What do you think?
Rate this book
Only a Breath Apart #2
Echoes Between Us
Echoes Between Us is bestselling author Katie McGarry’s breakout teen contemporary novel about a girl with everything to lose and the boy who will do anything to save her.
Veronica sees ghosts—more specifically, her mother’s ghost, thanks to the blinding migraines that consume her whole life and keep Veronica on the fringes. But the haunting afterimages make her wonder if there is something more going on….
Golden boy Sawyer is handsome and popular, a state champion swimmer, but this All-American is hiding an adrenaline addiction that could kill him. Drawn to each other after a chance meeting, can they help each other battle the demons that haunt their every step or will they push their luck too far and risk losing it all…including their lives?
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Veronica sees ghosts—more specifically, her mother’s ghost, thanks to the blinding migraines that consume her whole life and keep Veronica on the fringes. But the haunting afterimages make her wonder if there is something more going on….
Golden boy Sawyer is handsome and popular, a state champion swimmer, but this All-American is hiding an adrenaline addiction that could kill him. Drawn to each other after a chance meeting, can they help each other battle the demons that haunt their every step or will they push their luck too far and risk losing it all…including their lives?
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
383 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 14, 2020
104 people are currently reading
8860 people want to read
About the author
Katie McGarry
30 books12.8k followersKATIE MCGARRY is an award winning and critically acclaimed novelist of the Witches of the Island series (A Wicked and Beautiful Garden), the Pushing the Limits, Thunder Road, and Only a Breath Apart series and the standalone novel, Say You’ll Remember Me. Katie is a lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is currently living out her own love story with her husband, three children, her affectionate dog, Rachel, and her very needy cats.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 514 reviews
August 7, 2022
this story hovered between 3 and 4 stars throughout the entire book.
on one hand, its an interesting plot. a girl see her dead mom - is it a hallucination caused by her brain tumour, or it it really a ghost that lingers to help her not be lonely? there are school assignments, friends who would do anything for each other, first loves, ghost hunts, and real teenage struggles.
but on the other hand, this is sooo tame. some readers may describe this as wholesome, but taking into consideration how dark and heavy a lot of the content is, the tone just feels a little too… light. i was waiting for it to cross that line from “yeah, okay, cute” to “wow, this is has so much emotional depth.”
i think if i had read this when i was teenager, i would have loved it, no problem. but now that im older, in the end, i feel like this is a good story that doesnt quite reach its full potential. so im gonna round down.
↠ 3.5 stars
on one hand, its an interesting plot. a girl see her dead mom - is it a hallucination caused by her brain tumour, or it it really a ghost that lingers to help her not be lonely? there are school assignments, friends who would do anything for each other, first loves, ghost hunts, and real teenage struggles.
but on the other hand, this is sooo tame. some readers may describe this as wholesome, but taking into consideration how dark and heavy a lot of the content is, the tone just feels a little too… light. i was waiting for it to cross that line from “yeah, okay, cute” to “wow, this is has so much emotional depth.”
i think if i had read this when i was teenager, i would have loved it, no problem. but now that im older, in the end, i feel like this is a good story that doesnt quite reach its full potential. so im gonna round down.
↠ 3.5 stars
March 17, 2020
Lots of nice teen angst molded with life-changing conditions and some supernatural tid-bits as well.
Q:
There are some decisions you can't take back. (c)
Q:
Even though I know what I do is the definition of insanity, I can’t stop. (c)
Q:
She senses adventure while I sense a train wreck. Mom has that grin that suggests she has something bad to tell me, but is intent to sell me the impending trauma as something good.
While you were at summer camp, I accidently forgot to feed your hamster, but wouldn’t you prefer a turtle?
I dropped the leftover spaghetti dishes on your eighth-grade graduation suit you had laid out near the table, but wouldn’t you rather skip the ceremony and spend the evening with me?
Lucy has the stomach flu and I have a huge meeting with clients, and if you stay home with her you don’t have to take that reading test. (c)
Q:
“The house seemed cheerier in the photos.”
“So do psychopaths.” ...
“Try being positive.” ...
“I’m positive psychopaths look cheerier in photos than they do in real life.” (c)
Q:
I’d never clip anyone’s wings. Especially Leo’s. (c)
Q:
make your turkey a Lucy original?”
“Because turkeys are brown.”
“But they don’t have to be.”
“But if you see a real turkey, they’re brown.”
“Maybe they’re brown because everyone keeps telling them they are. Maybe we need to stop labeling the turkeys and set them free.” (c)
Q:
“It was a ghost.”
“Yes, but did she hurt you?”
“No.” A pause. “She scared me.”
“Did you ever think that maybe you scared her? I mean, according to my mom, the little girl has lived here a long time, and she’s used to me and Dad, but you”—I point at her with the tip of the glue—“are brand new. How do you think a ghost would feel when they strolled into their old bedroom and surprise! You’re in there and screaming. I know I’d freak out. The proper thing to do would have been to introduce yourself or at least say hi.” ...
“Well, Miss Lucy, I’m here to tell you that this ‘everyone’ you speak of is usually wrong on a lot of things. And ghosts are one of them. Ghosts are only people who had to leave their bodies, but they aren’t ready to leave home yet.” (c)
Q:
The more who believe, the merrier. (c)
Q:
Guess she’ll have a nice view of our dysfunction for the next couple of months. (c)
Q:
“I’m not the type who gossips. There’s enough people in our town who like to say mean things so I figure no one needs my help in that department.” (c)
Q:
So late that I can almost taste the dew of dawn on the tip of my tongue. I typically love sunrises, but I never want this sun to rise. This is the night that needs to last forever. (c)
Q:
Mom is like a snowball that’s thrown at a mountain teetering on an avalanche. (c)
Q:
... like I told her there’s a rabbit popping out of my ass. (c)
Q:
The girl is gorgeous, sexy, mesmerizing, and has the biggest, brightest personality I’ve ever encountered.
In a world where most doesn’t impress me, I’m impressed. (c)
Q:
One should always be careful who they invite into a house because once you give death permission, you’ve lost the battle and the war. (c)
Q:
... tomorrow we’ll have waffles. I should be riding the impending waffle high,... (c)
Q:
Needing to be invited into someone’s home is one of my many quirks. (c)
Q:
“Is your lack of a brain tumor why you’re an ass?” (c)
Q:
The impossible is always possible. (c)
Q:
He sounds like someone who opened up Pandora’s box and then got irritated that Pandora didn’t smile and nod like a good little girl when he didn’t like the contents of the box. (c)
Q:
What do you want me to do, Leo? Fail English? Be a hermit? Wait for you on the porch? And as for throwing myself at him, I hugged him. I didn’t have sex with him in the front seat. (c)
Q:
I want any type of life other than the one I have right now. (c)
Q:
My future is now as huge and wide as this sea—who will I be in the midst of it? (c)
Q:
There are some decisions you can't take back. (c)
Q:
Even though I know what I do is the definition of insanity, I can’t stop. (c)
Q:
She senses adventure while I sense a train wreck. Mom has that grin that suggests she has something bad to tell me, but is intent to sell me the impending trauma as something good.
While you were at summer camp, I accidently forgot to feed your hamster, but wouldn’t you prefer a turtle?
I dropped the leftover spaghetti dishes on your eighth-grade graduation suit you had laid out near the table, but wouldn’t you rather skip the ceremony and spend the evening with me?
Lucy has the stomach flu and I have a huge meeting with clients, and if you stay home with her you don’t have to take that reading test. (c)
Q:
“The house seemed cheerier in the photos.”
“So do psychopaths.” ...
“Try being positive.” ...
“I’m positive psychopaths look cheerier in photos than they do in real life.” (c)
Q:
I’d never clip anyone’s wings. Especially Leo’s. (c)
Q:
make your turkey a Lucy original?”
“Because turkeys are brown.”
“But they don’t have to be.”
“But if you see a real turkey, they’re brown.”
“Maybe they’re brown because everyone keeps telling them they are. Maybe we need to stop labeling the turkeys and set them free.” (c)
Q:
“It was a ghost.”
“Yes, but did she hurt you?”
“No.” A pause. “She scared me.”
“Did you ever think that maybe you scared her? I mean, according to my mom, the little girl has lived here a long time, and she’s used to me and Dad, but you”—I point at her with the tip of the glue—“are brand new. How do you think a ghost would feel when they strolled into their old bedroom and surprise! You’re in there and screaming. I know I’d freak out. The proper thing to do would have been to introduce yourself or at least say hi.” ...
“Well, Miss Lucy, I’m here to tell you that this ‘everyone’ you speak of is usually wrong on a lot of things. And ghosts are one of them. Ghosts are only people who had to leave their bodies, but they aren’t ready to leave home yet.” (c)
Q:
The more who believe, the merrier. (c)
Q:
Guess she’ll have a nice view of our dysfunction for the next couple of months. (c)
Q:
“I’m not the type who gossips. There’s enough people in our town who like to say mean things so I figure no one needs my help in that department.” (c)
Q:
So late that I can almost taste the dew of dawn on the tip of my tongue. I typically love sunrises, but I never want this sun to rise. This is the night that needs to last forever. (c)
Q:
Mom is like a snowball that’s thrown at a mountain teetering on an avalanche. (c)
Q:
... like I told her there’s a rabbit popping out of my ass. (c)
Q:
The girl is gorgeous, sexy, mesmerizing, and has the biggest, brightest personality I’ve ever encountered.
In a world where most doesn’t impress me, I’m impressed. (c)
Q:
One should always be careful who they invite into a house because once you give death permission, you’ve lost the battle and the war. (c)
Q:
... tomorrow we’ll have waffles. I should be riding the impending waffle high,... (c)
Q:
Needing to be invited into someone’s home is one of my many quirks. (c)
Q:
“Is your lack of a brain tumor why you’re an ass?” (c)
Q:
The impossible is always possible. (c)
Q:
He sounds like someone who opened up Pandora’s box and then got irritated that Pandora didn’t smile and nod like a good little girl when he didn’t like the contents of the box. (c)
Q:
What do you want me to do, Leo? Fail English? Be a hermit? Wait for you on the porch? And as for throwing myself at him, I hugged him. I didn’t have sex with him in the front seat. (c)
Q:
I want any type of life other than the one I have right now. (c)
Q:
My future is now as huge and wide as this sea—who will I be in the midst of it? (c)
December 29, 2019
TITLE: ECHOES BETWEEN US
AUTHOR: Katie McGarry
RELEASE DATE: January 14, 2020
GENRE: YA Romance
THEMES & TROPES: Alcoholism, Addiction, Illness
RATING: 5 Stars
CLIFFHANGER: No
What a pleasant surprise this story turned out to be! And so unlike any other I've read recently! This story took twists and turns I didn't see coming and had my head spinning. I'm new to Katie McGarry's books but now I'm eager to read more!At first glance Sawyer is the typical popular guy in school. Good-looking, athletic, with lots of friends. Looking closer though, he struggles with his dyslexia and his family life and nobody sees it. His coping mechanisms are dangerous but he's addicted to the adrenaline rush so he keeps doing it. Until he gets to know fellow student Veronica whose zest for life and indifference towards their school mates' attempts at bullying captivates him.
Joy. Veronica is life and joy.
While Sawyer is the most unlikely partner for Veronica to work on a school project they get into an easy groove. What started as a partnership out of necessity soon turns into friendship and mutual respect. It was easy to see why they fell in love with each other. Sawyer is a sweet, troubled guy who loves his little sister to the moon and back and he has a warmth to him that I found immensely endearing. But his everyday life is tough - his parents are divorced and his mother is an alcoholic and leaves adulting to her barely grown-up son. Sawyer's mother was awful and made me ragey, I wanted to shake some sense into her.
I routed so hard for Sawyer, what a wonderful young man who developed so much strength and experienced so much growth from the beginning of the story to the truly beautiful end. And the love he had for Veronica was as extraordinary as it was deep. pure and mature.
"Someone once told me loving you requires sacrifice. They’re right. I want to be with you, you want to be with me, but giving in now to be happy just for a few months isn’t enough. I want more, and I want you to want more, too.”
If your life can literally end the next day you don't care about about other people's opinion if they are strangers to you. Veronica's brain tumor is a well kept secret and the poise and grace which she lives her life with is inspiring. She's fierce, outspoken, loyal and brave and resilient. And maybe a little bit in denial. But she never gives an inch and always stands her ground and true to herself. Veronica is the kind of character you won't forget easily - I loved her courageous, a little quirky nature and I admired how she stared death in the face. I adored her relationship with her dad which was based on trust and love.
ECHOES BETWEEN US is an unusual story in beautiful prose about two young people who bring out the best in each other and complement one another perfectly. Even as an adult there is a lot to learn and take away from these characters and this truly unique book. Katie McGarry is one of those authors everyone recommends when it comes to YA Romance. Now I get it.
"There’s only been one time in my life when I’ve ever felt like me and not a shadow of the person I thought people needed me to be and that is with you.”
January 14, 2020
4.5 Stars!
When you open one of McGarry's books, you not only know you are going to get one heck of a story but you know it will be one that will be filled with emotions and one that more often than not, will rock you to your core. Will change you in ways you didn't even know a story could do.
And like all her books, this was filled with romance, heart ache, happiness, friendships, love, and with it being something different, ghosts.
Like it's counter novel, Only a Breath Apart, Echoes Between Us has a touch of the paranormal that will not only keep you on edge it will keep you turning the pages wanting more, constantly looking over your shoulder and having a hard time deciding which makes your heart pound harder, the chance encounters with ghosts, or the steamy sweet romance and tender moments the McGarry is known for best.
Filled with raw emotion and amazing characters, this is one novel you don't want to miss out on!
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
When you open one of McGarry's books, you not only know you are going to get one heck of a story but you know it will be one that will be filled with emotions and one that more often than not, will rock you to your core. Will change you in ways you didn't even know a story could do.
And like all her books, this was filled with romance, heart ache, happiness, friendships, love, and with it being something different, ghosts.
Like it's counter novel, Only a Breath Apart, Echoes Between Us has a touch of the paranormal that will not only keep you on edge it will keep you turning the pages wanting more, constantly looking over your shoulder and having a hard time deciding which makes your heart pound harder, the chance encounters with ghosts, or the steamy sweet romance and tender moments the McGarry is known for best.
Filled with raw emotion and amazing characters, this is one novel you don't want to miss out on!
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
January 18, 2020
3.75 GHOST Stars ⭐️
January 14, 2020
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I had such a good time with this book! It has been years since I last picked up Katie McGarry's work but I knew that I had to give this book a try. Once I picked this book up, I couldn't stop reading and ended up spending most of the day cuddled under a throw with this book in my hand. I can't think of a better way to spend the day. This was one of those books that you just don't want to put down. I am really glad that I decided to give it a try.
Veronica believes in ghosts. Of course, she sees them all the time so it would be hard not to believe. Veronica lives with her father in the top two floors of an old house, that happens to be haunted. She has a pesky little tumor in her brain but she isn't going to let that have any control over her life even though the headaches she gets, as a result, can wipe her out.
Sawyer lives with his mom and 6-year-old sister. They move into the rental unit that takes up the first floor of the house that Veronica lives in. Sawyer is responsible and spends a lot of time taking care of his sister and his mother. He excels at swimming and has an addiction to adrenaline rushes. He does not believe in ghosts.
I loved Veronica and Sawyer. They were both dealing with some pretty big issues and I thought that they really saw each other in a way that no one else did. They had wonderful chemistry together and I loved it when they were able to be together and just be themselves. They both go through some pretty rough stuff in this book and I loved the way that they were there for each other and supported each other. Their actions really showed how much they care for one another.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a very well done story with amazing characters. The story took a few turns that I didn't see coming which made it even more exciting. I plan to read much more from Katie McGarry soon!
I received an advanced review copy of this book from Tor Teen via Bookish First.
I had such a good time with this book! It has been years since I last picked up Katie McGarry's work but I knew that I had to give this book a try. Once I picked this book up, I couldn't stop reading and ended up spending most of the day cuddled under a throw with this book in my hand. I can't think of a better way to spend the day. This was one of those books that you just don't want to put down. I am really glad that I decided to give it a try.
Veronica believes in ghosts. Of course, she sees them all the time so it would be hard not to believe. Veronica lives with her father in the top two floors of an old house, that happens to be haunted. She has a pesky little tumor in her brain but she isn't going to let that have any control over her life even though the headaches she gets, as a result, can wipe her out.
Sawyer lives with his mom and 6-year-old sister. They move into the rental unit that takes up the first floor of the house that Veronica lives in. Sawyer is responsible and spends a lot of time taking care of his sister and his mother. He excels at swimming and has an addiction to adrenaline rushes. He does not believe in ghosts.
I loved Veronica and Sawyer. They were both dealing with some pretty big issues and I thought that they really saw each other in a way that no one else did. They had wonderful chemistry together and I loved it when they were able to be together and just be themselves. They both go through some pretty rough stuff in this book and I loved the way that they were there for each other and supported each other. Their actions really showed how much they care for one another.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a very well done story with amazing characters. The story took a few turns that I didn't see coming which made it even more exciting. I plan to read much more from Katie McGarry soon!
I received an advanced review copy of this book from Tor Teen via Bookish First.
May 2, 2020
“A girl like me. Translation – misfit. Leo made the mistake of calling me a misfit. I didn’t talk to him for a week. Misfit suggests I don’t fit in anywhere. I do fit in. I just don’t fit in easily with other people, and that’s okay because I fit in fine with me.”
What a beautiful story full of family, friendships, love, death, and a whole lot of ghosts. I really enjoyed this gripping book and was turning page after page, not ever wanting to stop. We have two main characters Veronica and Sawyer, who both have emotional trauma. They begin to know each other more when Sawyer’s mother rents the apartment that is on the first floor of Veronica’s house.
I absolutely loved how deep this book was and completely connected with the characters. Their heartache and friendships were very touching. The only thing that made this not a five-star read for me was the hate to love romance that happened in about two seconds. It was a little unbelievable and threw me off, but after I got past the insta love I really did enjoy the romance. I was not prepared for the ending and how much my heart would hurt. I loved the ending and the way McGarry makes you feel all the emotions made this such a touching book.
What a beautiful story full of family, friendships, love, death, and a whole lot of ghosts. I really enjoyed this gripping book and was turning page after page, not ever wanting to stop. We have two main characters Veronica and Sawyer, who both have emotional trauma. They begin to know each other more when Sawyer’s mother rents the apartment that is on the first floor of Veronica’s house.
I absolutely loved how deep this book was and completely connected with the characters. Their heartache and friendships were very touching. The only thing that made this not a five-star read for me was the hate to love romance that happened in about two seconds. It was a little unbelievable and threw me off, but after I got past the insta love I really did enjoy the romance. I was not prepared for the ending and how much my heart would hurt. I loved the ending and the way McGarry makes you feel all the emotions made this such a touching book.
February 7, 2020
***4.5/5 Stars***
Echoes Between Us was a breathtaking story that touched my heart. I laughed, fell in love and when it all came together, the tears wouldn't stop. But with whispers of paranormal moments within the pages, this book also gave me the chills. So if you're looking for a book that will pull at your heart and also fill it with warmth, then definitely add this one to your tbr!
I didn't realize that this story had characters from Only a Breath Apart. And when I made the connection that Veronica was V, oh my gosh, I was so excited! We got to see Jesse, Glory, Leo, Nazareth and Scarlett! But if you haven't read that story, don't worry, Echoes Between Us can easily be read as a standlone.
We alternated between Veronica and Sawyer. And while we started out a little bit in the dark, we got to know all of their secrets. Veronica saw and talked with the ghost of her mother. And Sawyer broke his arm doing something that we don't learn about right away. They were both broken and drowning in a sea of hurt. And while they tried to be strong for others, it all became too much at times for them to handle.
I had already fallen for Veronica in Only a Breath Apart. I loved how she was kind, gutsy and had a take no crap attitude. And here I got to see how brutally honest she was and I loved that she stood up for herself. Others called her weird and she tried her best to let it bounce off her. But she was only human, and words hurt. Yes Veronica was quirky and celebrated holidays at different times of the year. But as we learned more about her past, her horrific migraines and the brain tumor she had, all the pieces of who Veronica was started to fall into place.
Sawyer broke my heart as I fell in love with him. He seemed like the golden boy to the world, but inside he was suffering. And to make the pain stop, he had an escape that was beyond dangerous. But Sawyer was so much more than he thought he was. He was strong, the best older brother ever, and stood up for those he loved. So while Sawyer had a few close friends, he didn't do relationships. He was jaded and saw them as toxic. But when Sawyer, his mom and little sister ended up renting the first floor of the huge Victorian house that Veronica's father owned, things started to change.
Fate pushed Sawyer and Veronica together and I hoped they would give each other a chance. But it wasn't an easy path and there was so much in their way. Hurtful words, secrets, friends, family. And while there was some bite in their interactions, moments here and there gave me butterflies. Yet some of their times together, it felt like there was something more there. And I'm not just talking about friendship or love. But a presence that gave me the chills. There were scenes that made my hair stand up and not want to read this story in the dark. And I wasn't sure how it was all going to play out.
Echoes Between Us was a beautifully haunting story. It truly had it all. Love, friendships, family and facing who you are. And when some twists shined light on stuff, oh my heart, this book made me cry. But it ended at a beautiful spot and my heart was so happy where Veronica and Sawyer ended up. So if you're looking for a story that will touch your heart, definitely grab Echoes Betwen Us! In case you can't tell, I've fallen for another Katie McGarry book!
PS I love Sawyer's little sister, Lucy! She was one of my favorites in this book!
PPS Two books later and Nazareth is still such a huge mystery to me. I'm hoping he gets his own story someday! Fingers crossed!
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
For more of my reviews, please visit:
Echoes Between Us was a breathtaking story that touched my heart. I laughed, fell in love and when it all came together, the tears wouldn't stop. But with whispers of paranormal moments within the pages, this book also gave me the chills. So if you're looking for a book that will pull at your heart and also fill it with warmth, then definitely add this one to your tbr!
“There’s no such things as ghosts.”
Veronica offers me a slow daring grin like she knows secrets I don’t . “You’ll change your mind after living there a few weeks.”
I didn't realize that this story had characters from Only a Breath Apart. And when I made the connection that Veronica was V, oh my gosh, I was so excited! We got to see Jesse, Glory, Leo, Nazareth and Scarlett! But if you haven't read that story, don't worry, Echoes Between Us can easily be read as a standlone.
Sometimes silence hurts more than words. - Sawyer
We alternated between Veronica and Sawyer. And while we started out a little bit in the dark, we got to know all of their secrets. Veronica saw and talked with the ghost of her mother. And Sawyer broke his arm doing something that we don't learn about right away. They were both broken and drowning in a sea of hurt. And while they tried to be strong for others, it all became too much at times for them to handle.
He knows my secret, and I’m not okay with that.
I had already fallen for Veronica in Only a Breath Apart. I loved how she was kind, gutsy and had a take no crap attitude. And here I got to see how brutally honest she was and I loved that she stood up for herself. Others called her weird and she tried her best to let it bounce off her. But she was only human, and words hurt. Yes Veronica was quirky and celebrated holidays at different times of the year. But as we learned more about her past, her horrific migraines and the brain tumor she had, all the pieces of who Veronica was started to fall into place.
Most of the time, my life makes me feel as if I’m trapped inside a nailed-shut coffin that’s already been buried six feet deep, and I’m running out of air. - Sawyer
Sawyer broke my heart as I fell in love with him. He seemed like the golden boy to the world, but inside he was suffering. And to make the pain stop, he had an escape that was beyond dangerous. But Sawyer was so much more than he thought he was. He was strong, the best older brother ever, and stood up for those he loved. So while Sawyer had a few close friends, he didn't do relationships. He was jaded and saw them as toxic. But when Sawyer, his mom and little sister ended up renting the first floor of the huge Victorian house that Veronica's father owned, things started to change.
Then she does something unexpected. Veronica leans forward and places her hand over mine. Soft fingers, a delicate touch and my entire body sparks to life. As if I had been in darkness— the world was black and white —and then the flip was switched into color.
Fate pushed Sawyer and Veronica together and I hoped they would give each other a chance. But it wasn't an easy path and there was so much in their way. Hurtful words, secrets, friends, family. And while there was some bite in their interactions, moments here and there gave me butterflies. Yet some of their times together, it felt like there was something more there. And I'm not just talking about friendship or love. But a presence that gave me the chills. There were scenes that made my hair stand up and not want to read this story in the dark. And I wasn't sure how it was all going to play out.
She’s strong, she’s courageous , and for some reason, she’s trusting me.
Echoes Between Us was a beautifully haunting story. It truly had it all. Love, friendships, family and facing who you are. And when some twists shined light on stuff, oh my heart, this book made me cry. But it ended at a beautiful spot and my heart was so happy where Veronica and Sawyer ended up. So if you're looking for a story that will touch your heart, definitely grab Echoes Betwen Us! In case you can't tell, I've fallen for another Katie McGarry book!
Her throat moves as she swallows, then she whispers, “I saw a ghost.” - Lucy talking to Veronica
PS I love Sawyer's little sister, Lucy! She was one of my favorites in this book!
PPS Two books later and Nazareth is still such a huge mystery to me. I'm hoping he gets his own story someday! Fingers crossed!
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
For more of my reviews, please visit:
September 9, 2019
This book will forever hold a special place in my heart and I’m so blessed to have read this early, but to also just read it in general.
This story follows our two main characters as they both struggle with a lot of obstacles in their life.
Veronica, or V, has a brain tumor, which causes her terrible migraines. She also sees her mom’s ghost, because her mom died from her own brain tumor. Veronica is also really close with her dad, which is something that I related to and loved seeing their relationship be that of a close one. She’s fearless and courageous. She always lived life to the fullest and didn’t care what others thought of her. And trust me, she gets picked on quite a bit in the beginning. People are cruel, but that didn’t stop V from being her true self, which I loved so much.
And then we have Sawyer. And let me tell you, my heart bleeds for this boy. Seriously, I related to him so much and I just can’t stop loving him. He’s an adrenaline junkie. (which isn’t what I related to) He dives off cliffs, which he knows is dangerous, but he’s an addict and can’t stop. He has a little sister whom he absolutely adores and will do anything to protect her. Their mom is.... I’m gonna be honest, she’s fucking terrible. I wanted to reach into the book and smack her so many times. She’s an alcoholic and doesn’t seem to care about her kids. Their dad isn’t really around, seeing as Sawyer’s parents divorced and the dad basically said to not come live with him because the mother needed him more than the dad did. Sawyer tries to come off as this bad boy who doesn’t care about anyone and only wants to be popular, but let me tell you, this boy is one whole ass soft cupcake. He cares deeply and loves with his whole heart and soul. He deals with so much but always tries to be the stronger person, especially for his sister. I just loved Sawyer so much, my heart is gonna BURST with love for him okay wjdjskksaw
Also, I didn’t care for some of the friendships in this book but let me tell you something, they go through some shit and end up becoming the best of friends in the end and it was simply beautiful. Their character development was one of my favorites and I really loved how they all came together in the end and set aside their differences and just cared for one another so much. It was one of my favorite things about this story.
Okay, so, anytime a story has any one of these these three things, I’m instantly sold on it.
1. Ghosts
2. Strong sibling/father relationships
3. Alcoholic mom
And this book has all three.
I’ve always loved ghost stories and just anything to do with the paranormal world in general. I used to want to be a ghost hunter growing up. I still think it would be cool to explore that kind of job, but perhaps someday. I’m a huge believer in ghosts so I always love it when a story has something to do with them.
I have two sisters, one I’m close with but don’t talk to much or see ever since she lives in a different state as me. And the other I still don’t get to talk to much or see because she’s just so busy with life, but we are very, very close. The few times I do get to see or talk to her are definitely moments I cherish. She’s my best friend and I love her to pieces. And as I stated before, I’m very close with my dad. He, too, is my best friend.
So, the alcohol part. Without getting too deep, I used to be severely attached to my mom. I’m talking I couldn’t sleep in the room next to hers without literally sleep walking in the middle of the night to be with her. She was my best friend and my absolute world when I was growing up. And then when I was about 16/17, I started realizing the kind of person she truly was. My mom has struggled with alcohol for over 30 years. She’ll deny it left and right and says she doesn’t have a problem, but she does and it tore our family apart. So, when there is a story with a character that has an alcoholic parent, I immediately connect with that character and feel their pain. Which is why I fell so damn hard for Sawyer.
Veronica and Sawyer’s relationship tore me up, like their love is so precious and pure. They would do anything for each other, and it really shows in this story.
I was relaxing in the bath and just sobbed the entire time over this book. Between rooting for Sawyer and Veronica the whole time, and Sawyer dealing with his mom and her addictions, I just couldn’t help but fall so deeply in love with this book.
So, yeah. I hope you pick this book up when it releases and you end up loving it as much as I did. It’s an emotional roller coaster, but it’s also filled with so much hope and leaves you feeling good at the end.
Also, I encourage you to read the authors note at the end. I did and learned something really cool about this book.
Trigger warnings for: loss of a loved one, brain tumor, alcoholic parent, bullying
Many thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC!
This story follows our two main characters as they both struggle with a lot of obstacles in their life.
Veronica, or V, has a brain tumor, which causes her terrible migraines. She also sees her mom’s ghost, because her mom died from her own brain tumor. Veronica is also really close with her dad, which is something that I related to and loved seeing their relationship be that of a close one. She’s fearless and courageous. She always lived life to the fullest and didn’t care what others thought of her. And trust me, she gets picked on quite a bit in the beginning. People are cruel, but that didn’t stop V from being her true self, which I loved so much.
And then we have Sawyer. And let me tell you, my heart bleeds for this boy. Seriously, I related to him so much and I just can’t stop loving him. He’s an adrenaline junkie. (which isn’t what I related to) He dives off cliffs, which he knows is dangerous, but he’s an addict and can’t stop. He has a little sister whom he absolutely adores and will do anything to protect her. Their mom is.... I’m gonna be honest, she’s fucking terrible. I wanted to reach into the book and smack her so many times. She’s an alcoholic and doesn’t seem to care about her kids. Their dad isn’t really around, seeing as Sawyer’s parents divorced and the dad basically said to not come live with him because the mother needed him more than the dad did. Sawyer tries to come off as this bad boy who doesn’t care about anyone and only wants to be popular, but let me tell you, this boy is one whole ass soft cupcake. He cares deeply and loves with his whole heart and soul. He deals with so much but always tries to be the stronger person, especially for his sister. I just loved Sawyer so much, my heart is gonna BURST with love for him okay wjdjskksaw
Also, I didn’t care for some of the friendships in this book but let me tell you something, they go through some shit and end up becoming the best of friends in the end and it was simply beautiful. Their character development was one of my favorites and I really loved how they all came together in the end and set aside their differences and just cared for one another so much. It was one of my favorite things about this story.
Okay, so, anytime a story has any one of these these three things, I’m instantly sold on it.
1. Ghosts
2. Strong sibling/father relationships
3. Alcoholic mom
And this book has all three.
I’ve always loved ghost stories and just anything to do with the paranormal world in general. I used to want to be a ghost hunter growing up. I still think it would be cool to explore that kind of job, but perhaps someday. I’m a huge believer in ghosts so I always love it when a story has something to do with them.
I have two sisters, one I’m close with but don’t talk to much or see ever since she lives in a different state as me. And the other I still don’t get to talk to much or see because she’s just so busy with life, but we are very, very close. The few times I do get to see or talk to her are definitely moments I cherish. She’s my best friend and I love her to pieces. And as I stated before, I’m very close with my dad. He, too, is my best friend.
So, the alcohol part. Without getting too deep, I used to be severely attached to my mom. I’m talking I couldn’t sleep in the room next to hers without literally sleep walking in the middle of the night to be with her. She was my best friend and my absolute world when I was growing up. And then when I was about 16/17, I started realizing the kind of person she truly was. My mom has struggled with alcohol for over 30 years. She’ll deny it left and right and says she doesn’t have a problem, but she does and it tore our family apart. So, when there is a story with a character that has an alcoholic parent, I immediately connect with that character and feel their pain. Which is why I fell so damn hard for Sawyer.
Veronica and Sawyer’s relationship tore me up, like their love is so precious and pure. They would do anything for each other, and it really shows in this story.
I was relaxing in the bath and just sobbed the entire time over this book. Between rooting for Sawyer and Veronica the whole time, and Sawyer dealing with his mom and her addictions, I just couldn’t help but fall so deeply in love with this book.
So, yeah. I hope you pick this book up when it releases and you end up loving it as much as I did. It’s an emotional roller coaster, but it’s also filled with so much hope and leaves you feeling good at the end.
Also, I encourage you to read the authors note at the end. I did and learned something really cool about this book.
Trigger warnings for: loss of a loved one, brain tumor, alcoholic parent, bullying
Many thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC!
January 27, 2020
3.5/ 5 stars
Echoes Between Us is a standalone Young Adult contemporary novel.
This book is contemporary. It has romance. It also has a paranormal aspect .
I have read and enjoyed previous books by this author. So I was very excited when I saw that she had a new book coming out.
The book alternates between the male and female POV of two high school seniors (Veronica and Sawyer). At the beginning of Sawyer's chapters we have snippets of a diary from the early 1900s (Evelyn had TB and was in a hospital).
Veronica and her dad live on the second and third floors of a huge Victorian house. They rent out the first floor.
Both Veronica and Sawyer have secrets. And these play a big part in the story.
I liked both Veronica and Sawyer. The book was interesting. But I just didn't feel overly invested in the story.
The book was much more serious than I was expecting. The book deals difficult issues like addiction and health issues.
There were definitely things to like. I really enjoyed Sawyer's little sister. I also found both Veronica and Sawyer's relationships with their parents fascinating. I liked their senior projects. And I was somewhat intrigued by each of their issues/secrets. And I absolutely loved how Veronica celebrated all the major holidays.
Veronica was such an interesting character. She suffered from horrible headaches. And this really had such a big impact on her life.
The book also had some scary aspects. There were some eerie and creepy scenes that have to do with the house and the group project.
Overall, there was a lot to this book. I did like it. But I feel like I should have felt more for the characters.
I was not sure how the book was going to end. It actually did not end how I was expecting it to end. But it was a solid/satisfying ending to the book.
*Some of the characters from Only a Breath Apart appear in this book.
Thanks to edelweiss and Tor Teen for allowing me to read this book.
Echoes Between Us is a standalone Young Adult contemporary novel.
This book is contemporary. It has romance. It also has a paranormal aspect .
I have read and enjoyed previous books by this author. So I was very excited when I saw that she had a new book coming out.
The book alternates between the male and female POV of two high school seniors (Veronica and Sawyer). At the beginning of Sawyer's chapters we have snippets of a diary from the early 1900s (Evelyn had TB and was in a hospital).
Veronica and her dad live on the second and third floors of a huge Victorian house. They rent out the first floor.
Both Veronica and Sawyer have secrets. And these play a big part in the story.
I liked both Veronica and Sawyer. The book was interesting. But I just didn't feel overly invested in the story.
The book was much more serious than I was expecting. The book deals difficult issues like addiction and health issues.
There were definitely things to like. I really enjoyed Sawyer's little sister. I also found both Veronica and Sawyer's relationships with their parents fascinating. I liked their senior projects. And I was somewhat intrigued by each of their issues/secrets. And I absolutely loved how Veronica celebrated all the major holidays.
Veronica was such an interesting character. She suffered from horrible headaches. And this really had such a big impact on her life.
The book also had some scary aspects. There were some eerie and creepy scenes that have to do with the house and the group project.
Overall, there was a lot to this book. I did like it. But I feel like I should have felt more for the characters.
I was not sure how the book was going to end. It actually did not end how I was expecting it to end. But it was a solid/satisfying ending to the book.
*Some of the characters from Only a Breath Apart appear in this book.
Thanks to edelweiss and Tor Teen for allowing me to read this book.
December 26, 2019
4 stars
I love this author and I couldn't wait to start this one.I find it interesting and unique.The beginning was a little bit slow for my taste but soon when it picks up , it was very good!
Both characters intrigued me from the beginning! Sawyer and Veronica have a great relationship, I feel these two were perfect.They grow together through the story.I find them sweet and cute!
Overall, it was a great read.
I love this author and I couldn't wait to start this one.I find it interesting and unique.The beginning was a little bit slow for my taste but soon when it picks up , it was very good!
Both characters intrigued me from the beginning! Sawyer and Veronica have a great relationship, I feel these two were perfect.They grow together through the story.I find them sweet and cute!
Overall, it was a great read.
Read
January 22, 2020It was one of these moments where the current book was not for me. Dnf @ 21%
January 13, 2020
Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the publisher, Frontlist, via Edelweiss+ for an honest review.
If you feel like crying, you’ve come to the right place.
“The only reason people come to live in this small town is to hide or die.”
Veronica has always been labeled as the weird girl in school. Surrounded by her group of misfit boys, and always doing the opposite of what is to be expected, rumors and cruel words have always found their way to her ears. But Veronica doesn’t care what the popular kids think of her. She has amazing and supportive friends, and a dad who loves her more than anything. Only, she hasn’t been completely honest with her father. Dealing with piercing migraines from a brain tumor and talking to the ghost of her dead mother obviously isn’t normal, but she fears her father wouldn’t understand. If she could just find a way to tell him her secret, everything would be okay. That’s when Sawyer enters the picture. Sawyer is friends with the popular kids who have always teased Veronica, or otherwise pretending she doesn’t exist. But Sawyer’s life isn’t nearly as perfect as he lets on. He has an adrenaline addiction that pushes him to the edge of cliffs, and is expected to be the man of the house for his mother and sister. So when the two pair up for a senior project hunting ghosts, they begin to realize a haunting can be more than just a spirit not wanting to leave.
This isn’t a ghost story.
…
But then again, it kind of is.
Just hear me when I say, it’s only a small part of what this story is really about. And let me tell you – this story is saying A LOT. For the past two days I have been smiling so fiercely I want to slap myself, and crying so much that I keep randomly saying “oh honey” out loud, which for some reason only makes me cry more. This book is evil. If you would like to go through a roller-coaster of emotions where halfway into reading you question if you should be put into an insane asylum, because your behavior of high-highs and low-lows are extremely questionable and alarming: then you should totally read this. Because that is obviously what the author wants from all of us.
To smile beautifully while endless tears flow down our gorgeous faces.
Well congratulations Katie McGarry, I’m officially a mess.
Where to I even start? This book, completely touched my heart. It touches on so many important themes like addiction, co-dependency, mental health, sickness, and self-punishment. I came into this book expecting a fluffy tale where two teens fall in love and everything turns out all sparkly and perfect. But thankfully, this book isn’t like that. It’s realistic. It portrays the lives of two teens who are so incredibly different, but in so many ways, the same. They both carry burdens on their shoulders that I can’t even fathom dealing with at their age, but they have a resilience that makes my head spin. These teens feel deeply, think deeply. They are so introspective and honest about their struggles and hurts, and they look fear in the face and smile at it.
I…
*sigh*
…I f***ing love this book.
The characters, the message, the plot, the romance, the ghost stories, the diary entries.
EVERYTHING.
One of my favorite characters is obviously Veronica. She has all the snarky attitude of one Veronica Mars (we all know and love) but also this immense and alluring uniqueness that makes you drawn to her. She is considered the “weird kid” at her school because of the many things she does that aren’t the social norm. She decides holidays at random times of the year, even going as far as decorating her locker for Thanksgiving in July or dressing up in a costume for Halloween in January. She has a badass style of colorful striped tights, ripped shirts, combat boots and mini skirts. She is spunky and fearless, witty and positive. She is one of the sweetest characters I have come across in all my reading, and I simply adore her. Even though we get to know her so well while reading, I still find her completely mysterious.
Sawyer is the opposite of Veronica. He is SO hard on himself. He is constantly putting himself down for not being perfect, for not being the “man” of the house – a role his father unfairly placed on his shoulders at the age of eleven. He is such a lost young man and is in so much pain, and it was so sad seeing him struggle while having no one to turn to. I connected with him the most due to his tendency to never think he is good enough, or to always assume he should be doing better than he is. He is a compassionate, intelligent and fearless character. He is an amazing big brother to his adorable little sister Lucy (omg, she is too cute!) and a fantastic role-model. He does so much growing in this story, it’s amazing to witness.
The friends of both of these characters also play an incredibly huge role, and have given the reader that much more insight into who Veronica and Sawyer are. Veronica is surrounded by friends who are also social outcasts, but ones I wish I had in my life. The love and care for her so fiercely, it brings needle sharp pains to my eyes. They have a closeness and respect for one another that runs deep, and everything flows so easy between them. But Sawyer also have friends that stand right beside him and support him fully. The way the author created these characters is beautiful. Each person in this story has flaws and struggles, but their incredibly special personalities shine through so easily. It’s so hard not to love each and every one of them.
But the real treat here, is obviously the romance.
“‘You’re crazy aren’t you?’ I say.
“Yes. Now let’s jump.”
Guys, protect your hearts.
Because this one feels so good it physically hurts.
"Soft fingers, a delicate touch and my entire body sparks to life. As if I had been in darkness-the world was black and white-and then the flip was switched into color.”
My gut is literally in pain right now from all of these feels. My eyes are puffy from crying, my hair disheveled from anxiously running my hands through it, and my overall demeanor is both elated and crushed. This romance is everything I have been wanting. It is breathtakingly beautiful and fragile. It makes my lip quiver just thinking about the gentleness and innocence. This is one of the most mature relationships I have EVER witnessed, especially for two teenagers. They are so raw with their thoughts and feelings towards one another and about their lives. From the very beginning they lay everything out on the table, being truthful and upfront about their past and present. They make me hopeful that true soul-crushing love outside of YA fiction is actually possible. Because that is all any of us really want, right? To have a fiercely blinding romance knife stuck into our chests?
But characters and romance aside, there is a lot happening in this book, and it’s perfect. Veronica has a brain tumor, and the way it debilitates her is…depressing to say the least. Sawyer has an addiction to anything that will give him an adrenaline rush, and mostly it’s in the form of jumping off cliffs. Sawyers family issues are deep, with his father basically deserting them and his mother allowing Sawyer to take the brunt of the responsibility of parenting his sister. These two teens have been through a lot in their short lives, and that trauma shapes the struggles they go through in this story. It gets so SO sad, but it’s worth the read.
Read this on a Friday or Saturday night in.
You’ve been warned.
If you feel like crying, you’ve come to the right place.
“The only reason people come to live in this small town is to hide or die.”
Veronica has always been labeled as the weird girl in school. Surrounded by her group of misfit boys, and always doing the opposite of what is to be expected, rumors and cruel words have always found their way to her ears. But Veronica doesn’t care what the popular kids think of her. She has amazing and supportive friends, and a dad who loves her more than anything. Only, she hasn’t been completely honest with her father. Dealing with piercing migraines from a brain tumor and talking to the ghost of her dead mother obviously isn’t normal, but she fears her father wouldn’t understand. If she could just find a way to tell him her secret, everything would be okay. That’s when Sawyer enters the picture. Sawyer is friends with the popular kids who have always teased Veronica, or otherwise pretending she doesn’t exist. But Sawyer’s life isn’t nearly as perfect as he lets on. He has an adrenaline addiction that pushes him to the edge of cliffs, and is expected to be the man of the house for his mother and sister. So when the two pair up for a senior project hunting ghosts, they begin to realize a haunting can be more than just a spirit not wanting to leave.
This isn’t a ghost story.
…
But then again, it kind of is.
Just hear me when I say, it’s only a small part of what this story is really about. And let me tell you – this story is saying A LOT. For the past two days I have been smiling so fiercely I want to slap myself, and crying so much that I keep randomly saying “oh honey” out loud, which for some reason only makes me cry more. This book is evil. If you would like to go through a roller-coaster of emotions where halfway into reading you question if you should be put into an insane asylum, because your behavior of high-highs and low-lows are extremely questionable and alarming: then you should totally read this. Because that is obviously what the author wants from all of us.
To smile beautifully while endless tears flow down our gorgeous faces.
Well congratulations Katie McGarry, I’m officially a mess.
Where to I even start? This book, completely touched my heart. It touches on so many important themes like addiction, co-dependency, mental health, sickness, and self-punishment. I came into this book expecting a fluffy tale where two teens fall in love and everything turns out all sparkly and perfect. But thankfully, this book isn’t like that. It’s realistic. It portrays the lives of two teens who are so incredibly different, but in so many ways, the same. They both carry burdens on their shoulders that I can’t even fathom dealing with at their age, but they have a resilience that makes my head spin. These teens feel deeply, think deeply. They are so introspective and honest about their struggles and hurts, and they look fear in the face and smile at it.
I…
*sigh*
…I f***ing love this book.
The characters, the message, the plot, the romance, the ghost stories, the diary entries.
EVERYTHING.
One of my favorite characters is obviously Veronica. She has all the snarky attitude of one Veronica Mars (we all know and love) but also this immense and alluring uniqueness that makes you drawn to her. She is considered the “weird kid” at her school because of the many things she does that aren’t the social norm. She decides holidays at random times of the year, even going as far as decorating her locker for Thanksgiving in July or dressing up in a costume for Halloween in January. She has a badass style of colorful striped tights, ripped shirts, combat boots and mini skirts. She is spunky and fearless, witty and positive. She is one of the sweetest characters I have come across in all my reading, and I simply adore her. Even though we get to know her so well while reading, I still find her completely mysterious.
Sawyer is the opposite of Veronica. He is SO hard on himself. He is constantly putting himself down for not being perfect, for not being the “man” of the house – a role his father unfairly placed on his shoulders at the age of eleven. He is such a lost young man and is in so much pain, and it was so sad seeing him struggle while having no one to turn to. I connected with him the most due to his tendency to never think he is good enough, or to always assume he should be doing better than he is. He is a compassionate, intelligent and fearless character. He is an amazing big brother to his adorable little sister Lucy (omg, she is too cute!) and a fantastic role-model. He does so much growing in this story, it’s amazing to witness.
The friends of both of these characters also play an incredibly huge role, and have given the reader that much more insight into who Veronica and Sawyer are. Veronica is surrounded by friends who are also social outcasts, but ones I wish I had in my life. The love and care for her so fiercely, it brings needle sharp pains to my eyes. They have a closeness and respect for one another that runs deep, and everything flows so easy between them. But Sawyer also have friends that stand right beside him and support him fully. The way the author created these characters is beautiful. Each person in this story has flaws and struggles, but their incredibly special personalities shine through so easily. It’s so hard not to love each and every one of them.
But the real treat here, is obviously the romance.
“‘You’re crazy aren’t you?’ I say.
“Yes. Now let’s jump.”
Guys, protect your hearts.
Because this one feels so good it physically hurts.
"Soft fingers, a delicate touch and my entire body sparks to life. As if I had been in darkness-the world was black and white-and then the flip was switched into color.”
My gut is literally in pain right now from all of these feels. My eyes are puffy from crying, my hair disheveled from anxiously running my hands through it, and my overall demeanor is both elated and crushed. This romance is everything I have been wanting. It is breathtakingly beautiful and fragile. It makes my lip quiver just thinking about the gentleness and innocence. This is one of the most mature relationships I have EVER witnessed, especially for two teenagers. They are so raw with their thoughts and feelings towards one another and about their lives. From the very beginning they lay everything out on the table, being truthful and upfront about their past and present. They make me hopeful that true soul-crushing love outside of YA fiction is actually possible. Because that is all any of us really want, right? To have a fiercely blinding romance knife stuck into our chests?
But characters and romance aside, there is a lot happening in this book, and it’s perfect. Veronica has a brain tumor, and the way it debilitates her is…depressing to say the least. Sawyer has an addiction to anything that will give him an adrenaline rush, and mostly it’s in the form of jumping off cliffs. Sawyers family issues are deep, with his father basically deserting them and his mother allowing Sawyer to take the brunt of the responsibility of parenting his sister. These two teens have been through a lot in their short lives, and that trauma shapes the struggles they go through in this story. It gets so SO sad, but it’s worth the read.
Read this on a Friday or Saturday night in.
You’ve been warned.
February 2, 2020
I’ll be honest, I was drawn to this book for two reasons: the gorgeous cover and the ghost story line. Unfortunately, I went into this story thinking that this would be more of a supernatural suspense with a little romance on the side, but what I got was a full blown romance with only sprinkles of ghosts. Now, I am a romance fan, but when you’re expecting ghosts…it was a bit disappointing.
Veronica suffers from debilitating migraines thanks to a benign brain tumor. While her migraines may knock her out at times, she refuses to let them stop her from living. Veronica believes in ghosts, which isn’t surprising since she sees her mother’s ghost daily. With her inner circle of friends moving on after high school, Veronica is all alone as she tries to finish. She plans to power through alone to get to college, but when she’s told she must have a partner for an assignment in AP English, her options seem to only point to Sawyer.
Sawyer is your quintessential popular athlete with looks to kill. On the surface, he has it all. What people don’t see is his controlling mother who has a very unhealthy relationship with wine, the dyslexia that makes the simplest of tasks 1000x harder, and the adrenaline addiction that is quickly consuming him. After Veronica doesn’t tell her dad about his mother’s bounced rent check, Sawyer owes Veronica and decides to work with her even if it means angering his friends and his mother.
This book does a fantastic job of tackling some tough issues like addiction, parental expectations, dyslexia, migraines, loss of a parent, and grief. I appreciated the insight into these topics. That being said, I wasn’t so keen on Veronica and Sawyer’s relationship. Their relationship just felt so over the top most of the time, that I found myself eye rolling more often than not.
Thank you to BookishFirst and Tor Teen for the giveaway win. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
Veronica suffers from debilitating migraines thanks to a benign brain tumor. While her migraines may knock her out at times, she refuses to let them stop her from living. Veronica believes in ghosts, which isn’t surprising since she sees her mother’s ghost daily. With her inner circle of friends moving on after high school, Veronica is all alone as she tries to finish. She plans to power through alone to get to college, but when she’s told she must have a partner for an assignment in AP English, her options seem to only point to Sawyer.
Sawyer is your quintessential popular athlete with looks to kill. On the surface, he has it all. What people don’t see is his controlling mother who has a very unhealthy relationship with wine, the dyslexia that makes the simplest of tasks 1000x harder, and the adrenaline addiction that is quickly consuming him. After Veronica doesn’t tell her dad about his mother’s bounced rent check, Sawyer owes Veronica and decides to work with her even if it means angering his friends and his mother.
This book does a fantastic job of tackling some tough issues like addiction, parental expectations, dyslexia, migraines, loss of a parent, and grief. I appreciated the insight into these topics. That being said, I wasn’t so keen on Veronica and Sawyer’s relationship. Their relationship just felt so over the top most of the time, that I found myself eye rolling more often than not.
Thank you to BookishFirst and Tor Teen for the giveaway win. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
September 6, 2020
Thanks to Arjen for doing this buddyread with me. I felt like we were rushing through and I loved every second of it. This is one of those unique YA/Contemporary books that sucks you in and won't let go. I was so involved with the story and characters, and that's exactly what I want!
A longer review can be found at BiteIntoBooks
A MUST read if you're looking for a book that feels so real, and takes you on that rollercoaster ride. This is one of the best books I've read this year and I was really glad that my Buddy, Arjen, wanted to read this with me, because I needed every other chapter to fangirl about!
A longer review can be found at BiteIntoBooks
A MUST read if you're looking for a book that feels so real, and takes you on that rollercoaster ride. This is one of the best books I've read this year and I was really glad that my Buddy, Arjen, wanted to read this with me, because I needed every other chapter to fangirl about!
December 31, 2019
As a devoted Katie McGarry fan I was a little worried when this book was marketed as a breakout novel and a move into a new genre. I shouldn’t have worried. Echoes Between Us is everything a Katie McGarry novel always is - heartbreaking, emotional, addictive, thrilling and romantic- with ghosts. It’s actually not much different from its companion novel Only A Breath Apart, which introduced a touch of the supernatural to the main story of family complexity and romance. Echoes Between Us encapsulates so many emotions and such important topics around grief, learning difficulties, illness and addiction.
Veronica can see her mother’s ghost. It, along with crippling migraines, is a constant reminder that she has a brain tumour, like the tumour that killed her mother. But she’s not afraid to die. Veronica is curious about the footsteps and rumbles in her own home, the rumours of ghosts that haunt the abandoned TB hospital, the stories of a girl who walks along the stretch of road where she died. When Sawyer moves into the rooms above Veronica’s house, he is sceptical of the warnings he receives about it being haunted. Even more sceptical of Veronica and her band of friends. He’s got bigger troubles, like taking care of his mother and sister, and resisting to urge to get adrenaline highs from cliff jumping. But Sawyer and Veronica are drawn together, and in order to hide a secret, Sawyer agrees to partner with Veronica on her ghost hunting senior project.
There are many familiar faces from Only A Breath Apart in Echoes Between Us. I loved returning to the tight friendship group of Jesse, Nazareth, Leo, Veronica and Scarlet. And it was fabulous getting to know Sawyer and his group of friends. At first they seem cruel and rude - and they are, but they learn and as the reader gets to know them better there is so much more to discover about their stories. My heart broke for Sawyer. He carries so much and feels so bad about the ways in which he is cracking under the weight. As he moved from judging Veronica to finding in her someone he can trust and share his secrets, he also learns to open up to others.
This book deals with addiction. Sawyer is addicted to adrenaline rushes, his mother is an alcoholic. It takes a long time for Sawyer to be able to admit to this. Watching his journey from staying apart from people to learning to get help was amazing and so important for teen readers. This book is all about casting off shame and stigma. In fact, it’s exactly the opposite - all about being open and understanding, both to others and to yourself.
I loved how Katie McGarry wove her story of ghosts, faith and the scepticism of others. The book is open in every way. Each of the characters has a different explanation for the phenomenon they experience, whether that’s ghosts, God, medical symptoms, reflections of one’s mental health or something else. Readers can make what they want of the explanations, can bring their own beliefs to the story and see it through that lens. Echoes Between Us is not an overly scary ghost story, it’s certainly not a horror story, but there are a few hair raising moments. It’s mostly a love story, with a big emphasis on family, friends and trauma. The supernatural parts reflect the internal battles of the characters so well.
There is diversity and acceptance and themes about learning to be accepting of others, which is so important in YA fiction. I particularly admire Sawyer and his approach to his dyslexia, his support of his friend after her coming out, the way Sawyer and his group of friends learn not to judge Veronica and her friends for being different and for the way in which Veronica must face her grief and fear.
I loved this book. Loved the way Katie McGarry handled every single detail. I can’t wait to see what she writes next, and I’d really love to return to this main group of characters again.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
Veronica can see her mother’s ghost. It, along with crippling migraines, is a constant reminder that she has a brain tumour, like the tumour that killed her mother. But she’s not afraid to die. Veronica is curious about the footsteps and rumbles in her own home, the rumours of ghosts that haunt the abandoned TB hospital, the stories of a girl who walks along the stretch of road where she died. When Sawyer moves into the rooms above Veronica’s house, he is sceptical of the warnings he receives about it being haunted. Even more sceptical of Veronica and her band of friends. He’s got bigger troubles, like taking care of his mother and sister, and resisting to urge to get adrenaline highs from cliff jumping. But Sawyer and Veronica are drawn together, and in order to hide a secret, Sawyer agrees to partner with Veronica on her ghost hunting senior project.
There are many familiar faces from Only A Breath Apart in Echoes Between Us. I loved returning to the tight friendship group of Jesse, Nazareth, Leo, Veronica and Scarlet. And it was fabulous getting to know Sawyer and his group of friends. At first they seem cruel and rude - and they are, but they learn and as the reader gets to know them better there is so much more to discover about their stories. My heart broke for Sawyer. He carries so much and feels so bad about the ways in which he is cracking under the weight. As he moved from judging Veronica to finding in her someone he can trust and share his secrets, he also learns to open up to others.
This book deals with addiction. Sawyer is addicted to adrenaline rushes, his mother is an alcoholic. It takes a long time for Sawyer to be able to admit to this. Watching his journey from staying apart from people to learning to get help was amazing and so important for teen readers. This book is all about casting off shame and stigma. In fact, it’s exactly the opposite - all about being open and understanding, both to others and to yourself.
I loved how Katie McGarry wove her story of ghosts, faith and the scepticism of others. The book is open in every way. Each of the characters has a different explanation for the phenomenon they experience, whether that’s ghosts, God, medical symptoms, reflections of one’s mental health or something else. Readers can make what they want of the explanations, can bring their own beliefs to the story and see it through that lens. Echoes Between Us is not an overly scary ghost story, it’s certainly not a horror story, but there are a few hair raising moments. It’s mostly a love story, with a big emphasis on family, friends and trauma. The supernatural parts reflect the internal battles of the characters so well.
There is diversity and acceptance and themes about learning to be accepting of others, which is so important in YA fiction. I particularly admire Sawyer and his approach to his dyslexia, his support of his friend after her coming out, the way Sawyer and his group of friends learn not to judge Veronica and her friends for being different and for the way in which Veronica must face her grief and fear.
I loved this book. Loved the way Katie McGarry handled every single detail. I can’t wait to see what she writes next, and I’d really love to return to this main group of characters again.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
May 1, 2020
BOOK TAGS⇣
⇢ 4 ✰STARS✰
⇢ NARRATION 4.25 ✰STARS✰
⤏ QUIRKY HEROINE
⤏ CLIFF-JUMPING HERO
⤏ YOUNG LOVE
⤏ ADDICTION & BRAIN TUMORS
⤏ CANDIDATE FOR THE WORSE MOTHER OF THE YEAR AWARD
MY THOUGHTS⇣
At first, I found this to be slightly cheesy, specifically Sawyer...when he was chanting in his own head, I need that high, gotta get that high...I was so not feeling this addiction to cliff-diving element. Then we meet his mother...and seriously, she is a piece of work. If there is an award for the worse Mother of the year award, she should get it, at the very least be in the running. The things she said to her son...were just wrong. She was behaving like a bully, to her own child...it was sad how pathetic she was. Maybe, even too much to be believable.
I did like Veronica right from the start...she's quirky, she sees ghosts, and she has a secret she's keeping from everyone, and her Dad was great. She also has a lot of heart and sorta made the story feel more believable for me or at least made it so I was to overlook what felt wrong and focus on what was right.
The narration was super good; Brittany Pressley is a fav, and Graham Halstead is steadily becoming one. My only issue was with the beginning of each one of Sawyer chapters; he read from an old journal that he found written by a girl who stayed in an old asylum near their house. If a third narrator had narrated those sections, they would have been less confusing.
BOOK DETAILS⇣
AUDIO PERFORMED BY⇢ BRITTANY PRESSLEY & GRAHAM HALSTEAD
SOURCE⇢ LIBBY AUDIOBOOK (LIBRARY)
AUDIOBOOK LENGTH⇢ 12 HOURS, 34 MINUTES
BREAKDOWN⇣
Plot⇢ 4/5
Characters⇢ 4.3/5
The Feels⇢ 4/5
Pacing⇢ 4/5
Addictiveness⇢ 4.5/5
Theme, Tone or Intensity⇢ 4/5
Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 3.8/5
Originality/Believability⇢ 3/5
Ending⇢ 4/5
⇢ 4 ✰STARS✰
⇢ NARRATION 4.25 ✰STARS✰
⤏ QUIRKY HEROINE
⤏ CLIFF-JUMPING HERO
⤏ YOUNG LOVE
⤏ ADDICTION & BRAIN TUMORS
⤏ CANDIDATE FOR THE WORSE MOTHER OF THE YEAR AWARD
MY THOUGHTS⇣
At first, I found this to be slightly cheesy, specifically Sawyer...when he was chanting in his own head, I need that high, gotta get that high...I was so not feeling this addiction to cliff-diving element. Then we meet his mother...and seriously, she is a piece of work. If there is an award for the worse Mother of the year award, she should get it, at the very least be in the running. The things she said to her son...were just wrong. She was behaving like a bully, to her own child...it was sad how pathetic she was. Maybe, even too much to be believable.
I did like Veronica right from the start...she's quirky, she sees ghosts, and she has a secret she's keeping from everyone, and her Dad was great. She also has a lot of heart and sorta made the story feel more believable for me or at least made it so I was to overlook what felt wrong and focus on what was right.
The narration was super good; Brittany Pressley is a fav, and Graham Halstead is steadily becoming one. My only issue was with the beginning of each one of Sawyer chapters; he read from an old journal that he found written by a girl who stayed in an old asylum near their house. If a third narrator had narrated those sections, they would have been less confusing.
BOOK DETAILS⇣
AUDIO PERFORMED BY⇢ BRITTANY PRESSLEY & GRAHAM HALSTEAD
SOURCE⇢ LIBBY AUDIOBOOK (LIBRARY)
AUDIOBOOK LENGTH⇢ 12 HOURS, 34 MINUTES
BREAKDOWN⇣
Plot⇢ 4/5
Characters⇢ 4.3/5
The Feels⇢ 4/5
Pacing⇢ 4/5
Addictiveness⇢ 4.5/5
Theme, Tone or Intensity⇢ 4/5
Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 3.8/5
Originality/Believability⇢ 3/5
Ending⇢ 4/5
January 6, 2020
"The only time I live is when I'm with you."
I'm no stranger when it comes to ghosts or the paranormal. I've had my fair share of occurrences with ghostly beings and it's quite the picnic when they come around. Recently, I had a ghost follow a friend and me as we were walking and it started to whistle. But when we turned around, no one was there. These occurrences happen quite often and they never get easier to deal with. But do you believe? Veronica is a believer and she may change your mind.
Veronica sees and feels the presence of ghosts but the one that gets her attention the most is the one of her Mother. Her mother passed away from something that Veronica is going through now but won't tell her Dad just how bad it's getting. She has a brain tumor that causes her to have black-out migraines that can debilitate her for days on end. She should go to the Doctor to let them know that her condition is worsening but she's made peace with death.
With her Father being on the road a lot, that leaves her alone most of the time. That's okay with Veronica since she likes to be by herself most days but things change when Sawyer and his family move in downstairs. His Mom and sister move in downstairs because the house that is being built for them isn't ready yet but their mother is keeping a big dark secret from him.
Sawyer is drawn to Veronica after they team up for a group project at school. Spending more and more time with each other seems to bring out the best in both of them. But they both carry around burdens that they hide from one another.
Can someone who thinks that they have nothing to live for find something in the boy with the daredevil heart? Or will their demons capture them both?
McGarry did something so monumental here that other authors should pay close attention to. She combined ghostly beings, romance, and medical issues into this phenomenal book without sugarcoating anything or leaving anything out. She knows how to lay out all the information in a great way to keep you interested.
Echoes Between Us was a fantastic read. It is definitely one of those books that tugs at all of your heartstrings and won't let go. Every single detail of this book was perfect and it captivated me instantly. I've never read anything like this before and I'm honored to say that I have.
I'm no stranger when it comes to ghosts or the paranormal. I've had my fair share of occurrences with ghostly beings and it's quite the picnic when they come around. Recently, I had a ghost follow a friend and me as we were walking and it started to whistle. But when we turned around, no one was there. These occurrences happen quite often and they never get easier to deal with. But do you believe? Veronica is a believer and she may change your mind.
Veronica sees and feels the presence of ghosts but the one that gets her attention the most is the one of her Mother. Her mother passed away from something that Veronica is going through now but won't tell her Dad just how bad it's getting. She has a brain tumor that causes her to have black-out migraines that can debilitate her for days on end. She should go to the Doctor to let them know that her condition is worsening but she's made peace with death.
With her Father being on the road a lot, that leaves her alone most of the time. That's okay with Veronica since she likes to be by herself most days but things change when Sawyer and his family move in downstairs. His Mom and sister move in downstairs because the house that is being built for them isn't ready yet but their mother is keeping a big dark secret from him.
Sawyer is drawn to Veronica after they team up for a group project at school. Spending more and more time with each other seems to bring out the best in both of them. But they both carry around burdens that they hide from one another.
Can someone who thinks that they have nothing to live for find something in the boy with the daredevil heart? Or will their demons capture them both?
McGarry did something so monumental here that other authors should pay close attention to. She combined ghostly beings, romance, and medical issues into this phenomenal book without sugarcoating anything or leaving anything out. She knows how to lay out all the information in a great way to keep you interested.
Echoes Between Us was a fantastic read. It is definitely one of those books that tugs at all of your heartstrings and won't let go. Every single detail of this book was perfect and it captivated me instantly. I've never read anything like this before and I'm honored to say that I have.
January 19, 2020
Echoes Between Us is a story about a girl with everything to lose and the boy who will do anything to save her.
4.5 Stars!!
Veronica sees ghosts. More specifically, her mother's ghost. The afterimages of blinding migraines caused by the brain tumor that keeps her on the fringes and consumes her whole life haunt her, even as she wonders if it's something more...
Golden boy Sawyer is handsome and popular, a state champion swimmer, but his adrenaline addiction draws him to Veronica.
A girl with nothing to live for and a boy with everything to lose--can they conquer their demons together?
I absolutely adore Katie McGarry!! She is one of my go-to authors and she never really disappoints me. Her books are so full of emotion and makes my heart break constantly.... WHATS WRONG WITH ME?!?! WHY DO I LIKE TO FEEL THIS?!?!
I really enjoyed this story line- it was VERY unique and well thought out. The subject matter deals with a lot of different things. One of the main subjects deals with alcoholism and it was handled in the best way possible and I really appreciate how McGarry made the reader feel the pain and anguish of what this disease can do to not only the alcoholic, but the people living with and around them.
My heart was breaking 3/4 of the way in and I didn't see it getting mended by the end.... I will say that I was surprised the direction the book took by the end and wasn't upset about it at all. Echoes between us is a YA novel but I feel anyone could enjoy it or relate to someone in the book.
February 2, 2020
This was my first Katie McGarry book, and I did enjoy it for sure. It makes me open to the possibility of reading other books by her in the future. I classified it as YA contemporary, even though it is left unsure as to whether there were really ghosts or not in the story. All of the characters had a lot of depth, and all of the kids were going through so many things. Learning just what the ghost/monster was for Sawyer’s little sister was really terrifying and very sad.
Sawyer going to the AA meetings for his own addiction was really such a mature thing to do, but it made sense with him feeling like he had to take care of his little sister. Veronica’s own health problems and family issues were very big as well. And it was hard to see the boy that she thought she had feelings for turn her away, and why he did it. So I was rooting for Sawyer and Veronica all the way through.
A very good story, kept me on the edge of my seat and turning pages all the way through.
Review first appeared on Lisa Loves Literature.
Sawyer going to the AA meetings for his own addiction was really such a mature thing to do, but it made sense with him feeling like he had to take care of his little sister. Veronica’s own health problems and family issues were very big as well. And it was hard to see the boy that she thought she had feelings for turn her away, and why he did it. So I was rooting for Sawyer and Veronica all the way through.
A very good story, kept me on the edge of my seat and turning pages all the way through.
Review first appeared on Lisa Loves Literature.
February 4, 2020
4.5 stars
“Misfit suggests I don’t fit in anywhere. I do fit in. I just don’t fit in easily with other people, and that’s okay because I fit in fine with me.”
Katie McGarry just knows how to write characters who’ll make you want to reach inside the book, pull them out and hug them forever. I loved Veronica and Sawyer was the absolute best 😍 Their story made me swoon and broke my heart in equal measure and that little bit of paranormal sprinkled in was so much fun! Even though it made it hard for me to walk into rooms with the lights off for the last few nights 😂
“Misfit suggests I don’t fit in anywhere. I do fit in. I just don’t fit in easily with other people, and that’s okay because I fit in fine with me.”
Katie McGarry just knows how to write characters who’ll make you want to reach inside the book, pull them out and hug them forever. I loved Veronica and Sawyer was the absolute best 😍 Their story made me swoon and broke my heart in equal measure and that little bit of paranormal sprinkled in was so much fun! Even though it made it hard for me to walk into rooms with the lights off for the last few nights 😂
December 26, 2019
* I received a review copy from Bookish First and voluntarily provided an honest review*
So after reading the blurb I decided to give this book a chance. Not going to lie when I first started reading this book I struggled. I had a hard time connecting to the story. Even though the story is told in Sawyer and Veronica's point of views I felt like they were both the same person and their personality really didn't show at first.
Honestly, I thought about dnfing the book but something told me to keep reading. I am so happy I stuck with the book because the story took some unexpected turns and I was hooked. My heart broke for Sawyer as I am a child of an alcoholic parent and I remember going to Al-Anon meetings as a child and this took me back to a time in my life that I try to forget. I respected how Sawyer took care of the house and his sister, Lucy. He had a heart of gold and put others first even though he was suffering.
Then we have Veronica and everything she was going through and it reminded me of a good friend who was in a similar situation. I loved Veronica's approach on life and how she was going to live her life to the fullest and for someone her age she handle herself very well. I would have been a wreck.
This was my first time reading anything by this author and it even though it took some time for me to get into the story it was a good read. The plot was unique and I won't forget about Sawyer and Veronica anytime soon!
So after reading the blurb I decided to give this book a chance. Not going to lie when I first started reading this book I struggled. I had a hard time connecting to the story. Even though the story is told in Sawyer and Veronica's point of views I felt like they were both the same person and their personality really didn't show at first.
Honestly, I thought about dnfing the book but something told me to keep reading. I am so happy I stuck with the book because the story took some unexpected turns and I was hooked. My heart broke for Sawyer as I am a child of an alcoholic parent and I remember going to Al-Anon meetings as a child and this took me back to a time in my life that I try to forget. I respected how Sawyer took care of the house and his sister, Lucy. He had a heart of gold and put others first even though he was suffering.
Then we have Veronica and everything she was going through and it reminded me of a good friend who was in a similar situation. I loved Veronica's approach on life and how she was going to live her life to the fullest and for someone her age she handle herself very well. I would have been a wreck.
This was my first time reading anything by this author and it even though it took some time for me to get into the story it was a good read. The plot was unique and I won't forget about Sawyer and Veronica anytime soon!
December 7, 2019
Thank you so much to BookishFirst and Tor/Forge Books for my advanced copy of Echoes Between Us by Katie McGarry!
I do not read a lot of young adult contemporary because as a 30 something year old, I can never identify with the characters or stories, and I am SO HAPPY to say that this is not the case with this amazing book.
First I just want to comment on the location: I originally thought that the book took place in Saranac Lake because of the TB hospital and note up front, but there is a portion of a real diary included in the novel from a patient at the hospital. The book actually takes place somewhere in Kentucky, but I still was jumping at home being mentioned in a book at all.
I loved the characters and the lessons they learned. Veronica is dealing with a brain tumor and believes that she is living life to the fullest... or is she just waiting to die? Sawyer is a popular kid who has a whole houseful of his own issues, and the unlikely couple end up empowering each other to confront their fears.
The book revolves around a school project that Veronica and Sawyer are doing together, to prove or disprove that ghosts exist. The themes about residual hauntings are absolutely beautiful, concluding that these are caused by emotions and events too powerful to leave the mortal world, and they can haunt a person in their day to day decisions. There may or may not be evidence of other ghosts in the story, but those are part of the fun of reading.
It is not a ghost story though, I thought it was shaping up to turn into one but it really isn't, it is SO much more. The book deals with delicate and important themes like depression, alcoholism, enablers, addiction in general, and mortal illness. Poor little Lucy, Sawyer's younger sister, seems to be the wildcard in the story and I just felt so bad for that little girl.
The one part that I wasn't quite thrilled with was Sawyer's voice when we first met him, I don't really like cryptic language that usually means a poor attempt at foreshadowing. Stick with him though because it ends up making sense, and he ended up being my favorite of the dual points of view.
I think Veronica and Sawyer have a great relationship though and their groups of friends are really, truly good friends, which is shown towards the end of the book. Their dad's are also great characters, V's dad is a big amazing papa bear and I loved him, then Sawyer's dad at the end stepping up and taking care of his kids was a good message as well. I think this is a great book for young adults and teens and even adults to read, as it made me think a lot about some of the aforementioned themes.
I would totally recommend this book to ANYONE, which is rare for me. It publishes January 14th so check it out if it sounds up your alley!
I do not read a lot of young adult contemporary because as a 30 something year old, I can never identify with the characters or stories, and I am SO HAPPY to say that this is not the case with this amazing book.
First I just want to comment on the location: I originally thought that the book took place in Saranac Lake because of the TB hospital and note up front, but there is a portion of a real diary included in the novel from a patient at the hospital. The book actually takes place somewhere in Kentucky, but I still was jumping at home being mentioned in a book at all.
I loved the characters and the lessons they learned. Veronica is dealing with a brain tumor and believes that she is living life to the fullest... or is she just waiting to die? Sawyer is a popular kid who has a whole houseful of his own issues, and the unlikely couple end up empowering each other to confront their fears.
The book revolves around a school project that Veronica and Sawyer are doing together, to prove or disprove that ghosts exist. The themes about residual hauntings are absolutely beautiful, concluding that these are caused by emotions and events too powerful to leave the mortal world, and they can haunt a person in their day to day decisions. There may or may not be evidence of other ghosts in the story, but those are part of the fun of reading.
It is not a ghost story though, I thought it was shaping up to turn into one but it really isn't, it is SO much more. The book deals with delicate and important themes like depression, alcoholism, enablers, addiction in general, and mortal illness. Poor little Lucy, Sawyer's younger sister, seems to be the wildcard in the story and I just felt so bad for that little girl.
The one part that I wasn't quite thrilled with was Sawyer's voice when we first met him, I don't really like cryptic language that usually means a poor attempt at foreshadowing. Stick with him though because it ends up making sense, and he ended up being my favorite of the dual points of view.
I think Veronica and Sawyer have a great relationship though and their groups of friends are really, truly good friends, which is shown towards the end of the book. Their dad's are also great characters, V's dad is a big amazing papa bear and I loved him, then Sawyer's dad at the end stepping up and taking care of his kids was a good message as well. I think this is a great book for young adults and teens and even adults to read, as it made me think a lot about some of the aforementioned themes.
I would totally recommend this book to ANYONE, which is rare for me. It publishes January 14th so check it out if it sounds up your alley!
February 10, 2020
This book was beautifully written. It was the first time I've read McGarry (even though I own so many of her books) and definitely not the last time.
The characters were fleshed out and it was easy to grow attached to them. I particularly liked Veronica. She was different and quirky, and strangely enough, emotionally endearing even though she wasn't a reliable character due to her illness.
The romance with Sawyer was sweet and added an uplifting touch to an otherwise pretty sad story.
I think where the book lost a star for me was the ghost story. Now it was sort of explained at the end, but I was still left wondering if this was supposed to be a contemporary book or a paranormal one.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC. I really did enjoy reading this story.
The characters were fleshed out and it was easy to grow attached to them. I particularly liked Veronica. She was different and quirky, and strangely enough, emotionally endearing even though she wasn't a reliable character due to her illness.
The romance with Sawyer was sweet and added an uplifting touch to an otherwise pretty sad story.
I think where the book lost a star for me was the ghost story. Now it was sort of explained at the end, but I was still left wondering if this was supposed to be a contemporary book or a paranormal one.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC. I really did enjoy reading this story.
February 11, 2020
Oh my, so many feels. This book was so much more emotional than I had anticipated. It was sweet and adorable at times, heartbreaking and intense at others. Though this book isn’t for everyone, I personally wouldn’t have changed a thing.
March 27, 2020
4.5 stars!
I loved this!
READ IT! please
I loved this!
READ IT! please
January 24, 2020
4.25 STARS
I’m sure I say it with her every new release, but when it comes to YA, Katie McGarry is my #1 go-to author. She writes the kind of stories that I love and I’m always ready and waiting for each new novel. In Echoes Between Us, Katie delivers a story with her trademarks: relatable characters facing real-life challenges, romance, and an emotional connection.
Life hasn’t been easy for seventeen-year-old Veronica since the death of her mother six months ago. Her father is a truck driver who is gone for days at a time and her best friend Leo, who she is also secretly in love with, is leaving for college. Veronica also has a brain tumor… like the one that killed her mother. The tumor causes debilitating headaches that seem to be getting worse, but she keeps that information from her father. She also doesn’t share with him that she sees and communicates with her mother’s ghost.
From outward appearances, Sawyer is the golden boy. Handsome, popular, a star athlete. But Sawyer is being crushed by the pressure he feels at home. Since his parent’s divorce six years ago he has felt increasingly responsible for not just his six-year-old sister but also his mother. Her drinking has gone from letting loose on the weekends to almost every night. Between her interference in his life, his resentment of his father, and pressure at school, Sawyer feels like he’s walking a tightrope. The only relief he finds is the adrenaline rush from cliff jumping but he finds himself craving that high more and more.
Veronica and Sawyer were an unlikely pair – the girl who marched to the beat of her own drum and who was considered “weird” by the kids at school and the boy who, from the outside, had it all. But they both felt a lack of control over their lives. In Sawyer, Veronica had someone who saw beyond the tumor and the quirks and appreciated her for the bold and fearless girl she was. And in Veronica, Sawyer found someone who accepted him for who he was, who cared about what he wanted, and supported him without judgment. They truly brought out the best in each other.
The friend groups played a big role and those who have read McGarry’s Only a Breath Apart will remember Jesse, Scarlet, Leo and Nazareth (side note: we seriously need a book about Nazareth). Veronica and Sawyer did not run in the same circles and their friends definitely started off as wary and judgmental of one another. I loved seeing the slow acceptance as they started to know and trust each other and were actually supportive of each other during times of need.
Katie did an amazing job of blending the paranormal elements (Veronica sees ghosts), the spiritual aspect (Veronica’s friend Glory is something of a psychic who believes in angels and an afterlife) and skepticism (Sawyer is convinced there is a logical explanation for any “phenomenon”). McGarry tackles some weighty issues in Echoes Between Us and, as usual, handles them with such a light, respectful hand. There are addiction issues, learning disorders, faith, grief, mortality, discussion of sexuality, and more. There is a big focus on acceptance, in many forms, and I loved how Katie wove that deftly throughout the story.
By the end of the story, I was in love with these characters and my heart ached for their struggles. Both Sawyer and Veronica had to have such inner strength to face their challenges and overcome them. Katie made these characters feel utterly realistic and I shed some tears as I was swept into their story. Once again, Katie McGarry has delivered an emotional and compelling story that is sure to be among my favorite books of the year.
I’m sure I say it with her every new release, but when it comes to YA, Katie McGarry is my #1 go-to author. She writes the kind of stories that I love and I’m always ready and waiting for each new novel. In Echoes Between Us, Katie delivers a story with her trademarks: relatable characters facing real-life challenges, romance, and an emotional connection.
Life hasn’t been easy for seventeen-year-old Veronica since the death of her mother six months ago. Her father is a truck driver who is gone for days at a time and her best friend Leo, who she is also secretly in love with, is leaving for college. Veronica also has a brain tumor… like the one that killed her mother. The tumor causes debilitating headaches that seem to be getting worse, but she keeps that information from her father. She also doesn’t share with him that she sees and communicates with her mother’s ghost.
From outward appearances, Sawyer is the golden boy. Handsome, popular, a star athlete. But Sawyer is being crushed by the pressure he feels at home. Since his parent’s divorce six years ago he has felt increasingly responsible for not just his six-year-old sister but also his mother. Her drinking has gone from letting loose on the weekends to almost every night. Between her interference in his life, his resentment of his father, and pressure at school, Sawyer feels like he’s walking a tightrope. The only relief he finds is the adrenaline rush from cliff jumping but he finds himself craving that high more and more.
Veronica and Sawyer were an unlikely pair – the girl who marched to the beat of her own drum and who was considered “weird” by the kids at school and the boy who, from the outside, had it all. But they both felt a lack of control over their lives. In Sawyer, Veronica had someone who saw beyond the tumor and the quirks and appreciated her for the bold and fearless girl she was. And in Veronica, Sawyer found someone who accepted him for who he was, who cared about what he wanted, and supported him without judgment. They truly brought out the best in each other.
The friend groups played a big role and those who have read McGarry’s Only a Breath Apart will remember Jesse, Scarlet, Leo and Nazareth (side note: we seriously need a book about Nazareth). Veronica and Sawyer did not run in the same circles and their friends definitely started off as wary and judgmental of one another. I loved seeing the slow acceptance as they started to know and trust each other and were actually supportive of each other during times of need.
Katie did an amazing job of blending the paranormal elements (Veronica sees ghosts), the spiritual aspect (Veronica’s friend Glory is something of a psychic who believes in angels and an afterlife) and skepticism (Sawyer is convinced there is a logical explanation for any “phenomenon”). McGarry tackles some weighty issues in Echoes Between Us and, as usual, handles them with such a light, respectful hand. There are addiction issues, learning disorders, faith, grief, mortality, discussion of sexuality, and more. There is a big focus on acceptance, in many forms, and I loved how Katie wove that deftly throughout the story.
By the end of the story, I was in love with these characters and my heart ached for their struggles. Both Sawyer and Veronica had to have such inner strength to face their challenges and overcome them. Katie made these characters feel utterly realistic and I shed some tears as I was swept into their story. Once again, Katie McGarry has delivered an emotional and compelling story that is sure to be among my favorite books of the year.
January 14, 2020
Veronica can see ghosts: namely the ghost of her mother but others as well. When Sawyer and his family move in downstairs from her, Veronica enlists him in her senior year project, proving that ghosts really exist. Sawyer reluctantly agrees, he’s strangely drawn to Veronica, even though she’s a social outcast.
Echoes Between Us pleasantly surprised me with its sweet story, solid, dynamic characters, and unique issues. While it is primarily a romance, it also tackles some heavy topics such as addiction, alcoholism, cancer, and death. Told in alternating first-person between Sawyer and Veronica, it has an intimate feel and closely explores each’s vulnerabilities. Veronica is whimsical and full of life, despite having a potentially fatal brain tumor. Sawyer is compassionate and loving, spending most of his time taking care of his sister and mother, all while battling his adrenaline junkie compulsions telling him to jump off dangerous cliffs.
Echoes Between Us reminded me a bit of A Walk to Remember but with ghosts. It’s an emotional but lovely story, and I thoroughly recommend it to other fans of emotional YA.
Echoes Between Us pleasantly surprised me with its sweet story, solid, dynamic characters, and unique issues. While it is primarily a romance, it also tackles some heavy topics such as addiction, alcoholism, cancer, and death. Told in alternating first-person between Sawyer and Veronica, it has an intimate feel and closely explores each’s vulnerabilities. Veronica is whimsical and full of life, despite having a potentially fatal brain tumor. Sawyer is compassionate and loving, spending most of his time taking care of his sister and mother, all while battling his adrenaline junkie compulsions telling him to jump off dangerous cliffs.
Echoes Between Us reminded me a bit of A Walk to Remember but with ghosts. It’s an emotional but lovely story, and I thoroughly recommend it to other fans of emotional YA.
April 12, 2020
Una historia de sentimientos a flor de piel, con unos personajes arrolladores, con sus debilidades y fortalezas, y sobre todo, con un amor que te llega al corazón
Displaying 1 - 30 of 514 reviews