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Reflection (Reflection #1)

by Jessica Roberts (Goodreads Author)

3.97 of 5 stars 3.97 · rating details · 320 ratings · 120 reviews

Bright, spunky Heather Robbins has escaped her small hometown and is anxiously beginning her freshman year of college. Rising above her rocky childhood, she’s found a place where good things are finally starting to happen: her own private apartment, refreshing college classes, and an intense attachment to a mysterious and rugged classmate, Nick Richards.

But when her dreamy...more

Kindle Edition, 289 pages

Published February 17th 2012 by S/P (first published February 1st 2012)

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May 23, 2012 Angela rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, e-books, first-reads

THIS IS PRETTY AWESOMEEEEE!!!

But at first it started so slow, so its kind of boring but then it starts to unfold the mystery between what really happened before the accident. I just read it in one sitting 'coz I was really hooked to it!

I was just not into Heather's personality, its full of insecurities while Nick is so like the coolest guy who can handle anything. At first I thought that Nick was really a jerk but then as the story goes, I started to love this guy, how he really loved Heather w...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Jennifer R Ricketts rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: received-for-review-from-author, faves

I received this book in exchange for a review after signing up for the ARR (authors requesting reviews) program through the We ♥ YA Books group.

From page one, this book was on fire!! Very quickly after I began reading, I felt a strong emotional tie to the main character, Heather. I cared about what was happening to her, empathized with her situation, and wanted a happy ending for her. In the beginning, Heather is leaving to go to college, and the action takes off from there.

Ms. Roberts told th...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Preet rated it 4 of 5 stars

After being so in love with Blink Once just recently, I wasn't sure if Reflection by Jessica Roberts would really hold up for me. It was oddly really alike, yet so different at the same time.

I'll be honest, the book didn't really grab me in the beginning. I loved her bestie friendship and all, but my slight impatience was waiting to hear the details on what happened to Heath(yeah, I adopted the nickname because we're friends now). However, once I was a few chapters in I was totally engrossed int...more

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Nov 03, 2012 Melanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through the group, Basically Books on Goodreads.

I've spent a lot of time digesting this book and the concepts that it presents and I'm really happy I chose to read it. There is a sequel coming out shortly that I'm eager to get my hands on! To me, when I'm itching for a sequel, it means that I liked the book enough to read more. All in all, this is an easy, (PG) romantic read.

First, readers meet Heather. She is a recent high school...more I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through the group, Basically Books on Goodreads.

I've spent a lot of time digesting this book and the concepts that it presents and I'm really happy I chose to read it. There is a sequel coming out shortly that I'm eager to get my hands on! To me, when I'm itching for a sequel, it means that I liked the book enough to read more. All in all, this is an easy, (PG) romantic read.

First, readers meet Heather. She is a recent high school graduate who is escaping her hometown to start college during the summer semester. After her mother's passing prior to high school, she only has her drunk stepfather at home. She really only spends time with her best friend, Creed and working at the local library. Creed is desperately trying to get her to stay at home at least a little bit longer but Heather is adamant that it is time for her to leave.

It takes a while for things to get really interesting but readers soon discover that Heather was in a near fatal accident and has been in a coma. There is a theory discussed that she was in a coma that caused her brain to process memories while her body recovered. She wakes from her coma and recounts her memories of her first semester of college but they are obviously off in some way. She meets several key characters right away, mainly Nick. She was confused by her own actions and thoughts, she couldn't remember everything, and she experienced bouts of deja vu. It was frustrating to read about Heather's experience without knowing if the character was really going through those memories or if that was her true personality. But that was the hook! Waiting for the absolute moments of truth at the end was what drove me forward in my reading experience.

I was heartbroken at the end of the story. I really felt for the girl! Again, I do feel like my knowledge of the character was slightly skewed because I didn't really get to know her BEFORE she re-lived her memories. She is still a likeable character who is kind of an odd duck though, I think she would be a cool person to get to know and hang out with. (less)

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Sep 22, 2012 Jess rated it 5 of 5 stars

Have to say I am really surprise by Jessica Roberts. I didn't expect to be absorbed by her storyteller skills and know I simply can't wait for her next book.

A little about the book:
Heather is a small town girl thirsty for life. She wants to begin a new life at college and forget about her past. Her best friend Creed is not that happy to be left behind, but she is decided to create a new life for herself.
Next thing we know is her awakening from a coma. The doctor attending her guides her through...more

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Sep 08, 2012 Cierra (The Book Lover's Report) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Find more reviews at The Book Lover's Report

This review really got a 4.5!

The beginning of this book starts us at a 'before' time. Heather, the main character, is talking with her friend Creed about her leaving for college. Heather almost regrets changing Creed's plans for them, but she doesn't regret the feeling that she felt about needing to go elsewhere, and succeeding at it.

Next is 'After'. Heather wakes up in a place that she's not sure of. She comes to figure out that she's in a hospital a...more

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Sep 07, 2012 BookHookup rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Christina's original review can be found here on The Book Hookup.

Christina's Review:

Actual rating of 4.5 stars because of a few tiny hangups, but I think it's a personal thing and not anything to do with the quality of the story.

I was immediately caught up in the emotional journey of this captivating, original story and ended up reading this book in one sitting. Reflection begins with Heather Robbins saying goodbye to her lifelong friend, Creed, in search of a brighter world full of hopeful adve...more Christina's original review can be found here on The Book Hookup.

Christina's Review:

Actual rating of 4.5 stars because of a few tiny hangups, but I think it's a personal thing and not anything to do with the quality of the story.

I was immediately caught up in the emotional journey of this captivating, original story and ended up reading this book in one sitting. Reflection begins with Heather Robbins saying goodbye to her lifelong friend, Creed, in search of a brighter world full of hopeful adventures while attending college in St. Louis, leaving behind her past and darker memories of the childhood in her hometown of Nevada City, Missouri. She’s looking for a clean slate in life, the thought of avoiding pitying stares and the gossip of the townsfolk freeing as her plans to live a life of anonymity take flight. The only thing holding her back is the thought of leaving Creed, her safety net in a world full of uncertainty. However, with a gentle nudge from him, Heather sets out for a new life with a carefully crafted plan to keep people in the dark about her former life and to never let them get too close so that she never has to get hurt.

Yet, devising a plan and actually following through with it is always easier said than done. Her summer classes introduce a whole host of people into her life, and she finds her idea of pushing people away more difficult than had ever thought it would be, especially Hat Guy. With a voice that sets her body on fire and a eyes that pierce her soul and pull at her heart strings, she finds resisting Nick (Hat Guy) the biggest challenge of all. *girly sigh* Nick… At first he’s the biggest jerk on the planet, but the more they’re forced to be together in classes and group projects, the more she finds herself falling for him. It’s understandable, how could she not fall for this guy? He’s so swoony and broody and gentle and tough and patient and funny and and kind and he plays the guitar and sings … AND I kind of fell in love with him as I read about him, too. He’s the perfect paradox, so cold and unrelenting on the outside and around others, but with her, he’s warm and tender and perfectly flawed and perfect. (Yes, I so have a crush on him. *le swoony sigh*)

But the kicker comes when Heather slowly awakes in a hospital room with no recollection of how she got there, and Nick’s presence isn’t the one that she feels, rather her best friend Creed. Through a conversation with Dr. Adams, Heather comes to realize that she has been in a coma for an extended period of time. Through the rest of the book, Heather walks us through a six month period of her start in school, the blossoming relationship with Nick, up until the day of the accident. Or rather I should say, she walks us through what she thinks she remembers. Dr. Adams explains that while her mind and body were trying to heal, her brain could have created this world and people that could have possibly been influenced by her surrounding in the hospital until it was time for her to come out of her coma. So Heather, along with the readers, works out the details, trying to separate actual facts from the embellished dreams that her brain manifested to help her recover.

This was a story that I couldn’t seem to get through fast enough and yet couldn’t read slow enough either. I often forgot that it was self-published work, and noticed very few errors. I was captivated from the start, and with my heart lodged in my throat, tore through the pages and prayed that Heather’s mind hadn’t gone haywire and brought about her ideal guy only to have him not be real. I don’t think I breathed through the entire book. I laughed out loud and I cried a little, too. I even laughed while I cried at some points. I swooned so hard I melted into the floor.

Ms. Roberts has an amazing ability to flesh out her characters. Each and every single one of them– even the marginally talked about secondary characters– is so multi-faceted that you quickly find yourself bound to the story and caring how it all ends. Though annoying at times because of her constant need to lie and push people away, I loved Heather. She was fun, quirky, enthusiastic about the strangest things and felt so real to me. Then to see her struggle to differentiate the truth behind her memories was so heartbreaking, and yet you’re riveted to her side and hoping with her against all hope that Nick is out there and at that their type of love really is timeless and existed.

To keep from spoiling anything, I’ll end the review here by saying that I really loved this book. The ending kind of tears your heart out a little, but there’s still a bit of hope that things will eventually work out in Heather’s favor. I can’t wait to get my hands on the sequel, Reaction, with a release date of Fall 2012. I’ll be holding my breath until then. Please don’t make me hold it too long, Ms. Roberts.(less)

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Sep 06, 2012 Shreya (CCReviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wow, just simply, wow. What a nerve-wracking, emotional, and completely beautiful novel this was. In the beginning, it was kind of slow, and I wasn't entirely sure where the story was heading yet, but after the first major scene, it was a whirlwind of mysteries, plot twists, and confusion from there onward. So ,I say, don't judge this book when you're only into the first chapter or two, because it gets much, much better than that. When I first saw the word college in the synopsis, I immediately...more Wow, just simply, wow. What a nerve-wracking, emotional, and completely beautiful novel this was. In the beginning, it was kind of slow, and I wasn't entirely sure where the story was heading yet, but after the first major scene, it was a whirlwind of mysteries, plot twists, and confusion from there onward. So ,I say, don't judge this book when you're only into the first chapter or two, because it gets much, much better than that. When I first saw the word college in the synopsis, I immediately thought of Beautiful Disaster, but it was almost nothing like the college life in BD at all. It was unique, full of hilarious experiences, a wonderful and innocent romance, and one big shocker, it was fake?! What?! You're thinking the same exact question, aren't you? Well, no one knows for sure if all of Heather's experiences mentioned in this book are actually real, or if her brain made it up, unless you've actually read the book. That was the most interesting part of this story to me, the fact that the main character was actually in a coma, and was re-calling all these memories she doesn't know if they're true or not. I've never read something like this before, so it was an entirely new experience.

Heather is a small-town girl who is overblown with joy for her new life as a freshman in a college far away from where she grew up. She has a wonderful year as a freshman with many new experiences, and even develops an intense relationship with a boy named Nick. Of course, that's where it ends, and Heather wakes up from her coma two years later. Heather doesn't know what to make of her life anymore. All her family and friends have moved on, and no one has anything to say to her about what happened before her accident. She wakes up to a doctor who tries his darned best to help her memories come back as much as possible. Heather starts re-calling many events from her past, unlocking mysteries, re-surfacing forgotten memories, and discovering an intense romance that changed her life forever. Now, all Heather needs to do is fix what's gone wrong before her life becomes a black hole of nothing.

I sympathized with Heather's character a great deal in this book because of the troubles she went through. It's not easy to wake up from a coma and realize that while you thought you were actually living and breathing and enjoying a new life, you were actually confined to a bed and just dreaming. Life, at this point, is way to confusing for Heather, but I admired her strength and determination of wanting to unlock the buried memories at the back of her mind. I also really connected with Heather, because she was very much like me. A little bit shy, a tad out-spoken at times, and really curious about everything. The author also made it very easy to feel a lot of emotions alongside the main character, and that's a very key factor to writing a great book. Overall, Heather's character is practically impossible to hate, one, because her personality is too lovable, and second, because you're too caught up in all the twists and mysteries surrounding Heather's past to focus on the actual character herself.

Heather's attachment to Nick was a bit weird in the beginning, because here was this really reclusive and hot guy who practically screams "Run! Quickly! In the other direction!", and we have this small-town girl who should be really shy and not into types like Nick, so it was surprising that she was.... extremely into him. Nick puts Heather off at first and doesn't let her in to his troubled life-style, and at points he was a bit too rude in hopes that it would ward her off, but to no avail. But once Nick let his walls down around her, slowly but surely, and started to open up to her, both him and Heather form a bond that appears to be practically unbreakable. The major, supremely, down-side to this romance is that...we don't know if it's real or not, and if Heather just imagined the whole thing while she was in the coma. So, as a reader, you can probably tell by now the amount of frustrations a person has to go through while reading this book. But it was really well-written, and had an amazing plot-line, which made up for the lack of anything else.

I felt like I had finished running through a maze by the time I finished this amazing book. There were so many twists and turns, confusions and surprises that you never really pay attention to what page of the book you're on...until you're done. And then starts the out-pour of tears as you try to make sense of what just happened, and wish to the almighty god that the next book was in your hands so that you can rest in peace already. Reflection was a riveting and emotional read that will leave readers wanting more, and wanting more ASAP.
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Sep 06, 2012 Marissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

First, I want to mention that this novel is New Adult, and that it is a genre that I have really grasped this year, and Reflection is just so perfect for this genre!

OMGosh this was soo good!! I was just, I don't know what to say, but this is a MUST read, and if you are just getting to read some works of New Adult, this is one to buy! Heather Robbins is one anxious young freshman girl going to college, that wants to get away from bad memories, some that include the loss of her Mother, and living...more First, I want to mention that this novel is New Adult, and that it is a genre that I have really grasped this year, and Reflection is just so perfect for this genre!

OMGosh this was soo good!! I was just, I don't know what to say, but this is a MUST read, and if you are just getting to read some works of New Adult, this is one to buy! Heather Robbins is one anxious young freshman girl going to college, that wants to get away from bad memories, some that include the loss of her Mother, and living with her step-father. What is hard is leaving her childhood friend, Creed, behind, but she is determined to make something of herself in a new city and new school; to start out some sort of new beginning. Her summer semester starts out with History, Creative Writing, and Track, but what she does not expect to see, or meet, or really feel anything instantly for is, Nick Richards. They do not have an easy start but something definitely forms, and for once Heather feels so comfortable, but wait...she wakes up. Heather finally wakes up from a Coma that she has been in for a while, and as she is reflecting back towards her dreams/memories, she's trying to figure out what's real/not and Heather might not be happy with the end result.

I really liked the concept, the story. It had a pretty good flow, and was written wonderfully, and I could not stop myself from turning the pages; it was definitely an addictive read! I liked how the POV shifted, but mainly we are in Heather's mind, and I really enjoyed reading her feelings/thoughts; it was just perfect. I also liked the characters as well including, Heather of course. She has a likable personality and she's a 'New Adult' trying to find herself in a new environment, and all of that is relatable, so having this story primarily in a college setting was excellent! Now...Nick. He was a very interesting male lead. I really liked him, but sometimes ok, thought he was a tad bit on the jerk side, but we get a glimpse of his mysterious past that has some traits of tragedy, and then I understood, why he is the way he is. But then the ending was...WOW...not kidding. I really don't want to give too much, but by the end, you will definitely want to read the next book in this series: Reaction. And yes, there's a second book, and just so much needed!! I have read the first chapter, and instantly know this is going to be a tear jerker, but I'm so ready to read this, when it comes out, sometime this Fall! This is a Novel, that I really hope you read, and I so Recommend it! (less)

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Sep 04, 2012 Stephanie Ward rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

'Reflection' is a young adult contemporary novel that focuses on Heather Robbins and her journey from her small hometown to the hopeful future ahead of her in college and beyond. A huge twist in the story comes when we learn that all of Heather's dreams of her new life at college with her handsome classmate Nick are merely dreams while she is really in a coma. Heather must figure out the truth of her past, what memories are real and which are imagined as well as finding herself in the process.

I...more

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Jun 15, 2012 Lexie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I had the opportunity to read Reflections through GoodReads Nexus Group R2R, but this is a completely unbiased review.
I didn’t realize exactly what that this book was going to be about when I read it. For some reason, I thought it was going to have an element of paranormal activity in it. However, I was pleasantly surprised once I began reading. Heather is from a small town, and all she wanted to do was escape to a bigger city for college, even though it meant leaving behind her best friend, Cre...more I had the opportunity to read Reflections through GoodReads Nexus Group R2R, but this is a completely unbiased review.
I didn’t realize exactly what that this book was going to be about when I read it. For some reason, I thought it was going to have an element of paranormal activity in it. However, I was pleasantly surprised once I began reading. Heather is from a small town, and all she wanted to do was escape to a bigger city for college, even though it meant leaving behind her best friend, Creed, to do it. The author does a great job drawing the reader in from the very beginning. You feel as if you’re actually experiencing all of the “new” college experiences with Heather.
She falls for Nick, and the two spend 6 months falling in love. When Heather wakes up one morning, she realizes something isn’t right. She’s in a coma, and has been for over 2 years. The rest of the book is spent filling in the back story of how college began, her romance with Nick, and trying to separate memories from her dreams. It’s very interesting to find out how the reality of what was going on around Heather in her coma impacted her memories/dreams. For example, the author mentioned several times “2 years” in various situation, as well as the strong smell of rose perfume that a girl in one of Heather’s classes wore (when in reality it was the smell of roses that were always on her bedside hospital table.

The fact that Heather is able to come out of her coma in itself is shocking, but when she wakes up it’s not Nick by her bedside it’s Creed. Does Nick exist, or was he too a figment of her dreams? Life has gone on for the past 2 years without Heather. Where does she fit in? People have changed and grown and nothing will ever be the same.

I thought it was very well written with Ms. Roberts, showing a gift for fleshing out her characters and pulling the reader into her fictional world. I didn’t notice very many typos or grammatical errors, which is a HUGE plus.

I really enjoyed the book, and have to say I’m on Team Creed!

I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this installment.
(less)

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Jun 08, 2012 Rachael Woohoo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, 2012-challenge-books-challenge, book, ebook, yum-yums, all-time-favorites, review-copy, romance, chicklit-challenge-2012, chick-lit, reviewed, 2012-favorites, june-2012, ebooks-i-own

This review will be more like a gush - because honestly, I think Reflection is worth gushing about.

Jessica Roberts has a talent of making you bond with the characters, multiplying the angst you feel for them (especially Heather) after the tragedy is revealed. I connected with almost all the characters (with the exception of Stacey) - Heather was similar to me - from a small town, shy, nerdy, not really in the in-clique, hoping to start anew, while Nick is the classic mysterious (gorgeous!) guy -...more

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May 09, 2012 Alison rated it 3 of 5 stars

I received this book from Tt and Shut up and Read's Read it and Reap. I did not expect to like Reflection so much! It seems written for slightly younger than YA, but the writing is good and the author has that ability to express emotions that kind of sneak up on you. The story is compelling, centered around a young girl starting college and a new life with some twists which I'd rather let you discover on your on. I will say that at first it is difficult to determine whether the girl, Heather, is...more

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May 02, 2012 GW rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: young adults, contemporary readers, everyone

Shelves: favorites, read-it-reap-program

Wow, I did not expect this at all. I was looking for a quick, enjoyable read. But, it was definitely something more. By the end of the story, I had tears in my eyes. So excited for the next book! Wow. This is a contemporary, clean romance story. Perfect for all ages, and I believe it's more well suited towards YA's. Nevertheless, amazing!

I mean, I couldn't stop reading. I was drawn from the first chapter.

I can't even wrap my mind around this concept right now. Ah, the idea is just so riveting!...more

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Dec 21, 2012 Jonel Boyko rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-installment-of-series-to-read, series-to-follow, arrs

Roberts’ novel Reflection is one of the most unique stories that I have read in a long while. It is full of imaginative descriptions while remaining clear in all situations. All situations and medical terminology is explained throughout the novel, without detracting from the storyline or speaking down to the audience. Roberts’ writing has a way of making you smile, even during the sad moments.

Throughout the better part of the story you know that something is not right, but you do not know exact...more

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Sep 07, 2012 Christina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: blog-tour-read, own-on-nook-kindle, contemporary, romance, cried-ugly-tears, delicious-kissing-is-delicious, has-a-companion-book, i-d-marry-that-boy, indie, sprinkles-of-swoons, there-was-laughter, 2012-publication

My original review can be found here on The Book Hookup.

Actual rating of 4.5 stars because of a few tiny hangups, but I think it's a personal thing and not anything to do with the quality of the story.

I was immediately caught up in the emotional journey of this captivating, original story and ended up reading this book in one sitting. Reflection begins with Heather Robbins saying goodbye to her lifelong friend, Creed, in search of a brighter world full of hopeful adventures while attending colle...more My original review can be found here on The Book Hookup.

Actual rating of 4.5 stars because of a few tiny hangups, but I think it's a personal thing and not anything to do with the quality of the story.

I was immediately caught up in the emotional journey of this captivating, original story and ended up reading this book in one sitting. Reflection begins with Heather Robbins saying goodbye to her lifelong friend, Creed, in search of a brighter world full of hopeful adventures while attending college in St. Louis, leaving behind her past and darker memories of the childhood in her hometown of Nevada City, Missouri. She’s looking for a clean slate in life, the thought of avoiding pitying stares and the gossip of the townsfolk freeing as her plans to live a life of anonymity take flight. The only thing holding her back is the thought of leaving Creed, her safety net in a world full of uncertainty. However, with a gentle nudge from him, Heather sets out for a new life with a carefully crafted plan to keep people in the dark about her former life and to never let them get too close so that she never has to get hurt.

Yet, devising a plan and actually following through with it is always easier said than done. Her summer classes introduce a whole host of people into her life, and she finds her idea of pushing people away more difficult than had ever thought it would be, especially Hat Guy. With a voice that sets her body on fire and a eyes that pierce her soul and pull at her heart strings, she finds resisting Nick (Hat Guy) the biggest challenge of all. *girly sigh* Nick… At first he’s the biggest jerk on the planet, but the more they’re forced to be together in classes and group projects, the more she finds herself falling for him. It’s understandable, how could she not fall for this guy? He’s so swoony and broody and gentle and tough and patient and funny and and kind and he plays the guitar and sings … AND I kind of fell in love with him as I read about him, too. He’s the perfect paradox, so cold and unrelenting on the outside and around others, but with her, he’s warm and tender and perfectly flawed and perfect. (Yes, I so have a crush on him. *le swoony sigh*)

But the kicker comes when Heather slowly awakes in a hospital room with no recollection of how she got there, and Nick’s presence isn’t the one that she feels, rather her best friend Creed. Through a conversation with Dr. Adams, Heather comes to realize that she has been in a coma for an extended period of time. Through the rest of the book, Heather walks us through a six month period of her start in school, the blossoming relationship with Nick, up until the day of the accident. Or rather I should say, she walks us through what she thinks she remembers. Dr. Adams explains that while her mind and body were trying to heal, her brain could have created this world and people that could have possibly been influenced by her surrounding in the hospital until it was time for her to come out of her coma. So Heather, along with the readers, works out the details, trying to separate actual facts from the embellished dreams that her brain manifested to help her recover.

This was a story that I couldn’t seem to get through fast enough and yet couldn’t read slow enough either. I often forgot that it was self-published work, and noticed very few errors. I was captivated from the start, and with my heart lodged in my throat, tore through the pages and prayed that Heather’s mind hadn’t gone haywire and brought about her ideal guy only to have him not be real. I don’t think I breathed through the entire book. I laughed out loud and I cried a little, too. I even laughed while I cried at some points. I swooned so hard I melted into the floor.

Ms. Roberts has an amazing ability to flesh out her characters. Each and every single one of them– even the marginally talked about secondary characters– is so multi-faceted that you quickly find yourself bound to the story and caring how it all ends. Though annoying at times because of her constant need to lie and push people away, I loved Heather. She was fun, quirky, enthusiastic about the strangest things and felt so real to me. Then to see her struggle to differentiate the truth behind her memories was so heartbreaking, and yet you’re riveted to her side and hoping with her against all hope that Nick is out there and at that their type of love really is timeless and existed.

To keep from spoiling anything, I’ll end the review here by saying that I really loved this book. The ending kind of tears your heart out a little, but there’s still a bit of hope that things will eventually work out in Heather’s favor. I can’t wait to get my hands on the sequel, Reaction, with a release date of Fall 2012. I’ll be holding my breath until then. Please don’t make me hold it too long, Ms. Roberts.
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Sep 05, 2012 Carrie Ardoin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: tour, omgggggg, posted-on-blog

Heather Robbins is in a big hurry to escape her tiny town after her high school graduation. And why not--the only good thing she has there is her lifelong best friend, Creed. So when she moves away during the summer to start college, she's isn't looking for anything but freedom. But what she finds is Nick.

Heather and Nick spend a hot two semesters simultaneously hating each other and being passionate about each other. But something is wrong...Heather regularly forgets things she knows she should...more Heather Robbins is in a big hurry to escape her tiny town after her high school graduation. And why not--the only good thing she has there is her lifelong best friend, Creed. So when she moves away during the summer to start college, she's isn't looking for anything but freedom. But what she finds is Nick.

Heather and Nick spend a hot two semesters simultaneously hating each other and being passionate about each other. But something is wrong...Heather regularly forgets things she knows she should know. She's also seeing her best friend in unexpected places, when she knows he is not really there. Heather finds out she's actually been in a coma, reliving her memories and weaving them in with dreams. But what does that mean for her and Nick's relationship?

My first thoughts upon finishing this book were "OMGOMGOMGOMG I KNOW SHE DID NOT JUST END THE BOOK LIKE THIS!" I almost always write my review as soon as I'm done with a book, but I was sooooo blown away by the ending of this book, I had to give myself a few hours to get my thoughts together.

The book is mostly told in first person perspective, Heather's, as she looks back on leaving her hometown and her experiences with college and meeting Nick. But the main story is interspersed with third person narrative between Heather and the doctor that is trying to help her piece her life back together. This made it very easy to differentiate between the two different parts of the story.

The best part of this book? The sizzling hot chemistry between Heather and Nick. The only other book I've ever read with this much sexual tension between characters was Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout. Heather and Nick are both guarding their hearts for different reasons, but when they are around each other they cannot seem to stay away from each other...like magnets. For every touch, hug, or entendre-laden comment they shared, I got kind of breathless. I can't express to y'all how RARELY this happens to me with a book.

Heather is an awesome chick. She's awkward and has strange habits. She enjoys fixing things and finding her own way to work out problems. She often laughs in wildly inappropriate situations. Yet, when it comes to Nick, she somehow steps out of herself and asks questions that are in her mind. Despite Nick's icy exterior, she quickly breaks him down and works her way into his heart.

This book ends on a huge, HUGE cliffhanger. My heart was broken when I saw that I was on the last page. I literally did not know what to do with myself for like an entire ten minutes. I will shamelessly say that I will probably BEGGING Jessica Roberts for the ARC of Reaction, the next book in the series.(less)

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Sep 03, 2012 Tanja (Tanychy) St. Delphi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tour, realistic, romance, contemporary

Review and giveaway at Ja čitam, a ti?

This is one of those books that I'm happy that I haven't read a blurb. I had no idea about whole coma story and I was really surprised when I figured it out. I believe those who know first part of the book could've been boring. But let's start from the beginning.

Heather is a girl living in the small town and after a lot of bad things that have happened to her she wants to escape and start all over. Only person worth remembering is her friend Creed and well...more

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May 10, 2012 MystMusician rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

I cried. ...I DO NOT cry when I read. But...I cried. I loved the summary of the book and I let myself get sucked into it. The idea of falling in love with someone while in a coma and coming out trying to figure out if the person is real or not...*sigh. Just... Read it.
Disclaimers and such: I received this book from the group on Goodreads called: “Shut Up & Read” in their Read It & Reap section. So although, I received this book for free in exchange for a review, all thoughts are my own.

L...more I cried. ...I DO NOT cry when I read. But...I cried. I loved the summary of the book and I let myself get sucked into it. The idea of falling in love with someone while in a coma and coming out trying to figure out if the person is real or not...*sigh. Just... Read it.
Disclaimers and such: I received this book from the group on Goodreads called: “Shut Up & Read” in their Read It & Reap section. So although, I received this book for free in exchange for a review, all thoughts are my own.

Like I mentioned above. I cried at a section of this book. The situation, the feelings, the whirlwind, the delicate dance of real and fiction was amazing. I felt like I was so drawn into the characters, especially since I haven't read a book like this before. It was really well written...from my humble opinion.

Heather in the beginning is leaving home. Home consisting of an alcoholic step-father since her mother passed away from cancer. The only real family Heather feels like she has is Creed. Creed is the good guy friend that is always there for her and keeps her safe while she's home. He's obviously got feelings for her, but Heather's too worried about getting out of town and fending for herself to see it. He's the good guy...the one that she obviously doesn't deserve, but at the same time you want him to "man up" and tell her!

After Heather leaves home and starts college, an accident occurs. She's knocked/ran over by a car while out running and she ends up in the hospital...in a coma. As she wakes up, she starts remembering the dreams she had while she was "sleeping." Her brain had her re-live through memories but instead of keeping them the same, the memories are either enhanced, altered, or all together not real.

The main focus of her dreams was a boy...Nick.

Nick...he's damaged goods. Doesn't seem like he wants a girlfriend, but seems to fall for Heather. Before she knows it, she's breaking her rules she set...mainly to not let anyone in or know her past. He's making her lose her guard and for some reason she almost wants to.

The main concern is...who is Nick? Why can she only remember him through her dreams? Is he real or did her mind make him up to help her body stay alive through the coma trauma?

I loved the characters. I felt Nick was a bit too stand offish in the beginning, but once he lets her in to see his life/his dad/his brother's death...it makes a little bit of sense. The hope, the feelings, the want, and the frustration of trying to determine what is real or made up...it's a torrent of emotions. I have a feeling this will be a book, I'll re-read to grab the details I missed the first time.(less)

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Jun 23, 2012 Angie ~aka Reading Machine~ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads-review-books

Heather Robbins or Heath as her best friend Creed calls her is about to take a very important step in her life since graduating from high school. She's going to college at Washington University starting in four days. Creed isn't happy about Heather leaving yet accepts her reasons why she's doing it this soon. Heather isn't like most young people going off to college she is trying to move forward with her life yet shuts people out of getting to know her better. Since Heather's mom passed away she...more

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Jun 06, 2012 Hazel G. ( I ♥ Mr. Grey) *Fifty Shades obsessed* . rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: YA, adult and Romance readers

Recommended to Hazel G. ( I ♥ Mr. Grey) *Fifty Shades obsessed* by: The Nexus! R2R

Shelves: drama, contemporary-romance, young-adult

Reflection is a YA contemporary romance written by Jessica Roberts. I read this as a R2R with The Nexus! As always, a special thank you to the mods and author for allowing me to participate.

4.5 stars!
THIS BOOK WAS PRETTY DARN AMAZING! After really getting into the story, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down!

The Rundown:
Heather Robbins is trying to escape the small town she lives in where her family history is anything but ideal. Leaving her alcoholic step-father, the memory of her deceased mo...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Henrietta rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reading Reflection was an interesting experience for me. Before reading the book, I kind of assumed that I’d be reading about the life of Heather before and after the coma. While there is a little bit about what Heather encounters after she wakes up, the majority of the book focuses on her flashbacks, with Heather sharing what she believes she remembers as she recalls her life before the accident.

Due to her comatose condition, Heather’s memories may or may not have been tainted by her own creati...more Reading Reflection was an interesting experience for me. Before reading the book, I kind of assumed that I’d be reading about the life of Heather before and after the coma. While there is a little bit about what Heather encounters after she wakes up, the majority of the book focuses on her flashbacks, with Heather sharing what she believes she remembers as she recalls her life before the accident.

Due to her comatose condition, Heather’s memories may or may not have been tainted by her own creative imagination. As I read the story, I found myself questioning many things that she shared as I felt doubtful if she was in fact recalling the exact truth. For instance, I questioned if there was indeed a romance going on between Heather and Nick, or was it her active imagination that made her believe that Nick was unmistakably in love with her?

Because of my eagerness to find out what might have really happened, I noticed I was flipping through the pages of the book at a pace that was much faster than my usual reading speed. While I still have questions that are unanswered at the end, I must say I had a fantastic time reading the book.

I appreciate the way how this story is being told. As this is my first attempt reading a novel that talks about a patient waking up from a coma, I find many details unusual but interesting. For example, while Heather was in her coma, her sense of smell might have picked up a particular scent from the hospital room and her sensory system might then process and include that scent as part of the experience that she might be reliving in her mind. So, when Heather woke up and recalled her memories, she could be including things about the scent that might actually be a false representation of what she had physically experienced in her real life before the accident. Inclusion of details like this helps me feel for Heather’s vulnerability and gives me a better idea about the nature of her emotional state.

Personally, I find Heather a believable character although I must say I don’t fully like her personality. I guess you could say I find her conflicting thoughts self-deprecating and a little depressing. On one hand, I appreciate how realistic the story is, in terms of showing us the many awkward moments that Heather encounters when she faces her own dilemma, but on the other hand, I feel frustrated, if not annoyed, by how unwilling and reluctant Heather sometimes behaves, leading to her perpetual stress and internal chaos.

Apart from my slight dislike of her personality, I think overall Reflection is a beautiful coming-of-age novel. This story is bittersweet, heart wrenching and well-written. Due to Heather’s condition, I found myself going through an emotional roller-coaster ride while experiencing her joy and depression, angst and awe. Since I’m hoping to uncover answers to the questions that I still have, I’ll be eagerly “waiting on” its sequel. Hopefully, I don’t have to wait too long now.

--
This post was originally published on my blog.

A copy of the book was provided by the author for review purposes.(less)

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May 24, 2012 Adriana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, emotional-rollercoaster, romance-all-types, tear-jerker, heartbreaking, recommend-to-everyone

Wow this book was something else.

It was slow to start but when it started damm i did not want to put it down, Reflection is a book about Heather who was in an accident that left her i a coma for 2 years and 7months and when she suddenly wakes up she starts retelling what happened before the accident to her doctor but then when he leaves she starts remembering much more and as she is remembering she starts to relise that people have moved on with there lives. It is beautifully told the author re...more

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May 13, 2012 ⚝ Ŧáẅņá ⚝ rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Story
Heather has just woken up from something, a doctor tells her she was in a coma. It was a weird coma though as she had dreams the entire time. Her doctor talks her into explaining what she remembers and as she does the story about a great romance emerges. She's shy and full of nerves, but fiesty and outgoing in the right situations. Should she block all emotions or let down her wall, is it better to have loved and lost or to never have loved at all?

Likes
I enjoyed the concept of the story...more

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May 07, 2012 Julie(Reading By The Beach) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: r2r

As seen on -> http://readingbythebeach.blogspot.com...

Reflection is an incredibly rich story that takes you on a tender adventure of a deep resonating love. An original concept that's purely addictive with characters that stick with you past the last page.

Wrapped in an emotional situation, you are eager yet hesitant to figure out what is real and what is embellished imagination. Heather has become one of my all-time favorite female protagonists. As we travel through her memories right along w...more As seen on -> http://readingbythebeach.blogspot.com...

Reflection is an incredibly rich story that takes you on a tender adventure of a deep resonating love. An original concept that's purely addictive with characters that stick with you past the last page.

Wrapped in an emotional situation, you are eager yet hesitant to figure out what is real and what is embellished imagination. Heather has become one of my all-time favorite female protagonists. As we travel through her memories right along with her, it's easy to form a connection. It's easy to experience the range of emotions that she experiences. She's just as described as above in the blurb, bright and spunky. She's silly, she's heart-felt, she's cautious, she's many, many things that all roll together to produce an extremely well-developed, jump-out-of-the-page character.

Nick Richards is that mysterious, gorgeous guy that will amaze you with the depth that Jessica Roberts layered within his character. He's not just a pretty face, he's smart and in school for a reason. I was constantly entranced with his character, but more so by Heather and Nick together. After all, this is a love story, but one that could be purely fictitious inside Heather's mind.

Jessica Roberts expertly transports the reader within the pages of Reflection with her seamless prose, captivating, realistic characters, and heart-tugging story. This is a story that you are going to want to get lost in. I was beyond transfixed, easily devouring the savory details.

"Though I enjoyed the energy of morning, the spice of daytime, and the sense of accomplishment that came with evening, there was nothing that pumped me more than the dark blue vigor of nighttime"

Reflection is the type of book, for me, that my mind will always return to. A book that will stay in the forefront of my mind even after I get swept away by another great book. I cannot shake these characters or the story, and quite frankly, I don't want to. They can happily reside in my mind because Reflection is a book that warrants many re-reads just to experience the mind-tickling happiness, heart-stopping sadness and the vibrating eagerness that Reaction(the second book) will be out in Fall of 2012. And believe me, you are going to wish with all your might that the next book was already out.

Highly, highly recommended to all. A book that is soon going to be on A LOT of to-read lists, if it isn't already!(less)

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Jun 06, 2012 Angieleigh rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, bc11-12, romance

Wow, just WOW. Did I really just read that?!

Reflection is one of those books that grips you from just about the beginning and doesn't let go. I read the first chapter for the follow-up novel, Reaction, and felt like my heart shattered when there was no more to read.

Yeah, it was THAT good.

It took me a bit to understand what was going on, especially with the narration swap. There were times when I'd try to guess at what would happen next, but it was pretty pointless - my guessing that is. The stor...more

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May 22, 2012 Susan cox rated it 3 of 5 stars

I wish I could give it 3.5 stars. I enjoyed the book it's well written and the story line is really good. But here is what I found.

I understand for the beginning this is about Heather. I did not really understand what was going on. I kept reading trying to figure it out. When I finally figured out she might have been in a coma then I keep wanting more of her talk with the Dr. I loved the backstory but to me I wanted more present time. I felt like I was rushing through the book to get to that po...more

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Sep 09, 2012 Savannah (Books With Bite) rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is an great story! I like that stories like this get so in depth with emotions and time!

So, the part that I enjoyed most about the story, is when Heather wakes up. I really like her searching her mind for clues, lost pieces of what is and what is not. Though, the reader doesn't get much of Heather in the present tense, but more of the past tense, For me, the present tense is much more emotional. The confusion and anger that she bears really spun me for a ride!

The love interest is okay but n...more

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Sep 08, 2012 Angela Fristoe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-books

I really enjoyed Reflection, and although there were a few things that bothered me, I thought it was well written. Roberts presents Reflection in a really interesting way, and most of the time I liked it. But at the same time I found it a bit frustrating. The flashbacks and embellished memories were excellent, drawing me into the romance. The way she slips in the subtle hints that what Heather is experiencing might not have really been happening was great. I loved that the further we got into th...more

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Aug 30, 2012 Anagha rated it 3 of 5 stars

Can you be obsessed with half of a novel and be completely bored by the other half? Apparently, you can. Reflection can be separated into two parts: Before and After.
I don't truly want to give a overall star rating. I divided the book into two parts and I can rate them separately.

2 stars to Before:
Before the accident, Heather has an amazing, heart-pounding, brain-melting romance (to her) during her first year of college. These and other memories are revealed as dreams during her long time in a c...more

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♥!The Young Adult...: Jessica Roberts	28	273	Jan 01, 2013 10:11am
Making Connection...: ARR # 36 - REFLECTION by Jessica Roberts - Romance	16	91	Dec 21, 2012 07:46pm
The Indie Exchang...: Win 1 ebook copy of Reflection by Jessica Roberts	3	17	Nov 17, 2012 06:27pm
Basically Books!: ARR # 58 - REFLECTION by Jessica Roberts	13	66	Nov 03, 2012 05:47pm
Never Too Old For...: Indie Author Interview with Jessica Roberts	23	114	Aug 21, 2012 04:01pm

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About Jessica Roberts

JESSICA ROBERTS grew up in the San Francisco, California Bay Area where she spent most of her time playing sports alongside her six siblings. She was crowned Miss Teen California her senior year of high school, and went on to Brigham Young University where she graduated in Human Development. Her love of family, church, writing, athletics, and singing and dancing keeps her life busy and fulfilled....more

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Quotes from Reflection

“In my sleepiness I heard him whisper, "I'm in love with you.” — 4 people liked it

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