Would you dare to defy destiny? Are our destinies written in stone? Do we become nothing more than the self-fulfilling prophesies of other people’s opinions? Or can we dare to become who we believe we were born to be?
“A gorgeous, heartfelt journey of redemption and love” (Wendy Higgins), ONLY A BREATH APART is a young adult contemporary novel from critically acclaimed Katie McGarry. “Haunting, authentic, and ultimately hopeful” (Tammara Webber), ONLY A BREATH APART is now available!
About ONLY A BREATH APART:
They say your destiny is carved in stone. But some destinies are meant to be broken.
The only curse Jesse Lachlin believes in is his grandmother’s will: in order to inherit his family farm he must win the approval of his childhood best friend, the girl he froze out his freshman year.
A fortuneteller tells Scarlett she’s psychic, but what is real is Scarlett’s father’s controlling attitude and the dark secrets at home. She may be able to escape, but only if she can rely on the one boy who broke her heart.
Each midnight meeting pushes Jesse and Scarlett to confront their secrets and their feelings, but as love blooms, the curse rears its ugly head…
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Review:
I can’t express the gratitude and excitement that I had when I received the email of being able to be on the Blog Tour and reviewing a copy of Only a Breath Apart. Katie McGarry is one of my go to authors and she never disappoints.
I read an article that said something along the lines of McGarry knowing Teen Fiction better than anyone and I wholeheartedly agree. There’s just a spark about her books that she has and that she channels through her characters that you have no choice but to keep reading and seeing how the stories intertwine with one another and then unravel in the end. I always finish and recent book and hers and claim, “It’s my favorite,” and still do to this day. Scarlett and Jesse’s story is imprinted in my brain and heart and I’m scared McGarry will come up with another book to dethrone them because I’ve gotten so attached and I just want more them.
I love the friendship aspect of the book most of all, what started Jesse and Scarlett’s love for one another, how it ended and what started them to become friends again, as the trust and strength shared between them only continues to build throughout the book. What’s even better is the underlying message the author incorporates and while it is gut wrenching, it’s beautiful to see how the main characters play through it and find the good.
Scarlett’s strength, inside and out, is something I’ll always envy until the moment I finally get it and I had tears in my eyes through her struggles and fears but she made it through. Jesse’s love for others and kindness tugs at my heart strings and I wish, gosh I wish, I had someone like Jesse or any of McGarry’s male characters if we’re being real.
I can’t wait to read more from Katie and I’m hoping we can see some extra stuff from Scarlett and Jesse cause ya girl needs MORE.
Overall I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars and am always on the lookout for more of McGarry’s works and will always recommended her to anyone who asks … or doesn’t.
“Gritty and real, Only a Breath Apart is a story of hope conjured from pain, strength drawn from innocence, and love earned from self-respect. Beautiful, poignant, and fierce.”
―Kristen Simmons, critically acclaimed author of the Article 5 series
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EXCERPT:
~SCARLETT~
A scraping of a chair, a tray full of food and I glance over with my practiced smile in welcome. It’s not Camila, Evangeline, or anyone else from the group. It’s green eyes, red hair, a familiar mischievous smile that used to be reserved only for me, and my blood pounds with excitement as if someone lit a sparkler in my chest. Then I frown because I’m not supposed to feel this way. Not with him. Not with anyone.
Jesse Lachlin winks at me as he sits across from me like no time has passed from when we climbed trees together. “What’s up, Tink?”
Another thrill runs through me but then my muscles tighten. Stupid, antiquated reaction belonging to a dead past. “What are you doing here?”
Jesse pops a fry into his mouth, chews, then picks up another as if he has no intention of answering. I scan the cafeteria. Several people are watching us, curious as to why Jesse Lachlin is sitting with me, or is event at lunch, or even at school.
From the lunch line, Camila’s and Evangeline’s eyes are bugging out of their heads.
What is going on? Camila mouths.
I raise my eyebrows to inform her I have no idea. Jesse digs into his corn with his fork and that’s crossing a line. “Maybe you didn’t hear me, but I asked what you’re doing here.”
He lifts his eyes to meet mine and there’s a glimmer in them that causes my lips to flatten. Fantastic. He’s here to make my life a living hell.
“It seems obvious,” he says.
If he remembers anything about me, he should recall I was never known for my patience and that he should be speaking, and speaking soon. “Just answer the question.”
“I’m eating lunch.”
I honest to God groan in frustration. “There’s no room at the inn.”
He surveys the table, takes in the empty seats, my books, and then gives me a good look. A slow look. As if he’s trying to memorize every inch he’s drinking in. My cheeks redden because that somehow feels a little too intimate for lunch. Feels a little too intimate for someone I’m no longer friends with. It feels too intimate if we were friends.
I glance away, but I sense him still staring at me. God help me, I want to stare back.
Katie McGarry Bio:
Katie is the author of the PUSHING THE LIMITS series, THUNDER ROAD series, SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME, and the upcoming YA novel, ONLY A BREATH APART. Her novels have received starred reviews, critical acclaim and have won multiple awards including being a multiple Goodreads Choice Award Finalist for YA Fiction, multiple RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice Award Finalist for Best YA Fiction, including a win in the category, and she was a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Teen Pick.
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