Don’t Wake Me Up

[image error]Don’t Wake Me Up

By M.E. Rhines

A Four Star Rating

 

As an avid reader of YA novels and a traditionally published YA author myself, I have to say this novel pulled at all the right emotions, and some of the wrong ones (in the best way possible). I laughed, I cried, felt rage, excitement, and empathy as I experienced the ups and downs of Colleen’s incredible journey. Colleen is a very believable character that you can’t help but fall in love with. She deals with the very real issues and dangers that come with an abusive teen relationship and just how bad that can be. The story also teaches through example on the page, how to rise above a situation which seems impossible to escape. “Don’t Wake Me Up”  takes us through the trials and tribulations of love, acceptance, and desire from an authentic teenage point of view.  As paranormal romances go, this was not at all what I expected; after all knowingly putting yourself into that space between being alive and waiting to cross over has its own set of rules. One wrong decision when it came to how long Colleen could linger to help a lost soul could potentially make her become one. The world building was vividly detailed, so much so that envisioning the setting the author painted with the words was easy and delightful. This beautiful work of art teaches us that sometimes the best display of the truest love is also the hardest…letting go. A true and genuine gem masterfully crafted to the page, “Don’t Wake Me Up” is an unforgettable tale and I can’t wait to see what story M.E. Rhines will breathe to life next. I read this book in a single sitting and recommend it to anyone who loves a classic romance that resonates with self-sacrifice to do what is best for the one you love. Grab a box of tissues and make sure you have the time to not put it down until the end, because you won’t want to. This book could rival the feel and voice of Gayle Foreman’s, If I Stay.