Wow...just, WOW!!!!! Completely at a loss for words after reading such a BEAUTIFUL HEART WARMING story! 5 stars is just NOT ENOUGH!!! This is one of those books that only comes around once in a while that you just know you will never <I> ever </I> forget!! Even by the time I read it, there was a fair amount of hype surrounding it, and it still completely blew me away!!!
Ambrose and Fern have known each other for most of their lives. They grew up in the same small town together. Fern has been hopelessly in love with Ambrose for as long as she can remember. Ambrose is beautiful, strong, popular, and kind. And, unfortunately, he has never really noticed Fern. Fern is Ambrose's complete opposite. She is shy, awkward, and, God bless her, has to battle with freckles, braces, glasses, and a head full of red curly hair.
"If God makes all our faces, did he laugh when he made me?"
Until an unexpected turn of events does make Ambrose slightly take notice of Fern in a way that both angers and surprises him. But Ambrose has struggles of his own. He is always the one that people are depending on and looking to, to be strong. As the star wrestler in town, he constantly faces high expectations and even higher levels of pressure. In a desperate attempt for something more, for something to make sense, for something to fight for, he and his four best friends enlist to become soldiers.
Tragedy strikes, and the only one to return is Ambrose. But is it the Ambrose that everyone always knew and loved? The rumors are that he is completely disfigured, that he's blind, that he's deaf. One thing is certain, he is completely and utterly broken. He's dark and hateful and reclusive. He wants nothing to do with anything or anyone.
But Ambrose isn't the only one that's changed. It's years later and Fern isn't the awkward little ugly ducking that she once was. Now she's beautiful. But on the inside, she still suffers from "UGS" (ugly girl syndrome). But you know the old saying, the more things change, the more they stay the same...and it's true because Fern still looks at Ambrose and sees nothing but beauty.
"Everything has changed! You are beautiful, I am hideous, you don't need me anymore, but I sure as hell need you!" -Ambrose
This incredible book has so many themes, but above all, it's a story of perception, second chances, and, above all else, love and friendship. Fern has always seen nothing but beauty in Ambrose, and in his darkest hour, she fights to make him see that there is still something wonderful left in him. My heart completely broke for Ambrose so many times in this book. I felt his pain in my gut. He carries guilt and an insurmountable amount of self-loathing for the deaths of his four friends. And he is punishing himself endlessly because of it.
"Give me your mouth, Fern. Please. Make it all go away."
"No, Fern. I'm not ashamed to be seen with you. I'm ashamed to be seen"
Ok, I know what you're thinking right about now....that this book sounds great but uber emotional right? Wrong!! Well, right and wrong. It's also hilarious as hell!!! Fern is gorgeous now, yeah, but she's still awkward and dorky and her character had me laughing my ass off repeatedly!!! Even once Ambrose takes some serious interest in her, she's still acting like a fan-girl with a crush towards him. I shook my head at her numerous times, but it was adorably sweet. And then there is Bailey....OH MY GOD, Bailey!!!! Seriously my favorite secondary character EVER!!!!!!!!! I loved him just as much as Fern and Ambrose. He is Fern's cousin, who battles muscular dystrophy, but is also the son of the wrestling coach. He's almost as big of a fan of Ambrose's as Fern is and together, they work to get him out of his slump. I loved his spirit and he had me laughing to the point of tears as well! And finally, Rita is Fern's best friend who Bailey has always been in love with. She is tall, blonde, and gorgeous. He loves and protects her from afar, while he wishes he could be with her.
"Everybody is a main character to someone."
Once I started reading this book I could not but it down! It completely captivated me and kept me totally riveted until the last page....which came at 2 AM...but that is neither here nor there and I would TOTALLY do it again! The writing is flawlessly beautiful and the character development was superb. This story was also completely different that anything that I have read recently. Unique. Profound. Powerful!
It will draw emotion after emotion out of you and pose so many important questions.
"How did you know I needed you?
Because I needed you too."
This was definitely one of the top 5 best books that I have read all year..maybe ever! It's one of those books that everyone should read. By the end of the book, tears were streaming down my face and I was overwhelmed with emotion. I loved it completely.... yep, not one single complaint!
OMG, and the ending.....perfection! Nothing else needs to be said!
I will definitely be reading more from this brilliant author!
Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime
and start saving today with fast, free delivery
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
Frequently bought together
$10.95
Get it as soon as Friday, May 3
In Stock
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Similar items that may deliver to you quickly
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Popular Highlights in this book
Books allow you to be whoever you want to be, to escape yourself for a while.Highlighted by 1,021 Kindle readers- “Because terrible things happen to everyone, Brosey. We're all just so caught up in our own crap that we don't see the shit everyone else is wading through.”Highlighted by 724 Kindle readers
- “It's hard to come to terms with the fact that you aren't ever going to be loved the way you want to be loved.”Highlighted by 552 Kindle readers
From the Publisher
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Reviews with images
Review & Rave...
🌷What can I say that hasn't been said before about Amy Harmon? I'm sure I've mentioned that she is a master with words. I'm convinced I've told you she'll break your heart with her stories, only to make you stronger and more alive by then end. I'm positive I've expressed the fact that she understands the human spirit unlike any author I've ever read. Oh, and as I've likely remarked, she is so incredibly talented and writes SO MANY different genres.📚Well, this novel is no exception. In this beautiful coming-of-age story, the reader embarks on a moving journey that at times enrages, sometimes enlightens, and more often than not entrances. She is able to touch on difficult topics with grace and ease, never making the reader overly uncomfortable, but showing the boundless possibilities of leading with love.🔥Amy has allowed me to enjoy genres I would never normally pick up: romance (without the bawdy salacious overtones), fantasy (without an extreme suspension of disbelief), YA (without condescending implications), and mythology (without eye-rolling surrealism). To put it simply, she just gets it. She understands how to lure in her readers, how to create just the right amount of tension, and where to draw the line.♥️So, I want to thank you Amy, for sharing your amazing talent with us. We are ever so grateful and are certainly better for it♥️.
Top reviews from other countries
annaes
BEAUTIFUL, MOVING, FUNNY, ONE OF THE BEST STORIES I HAVE READ
Reviewed in Spain on June 25, 2019
