ACHE BY S.M. SOTO

So far, this is my favorite book of the year! What an emotional powerhouse of a novel! While there are triggers in the story, this is a beauty book about triumph and second chances. 

Rating: ★★★★★
​Release Date: April 9, 2019
Genre: Second Chance, Emotional Romance
Series: None. Complete standalone. 
Pages: 357 pages
Format: eBook. Purchased. 

What happens when you fall for the boy next door?

Bea Norwood had the market on normal.
Drama free life? Check.
A single-mother who doubled as her confidant and partner in crime? Check.
A neighbor and best friend she trusted more than anyone? Check.
But that was until the day her mother remarried. The day that changed everything.

When her best friend's cousin, Liam Falcon, is sent to live with his aunt and uncle to clean up his act, Bea finds herself falling for the boy next door. With their hearts so infinitely entwined, Bea turns to Liam as her only escape from her new step-brother's daily torment at home. Bea thought their love could conquer anything. But she was wrong. Love was for fools, and she was the biggest fool of them all. When Liam left Lakeport, he took her heart with him, shattering the organ to pieces.

Six years later, Liam takes a trip back to Lakeport to visit his family, and to see HER.
His first love.
The girl who holds his heart.
The same girl who shattered it six years ago without looking back.

Liam is hell-bent on seeing Bea again after six years, but what he finds tears his heart in half. Bea Norwood is a shell of the girl he fell in love with. Underneath the baggy clothes, and pale skin, he knows she's still in there somewhere, he just needs to find her. 
Liam will stop at nothing to win his girl back, but sometimes, ignorance is bliss, and Liam isn't prepared for Bea's truth.

Warning: Contains themes of abuse. May cause triggers.

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Read my Book Review

​Release Date: April 9, 2019
Genre: Second Chance (Ugly Cry) Romance
Actual Rating: 5+ Stars

This book left me in a puddle of tears. What an emotional story! Gosh, I don't even know how to begin to book review other then letting readers know that this is a powerhouse of a novel- one that you will not easily forget even though you may want to (the subject matter is extremely sad). This book made me ache. It left me feeling raw, vulnerable, and heartbroken. It also made me see that there is light after darkness. If you are in a situation such as this one there is hope. I hope people see the message that so vibrantly shines though this story. It's certainly one I will never forget and I commend the author for telling this story with heart. This is a must read and one of myfavorite books of all time. 

This book will not be for everyone. I am just stating that now because for me, this book hit me HARD. The subject matter is very hard to read about and it's frustrating as a reader to see just how long it took sweet Bea to finally share her story. I think, even though I felt agitated that she never spoke up, that this is how it really is for people in similar situations. It's not easy to speak up. Fear is paralyzing. We as readers may have wanted Bea to tell someone she was being brutally abused because we want to best for her character. But in real life, it's not easy to tell, and this is truly shown (in a realistic way) throughout the story. So be warned that this book will anger you. It will make you cry UGLY tears, and it will break you down. But there is hope and light and if you can hold on you will see this. 

Possible Plot Spoilers Ahead... Read at your own risk! 

Ache is an emotional, second chance romance. It's aptly named after it's title as the characters in the story live with a constant ache in their lives- not just from the loss of love, but from personal demons they are fighting in real life. This is also a story about a girl who is brutally abused by the hands of her stepbrother for many years. This girl is the shell of a woman she used to be. She has not only lost the love of her life after he moved away, but she lost her own soul because of the hatefulness of someone who is supposed to love her. 

6 years later though, the boy she used to love strolls back into town. Only he's no longer a boy and instead is a man. Will he reawaken Bea's need to live? Or will her world come crashing down even harder than it was before he came back? Well, you'll need to be a part of this emotional journey to find out. 

End Possible Spoilers 

You guys, this is one of the best books I have EVER read. It's got emotion, heart, soul, hope, and so much more. This is the kind of book that wakes up your mind and heart. And it's one that will leave a strong impression on your soul. I loved this book. I didn't always love how it felt when I was reading, but I love the message and the power it brings. I HIGHLY recommend it.

★★★★★