is that? how unromantic of an asshole move is that? i don’t know if i was supposed to find their love story cute; however, the ‘it was always you’ trope of this book made zero sense and ruined everything for me.

even the plot was boring because i couldn’t care less about the historical society meetings and the town’s immature drama. how come every single person in this book was childish as hell when it came to things a character did MORE THAN 10 YEARS ago? get over your shit and don’t bore me to hell.
Profile Image for ☆ Susana ☆ .
590 reviews355 followers
November 4, 2025
“Somos libres de tomar nuestras decisiones, pero no somos libres de las consecuencias de ellas.”


Vale. Lo admito. No puedo ser objetiva con Rebecca Yarros. Hay algo en su forma de contar historias que siempre me pellizca el alma, me hace sentir, me sacude por dentro. No sé como lo hace, pero siempre es así.

Este libro no ha sido mi favorito de la autora, ese honor ya se lo disputan dos (de momento), pero así y todo lo he disfrutado muchísimo. Tiene ese toque tan suyo de emoción, vulnerabilidad y esperanza que me atrapa siempre que abro un libro suyo.

Los personajes son puramente perfectos y la vez súper imperfectos, reales, cotidianos, casi casi parece que fueran reales (el universo Yarros es brutal no creo que haya personaje mal construido y definido), pero mis debilidades sin duda son Willow y Cam.

Willow es fuerte y tierna a la vez, alguien con quien conectas enseguida y a la que quisieras como amiga si o si, pero tengo que admitir que quien me ha robado el corazón ha sido Cam. Su vulnerabilidad, su manera de amar, esa mezcla de fuerza y fragilidad. Maravilloso.

La trama es preciosa, la pluma de la autora ayuda a que te atrape desde el primer párrafo, pero también es dura en algunos momentos. Rebecca trata un tema muy delicado con muchísimo respeto dando voz no solo a quien lo vive directamente, sino también a todas las personas que lo rodean. Se nota la sensibilidad con la que construye cada escena y cada emoción, y cómo consigue que conectes con todos los personajes sin necesidad de dramatizarlo en exceso.

Es de esos libros que te hacen sentir de verdad, sin manipular tus emociones, y eso lo hace aún más especial.

Luego leyendo los agradecimientos vemos que ella ha vivido muy de cerca con el tema por lo que se nota que sabe de lo que habla.

Una historia real, que emociona, que duele y cura a la vez y que pese a no ser mi favorito de la autora lo guardaré en mi corazón con mucho cariño, como todas sus historias ❤️
Profile Image for Taury.
1,201 reviews199 followers
May 13, 2025
Amazing book! Sorry no time to write a review
Profile Image for Luciana (✿◠‿◠).
202 reviews2 followers
November 13, 2025
Ya extrañaba leer algo de esta autora.

Debo admitir que al principio no entendía mucho la dinámica familiar y por qué le tenían tanto odio al protagonista. A medida que fue avanzando la historia, todo fue cobrando más sentido.

Lo que más disfruté fue ver el amor incondicional entre ellos. Ella siempre está para él, lo acompaña y le hace ver que se merece ser amado. Tienen mucha comunicación y eso también es un punto a favor, no hay drama innecesario de pareja.

Él me daba mucha pena, sentía que era injustificado tanto odio por parte del pueblo. Al final se hizo justicia, me gustó la revelación porque no me la esperaba. Y todo el tema familiar que hay también me pareció interesante y me gustaron los temas que se tocaron, en especial el perdón y la aceptación.
Profile Image for Ainhoa.
591 reviews17 followers
April 27, 2022
This was one of my faves from this year and nothing anyone can say will change my mind.

The angst and suffering from the characters and the shitty people from the town. And the Alzheimer’s and the loss. And this is a crappy review and I don’t care because my feelings are all over the place because I’m still sick and I loved this book I still don’t know why.

You’re welcome for this masterpiece. Love ya all ♥️
Profile Image for Sher❤ The Fabulous BookLover.
952 reviews584 followers
July 25, 2020
I love a dark, brooding, troubled hero. So when I started reading this I was all in! I finished it, but it was a struggle. I was enjoying it up until the point where the unnecessary drama was too much (the brothers suing each other, the little girl risking her life for a pin)... and on top of all that the heroine wasn’t memorable and the romance was lacking so much. I just couldn’t. So I ended up skimming the last 50%. The story started to get flat and I began to lose interest. Hopefully I’ll enjoy this author next book more....
Profile Image for Creya Casale | cc.shelflove.
549 reviews421 followers
July 16, 2024
I have a lot of mixed feelings on this one. It definitely took a while for me to become invested in the story and our characters, and I was not as enraptured by it as I was by In the Likely Event. I think I had a hard time accepting the main characters’ relationship, to be honest. In short, Camden is in love with his dead brother’s girlfriend. Shortly after his return home, he realizes Willow has always loved him, too. By the end, I did really like Camden and Willow together, but it also made me feel weird! Something about dating brothers gives me the ick…….. However, Yarros did a very good job of explaining their pasts and the reasons why Willow did not date Camden in the first place. Interesting.

The element of the novel that really sucked me in was not the romance, but Camden’s father’s medical journey. Art is widowed and has early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. He requests a do-not-resuscitate order, but his doctors question whether he is of sound mind to make such a decision. Art’s fight was heartbreaking. I hope Yarros’s words on this topic spark conversations re: patients’ rights to their medical decisions and elder abuse. Overall, this was slow-paced at times, but I think I will be pondering it for a while.
Profile Image for Mel  (whilemelwasreading).
1,324 reviews119 followers
February 26, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”Wanting you is all I’ve ever known. You’re in my blood, my bones, my soul.”
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If you love:
•Military romance
•Small towns
•Angst
•Slow Burn
•Dual POV
Then this is the one for you!✨
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I loved this book. Not because it was well written, engaging and emotionally charged. Let me be clear, it was all that. But this story was just beautiful. In a heart wrenching way. Was it about love? Absolutely. But it was about so much more. It was about family. And the unexpected. And fighting for what you know is right. For those you love.✨
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This book touches on a devestating medical condition and the heartbreak associated. It also touches on a sensitive and difficult subject for many. It’s something no one wants to think about. Let alone have to make decisions about. But it is a subject that I have such strong feelings on. So this topic definitely helped connect me to this book. But even if that element was removed I still would have loved this book.✨
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You couldn’t help but feel for Cam. He was a literal hero. And treated nothing of the sort. Despite his heart of gold. Willow, the strong heroine. Despite life’s heartbreaking blows, she gave her all to everyone. Always with a cheerful and supportive smile. She’s the friend that has your back when the rest of the world is against you. And I adored that in her.✨
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This book was a roller coaster of emotions and mostly the heart wrenching kind. It was full of angst. And maybe the slowest slow burn I’ve ever read. But it was so powerful. There were twists I didn’t see coming. My heart was in my throat so many times, I lost count. The first two chapters alone pulled me in, in a way I knew this was gong to be a fantastic read. And not long into the book I felt emotional invested in this story. Mostly with tears in my eyes.✨
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I am still thinking of this book. I love all avenues of romance. But the ones that pull at my heart strings, and make me feel the emotions of the story...Those are my favourite kind. And this was definitely that! I highly recommend this book!✨
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I received an ARC for my honest review.✨
Profile Image for Anne OK.
4,094 reviews553 followers
March 14, 2020
Took my breath away -- beautifully written -- characters who come to life on the pages -- and a story guaranteed to not only break your heart and touch your heart in so many ways, but put it back together again. A story you won't be able to put aside and one you won't stop thinking about when you're done reading.

Profile Image for Wil Loves Books!.
1,543 reviews491 followers
March 16, 2021
Great and Precious Things was fantastic. Rebecca Yarros is such an amazing writer, her stories are always so beautifully crafted and full of heart. I just love her heroes, and her storytelling. Both characters in this one had a lot of baggage and a lot to work on. I loved how the story unfolded and developed. The audiobook is also fantastic. Definitely recommend@
Profile Image for Donna (Currently Busy).
433 reviews12 followers
October 25, 2025
This is the second book I've read by Ms. Yarros. A good one too. Told in alternating points of view between FMC Willow and MMC Camden, it's a story about military veteran Cam Daniels who returns home to Alba, Colorado after being gone for six years. He's not liked by a lot of Alba's citizens for things that happened when he was a teenager and before he enlisted ten years earlier. There are many reasons Cam has not been back to Alba in six years, and one of them is a woman he's known since childhood and has been in love with for just as long. Willow Bradley, his deceased younger brother's fiancé.

As the book blurb states, Camden comes home after getting a call to help his father. His reluctance to come back is well founded. Six years prior, he returned with his younger brother in a casket. A soldier who was killed in the same mission Cam was also participating in and still feels responsible for. After receiving the government's superficial report on Sullivan Daniel's demise, their father Art Daniels kicks Cam out of the house because he blames Cam for his youngest son's death. Even some of the town's citizens hold Cam responsible and treat him accordingly. Cam however, knows the true deep details of the Afghanistan mission but he doesn't hang around to explain. He leaves Alba vowing never to return.

Over the course of the book, the reader learns of the many past indiscretions the citizens of Alba blame Cam for in addition to Sullivan's passing. He works hard to show them that he's not the same person he was all those years ago. He even tries to keep his distance from Willow, but that's not as easy to accomplish. Because unbeknownst to him, she's been in love with him since she was nine years old. A love triangle in their youth? Yep. Sullivan likes Willow, Cam loves Willow, and Willow loves Cam but settles for Sullivan after Cam treats her poorly knowing his brother is also in love with her.

During one of Cam and Willow's reminiscences after he returns, the reader gets a better understanding of their past history:

Cam tells Willow, "Your hair is beautiful, and I know you like it long." ..."Now, when you got gum stuck in it, that's when I thought the scissors were coming out."

She huffed. "I didn't get gum stuck in it. Sullivan dropped it in my hair." Her forehead puckered. "What were we? Ten?"

I nodded. "It was the summer Mom died, so yeah, you were ten."

Willow then tells Cam that his mother spent an hour getting the gum out of her hair so she wouldn't get in trouble with her parents. Cam's response is "She was pretty amazing like that. Plus, she knew it was my fault, so she was quick to cover for me." Surprised, Willow asks Cam, "How can you possibly blame Sullivan's choice on yourself?"

"Oh come on, you didn't know?" When Willow fails to understand what Cam is talking about, he tells her "He (Sullivan) only did it because he was mad that we were going out to the hot springs without him. Remember? He didn't finish his chores, so he wasn't allowed to go, and he sure as hell didn't want you going with me." Man, he'd been so jealous, already staking his claim on the girl who hadn't noticed that she was his world.

Willow then realizes something important. "Oh my God, and you finished his chores while your mom got the gum out."... "You were so good to him, Cam. You always put him first, even when you missed out on some of the things you wanted." Her eyes met mine, and I knew she wasn't thinking of the same thing I was, simply because I'd never told her and she'd never caught on. This exchange tells the reader a lot more about Cam than what the town's people believe him to be.

The focus of the story is not just the romance between Cam and Willow. Cam returns home after receiving a voice message from his father, who is currently suffering from early onset Alzheimer's but still experiences moments of great lucidity. His message pleads with Cam to return home and convince the authorities to allow him to have a DNR order in place. Cam's older brother Xander is Art's legal guardian. When Art decides he wants a DNR, Xander refuses on grounds that he believes his father is in an irrational state of mind. Enter interesting sub-characters, past childhood histories and grievances, the emergence of a lawsuit, and you have one very interesting novel.

The twists and turns this book takes are good ones, but I held back a degree of skepticism all the same. While I thoroughly enjoyed the outcome, there is one quote I found clearly worthy of five stars. At about the 60% point, Camden tells Willow after she tries to convince him he had nothing to be ashamed of regarding Sullivan's death,

"I was most angry at Sullivan, because he had the right I would have died for and never even used it. Because when he passed, it was Mom's name on his lips, when I knew mine would have been yours."

I want to thank my Goodreads friend Olga for recommending this book and I will continue to read other books by Ms. Yarros. My overall rating is 4 stars.

Fall/Winter Bingo Square #29 - Title contains four words.
Profile Image for Anastasiia.
292 reviews20 followers
February 27, 2025
5/5 ⭐️

Скажу одразу, що в цій історії Ребекки я не плакала як після Останній лист та Незавершені сп��ави

Я люблю любовні романи Ребекки, вони всі залишають після себе довгий післясмак.
Ця історія не виключення, це не просто роман, це історія про біль втрат, сімейні конфлікти, прощення і, звісно, кохання, яке проходить крізь роки й випробування. Авторка так пише, що завжди торкається моєї душі (це надто пафосно звучить?), її кожне слово пронизане відчуттями, а кожен персонаж здається таким реальним, що неможливо не співпереживати.

Ця книга дуже глибока і пронизана болем, але водночас у ній багато тепла й надії. Тут відчувається сіл��ське життя, затишок маленького містечка, де всі знають одне одного, де минуле переслідує тебе на кожному кроці, і де неможливо втекти від старих образ. Атмосфера тримає в напрузі, адже конфлікти тут не вигадані – вони реальні, живі, і ти ніби проживаєш їх разом із героями.

Кемден – головний герой, який змушений повернутися в місто, де його вважають винним у трагедії, що зруйнувала його родину. Він – солдат із шрамами не тільки на тілі, а й на душі. Його боротьба за прощення, за те, щоб довести, що він не той, ким його вважають, була для мене дуже зворушливою. Мені хотілося вигнати половину цього містечка та обняти Кемдена. Він точно такого відношення не заслуговував.
Віллоу – це сила й доброта, людина, яка завжди бачила в Кемдені більше, ніж інші. Їхні стосунки сповнені ніжності, болю і складних виборів. Вони обидва бояться відкрити серце, бо знають, наскільки воно вразливе. Але їхній зв’язок – це не просто романтика, це щось глибше, що випробовується роками. Драма між ними була болючою для мене. Я розумію чому Кемден не міг зробити крок зараз.
Другорядні персонажі теж відіграють величезну роль. Родина Кемдена – це біль, нерозуміння, несправедливість, але й надія. Авторка чудово передає те, як минуле може розділяти людей, але водночас бути єдиним, коли їх щось пов’язує.

Це не легка романтична історія. Тут багато болю, втрат, складних виборів і моментів, які розривають серце. Але водночас це історія про прощення та другі шанси. Про те, що ми не зобов’язані бути тими, ким нас вважає оточення, і що любов – це не завжди щось легке, але якщо воно справжнє, то варте боротьби. Вона про складні сімейні відносини, про боротьбу із суспільними осудами, про кохання, яке виживає всупереч усьому.
Якщо ви шукаєте книгу, яка розіб’є вам серце, а потім обережно складе його докупи – ця історія саме для вас.
Profile Image for Ренета Кирова.
1,316 reviews57 followers
January 27, 2025
Ребека Ярос е написала една емоционална и трогваща сърцето семейна драма, примесена с романтика.
Книгата ме погълна и я прочетох много бързо. Съпреживях всяка емоция заедно с героите.
Кам е наранен млад мъж и се завръща в родния град заради баща си. Той знае, че всички там го ненавиждат, поради изборите, които е направил - някои случайни, независещи от него, други, поради гнева, че е отритнат. Той смята, че е недостоен за любимото момиче, в което е влюбен от ученик. След десет години предразсъдъците за него в малкото градче са все още живи, всички са против него, но той е решил да се бори за баща си и любимата жена.
Уилоу винаги е била привлечена от Кам, но съдбата пожелава да стане момичето на брат му. Тя е тиха, кротка, вписва се идеално в малкото градче, затънало в миналото, но след десет години иска да продължи напред и да престане да бъде само "момичето на Съливан" в очите на всички. Иска живот, изпълнен с любов, особено след като Кам се завръща завинаги.
Съдбата е жестока към Кам и дърпа надолу Уилоу, но двамата се борят за своето щастие и за доброто на хората, които обичат. Оказва се, че могат да помогнат за просперитета на града и на тези, които ги сочат с пръст, говорят против тях.
Историята ми хареса и ме замисли как предразсъдъците влияят върху живота на хората, които някой е нарочил като лоши. Имаме навика да съдим другите, без да виждаме, че ние също не сме съвършени и правим грешки. Не бихме искали да ни съдят твърде строго, но в същото време ние го правим с другите. Понякога е необходимо да видим отвъд фасадата и да прозрем причините, поради които човек реагира така, да надникнем в неговото сърце. В повечето случаи (не визирам тези, които не са готови за промяна) ще открием, че всичко е защита и ще разберем колко ранима е човешката душа.
Profile Image for Jenny - TotallybookedBlog.
1,908 reviews2,054 followers
February 24, 2020
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4.5 STARS

‘I wanted to paint this moment, to capture this exact feeling as I watched him at peace. A peace I knew would vanish the moment he opened his eyes and the world beat its way in.'


Great and Precious Things is our second book by Rebecca Yarros and once again, we were moved by her stellar writing in a heart wrenching, sincere and beautifully emotional story of family secrets, deep love, choices and second chances. Our hearts broke and soared in equal measure.

Camden Daniels, 28 returns home the prodigal son years after leaving his small hometown to join the army. Whilst he may have been a hero in the military, his past indiscretions see his return home met with mixed feelings from the town’s residents. Cam forgoes a lucrative career in Civil Engineering and faces the wrath of his Dad and others to return home to Alba Colorado to fulfil a request made by his father.

“You have to love your choices, Camden, no matter what they are because you have the freedom to choose.”

Coming face to face with 25-year-old Willow Bradley elicits memories for both, and Rebecca Yarros slowly, delicately and passionately uncovers their history, letting us in on their hopes, dreams and heartaches, and it’s a truly beautiful relationship built on the foundation of pain and loss.

“There is no me without you.”

We are guided through the intense relationship with Camden and his brothers, Sullivan and Alexander, and the difficult relationship between Cam and his Dad, culminating in the reasons for Cam’s departure and his reasons for not wanting to return in the last ten years.

Rebecca Yarros really does delve deep with her characters ensuring we connect and really care about them and we certainly cared about Willow and Camden, two beautiful souls who had always put others wants ahead of their own. Their love story was sad, passionate, sweet and was felt with every beat of our hearts.

“I’ll never not want you. Wanting you is all I’ve ever known. You’re in my blood, my bones, my soul.”

Great and Precious Things is a beautiful story, it’s a story that’s poignant, topical and told with so much heart. We can always feel when an author pours so much of themselves into a story, it jumps off the pages into our hearts and that certainly happened with this story. Told with a smattering of drama and family intrigue, we were present for every moment.

Our rating is such because, as we came to the end of the book we were desperately looking forward to an epilogue. After everything Willow and Cam had gone through, an epilogue was crucial for us, and as readers, we were a little disappointed the book concluded without one. Whilst it didn’t detract from the actual story, it did leave us wanting a little more at the end.

Available to purchase below
Amazon US
Amazon UK


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