This story had so much potential to be a truly moving story about grief. While it actually started out doing that, it quickly transformed into a melodramatic romance featuring the worst trope of them all: insta-love. Similarly, the writing started out pretty strong, I especially liked the way the author mentioned Jenna's death at surprising points in the book, showing that grief is something that comes at you when you least expect it. However, towards the middle of the novel, the author started overusing melodramatic phrases and KEPT using this goddamn metaphor about whales which wasn't even good the first time it was brought up, and also didn't make any sense. Lastly, I absolutely loathed the main character by the end of the book. For reference, I am white and I have certainly profited from my white privilege many times in my life. However, I am aware of it. Our main character is not. She's being offered a full scholarship to a - what I believe - well respected college and then whines about how she's being forced to go there. Instead, she wants to be photographer when she's literally taken two pictures throughout the book? Girl, do you really think taking some pics is gonna pay the bills in the future? "Oh my life is so hard, I am forced to go to a school for free!"... Girl, shut it and go check your priorities. Before I go: you cannot tell me that this girl didn't even get an ARC for that third book in the end... smh.

*Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced copy* This book was magical. I was sucked in from the first page and could not put it down. I needed to know where the story would go and how the author would take us there. I loved it so much I preordered a final copy and I cannot wait to get it. I will definitely read more from Ashley Schumacher in the future.