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Just Remember to Breathe (Thompson Sisters)

by Charles Sheehan-Miles (Goodreads Author)

4.08 of 5 stars 4.08 · rating details · 3,874 ratings · 447 reviews

Alex Thompson’s life is following the script. A pre-law student at Columbia University, she’s focused on her grades, her life and her future. The last thing she needs is to reconnect with the boy who broke her heart.

Dylan Paris comes home from Afghanistan severely injured and knows that the one thing he cannot do is drag Alex into the mess he’s made of his life.

When Dylan...more

Paperback, 280 pages

Published November 12th 2012 by Cincinnatus Press (first published August 30th 2012)

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Dec 26, 2012 cEe beE rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: couldn-t-put-down, epic-love, broken-sexy-hero, my-kinda-hero

Just Remember to Breathe was an enjoyable read! I love Alex and Dylan, a young couple who first meet during a high school trip to Israel. They have a long distance relationship, then Dylan joins the army and goes to Afghanistan while Alex goes to college. For reasons unknown to Alex, they break up.

Dylan is badly wounded, then suffers from PTSD. Back in the US, he goes to Columbia where he meets Alex again at a work study program. They try to work through their differences and rebuild their rela...more

9 likes · like · see review

Jan 18, 2013 Jill rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance

Two things I don't usually do. a) Read NA/YA and b) Read romance by male authors.

Just Remember to Breathe is a NA/YA contemporary romance written by a male author. I give it 4 stars. 'Nuff said. :)

Steam: 2.5

* Thanks cEe for the recommendation and the loan

18 likes · like · see review

Jan 17, 2013 AJ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: drama, kindle, romantic, series

I really liked this one. A beautiful and emotional story of a second chance romance.

Dylan and Alex met as teenagers and fell in love. They were both travelling away from home at the time, and as they lived on opposite sides of the country, once they got home, distance and other factors took their toll and things got messy. Dylan ended up enlisting in the Army and was sent to Afghanistan, where things just got messier. Without being all spoilery, there is a devastating break up, and shortly after...more

7 likes · like · see review

Apr 03, 2013 Aa'Ishah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, reviewed, books-i-need-to-buy, to-re-read-over-summer

Charles Sheehan-Miles has once again blown me away - more so this time. Now and then it hits me that I read very few male authors - and yet this one has impressed me twice with his ability to create strong, layered characters and solid relationships, snatching me from my real life bedroom and dunking me into the worlds he creates, worlds where I have to periodically remind myself are not real even if they are contemporary, refusing to let me go until the very last sentence. Even then, I am never...more Charles Sheehan-Miles has once again blown me away - more so this time. Now and then it hits me that I read very few male authors - and yet this one has impressed me twice with his ability to create strong, layered characters and solid relationships, snatching me from my real life bedroom and dunking me into the worlds he creates, worlds where I have to periodically remind myself are not real even if they are contemporary, refusing to let me go until the very last sentence. Even then, I am never truly allowed to leave. If there is one thing you are not able to do upon finishing a Sheehan-Miles books, it's forget his characters.

Alex is at Columbia University, following the path that her parents have set for her. She keeps herself focused on her grades, not really interested in guys and the more social side of things. One guy already broke her heart, and she's trying to forget about him. Dylan is at Columbia University, an unexpected turn of events since he was in Afghanistan and came home severely injured. He's determined to work his hardest and try to forget about the girl who broke his heart. Not to mention the fact that she was out of his league, anyway. The last thing either of them want is to see each other again...and yet they end up at the same university, on the same work study assignment. Unable to do anything about it, they realise they need to come up with a way for them to work together in a manner more civil than hostile, one where they'll at least be able to look at each other without glaring. The solution they come up with is to establish some ground rules. Only trouble is, they keep breaking them...

Like A Song for Julia, this is told in dual POV. Unlike A Song for Julia, I was very happy with the way these were done. I could tell easily who was speaking and when, and I loved reading from both their perspectives. Sheehan-Miles has a truly captivating writing style. Through reading these alternate perspectives, I was made to feel. A lot. There are so many emotions in this book, and I had no control over what was happening to my heart. Authors seem to have this expectation that whatever their books put us through, we'll recover. How do they know that? Maybe we're fine now, but how do they know that one day they won't eventually push us over the edge? For me, not only was it painful having to read parts of this story, but it was also painful to finish it, to realise that my time with Alex and Dylan was up, and that the only way I'd get to spend a little more time with them would be to re-read it. And make no mistake, that's exactly what I will be doing. But this was beautiful and sad and tragic and hopeful and funny and light and serious and I didn't want to let go.

'When he finally got himself standing, he leaned close and said, "I think we need one more rule."
"Yeah?"
He took a deep breath through his nose, and said, "Yeah. Um, yeah...you need to get different shampoo."
What. The. Hell?
"What are you talking about?" I asked, suddenly very uncomfortable.
"You still smell like strawberries, and it's breaking my heart," he said with a low growl. With that, he turned, slung his bag over his impossible broad shoulder, and began to walk away.'

That last line from Dylan hit me hard when I was reading this. Really hard. Maybe it'll make more sense when you're actually reading it, but what he said there completely broke my own heart. The thing is, Alex and Dylan on their own? Amazing. Both of them are these broken yet strong people, and they struggle to work through an undoubtedly difficult situation. They both have their own insecurities - especially Dylan. Unsurprisingly, his time in Afghanistan was hell, and he's working through that on top of their relationship issues. But as a couple? These two are just...incredible. They really fit together. I loved seeing them try to be friends again and then watching with a smile when they broke their own rules. I loved learning how they met; I thought it was different compared to the start of so many other romances that I've read. I loved how when things suddenly veered off course again, Alex especially remained strong and did what she had to. And I loved that ending. Sweet, unique, breathtaking...perfect. These two belong together, and to see them fighting the pain and the memories that their relationship has brought them thus far is really sad. By not being together, each of them is completely destroying the other.

And then of course, my heart somehow found room to love some of the secondary characters and their own relationships. Out of those, the relationship between Carrie and Sherman definitely trumped. Carrie is an amazing supportive sister, and I'm really looking forward to reading her own story. Sherman is a fantastic friend to Dylan, and he brought in some humour. But it was easy to appreciate Kelly and Joel as well - and Joel isn't even present a lot of the time. My only issues lay with the parents. The blindness of some people will never cease to amaze me.

I kind of feel like this review is not as structured as I'd like it to be, and I'm really sorry about that. Usually I try to keep from rambling and just writing down disconnected thoughts and sentences that maybe don't make sense, but it seems like at the moment, that's the best I can do. Just Remember to Breathe was a truly stunning read and if you're a contemporary fan, Charles Sheehan-Miles is most definitely an author to check out.

This review is also posted on my blog.(less)

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Mar 08, 2013 Maja rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: are-you-kidding-me, cliche-fest, contemporary-fiction, alternating-povs, failed-to-impress, romance, totally-saw-that-coming, reviewed-in-2013

I’d like to be able to say that Just Remember to Breathe was a complete waste of my time, but it wasn’t. Yes, most of it was downright horrible, the writing isn’t even worth thinking about, it needs hours and hours with a decent editor and the author should never, under any circumstances, write from a female perspective again. But underneath the cheesy love story was a whole different story that was touching, genuine and honest. That story, the story of a young soldier, badly wounded in Afghanis...more I’d like to be able to say that Just Remember to Breathe was a complete waste of my time, but it wasn’t. Yes, most of it was downright horrible, the writing isn’t even worth thinking about, it needs hours and hours with a decent editor and the author should never, under any circumstances, write from a female perspective again. But underneath the cheesy love story was a whole different story that was touching, genuine and honest. That story, the story of a young soldier, badly wounded in Afghanistan, who just wants to find a way to get rid of the pain and the guilt and live his life as normally as possible, is a story that should have been the main focus of this book. That’s the story I wanted to read.

But I’m getting ahead of myself again.

Just Remember to Breathe is the first book in a series called Thompson sisters. From what I understand (and I did some research for the good of mankind), each sister will get her book (Julia already has hers), Nora Roberts/Danielle Steel style. I have no idea what made Charles Sheehan-Miles, an ex soldier who currently works with disabled veterans, think that he can write a New Adult love story, and in alternating points of view at that, but Danielle Steel he’s not. He has no understanding of his female characters, which was more than obvious from Alex’s point of view. It made me cringe at times, that’s how bad it was, and Alex herself was as plastic as they come.

About Alex and Dylan’s relationship, I’ll say this (and try not to grit my teeth in the process): they met as teens on a trip to Israel and stayed more or less together for years, even with four thousand miles between them. Then, while he was in Afghanistan, they broke up over a misunderstanding and he was wounded a few days later. Alex didn’t hear from him again until he showed up at Columbia and they were forced to do research together. The entire thing was blatantly unbelievable and cheesy, to the point of being laugh out loud funny on several occasions, and not at all touching like it was meant to be.

While in college, Alex was sexually assaulted twice by the same guy, a family friend her parents wholeheartedly approved of. This is the part that truly made me angry because it was handled superficially with absolutely no understanding for the women that go through such a thing. It was all a huge cliché and the author insisted on using those empty phrases you can read in cheap self-help articles, probably because he didn’t know any better. The rapist was just as bad, poorly written, made to be either incredibly stupid or just begging to be caught. The entire thing was thrown in just to create an extra obstacle for Alex and Dylan and I resented that.

There were two significant relationships in this book, and while Alex and Dylan’s oftentimes wandered into ridiculous(ly unbelievable) territory, the relationship between Dylan and his fellow soldier and friend Sherman was simply wonderful. Those few brief conversations between them, their loyalty and friendship, the genuine emotions I felt, the understanding, all of it made this book worth reading, despite so many unforgivable problems.

I think Charles Sheehan-Miles should have just written what I suspect he really wanted to write, even though it probably wouldn’t sell as well. If he ever decides to write a story about a young man struggling with PTSD, war injuries, brain damage and guilt, I’ll be glad to read it. But more if this? No, thank you.

Honestly, I hate doing this to a self-published author, I do, but honesty above all, right? You won’t have any trouble finding many four and five star reviews, so please read some of those too before making your decision. My opinion is just one of many.

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Mar 08, 2013 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

I had been hearing about JRTB for a while through a few different circles but after downloading it a month or so ago I never got around to reading it as soon as I would have liked. I'm so sorry I put it off because now that I have finally read it I can tell you it's a beautifully written story about guilt, regret, life changing situations, and trying to work through all of that for the sake of love and happy endings.

The plot also covers the subjects of post traumatic stress disorder, class divi...more I had been hearing about JRTB for a while through a few different circles but after downloading it a month or so ago I never got around to reading it as soon as I would have liked. I'm so sorry I put it off because now that I have finally read it I can tell you it's a beautifully written story about guilt, regret, life changing situations, and trying to work through all of that for the sake of love and happy endings.

The plot also covers the subjects of post traumatic stress disorder, class divide, childhood abuse and rape. You would think that with subject matters such as those that it would be a dreary read that would pull you down with it, but that is so not the case. It let me feeling uplifted and hopeful and so glad that I'd finally read it.
JRTB has Dylan as the male main character. He's 20 years old and is already a disabled war veteran after facing combat in Afghanistan. He's seen and experienced some things he wouldn't wish on anyone.

Alex(andra) is a girl from Dylan’s past, someone he knew before his war days. Things didn’t end well between them and she’s been trying to get over him ever since.

Dylan and Alex run in to each other when Dylan begins attending Alex’s college. It’s a huge shock for both of them but then they settle on a truce, albeit an uneasy one. They just need to remember not to talk about the past. But it’s easier said than done.

There’s so much that happens in JRTB, it’s intense, well paced and kept me hooked and wanting to find out more.

My heart broke for Dylan and what he’d been through and it just kept going around and around in my mind that there are so many other people who share the same nightmarish experiences as he had. JRTB wasn’t just a fluffy love story - don’t get me wrong, I love reading those too – it had so much more depth to it because of what we learned about Dylan and his time at war.

I liked Alex, even if she was full of doubt most of the time. I don’t know what I would have done in her situation so I shouldn’t really judge but it seems like she made things out to be bigger obstacles than they were. I guess since she’d already had her heart broken by Dylan once already she was scared, and I can understand that.

I liked most of the cast of supporting characters, especially Carrie and Ray. I love Carrie so much, she’s definitely someone I’d love to have as my own sister. She’s always there for her sisters, ready to help them out without judgement. I disliked Mrs Thompson a lot, and now I HATE her since I’ve read A Song for Julia! Ugh, what an awful, awful woman!

The ending of JRTB was just perfect. I won’t say any more than that since I’d hate spoil it before you read it. I can definitely count Charles Sheehan-Miles as one of my new favourite authors and I look forward to his next book, The Last Hour, which is Carrie’s story, coming in May.(less)

7 likes · like · see review

Feb 16, 2013 Sanah Dillon rated it 5 of 5 stars

YA Books of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Actual Rating: 4.5

I know I've said this before and I'll say it again DO NOT JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER. I know, I know I do it all the time and I'm being a hypocrite but this is some awesome advice. I also know you've probably heard it a billion times like I have, but seriously take it. It will do you no wrong. I know I shouldn't judge an entire book by a really small factor whatever it is but I usually go for the description because I mean what else am I going...more YA Books of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Actual Rating: 4.5

I know I've said this before and I'll say it again DO NOT JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER. I know, I know I do it all the time and I'm being a hypocrite but this is some awesome advice. I also know you've probably heard it a billion times like I have, but seriously take it. It will do you no wrong. I know I shouldn't judge an entire book by a really small factor whatever it is but I usually go for the description because I mean what else am I going to judge it on. But even then I do that after I've rated the cover in my head unless someone recommended the book to me.

Anyway with this book it wasn't that the cover was awesome and then the actual story didn't live up to the covers expectation. In this case the cover was okay and then the story was just absolutely amazing. I honestly was not going to read this because I briefly glanced at the cover and I was like 'meh whatever' but then I read the description and it was pretty interesting so I decided to give it a shot. For the record, I'm very happy I did.

So now on to the actual story. The story is told in first person by both Alex and Dylan. The chapters are cut into a number of sections. These sections sometimes continued the story with different characters or repeated an event in a different point of view. That helped understand the story because in the beginning when it started with Alex's point of view we hardly knew anything about her. Then when we got to Dylan's section we understood more about her because instead of talking about themselves they talked about one another.(which was so cute!) It also helped a lot because it gave the characters separate opinions and their actions and reactions to each other made more sense.

To be fair as awesome as this book was the first chapter and a half were kind of cliché and boring. After you pass those chapters though the story develops and it becomes very lively and fast paced. And the first two chapters were explained later so they make much more sense as the story progresses.

One thing I really liked about the book was that it didn't begin when Dylan and Alex first met. It took place in a sort of present tense and then went back and clarified the relationships and problems. And it surprised me how much I liked that factor because it usually annoys me when authors start in a certain time frame and then keep having flashbacks. In this book that happened a couple of times but it didn't even feel like a flashback. I think it was because the characters were explaining it in their perspectives instead of just throwing the important information out there in between dialogues. Virtual round of applause to CSM for that one.

Overall this has become another one of my favorites in the NA genre. I would very highly recommend it. Seriously, check it out. Especially if you enjoyed Easy by Tammara Webber. Just Remember To Breathe is only $3.99 in eBook form!
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Nov 30, 2012 Alyssa (Hesperia Loves Books) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-favorites, read-in-2012

Review posted at Hesperia Loves Books

I was utterly and completely blown away by this book. I had to remember to breathe, when I finished reading, because it was just that damn good! This is one of the most beautiful, powerful, emotional & heart-wrenching stories that I’ve read all year and it deserves it’s place on my 2012 Favorites list.

Alternating Points of View & Timeline
This book alternates between the two main characters, Dylan & Alex, points of view in the past and present. I L...more

7 likes · like · see review

Dec 26, 2012 Leslie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: war-veteran, romance

The tragedy of his childhood and the devastation of serving in Afghanistan has scarred Dylan Paris to the hilt. Not only was he seriously injured while serving, he also lost his best friend to enemy fire; most likely due to his idiotic behavior. Dylan's only glimmer of happiness is due to his very patient girlfriend, Alex; though even her saint-like patience is wearing thin with his constant indecisiveness and self loathing. When Alex is nearly raped by a young man her family has known and respe...more

5 likes · like · see review

May 09, 2013 Erica Faye rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: summer-2013-favorites, need-to-review

Why am I just now hearing about this author?!? I adored these characters!

So impressed! The writing was flawless. I like that it's written by a male. I felt like Dylan's POV was more realistic because it was actually written by a guy. Being familiar with deployments and such, this book really hit close to home and tugged at my heart. My only complaint is that the ending was a tiny bit over the top, but who am I kidding....I ate it up! (view spoiler)...more

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Dec 13, 2012 Denise rated it 4 of 5 stars

You can find our review at
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Just Remember To Breathe is a compelling and powerful romance. Potential readers should note that the book alternatives between points of view; sometimes taking off where the last part left off, sometimes going back a bit in the story timeline. Though it took sometime to get used to, overall it was enjoyable to see what each character was thinking.

When th...more

2 likes · like · see review

May 17, 2013 Kindlehooked (Tanya Childress) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: highly-recommended, young-adult, arc-for-review, contemporary-romance, all-time-favorites

What a wonderful read with great characters and realistic situations that will leave you thinking, wanting, sympathizing and fighting for a love so strong and a hero so tortured.

I enjoyed this book immensely! Alex and Dylan come together during their high school years and of course fall in love. The only problem is the distance in which they live but also the fact that they are unsure where they stand in their relationship. Once they figure it out they make the best of it until something changes

...more

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Oct 28, 2012 Lindsey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: new-adult, tourtured-souls, support-those-troops

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

2 likes · like · see review

Dec 17, 2012 Lelyana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: dream-hero, favorites, army, drowned-me, i-own-a-copy, in-my-veins, most-anticipating-book, stomach-twisting

Just read the book and I can't help my self to write my thoughts....

I have already fallen for the two of them...its about love at second chance...written beautifully in 2 different side, Alex and Dylan...

I think the two of them always forgot to breath when they're together...that was sweet...you know, when you're in love with someone and STILL in love with him/her after a broke up...you still forget to breath sometime when they close to you, right?

This is a story of 2 young people...different ba...more

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Nov 09, 2012 Carrie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-review-tour, romance, ya-new-adult

Just Remember To Breathe is an engaging, emotional romance. Alex and Dylan meet and fall in love but a long distance relationship and misunderstandings drives them apart. Both struggle to get over the break up and think they have. But then fate intervenes and they are thrown together unexpectedly for a college work term project.

Initially they are both angry and remain distant. The need to work together forces them to begin a civil relationship which slowly grows into a closer friendship with the...more Just Remember To Breathe is an engaging, emotional romance. Alex and Dylan meet and fall in love but a long distance relationship and misunderstandings drives them apart. Both struggle to get over the break up and think they have. But then fate intervenes and they are thrown together unexpectedly for a college work term project.

Initially they are both angry and remain distant. The need to work together forces them to begin a civil relationship which slowly grows into a closer friendship with the stirrings of the romantic feelings of before. Alex and Dylan eventually straighten out the misunderstanding that led to the breakup and their romance flourishes once more. And then tragedy and Dylan’s inability to open up to Alex threatens to destroy their relationship again.

When this story began I thought it would be your typical YA/New Adult Romance. The characters would deal with their trite misunderstanding, discover they did love each other and get back together living happily ever after. But this novel is so much more. The author has crafted wonderful depth to his characters and brought forth issues such as post traumatic stress, rape, and war with incredible detail.

Dylan is a damaged human being long before he meets and first falls in love with Alex. He has lived his life feeling inferior and unworthy of being with a woman like her. His determination to never be like his alcoholic, abusive father leads him to build a wall around his emotions, never committing to a long term relationship. Throughout his life he feels guilty over events that are not his fault and as a result cannot open up his emotions. He would rather be miserable than let anyone help him.

Alex has grown up in a different world, filled with privilege but constrained by her parent’s belief they know what life is best for their daughter. They wear blinders when it comes to the people around them, choosing only to see what is on the surface, not what lies beneath in a person’s character. She takes a chance to forge her own path in life, to ensure her own happiness. Because of this, she will not let her own love for Dylan keep her in a relationship if he will not open up and communicate with her. Her strength and belief in herself is what helps Dylan accept that he isn’t the reason for the tragedies of his life and that he deserves to have a loving relationship.

I really enjoyed this book and the development and growth of the characters. It was so much more than I expected and I look forward to reading other novels by this author.

4.5 out of 5 stars.(less)

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Oct 16, 2012 Kirsty rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012, favourites-2012, own-in-paperback

This review is one of the easiest I've been able to write lately, because quite simply it was a brilliant, brilliant book.

Once I started it I couldn't, and didn't want to stop.
I completely 100% understood every feeling and response each of the characters had and couldn't blame them in the slightest for choices they made, even if at times it was so frustrating to read about.
Right from the very beginning you could see how much Alex and Dylan loved and needed each other and I was more than happy...more

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Mar 27, 2013 Carolina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: virgins-everywhere

I really, really (and I mean really) liked this book. I can say that this was my first time reading about this kind of things: the hero being a soldier who was in Afghanistan and how it affected him so much due to the things he saw and did and has to live with now. I'm sure it could have been mind blowing to me, but at times I was so bored, just wishing the book would end already. Dylan and Alex just never really had me, the story never really touched me (although it sometimes did). I would even...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 04, 2013 Jenna Christy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Review also found here: Coffee, Books and Me

It was a good story. I think the copy given to me was still unedited because I found many inconsistencies that my OC self found disturbing but i was still able to read and understand what the particular scene or line really meant.

Anyway, the story was crafted nicely. The pace was just right. A touch of drama here and there. It's more serious than I thought it would be. The climax of the story was not much heart-pounding as I expected, nevertheless it...more

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 10, 2012 Megan - The Book Asylum rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: love-love-love, strong-female-lead, the-human-condition

For more reviews like this, check out The Book Asylum.

3.5 stars

I was lucky enough to win Just Remember to Breathe through a facebook giveaway held by the author and Bookaholics Anonymous. I read the synopsis and it sounded great, so I bumped it right to the top of my reading list.

The story is told from the alternating perspectives of the two main characters – Alex and Dylan. I really enjoyed this choice because it gave the reader a complete picture of what was going on inside each character’s he...more For more reviews like this, check out The Book Asylum.

3.5 stars

I was lucky enough to win Just Remember to Breathe through a facebook giveaway held by the author and Bookaholics Anonymous. I read the synopsis and it sounded great, so I bumped it right to the top of my reading list.

The story is told from the alternating perspectives of the two main characters – Alex and Dylan. I really enjoyed this choice because it gave the reader a complete picture of what was going on inside each character’s head – many times with the same situation. Alex Thompson is a pre-law college student at Columbia trying to recover from a broken heart and the emotional damage of a physical and almost sexual assault that occurred last spring… right after Dylan suddenly cut contact, breaking off their relationship and severing all ties to her. Dylan is an Afghanistan war veteran fraught with guilt and full of self-doubt. He’s battling mental and physical issues after living through a terrible explosion while on duty... an explosion that killed his best friend. When they find themselves together again at Columbia for a work study position, they have to learn to navigate around their pasts and each other.

As you can imagine, this love story is full of angst and emotion. The initial (re)meeting between Alex and Dylan and several interactions thereafter were so tense it made me physically uncomfortable (in the way only a well-written story can make you). Throughout the book, it was oh so clear that their love for each other runs deep, is very sweet, and very pure. For me, that was never really in question. What was in question was whether or not they would get out of their own way and allow themselves to love and be loved. Through exposition, we learn how they began their relationship under extraordinary and unique circumstances while on a high school trip. That turned into an intense long-distance relationship. Now, anyone who has ever been in a long-distance relationship knows how hard it is. You know the doubt, anxiety, and longing that comes with being far away from the person you love so much. Add in familial pressure and huge life changes like going to high school, graduating, and trying figuring out what’s next for you (and your significant other) and it can be downright terrifying. This was exactly the case with Alex and Dylan.

What I liked about Alex and Dylan was the fact that they were easy to understand, easy to empathize with, and easy to relate to although their circumstances and histories were very different. Both were intelligent, determined, and perseverant – all traits which I admire greatly. The writing was straightforward and worked well with a plot that moved right along. The little twists and turns along the way coupled with specific details like ‘the rules’, ‘strawberry shampoo’, and ‘index cards?’ helped me to melt with them, smile & laugh with them, and definitely hurt with them. It’s those little details that add depth to a story because in real life, relationships are filled with special inside moments just like those. Plus, every time Dylan forgot a word or doubted himself my heart broke a little for him. It was all very real and it’s obvious that Charles Sheehan-Miles put a lot of thought into these characters and their relationship dynamics.

My rating could have easily been four stars were it not for a few issues that took away from the story for me. For example, in the beginning of the book Kelly (Alex’s best friend) starts talking about her boyfriend, Josh. Later in the book, his name changes to Joel. There are also some grammatical and spelling errors throughout that I caught. Nothing major, but they’re there. Finally, and this was the biggest detriment to the story for me, some characters seemed to pop up quickly with very little back-story. I loved Sherman, for example, but we only knew a teeny bit about him before he came on the scene full force. Within pages it seemed like he had a strong, comfortable relationship with Alex. It just felt very rushed to me, as did the easy connection between him and Carrie. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVED Sherman and Carrie and was happy with their roles once they entered the story, but I didn’t quite buy their abrupt introduction.

I would recommend this book for Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult readers with a soft spot for love stories with lots of turmoil. From what I understand, Charles is now working on another book with Julia, Alex’s sister, and Crank, Julia’s hot rocker husband, both of whom we met in ‘Just Remember to Breathe’. I cannot wait to see what he has planned for them and am hoping he continues on after that with Sherman and Carrie’s story!
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Dec 09, 2012 Milarmie rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: YES!!!

Shelves: romance

this great was such an easy read and noticed that i just couldn't put the book down. i found it rather easy to immerse myself in the personalities of the characters. Alex, a girl in college whose life is pre-determiined by her father and is supposed to become a lawyer is found face to face with Dylan, the love of her life, after years of not speaking with each other. Now, she has to deal with the emotions that she's suppressed after their break up. Dylan on the other hand, has just come back fro...more

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Oct 16, 2012 J.J. rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a hard review to write, not because the book was bad (it was NOT) but because it made me feel a certain way that I'm not sure I can verbalize. I've only read one other book that felt like this and that was Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire. It gave me the sense that I was there as a friend to the characters, experiencing everything that was going on with them. It was also incredibly believable. There was nothing in this story that was a stretch. Everything in the book happens in real l...more This is a hard review to write, not because the book was bad (it was NOT) but because it made me feel a certain way that I'm not sure I can verbalize. I've only read one other book that felt like this and that was Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire. It gave me the sense that I was there as a friend to the characters, experiencing everything that was going on with them. It was also incredibly believable. There was nothing in this story that was a stretch. Everything in the book happens in real life; nothing out there or over the top. About halfway through the book, I thought the main climax of the book had already passed and I was like, "hmmm.... what is left?" That kept me intrigued to know that there was more and I wasn't sure what it was (I can usually predict what's going to happen in a book so it's nice when I'm not sure where the story is headed)! Each time something major happened, you were always brought back before gasping out loud or wanting to throw the book against the wall (i.e., it wasn't too dramatic). There isn't anything super major or big in the story that will make you go, "No way!" but instead, you get a nice flowing story about two people simply trying to find their way back to one another. It was sweet, tender, and it makes you want to be there as a friend to help the main characters out.

Other thoughts:

I'm usually not a fan of alternating perspectives but this was done well in the book. Each alternative view also starts with a header or quote from the section and I love those.

I got this book as an ARC and that's pretty awesome (through Goodreads First reads; thank you!).

Some of the other reviews mention grammatical errors. There were a few but as someone who reads about a book a day, I can honestly say that there were maybe 4-5 errors that I really noticed and there are plenty of other books out there that are waaaaaay worse. Those small errors do not take away from the story at all.

I didn't give it 5 stars because I felt like a few small things were missing like a little more background on Dylan's injuries (i.e., what type of traumatic brain injury) and more 'umph' with the emotions or connections between the characters (it was strong but it didn't always make me swoon; I guess that's the best way to describe it...).

Overall, this is a good book and I would recommend it!(less)

8 likes · like · see review

Jan 26, 2013 Rica rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: companion-series, young-new-mature-adult, military-ops-men-in-uniform, like-hopeless, kindle-owned

I really enjoyed this book. I guess this is the 2nd in a series. The first one is "A Song for Julia". This story was a well written, beautiful, and emotional story of first love and second chance romance.

Dylan and Alex met as teenagers during an exchange program and fell in love. They lived at opposite sides of the country, and didn't make promises to stay together after the exchange program. But when they returned, they both knew they loved each other and tried to make it work. Unfortunately, t...more

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Nov 21, 2012 Kim rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a very interesting, emotional story of true love and second chances. It was easy to relate to the characters and I found myself not wanting to put the book down. I really like the wounded vet storyline. It gave me a better view at what life is like for these brave men/women and the struggles they face when they return home. Very well done.

There were brief moments of heart-rendering romance that took my breath away. There was sadness about Dylan's struggle with his guilt and his self-wor...more

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Oct 19, 2012 Stephenie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites-2012, favorites, 2012, must-read

I was not expecting to pick up this book and not be able to put it down. I fell in love with this book from the first page. The characters will make you fall in love with them, the plot is superbly done and the story line is amazing. Charles Sheehan-Miles has created a beautiful love story with the backdrop of war that is just so much more! Just Remember to Breathe is a must read for so many reasons.

I loved the characters in Just Remember to Breathe, especially Alex, his flaws and all. He comes...more

5 likes · like · see review

Sep 29, 2012 Tara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult

Great book. I sat doown and read the whole book in 5 hours. Its a definitly a book worth readinig!!

2 likes · like · see review

Dec 26, 2012 Dhini rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, contemporary-romance, new-adult-romance, read-in-2012, 4-5-stars, want-to-re-read, family-issues, emotionally-twists-turns

It was more like 4.5 stars from me..
I really loved this book.. It was beautifully written. Charles Sheehan-Miles is definitely my new favorite author. He's also a really good story teller. I couldn't put this book until I finished it. Made me curious how it will end. I loved all of its characters, I loved how the story flows beautifully.. I loved the whole package of this book. It was beyond my imagination. There were love stories, friendship, family relationship and struggle (about finding your...more

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Nov 28, 2012 Alina Man rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books

All I can say about this book is WOW. What an emotional rollercoaster ride. There are many love stories out there but this one takes it up a notch. The author takes us to another world, and gives us such a vivid picture of the warzone and how it affects everyone. Alex Thompson is beautiful, smart and sweet making it easy to like her from the start. Dylan Paris is the war veteran who like most veterans has to struggle to get his life back together. Their love story is beautifully written and very...more

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Nov 20, 2012 Kris rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone...

Shelves: contemporary-romance, new-adult, faves-2012, college, military

I found this book a refreshing new view on contemporary romance. The writing was smooth and flowed well, making it easy to follow each character's point of view. The characters Dylan and Alex could be your next door neighbor. They are very real and believable in the story. I liked that the author touched on what the life of a soldier returning home after fighting in the war might be like. The loss of friends and love, the emotional turmoil, guilt for for surviving.. were all portrayed realistica...more

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Feb 09, 2013 Emily rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, kindle, read-in-2012, son-i-am-disappoint, self-pubbed

When Alex discovers her ex-boyfriend, Dylan, is back from serving in Afghanistan and attending her university, she’s horrified. What’s worse is they’ve been assigned to the same work study program and have to spend a lot of time with each other. Dylan isn’t too happy about it either. This is the girl that broke his heart – the girl he’s been trying to forget. In order to not let their personal issues interfere with work, Alex and Dylan set boundaries. But soon it becomes clear that neither of th...more When Alex discovers her ex-boyfriend, Dylan, is back from serving in Afghanistan and attending her university, she’s horrified. What’s worse is they’ve been assigned to the same work study program and have to spend a lot of time with each other. Dylan isn’t too happy about it either. This is the girl that broke his heart – the girl he’s been trying to forget. In order to not let their personal issues interfere with work, Alex and Dylan set boundaries. But soon it becomes clear that neither of them have let go of the past.

Just Remember to Breathe is a new adult novel told from the alternating POVs of college students Alex and Dylan. I liked Dylan straight away. He still had a sense of humour and a relatively positive attitude despite the crappy things that had happened to him. Not only did he come back injured from Afghanistan, but he also lost his best friend over there and now struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder. In his bio, Charles Sheehan-Miles says he was a soldier and now works with disabled veterans – and this shows in the novel. The details of Dylan’s injuries and recovery felt authentic, and I appreciated that. Dylan was the strongest character in this story and I wouldn’t have minded if the entire book was told solely from his perspective.

On the other hand, by the end of the story, I didn’t feel like I knew Alex at all. At times it seemed as if her whole life revolved around a boy. And she cried way too much. Her character didn’t begin to develop until the midway point, when we learn about her family life and the pressure she’s under from her father. But it just felt like too little, too late.

At first, I enjoyed the romance. I loved the tension when they went running together, hearing about their past relationship and seeing they still had feelings for each other. But, the thing is, their past was talked about so much that I started to feel like the most interesting story had happened before the first page of Just Remember to Breathe. And there was far too much angst. I got so sick of them going back and forth – we’re together, oh now we’re not together, and so on – that I lost interest. Their relationship became melodramatic and unhealthy. Towards the end, I wanted Alex and Dylan to break up because they were just so bad for each other.

I also didn’t like that the book was filled with typos. It seemed as if it hadn’t been proofread at all before it was published. I think I could’ve overcome those mistakes but, ultimately, the story as a whole fell short in the end. I didn’t believe the ending at all; it felt forced.

So, if you’re looking for a novel with substance that explores post-traumatic stress disorder and has a good dose of romance, I recommend picking up Trish Doller’s Something Like Normal instead.

This review and other fun things can be found at Daisy Chain Book Reviews.(less)

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Jan 01, 2013 Tough Critic Book Reviews rated it 3 of 5 stars

A book guaranteed to cure sexism...

I have to admit that when it comes to books...I'm a sexist. I can count on one hand the male authors that have been able to deliver something that fits my needs. But if I'm going to be honest...it's because I rarely give them a chance. I unfairly assume that women do romance better. I'm a skeptic...a sexist. Just Remember to Breathe was the fire extinguisher for my burning bra. Charles Sheehan-Miles can write romance...and I liked it.

It was a unique story that...more A book guaranteed to cure sexism...

I have to admit that when it comes to books...I'm a sexist. I can count on one hand the male authors that have been able to deliver something that fits my needs. But if I'm going to be honest...it's because I rarely give them a chance. I unfairly assume that women do romance better. I'm a skeptic...a sexist. Just Remember to Breathe was the fire extinguisher for my burning bra. Charles Sheehan-Miles can write romance...and I liked it.

It was a unique story that stepped away from your typical romance. I loved the army aspect of the plot and it was obvious the author wrote with heart and accuracy. Even though the initial relationship was insta-love, we get to meet Dylan and Alex years later when everything is bathed in tension. I. Love. Tension. It slowed down the relationship and aloud it to build.

I usually don't jump into bed with the secondary characters. Yes, they are vital to any story, but I tend to put all my interest and emotion into the primarys. I'm kind of a character snob. There have been very few, some, but few characters that have been able to pull me away. Sherman definitely pulled me away. I love me some secondary Sherman and found myself wanting, needing more!

This book was good and I enjoyed reading it, but its pace was a little slower than I tend to like. It had it's emotional peaks and drama, but sometimes I wished those peaks would have been just a little higher. I loved the build up and could see the incline of an awaited climax (and no I'm not talking sexually...for once) which is what kept me hooked to the story, but those moments fell a little short on intensity. However, I'm a fast paced emotional roller coaster devour in one bite give me more show me the drama reader. But there's a huge audience out there that love to slow down, and savor. They don't want a roller coaster, but a beautiful story that they connect with and enjoy. This is that book.

Charles Sheehan-Miles paved my road for future male authors. It may not have been exactly my kind of book, but he captivated me enough with his talent that once I finished, I immediately picked up A Song for Julia. He definitely has his own unique way of telling a story. A way that has me feeling a little indifferent, but guarantees that I will follow him in the future! READ ON!

(less)

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About Charles Sheehan-Miles

Charles has been a soldier, nonprofit executive, short order cook, IT manager and run a restaurant. He doesn't believe in specialization. He currently works as a communications and outreach specialist for a law firm representing disabled veterans. Charles lives in Bethesda, Maryland.

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Prayer at Rumayla: A Novel of the Gulf War

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Quotes from Just Remember to Breathe

“When I'm ninety, I want you to tell me that it's my turn to ask you a question, and if that miracle happens, then my question is going to be, 'Do you still love me?' and I hope that answer will still be yes.” — 32 people liked it

“I never stopped loving you,” he whispered. “Not even for a second. Even when I hated you.” — 22 people liked it

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