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Collision Course
Lucas had it all—popularity, a devoted girlfriend, a brotherly best friend, and a loving mother who would do anything for him. His life was right on course to be successful and fulfilling…until the crash changed everything.
Late at night, during a sudden downpour, three young lives are lost and Lucas, the lone survivor, is left to face the consequences. Surrounded by swirling gossip as to what really happened that fateful evening, Lucas now finds himself an outcast. Shunned by former friends, condemned by the people of his small town, and riddled by his own guilt and self-hatred, he struggles to find hope, find peace, and maybe, even find love.
Late at night, during a sudden downpour, three young lives are lost and Lucas, the lone survivor, is left to face the consequences. Surrounded by swirling gossip as to what really happened that fateful evening, Lucas now finds himself an outcast. Shunned by former friends, condemned by the people of his small town, and riddled by his own guilt and self-hatred, he struggles to find hope, find peace, and maybe, even find love.
472 pages, Paperback
First published April 9, 2012
205 people are currently reading
11609 people want to read
About the author
S.C. Stephens
42 books17.1k followersS.C. Stephens is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who enjoys spending every free moment she has creating stories that are packed with emotion and heavy on romance.
Her debut novel, Thoughtless, an angst-filled love triangle charged with insurmountable passion and the unforgettable Kellan Kyle, took the literary world by storm. Amazed and surprised by the response to the release of Thoughtless in 2009, more stories were quick to follow. Stephens has been writing nonstop ever since.
In addition to writing, Stephens enjoys spending lazy afternoons in the sun reading fabulous novels, loading up her iPod with writer's block reducing music, heading out to the movies, and spending quality time with her friends and family. She currently resides in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her two equally beautiful children.
Her debut novel, Thoughtless, an angst-filled love triangle charged with insurmountable passion and the unforgettable Kellan Kyle, took the literary world by storm. Amazed and surprised by the response to the release of Thoughtless in 2009, more stories were quick to follow. Stephens has been writing nonstop ever since.
In addition to writing, Stephens enjoys spending lazy afternoons in the sun reading fabulous novels, loading up her iPod with writer's block reducing music, heading out to the movies, and spending quality time with her friends and family. She currently resides in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her two equally beautiful children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 942 reviews
August 27, 2012
"Looking back at that moment, I think I’d been waiting for death to take me too, not for someone to rescue me. I think I’d been shaking in that seat, praying for some internal injury to make itself known. Waiting for some part of me to bleed out, so I could close my eyes and join my girlfriend, wherever she’d gone.”
Three months after a fateful car crash (where he was driving in a freak storm) that claimed the lives of his beloved girlfriend, best friend and his girlfriend, Lucas is still unable to even consider moving on. Haunted by the memories of his loved ones, the what-ifs, and the constant judgment by everyone in his school, Lucas struggles through the aftermath of a tragedy everyone is blaming on him. On his first day back at school, meets a new girl, Sawyer, hiding out in the boy’s bathroom. Something about her seems different than everyone else, and in a completely non-judgmental and understanding way, she can see his pain and reaches out to help him. She’s the only one who truely believes him when he says he wasn’t drunk during the accident and he feels this strong connection to her even though he doesn’t really know anything about her – as if on some level, she can really understand his pain.
Both of them know there is deep pain in each other’s pasts but they don’t push each other about it, instead are just always there for each other and fall into a close friendship. But Lucas is still grieving and is unable to move on from his girlfriend. He loved her, really did, and he gets lost in his memories of her.
“I remembered her breath, her smell, her laugh, her eyes, her love… A love never spoken out loud, but evident in every move she made around me.”
Throughout a lot of the book, Lucas dreams vividly her, and his other friends that he lost – continuing his connection, conversations, relationships with them, unwilling and unable to let go when to him, they still feels so real despite him rationally accepting that they have died.
“Who’s to say what’s more real, if life and dreams feel the same?”
The book follows Lucas’ journey as he struggles to face the reality of having been the one who lived, and as this beautiful, yet also damaged girl he meets, Sawyer, helps pull him out of the clutches of misery and back into life.
“Why do you always have to get after me?”…
“Because I’m your best friend. And sometimes that means I have to tell you things you don’t want to hear… You lived, Luc,” he clutched my shoulders, a tear dropping to his cheek. “…so live.”
SC Stephens is a very gifted author able to get you right insider her character’s mind – feeling, thinking and going through exactly what they are going through with them. You feel their point of view as though it were your own.
Its also quite refreshing that this whole book is told from the guy’s POV. Its something we don’t get to see a lot of and the book reads literally like you are right in his head – you know every thought he has.
It also asks a lot of questions: Why did this happen? Was he meant to die? Was he meant to live? Is life worth living now that they are gone?
This book deals with a lot of heavy themes – it brings to light the damage of bullying and the ease with which gossip can twist facts into nearly complete fabrications barely resembling the original event and it focuses on how someone would deal with grief after a tragedy and how to move on with life while still honoring the memories of those who died.
Despite the fact that Lucas’ story was really sad, I didn’t quite feel “that feeling” of having my heart ripped out that I was expecting until the end (when I did end up crying). I think the whole “car accident” senario in books might be the reason why I didn’t feel as strong a connection to the characters in the beginning (another example of this would by If I Stay) because despite knowing in my heart that its a horrible tragic story, the result of having come into the story at the point of or right after the accident, I don’t feel quite as strong a connection to the characters who died, and as a result, as a reader I was able to feel sympathetically sad, rather than feeling personally sad as though I knew the characters in the crash… I don’t know if that makes sense though… but still, its kinda how I felt.
And then, I guess because by the end of the book, I felt like through Lucas’ dreams I had really ‘met’ and gotten to know the characters that had died, I felt a lot more emotionally connected to the last third of the book than I did to the beginning and did in fact end up in tears a few times.
If you are looking for a straight up romance, this probably isn’t it. Its YA (Characters are 17 years old) but with steam. Its different than your usual romance because at first, despite their connection and the fact that they do really like each other, Lucas pulls back from entering a romantic relationship with Sawyer because he still feels like he’s ‘with’ his girlfriend who died. It is a romance in a way, but I’d say its equally focused on his healing process as it is on their romantic story.
Its basically how Lucas deals with what happened, how he grieves, how he learns to let go and how he heals... and a lot of that is through/with the help of this new girl he meets - and in that way, its a slow building romance. And yes, the ending is a HEA :)
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Three months after a fateful car crash (where he was driving in a freak storm) that claimed the lives of his beloved girlfriend, best friend and his girlfriend, Lucas is still unable to even consider moving on. Haunted by the memories of his loved ones, the what-ifs, and the constant judgment by everyone in his school, Lucas struggles through the aftermath of a tragedy everyone is blaming on him. On his first day back at school, meets a new girl, Sawyer, hiding out in the boy’s bathroom. Something about her seems different than everyone else, and in a completely non-judgmental and understanding way, she can see his pain and reaches out to help him. She’s the only one who truely believes him when he says he wasn’t drunk during the accident and he feels this strong connection to her even though he doesn’t really know anything about her – as if on some level, she can really understand his pain.
Both of them know there is deep pain in each other’s pasts but they don’t push each other about it, instead are just always there for each other and fall into a close friendship. But Lucas is still grieving and is unable to move on from his girlfriend. He loved her, really did, and he gets lost in his memories of her.
“I remembered her breath, her smell, her laugh, her eyes, her love… A love never spoken out loud, but evident in every move she made around me.”
Throughout a lot of the book, Lucas dreams vividly her, and his other friends that he lost – continuing his connection, conversations, relationships with them, unwilling and unable to let go when to him, they still feels so real despite him rationally accepting that they have died.
“Who’s to say what’s more real, if life and dreams feel the same?”
The book follows Lucas’ journey as he struggles to face the reality of having been the one who lived, and as this beautiful, yet also damaged girl he meets, Sawyer, helps pull him out of the clutches of misery and back into life.
“Why do you always have to get after me?”…
“Because I’m your best friend. And sometimes that means I have to tell you things you don’t want to hear… You lived, Luc,” he clutched my shoulders, a tear dropping to his cheek. “…so live.”
SC Stephens is a very gifted author able to get you right insider her character’s mind – feeling, thinking and going through exactly what they are going through with them. You feel their point of view as though it were your own.
Its also quite refreshing that this whole book is told from the guy’s POV. Its something we don’t get to see a lot of and the book reads literally like you are right in his head – you know every thought he has.
It also asks a lot of questions: Why did this happen? Was he meant to die? Was he meant to live? Is life worth living now that they are gone?
This book deals with a lot of heavy themes – it brings to light the damage of bullying and the ease with which gossip can twist facts into nearly complete fabrications barely resembling the original event and it focuses on how someone would deal with grief after a tragedy and how to move on with life while still honoring the memories of those who died.
Despite the fact that Lucas’ story was really sad, I didn’t quite feel “that feeling” of having my heart ripped out that I was expecting until the end (when I did end up crying). I think the whole “car accident” senario in books might be the reason why I didn’t feel as strong a connection to the characters in the beginning (another example of this would by If I Stay) because despite knowing in my heart that its a horrible tragic story, the result of having come into the story at the point of or right after the accident, I don’t feel quite as strong a connection to the characters who died, and as a result, as a reader I was able to feel sympathetically sad, rather than feeling personally sad as though I knew the characters in the crash… I don’t know if that makes sense though… but still, its kinda how I felt.
And then, I guess because by the end of the book, I felt like through Lucas’ dreams I had really ‘met’ and gotten to know the characters that had died, I felt a lot more emotionally connected to the last third of the book than I did to the beginning and did in fact end up in tears a few times.
If you are looking for a straight up romance, this probably isn’t it. Its YA (Characters are 17 years old) but with steam. Its different than your usual romance because at first, despite their connection and the fact that they do really like each other, Lucas pulls back from entering a romantic relationship with Sawyer because he still feels like he’s ‘with’ his girlfriend who died. It is a romance in a way, but I’d say its equally focused on his healing process as it is on their romantic story.
Its basically how Lucas deals with what happened, how he grieves, how he learns to let go and how he heals... and a lot of that is through/with the help of this new girl he meets - and in that way, its a slow building romance. And yes, the ending is a HEA :)
For more of my reviews, visit Aestas Book Blog
And come join the Aestas Book Blog Facebook Page
December 18, 2015
Finishing this book was such a relief. I thought I'd never be able to end it but miraculously, the last strand of patience in me held out long enough for me to do so and no matter how great other readers may consider this book is, no one could blame me for feeling this way. That was 1, 069 pages (ebook version). Phew!!!
My agony over the length however was rewarded by some of the good points I liked about this book. I liked that the story reminded me of several highly noted YA contemporaries like If I Stay, Hopeless of Colleen Hoover and even a bit of We Were Liars. I also liked the inspiring purpose of the story that is, to present how a grieving young man who blames himself for the death of people most important to him and then gets shunned by almost every student in his school still manages to move on and live life through the help of a strong, kindhearted, selfless young girl. This is the same reason why I empathized a lot with the main character, Lucas especially in the beginning parts of the story. It was hard not to grieve with him over the tragedy which he felt he was to blame for. His vivid dreams and recollections of his friends are touching and worth a teardrop or two.
The plot is considerably interesting but it was just too long. Too long that the initial positive vibes I was feeling for it started to slowly turn to annoyance. There are several repetitions not only in the dialogues but in the scenes as well. I couldn't count the number of times Will tripped Lucas with his foot which was really lame or of the mornings Lucas and his mom drank their coffee or of Sawyer (the main female character) saying "Are you okay? or of Lucas giving the line "just one more year." Perhaps if the language used more catchy metaphors, I would have not noticed the lazy repetitions and I would not have guiltily skimmed and scanned through several chapters of the book.
I was really attempting to "DNF" this book but I still clung on the potential of the story, so through gritted teeth I read through only to further be pissed at Lucas who became really annoying. I have never felt so annoyed at a male character, not even at villains. He became too whiny and too weak. He always needed Sawyer and kept using her as his pillow for hugging and sobbing. Perhaps, the reason I felt having enough of Lucas rants is because he is the story's narrator and I guess I'm just not used to a whiny male voice. I was really starting to feel sorry for Sawyer and thought she's better off without Lucas. Sigh!!!
My empathy for Lucas and for the entire story fortunately returned as I was reading the last few parts of the book and that was my deciding factor to give this book a decent rating. The goodbyes were heartbreaking but the ending is quite fulfilling. That particular ending makes perfect sense to the entire story. It was well presented and highly meaningful. I think this is one of those that will be really great in a movie.
August 28, 2012
I wanted to love this book and it came highly recommend however I found myself skimming and I never skim. 1/3 of the book could have been removed and I wouldn't have missed the pages. I felt like I was in a never-ending loop.
I did enjoy the second half but since it was so incredibly unnecessarily long and I was wishing it was over I wasn't able to fully appreciate the ending. :( sadly my first 2 star review.
Update: Alright so I felt incredibly guilty for giving it a 2 star. What annoyed the crap out of me... the dreams... oh the dreams! After reading the 5 millionth one it just ruined the whole book. I was tired of reading about them. I felt horrible for Sawyer! She deserved someone living in the present. How can you compete with a dream. Why would you stick around 4 months to be 2nd rate. The fact that the story is still with me proves it wasn't horrible, there were just pieces that could have been omitted and I would have enjoyed it more. Cut out a million of the dreams and it would have been so much better. I'm bumping up to a 3 star.
I did enjoy the second half but since it was so incredibly unnecessarily long and I was wishing it was over I wasn't able to fully appreciate the ending. :( sadly my first 2 star review.
Update: Alright so I felt incredibly guilty for giving it a 2 star. What annoyed the crap out of me... the dreams... oh the dreams! After reading the 5 millionth one it just ruined the whole book. I was tired of reading about them. I felt horrible for Sawyer! She deserved someone living in the present. How can you compete with a dream. Why would you stick around 4 months to be 2nd rate. The fact that the story is still with me proves it wasn't horrible, there were just pieces that could have been omitted and I would have enjoyed it more. Cut out a million of the dreams and it would have been so much better. I'm bumping up to a 3 star.
July 15, 2015
Let me just tell you this book, the feels. I didn't even know this book existed until recently, but since I am going to be meeting SC Stephens in a few days I wanted to read it. I was blown away.
Lucas West as the driver in a car accident that killed his best friends the summer before his senior year of high school. The story begins with us meeting a grieving Lucas and seeing how going back to school in his small town is pure torture. That is until the new girl sees something in him and wants to help him find his way back out of his own personal hell.
My heart completely broke for the all the characters. I didn't feel like anyone was without blame and everyone was experiencing heartache, but that's life and it's not always pretty. I love a book that makes me feel and Collision Course broke my heart on 100 different levels. This is more than a love story, it's a story of heartache, loss and forgiveness. I highly recommend, but be ready with the tissues!
Lucas West as the driver in a car accident that killed his best friends the summer before his senior year of high school. The story begins with us meeting a grieving Lucas and seeing how going back to school in his small town is pure torture. That is until the new girl sees something in him and wants to help him find his way back out of his own personal hell.
My heart completely broke for the all the characters. I didn't feel like anyone was without blame and everyone was experiencing heartache, but that's life and it's not always pretty. I love a book that makes me feel and Collision Course broke my heart on 100 different levels. This is more than a love story, it's a story of heartache, loss and forgiveness. I highly recommend, but be ready with the tissues!
January 7, 2016
★★★ ! ! I was an emotinal wreck after reading this book.
I was near tears more times then i can count and in the end they streamed freely.
If any book in this world is angsty I wanna say this one is. About the whole book, or maybe 90% is angst. But don´t be scared of reading it because while there is angst, there is also light and hope.
This is Lucas story. About his healing. He was just an average teenage boy, star in the football team with many friens and a beautiful girlfriend. He goes from that to a living nightmare, shunned and the hate objecct of the school #1.
To cope with the days he starts to live for the nights. For the dreams. Where he gets to escape reality and where his friends and girlfriend are still alive.
I can´t tell you how much i love the author S C Stephens. And her writing. I could just not put this book down. This was so addictive and i just wanted to keep reading. If you love her other books you wont be disappointed. Her writing flows, just as in Thoughless.
And I loved the characters. Lucas is the one you just wanna give a comforting hug.
..and Sawyer...well, I guess i fell in love with her from moment one. When we get to meet her in the mens bathroom,
Her friendship with Lucas is beautiful and unconditional and I love her. That is the first time I said that about a heroine except from Tatiana in The bronze horseman.
I was near tears more times then i can count and in the end they streamed freely.
If any book in this world is angsty I wanna say this one is. About the whole book, or maybe 90% is angst. But don´t be scared of reading it because while there is angst, there is also light and hope.
This is Lucas story. About his healing. He was just an average teenage boy, star in the football team with many friens and a beautiful girlfriend. He goes from that to a living nightmare, shunned and the hate objecct of the school #1.
To cope with the days he starts to live for the nights. For the dreams. Where he gets to escape reality and where his friends and girlfriend are still alive.
I can´t tell you how much i love the author S C Stephens. And her writing. I could just not put this book down. This was so addictive and i just wanted to keep reading. If you love her other books you wont be disappointed. Her writing flows, just as in Thoughless.
And I loved the characters. Lucas is the one you just wanna give a comforting hug.
..and Sawyer...well, I guess i fell in love with her from moment one. When we get to meet her in the mens bathroom,
Her friendship with Lucas is beautiful and unconditional and I love her. That is the first time I said that about a heroine except from Tatiana in The bronze horseman.
December 2, 2011
4 1/2 stars.
An emotional first person account about a teenage boy, Lucas, who suffers more loss in one tragic night, than most people would endure in a lifetime. The guilt consumes him, and even though he knows the rumors of intoxication are not true, he allows everyone to continue to believe otherwise. I felt that this was a way for him to punish himself, because their deaths did come at his hands, albeit indirectly. Even though it was an accident, he feels he was responsible and can’t forgive himself. Vivid is an understatement, when Lucas recounts every heartbreaking moment of that disastrous night in his mind. You hear, see, and feel everything as he did, when his life is changed forever. Extremely powerful and disturbing, so much so, that I still can’t get that image out of my head. This is where the true talent of this author lies. She paints a picture that is almost too real, too painful, and allows you to feel the characters emotions, and in this case it wasn’t pretty.
Lucas endures relentless abuse at the hands of his classmates, and some teachers, as they feel the need to make him suffer, believing all the rumors and gossip that continue to follow him to be true. It is his own personal living hell, and all I wanted to do was protect him and punish those that could be so cruel.
Enter Sawyer, new kid at school, who doesn’t have any preconceived notions about him, and chooses to befriend Lucas. She becomes his confidant, protector, and ultimately his lifeline, as she helps him to help himself. She has endured horrific life-altering events of her own, but they do not over shadow Lucas’ story, but are brought to the forefront at a key moment with an awe-inspiring outcome.
The hardest part for Lucas and very emotional for me, is his reluctance to let go of his friends. He dreams them back to life. They are so real to him and the reader…if only it could be so. You can feel the love and camaraderie that this group of friends has for each other. Especially profound are his stolen imagined moments with his girlfriend Lil; I can hardly type through my tears. To me, Lil, Sammy and Darren were angels sent to comfort Lucas, until he was ready to move on with his life.
Not only is this a tragic story, but it’s also a love story. Lucas has so many people that love him, but at times he can’t see past his own guilt to realize how many people care for him. His biggest supporter and the one who believes he can overcome this adversity is Sawyer, and for one so young, she is so wise. She brings him back to the living, and in that moment I could barely breathe!
Although I loved this book, and enjoy the author’s style of writing, I did have a few issues, one being the length. I wouldn’t take away too much, because even though it is long, most of what is written is essential to the account of events. There is a small side story with Lucas’ mother that didn’t quite fit in for me and the book would have not lost any of its impact without it. Also one or two sex scenes that I’m on the fence about, I might have to read it again to see how relevant they really were. One that I initially thought to be too much, in retrospect I think it is necessary, as it touches on a level of love that can’t be portrayed without it…in my eyes anyway.
This is not an easy book to read and had me thinking long and hard about events in my own life. I thought about how I would feel as a teenager had my friends been taken from me, which I actually did experience. As a mother who loses a child, and a mother of one who survives. As a sibling that is now alone. But mostly, I thought about how I would feel if someone who I loved lost their life, because I had a hand in it, even if it was an accident. Would I ever be able to forgive someone or myself...I don’t know.
“There but for the grace of God, go I”. Maybe that’s my answer.
An emotional first person account about a teenage boy, Lucas, who suffers more loss in one tragic night, than most people would endure in a lifetime. The guilt consumes him, and even though he knows the rumors of intoxication are not true, he allows everyone to continue to believe otherwise. I felt that this was a way for him to punish himself, because their deaths did come at his hands, albeit indirectly. Even though it was an accident, he feels he was responsible and can’t forgive himself. Vivid is an understatement, when Lucas recounts every heartbreaking moment of that disastrous night in his mind. You hear, see, and feel everything as he did, when his life is changed forever. Extremely powerful and disturbing, so much so, that I still can’t get that image out of my head. This is where the true talent of this author lies. She paints a picture that is almost too real, too painful, and allows you to feel the characters emotions, and in this case it wasn’t pretty.
Lucas endures relentless abuse at the hands of his classmates, and some teachers, as they feel the need to make him suffer, believing all the rumors and gossip that continue to follow him to be true. It is his own personal living hell, and all I wanted to do was protect him and punish those that could be so cruel.
Enter Sawyer, new kid at school, who doesn’t have any preconceived notions about him, and chooses to befriend Lucas. She becomes his confidant, protector, and ultimately his lifeline, as she helps him to help himself. She has endured horrific life-altering events of her own, but they do not over shadow Lucas’ story, but are brought to the forefront at a key moment with an awe-inspiring outcome.
The hardest part for Lucas and very emotional for me, is his reluctance to let go of his friends. He dreams them back to life. They are so real to him and the reader…if only it could be so. You can feel the love and camaraderie that this group of friends has for each other. Especially profound are his stolen imagined moments with his girlfriend Lil; I can hardly type through my tears. To me, Lil, Sammy and Darren were angels sent to comfort Lucas, until he was ready to move on with his life.
Not only is this a tragic story, but it’s also a love story. Lucas has so many people that love him, but at times he can’t see past his own guilt to realize how many people care for him. His biggest supporter and the one who believes he can overcome this adversity is Sawyer, and for one so young, she is so wise. She brings him back to the living, and in that moment I could barely breathe!
Although I loved this book, and enjoy the author’s style of writing, I did have a few issues, one being the length. I wouldn’t take away too much, because even though it is long, most of what is written is essential to the account of events. There is a small side story with Lucas’ mother that didn’t quite fit in for me and the book would have not lost any of its impact without it. Also one or two sex scenes that I’m on the fence about, I might have to read it again to see how relevant they really were. One that I initially thought to be too much, in retrospect I think it is necessary, as it touches on a level of love that can’t be portrayed without it…in my eyes anyway.
This is not an easy book to read and had me thinking long and hard about events in my own life. I thought about how I would feel as a teenager had my friends been taken from me, which I actually did experience. As a mother who loses a child, and a mother of one who survives. As a sibling that is now alone. But mostly, I thought about how I would feel if someone who I loved lost their life, because I had a hand in it, even if it was an accident. Would I ever be able to forgive someone or myself...I don’t know.
“There but for the grace of God, go I”. Maybe that’s my answer.
June 19, 2013
Intensely emotional!
I just can not get enough of S.C. Stephens' books! The Thoughtless series is my absolute all-time favorite series. So, when I realised that she'd written this and I hadn't read it, it launched itself straight to the top of my TBR list! And I wasn't disappointed.
"It hurts to much. Life... it hurts so much. I don't feel like I belong. Ever since the crash, I haven't felt like I should be here, and now I know why."
Before I go any further, if I had to pick a fault, it is the length of this book! It is very long and I did feel that there was a lot that could probably have been cut out. That was the only thing stopping this from being a 5+ star read for me!
Other than that, it's superb.
I cried sooo many times during this book. I cried for characters that died before the book even begins, I cried for Lucas, I cried for Sawyer, I cried for the families that were left behind. It's so so sad.
"I fucked up - completely sober and they all died because of it! And I wish every day that I'd died with them!"
Totally heartbreaking, thought provoking and completely worth it.
I don't know what it is about some authors that just manages to suck you in. What is the difference between good writing and out standing writing? What is the difference between the books you like and the books you simply can't put down?
And whatever it is, Stephens has it! Her books are the ones that stay with me. Not only after I've read them, but when I have to put them down to work, when I can't keep my eyes open at night, when I have to get on with those irritating, inconvenient, every day things like shower, cook, eat... the characters that I can't stop thinking about and the book-worlds that I don't want to be separated from.
Lucas tugged so hard at my heart strings! I physically felt his pain in my chest and I spent such a large proportion of his story in tears. It's rare to read an entire book from a male POV and I wasn't sure that a YA book would work so well like that, but, before long, I wasn't giving it a second thought.
"I remember everything... from that night. Every horrid, intricate detail. I wish I could forget."
I loved Sawyer. She was steadfast and consistent throughout the whole book and I was rooting for her from the beginning.
"Honestly, Sawyer, you're my only reason to wake up."
For a long time, Lucas struggles with the love that he still feels for his dead girlfriend, Lil, and he feels, in his mind, that they are still together. Because of this, he can't pursue a relationship with Sawyer beyond friendship and comfort. It's gut wrenching to watch them both struggle with their feelings and connections, in their own ways, yet know that they can't be together.
"You're my miracle. Don't take that away from me."
Lucas has a lot of dreams where he 'meets' his dead friends and girlfriend and begins to live for these dreams, at the expense of real life. I didn't enjoy the dreams as much as I enjoyed the rest of the book. These were what I felt could have been reduced a little. I understand the need for them to help the reader connect with the deceased characters, but I just felt they were a little too much.
Dreams didn't mean anything? But... what if dreams were all I had?
So, in conclusion, this book was fantastic and I really would recommend it, despite the length of it. It just proves to me, once again, why S.C. Stephens is such an outstanding author!
Collision Course Statistics
Steam Rating (out of 5): ♥♥♥♥
Ending: HEA
Series: ✗
Can this be read as a standalone? Yes
Themes:
Grief
High school
Warning. This book includes...
Death
Writing: Great
UK AMAZON: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Collision-Cou...
US AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Collision-Cours...
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August 5, 2012
This is an emotional account of a teenage boy(Lucas) who suffers a tragic loss. Guilt ridden, he closes himself off to the world... that is until he meets Sawyer. Sawyer is a character who you cant help but love. Although she has issues of her own, she helps Luc through some of the hardest times of his life and find the closure he needs.
Really did love reading this book, found myself in tears at times but it really is a beautiful story of love, getting through the hard times and moving on.
Really did love reading this book, found myself in tears at times but it really is a beautiful story of love, getting through the hard times and moving on.
April 23, 2012
Frankly, this book was way less emotional than I thought it'd be. I felt bad for Lucas, what happened to him, what he had to go through, and liked how he managed to overcome it, but that's about it. I think I snickered a few times too. But Lucas cries in it, I didn't reading it (ok, guy, not supposed to, but you get the point).
Why? The entire plot felt a little too contrived. Obviously I don’t have any personal experience, but it was more than a little unbelievable that the entire town would blame Lucas for the accident, blame his drinking, when he insisted that he was sober and had a prior reputation of only having one or two drinks at most. Josh, his dead best friend’s brother, I could understand his anger, but the entire football team, the coach, the teachers, everyone except Sawyer? It’s not fair that everyone just turns on Lucas, unfair and unbelievable. Lucas’s own self-loathing and his messed up head is guilt enough, without the story becoming more about coping with bullying than about coping with loss.
The entire book also seemed a bit too long. I liked watching Lucas struggling to put his life back together, seeing him start out all kinds of messed up, Sawyer being the rock there for him, but does he really need to reconcile with Josh three times? Was Lucas’s mother’s adultery storyline really all that necessary as we follow Lucas’s recovery? Did Mr. Varner’s unexplained meanness really add anything to the plot? There’s nothing wrong with ending the book after graduation as Lucas gradually copes over senior year, but when the climax is over and there’s still a fifth of the book to go, please, dragging out the impact of the moment’s not the way to go. There’s too much filler between the emotional punches.
I liked this book, how it explores how a guy recovers from a deeply personal tragedy, but wasn’t really emotionally invested in the story. There’s a really good story here, but it could’ve been a little deeper and used a little less filler.
Why? The entire plot felt a little too contrived. Obviously I don’t have any personal experience, but it was more than a little unbelievable that the entire town would blame Lucas for the accident, blame his drinking, when he insisted that he was sober and had a prior reputation of only having one or two drinks at most. Josh, his dead best friend’s brother, I could understand his anger, but the entire football team, the coach, the teachers, everyone except Sawyer? It’s not fair that everyone just turns on Lucas, unfair and unbelievable. Lucas’s own self-loathing and his messed up head is guilt enough, without the story becoming more about coping with bullying than about coping with loss.
The entire book also seemed a bit too long. I liked watching Lucas struggling to put his life back together, seeing him start out all kinds of messed up, Sawyer being the rock there for him, but does he really need to reconcile with Josh three times? Was Lucas’s mother’s adultery storyline really all that necessary as we follow Lucas’s recovery? Did Mr. Varner’s unexplained meanness really add anything to the plot? There’s nothing wrong with ending the book after graduation as Lucas gradually copes over senior year, but when the climax is over and there’s still a fifth of the book to go, please, dragging out the impact of the moment’s not the way to go. There’s too much filler between the emotional punches.
I liked this book, how it explores how a guy recovers from a deeply personal tragedy, but wasn’t really emotionally invested in the story. There’s a really good story here, but it could’ve been a little deeper and used a little less filler.
January 12, 2011
Collision Course is my all time favourite S.C. Stephens book. It moved me more than any other story I've read and had me living and breathing every thought and emotion that the main character had. The feelings this book evokes are so powerful and gut-wrenching that at times it was almost painful to read, yet at the same time the story line was so compelling I couldn't stop. By time the book was over, I'd cried more than I had in months.
Collision Course is truly a masterpiece and show cases exactly how good an author Stephens is. If you want to truly get into the mind of character, this is the book for you. I cannot recommend it enough!
Brava S.C. Stephens! Take a bow!
Collision Course is truly a masterpiece and show cases exactly how good an author Stephens is. If you want to truly get into the mind of character, this is the book for you. I cannot recommend it enough!
Brava S.C. Stephens! Take a bow!
June 28, 2012
A soft smile lit her lips as her hand clenched mine, her beautiful gray eyes on our fingers. “For a full minute, I was dead. But somehow, somehow they brought me back.” Her eyes shifted back to mine and she gave me a pointed look. “And there is nothing quite like death, to make you reevaluate your life. I think you get that.”
Oh my crying-at-the-same-time-smiling heart !!! S.C. Stephens , you are most definitely the 'Queen of Angst'!!! Your books manage to turn me into a sobbing-blabbering mess of emotions , and a very bad one if I may add ....
Oh lord , this book has such a high emotional factor . There is no way , that you can get through it without getting all teary eyed . There were times that I kinda looked like these :
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Oh wait let me fix that , I was like that practically all the times !!
Things that I loved about this book :
Firstly , I loved Sawyer's character . Oh my god , she was definitely an angel . All the shit that she has been through in her life had only made her a wise person . I loved how she was the pillar of support , love and comfort to Lucas . At times I found myself irritated with Lucas but then again all the mess that he was a part of got the better of him in so many ways .
S.C Stephens has bought out the effect of losing a loved one/ones in such a beautiful way . Lucas's dreams was just a simple of showing how his brain dealt with the loss of his friends and girlfriend . I thought the dream scenario's were handled in the most unique ways . I mean I just loved it !!!
I hated the rumour mongers and attention seekers . I just couldn't understand how people could be so shallow . But ai'nt that the truth ?? We live in a world filled with assortments of people . Show are good , some are bad , some are plain old mean and cruel . God , I literally wanted to punch some sense into those people and tell them
This book is a MUST READ !!!! Recommended to readers who love S.C. Stephens and also love angst filled romances !!
Oh my crying-at-the-same-time-smiling heart !!! S.C. Stephens , you are most definitely the 'Queen of Angst'!!! Your books manage to turn me into a sobbing-blabbering mess of emotions , and a very bad one if I may add ....
Oh lord , this book has such a high emotional factor . There is no way , that you can get through it without getting all teary eyed . There were times that I kinda looked like these :
[image error]
Oh wait let me fix that , I was like that practically all the times !!
Things that I loved about this book :
Firstly , I loved Sawyer's character . Oh my god , she was definitely an angel . All the shit that she has been through in her life had only made her a wise person . I loved how she was the pillar of support , love and comfort to Lucas . At times I found myself irritated with Lucas but then again all the mess that he was a part of got the better of him in so many ways .
S.C Stephens has bought out the effect of losing a loved one/ones in such a beautiful way . Lucas's dreams was just a simple of showing how his brain dealt with the loss of his friends and girlfriend . I thought the dream scenario's were handled in the most unique ways . I mean I just loved it !!!
I hated the rumour mongers and attention seekers . I just couldn't understand how people could be so shallow . But ai'nt that the truth ?? We live in a world filled with assortments of people . Show are good , some are bad , some are plain old mean and cruel . God , I literally wanted to punch some sense into those people and tell them
This book is a MUST READ !!!! Recommended to readers who love S.C. Stephens and also love angst filled romances !!
April 23, 2011
I really haven't the talent to convey my appreciation of this 'story'. This was the 4th book I had read by S.C. Stephens having read the vampire books first. Now, I loved those books and the characters and I read them voraciously. This was entirely different. The beauty of this book and the many characters within it meant it just soared. Yes, this is fiction but it moved me deeply (I am male, I am in my 40's this is no lightweight throw-away of a book summed up by the 'Romance' genre) and I am not ashamed to say that. Not since Captain Correli's Mandeloin have I had moist eyes on the bus home from the office. I read The Lovely Bones and The Time Traveleller's Wife and I adored them - and this too.
I would like it if I could by the not-quite-as-environmentally-friendly paper-based book and put it on a bookshelf and where every year I could pull it out and meet up with Lucas and Sawyer and travelled their path and watched them triumph together over such devastating adversity.
If this isn't the best book I have ever read it certainly lives there with the best. It invokes a physical reaction as you feel the utter despair of Lucas and you see the saviour, survivor and angel that is Sawyer through his eyes and experiences - oh that every man should have a Sawyer in his life... if only dreams were a viable alternative to reality.
It will take me several days to come to terms with it. A truly beautiful story and sumptious characters. I am grateful to have stumbled upon it. I look forward to reading it again; and just as it did this time I am sure it will bring several lumps to my throat.
I could also empathise with Lucas and his experiences when having sufferd a (severe) head trauma sustained in a road accident I found my own reality and dreams crashed together and became inditinguishable but this wasn't why I loved it so much. The story telling was exquisite and even the erotocism which threatens to overshadow some other books is handled with sensitivity and is necessary to convey a more complete understanding of just how desparate Lucas has become.
I am sad to be able to write this wholly incomplete and largely understated review as to write it means I have finished (at least for now) the story of Lucas, Sawyer, their friends, their families and their enemies.
Have I made myself clear yet? I adored this book.
I would like it if I could by the not-quite-as-environmentally-friendly paper-based book and put it on a bookshelf and where every year I could pull it out and meet up with Lucas and Sawyer and travelled their path and watched them triumph together over such devastating adversity.
If this isn't the best book I have ever read it certainly lives there with the best. It invokes a physical reaction as you feel the utter despair of Lucas and you see the saviour, survivor and angel that is Sawyer through his eyes and experiences - oh that every man should have a Sawyer in his life... if only dreams were a viable alternative to reality.
It will take me several days to come to terms with it. A truly beautiful story and sumptious characters. I am grateful to have stumbled upon it. I look forward to reading it again; and just as it did this time I am sure it will bring several lumps to my throat.
I could also empathise with Lucas and his experiences when having sufferd a (severe) head trauma sustained in a road accident I found my own reality and dreams crashed together and became inditinguishable but this wasn't why I loved it so much. The story telling was exquisite and even the erotocism which threatens to overshadow some other books is handled with sensitivity and is necessary to convey a more complete understanding of just how desparate Lucas has become.
I am sad to be able to write this wholly incomplete and largely understated review as to write it means I have finished (at least for now) the story of Lucas, Sawyer, their friends, their families and their enemies.
Have I made myself clear yet? I adored this book.
February 11, 2016
WOW WOW WOW!
Where do I even begin!? I have never read a book that has left me sobbing in so many places before!
Knowing what this poor kid went through... Just sitting here writing this review, I am left with chills. I'm done reading and it still has an effect on me.
I knew when I was already getting emotional during the Prologue that I should stop reading and pick up another book...but I didn't. I kept reading. BIG MISTAKE!
@10% in I was already status updating that I was crying and didn't even know if I could make it through the book, but I trudged through. I couldn't bring myself to update for awhile.
@70% I actually found myself putting my kindle down to update my status with a quote that touched me. "You can't hurt me, Josh...because I already wish I were dead."
@95%....Graduation! That Speech!? I don't think there was a dry eye in the gym! I know mine weren't.
When I was finally done with the book, I found that I had cried so much that I was emotionally exhausted. No book has ever effected me so much. I hope that when you read this review you don't think...oh no...it's all bad...because it isn't. There is a lot of good in here too. And it's the combination of the good and the bad that make this story such a heart wrenching read!
Where do I even begin!? I have never read a book that has left me sobbing in so many places before!
Knowing what this poor kid went through... Just sitting here writing this review, I am left with chills. I'm done reading and it still has an effect on me.
I knew when I was already getting emotional during the Prologue that I should stop reading and pick up another book...but I didn't. I kept reading. BIG MISTAKE!
@10% in I was already status updating that I was crying and didn't even know if I could make it through the book, but I trudged through. I couldn't bring myself to update for awhile.
@70% I actually found myself putting my kindle down to update my status with a quote that touched me. "You can't hurt me, Josh...because I already wish I were dead."
@95%....Graduation! That Speech!? I don't think there was a dry eye in the gym! I know mine weren't.
When I was finally done with the book, I found that I had cried so much that I was emotionally exhausted. No book has ever effected me so much. I hope that when you read this review you don't think...oh no...it's all bad...because it isn't. There is a lot of good in here too. And it's the combination of the good and the bad that make this story such a heart wrenching read!
March 26, 2012
I am in total awe of this book and the amazing S.C. Stephens!!!
It was truly an extremely deep emotional ride from start till finish. A heartbreaking beautiful story that at times made me forget to breathe and had me feeling every emotion that Lucas and Sawyer had. At times it was almost too hard to read because I felt so emotional and also cause I couldn't see anything because of the constant tears in my eyes (went through 2 boxes of man-sized tissues in this one LOL)!
Lucas looses his 2 best friends and his girlfriend in a tragic accident, he is the sole survivor. This story shows the aftermath of this accident and it plays out over a year to the date. First day back at school Lucas meets the amazing and beautiful Sawyer....and this is where the journey begins with grief, gut-wrenching sadness, but more importantly friendship, love and hope!!
I fell in absolute love with Lucas and Sawyer!
It was truly an extremely deep emotional ride from start till finish. A heartbreaking beautiful story that at times made me forget to breathe and had me feeling every emotion that Lucas and Sawyer had. At times it was almost too hard to read because I felt so emotional and also cause I couldn't see anything because of the constant tears in my eyes (went through 2 boxes of man-sized tissues in this one LOL)!
Lucas looses his 2 best friends and his girlfriend in a tragic accident, he is the sole survivor. This story shows the aftermath of this accident and it plays out over a year to the date. First day back at school Lucas meets the amazing and beautiful Sawyer....and this is where the journey begins with grief, gut-wrenching sadness, but more importantly friendship, love and hope!!
I fell in absolute love with Lucas and Sawyer!
September 10, 2018
Oh my goodness this book was so emotionally wonderful. Collision Course is a must read like RIGHT NOW kinda book!
August 27, 2014
3.5 to 4 stars
This was a hard book to rate for many reasons. The beginning started off so strongly and S.C. Stephens, I've come to find, is a magnificent author. However, I do agree with past reviews. It could have been cut in half and had a MUCH stronger impact. Now, when I say that, it does not in ANY way mean this story was not a strong one.
I am a sap for romances, love stories, movies, etc., but I have rarely been known to cry on many books. I am pretty proud of that fact. But S.C. Stephens is one of the FEW authors who truly brings welling tears to my eyes...sometimes a steady stream. She writes in a way that is truly beautiful and reaches into your heart and to the depths of your soul. That sounds corny, but she continually makes me cry-and I rarely cry for books. Thoughtless was the same way; no matter how angry the main character(s) made me during the climax and revelation period of that novel, I couldn't help but to cry and I attribute that to the skillful writing of Stephens. But, and this is a heavy but, I really felt that the book lagged after a certain point; thus the 3.5-4 rating. Had she cut some longer scenes or dream periods, I feel it would have been a 5 star rating-a strong 5.
I hope Stephens continues to write these heart-wrenching novels that have characters with such depth, because they are amazing and fun to read. I cannot wait until another one of her expertly written novels comes out so I can admire her writing once again.
For more of my reviews visit
This was a hard book to rate for many reasons. The beginning started off so strongly and S.C. Stephens, I've come to find, is a magnificent author. However, I do agree with past reviews. It could have been cut in half and had a MUCH stronger impact. Now, when I say that, it does not in ANY way mean this story was not a strong one.
I am a sap for romances, love stories, movies, etc., but I have rarely been known to cry on many books. I am pretty proud of that fact. But S.C. Stephens is one of the FEW authors who truly brings welling tears to my eyes...sometimes a steady stream. She writes in a way that is truly beautiful and reaches into your heart and to the depths of your soul. That sounds corny, but she continually makes me cry-and I rarely cry for books. Thoughtless was the same way; no matter how angry the main character(s) made me during the climax and revelation period of that novel, I couldn't help but to cry and I attribute that to the skillful writing of Stephens. But, and this is a heavy but, I really felt that the book lagged after a certain point; thus the 3.5-4 rating. Had she cut some longer scenes or dream periods, I feel it would have been a 5 star rating-a strong 5.
I hope Stephens continues to write these heart-wrenching novels that have characters with such depth, because they are amazing and fun to read. I cannot wait until another one of her expertly written novels comes out so I can admire her writing once again.
For more of my reviews visit
November 16, 2012
Lucas...My heart never broke for someone so much when reading a book. This story is amazing, heart breaking, extremely emotional, and heart warming. You will go thru every emotion reading this book. You will need to put the book down and breath, cause you won't even realize you are holding your breath while reading it.
Lucas and his BEST FRIENDS and the LOVE OF HIS LIFE are in a horrible accident and the only survivor is Lucas. He blames himself and he is having an extremely hard time dealing with the accident and blames himself for it. He would dream about his dead friends and felt that was only way he could cope with living...living in his dreams...
"That's what you guys don't seem to grasp. I don't care. I don't care about that life I want you guys"
Lucas loved his Lil with all his heart. Lil loved Lucas with all her heart, but the tragic accident didn't give them a chance to tell each other...
"I just want to tell her I love her. I'm not trying to..." I shrugged my shoulders lamely. "I just want to finally tell her I love her. I never got to..."
Lucas is just barely surviving. Then he meets Sawyer...she is beautiful and sweet. Sawyer had a troubled past and was making a mends in a new town and school. They connect instantly and she would be his savor....
"Stay here",she whispered. "Stay here with me. We"ll figure it out together"
The ending of this book was the most beautiful ending of a book I EVER read. It will stick me w/me forever. <3
Lucas and his BEST FRIENDS and the LOVE OF HIS LIFE are in a horrible accident and the only survivor is Lucas. He blames himself and he is having an extremely hard time dealing with the accident and blames himself for it. He would dream about his dead friends and felt that was only way he could cope with living...living in his dreams...
"That's what you guys don't seem to grasp. I don't care. I don't care about that life I want you guys"
Lucas loved his Lil with all his heart. Lil loved Lucas with all her heart, but the tragic accident didn't give them a chance to tell each other...
"I just want to tell her I love her. I'm not trying to..." I shrugged my shoulders lamely. "I just want to finally tell her I love her. I never got to..."
Lucas is just barely surviving. Then he meets Sawyer...she is beautiful and sweet. Sawyer had a troubled past and was making a mends in a new town and school. They connect instantly and she would be his savor....
"Stay here",she whispered. "Stay here with me. We"ll figure it out together"
The ending of this book was the most beautiful ending of a book I EVER read. It will stick me w/me forever. <3
November 12, 2012
I tried. I really did. But I just couldn't finish this book.
How many times can a break down happen without finally having some resolution? It seemed like Lucas' break downs are always happening but without the much awaited "moving on" stage.
This is not a long story, it is a dragged out one that has repeated scenes over and over and over again. Lucas breaks down, Sawyer consoles him, he falls asleep and dreams about his dead girlfriend/best friend/friend or all of them. No revelations, no resolutions, no nothing. I'm already 3/4 done with the book and I still don't know what happened to Sawyer or will Lucas ever move on.
I know I shouldn't be one to talk because I don't know what it's like to lose three of the most important people in your life in one go but at one point, we all move on, right? And I just couldn't read anymore of how Lucas can't move on. You can't keep on piling issues on top of another without revealing just a little Ms. Stephens. :)
I hope someday I'd be able to finish this one. It had a lot of promise, but for now, I know it would seat in my to read shelf for a while.
How many times can a break down happen without finally having some resolution? It seemed like Lucas' break downs are always happening but without the much awaited "moving on" stage.
This is not a long story, it is a dragged out one that has repeated scenes over and over and over again. Lucas breaks down, Sawyer consoles him, he falls asleep and dreams about his dead girlfriend/best friend/friend or all of them. No revelations, no resolutions, no nothing. I'm already 3/4 done with the book and I still don't know what happened to Sawyer or will Lucas ever move on.
I know I shouldn't be one to talk because I don't know what it's like to lose three of the most important people in your life in one go but at one point, we all move on, right? And I just couldn't read anymore of how Lucas can't move on. You can't keep on piling issues on top of another without revealing just a little Ms. Stephens. :)
I hope someday I'd be able to finish this one. It had a lot of promise, but for now, I know it would seat in my to read shelf for a while.
January 29, 2019
DNF at 29%
Not my week!!! This one was so depressing and slow I just couldn’t take it anymore and I love Messy guys.
Not my week!!! This one was so depressing and slow I just couldn’t take it anymore and I love Messy guys.
September 18, 2018
Collision Course Review
Book Rating: 5 stars out of 5.
Story Line: 5 stars out of 5. I loved this book. It was amazing. I could connect with Lucas throughout the whole thing. I felt his pain. This whole story brought out so many emotions within me. It's hard to lose people. It's harder when you are the reason they are gone. Lucas went through so many things. It was hard to read at times. He felt alone in the school. No one had gone through what he experienced. They wouldn't have understood.
Lucas' pain did resonate with me. It helps me to understand his character better. I loved him so much as well as Sawyer. She was a breath of sunshine for him. Her presence did make him happy which in turn made me happy too.
He didn't want to let go of his friends, but he in the end he knew to keep them in his heart which is a beautiful thing.
Reading this did take me a while, but I was focused on my own book. S.C. Stephens is an independent self published author. She does an amazing job with what she does. That inspires me also. I also have self published my own novel. She really is a great inspiration to me. I honestly cannot wait to read the Thoughtless series which I bought. :)
I recommend this book to everyone. It's beautiful.
Characters: 5 stars out of 5. Lucas felt guilty for the death of his friends. His pain was my pain. I teared up for him so many times. He was such a sweetheart. He blamed himself for their death. It was the rains fault. I felt bad that the only solace was his dreams or when he was with Sawyer. I felt he could be himself more in his dreams than in real life.
Sawyer was the only character there for Lucas. She was also sweet, but also weird. She was a little mysterious. She saved Lucas from himself. I really like her because of that, but she wasn't my favorite heroine.
I like Lillian a bit more. She was the one that Lucas loved. If she was still alive she would have made a great character. I really wish she had lived through the accident...
Favorite Quotes: “Dreams didn't mean anything? But...what if dreams were all I had?"
“When I had woken up the next morning, I'd stared at my ceiling for a good ten minutes, reliving the dream, committing it to memory...wishing it was real, wishing I could crawl back inside that dream and disappear--stay there forever.”
Writing Style: 5 stars out of 5.
Book Rating: 5 stars out of 5.
Story Line: 5 stars out of 5. I loved this book. It was amazing. I could connect with Lucas throughout the whole thing. I felt his pain. This whole story brought out so many emotions within me. It's hard to lose people. It's harder when you are the reason they are gone. Lucas went through so many things. It was hard to read at times. He felt alone in the school. No one had gone through what he experienced. They wouldn't have understood.
Lucas' pain did resonate with me. It helps me to understand his character better. I loved him so much as well as Sawyer. She was a breath of sunshine for him. Her presence did make him happy which in turn made me happy too.
He didn't want to let go of his friends, but he in the end he knew to keep them in his heart which is a beautiful thing.
Reading this did take me a while, but I was focused on my own book. S.C. Stephens is an independent self published author. She does an amazing job with what she does. That inspires me also. I also have self published my own novel. She really is a great inspiration to me. I honestly cannot wait to read the Thoughtless series which I bought. :)
I recommend this book to everyone. It's beautiful.
Characters: 5 stars out of 5. Lucas felt guilty for the death of his friends. His pain was my pain. I teared up for him so many times. He was such a sweetheart. He blamed himself for their death. It was the rains fault. I felt bad that the only solace was his dreams or when he was with Sawyer. I felt he could be himself more in his dreams than in real life.
Sawyer was the only character there for Lucas. She was also sweet, but also weird. She was a little mysterious. She saved Lucas from himself. I really like her because of that, but she wasn't my favorite heroine.
I like Lillian a bit more. She was the one that Lucas loved. If she was still alive she would have made a great character. I really wish she had lived through the accident...
Favorite Quotes: “Dreams didn't mean anything? But...what if dreams were all I had?"
“When I had woken up the next morning, I'd stared at my ceiling for a good ten minutes, reliving the dream, committing it to memory...wishing it was real, wishing I could crawl back inside that dream and disappear--stay there forever.”
Writing Style: 5 stars out of 5.
September 4, 2016
~~4 stars~~
My heart broke for Lucas. The guilt that he went through with being the only one to survive that horrible accident that took the 3 important people in his life away. He was bullied in school and even the teachers gave him accusing looks. All Lucas wanted was to get thru his senior year of high school. When he thought he had no one he found Sawyer. Sawyer became his strength and his light. She helped him when no-one else seemed to care.
March 14, 2013
S.C. Stephens is simply an amazing author!
I will forever love the Thoughtless series above all other books and knew this story would also be a good one.
She just has a way of bringing characters to life!
I felt Lucas' pain and was rooting for him to find a way to forgive himself for a simple mistake and to find love and happiness with Sawyer.
I loved their relationship and all the tenderness they held for each other!
This one is definitely worth a 5 star review!!! :)
I will forever love the Thoughtless series above all other books and knew this story would also be a good one.
She just has a way of bringing characters to life!
I felt Lucas' pain and was rooting for him to find a way to forgive himself for a simple mistake and to find love and happiness with Sawyer.
I loved their relationship and all the tenderness they held for each other!
This one is definitely worth a 5 star review!!! :)
December 31, 2012
"For the first time since the accident that had taken my beloved friends from me.... I completely woke up"
There were so many emotions going on for me though out this book. I smiled, I cried, I got angry, and I felt so much love between Swayer & Lucas. Great read.
There were so many emotions going on for me though out this book. I smiled, I cried, I got angry, and I felt so much love between Swayer & Lucas. Great read.
January 2, 2013
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Collision Course is exactly the reason I LOVE books. It has everything from romance, death, grief, anger, friendship, even a little forbidden romance.
I don’t know how Ms. Stephens does it; every book I have read of hers is just amazing. The details she gives her characters makes you feel like you really know them and fall in love with them. Collision Course was no exception. That is why she is one of my favorite authors, what she writes in her books makes them true pieces of art.
I instantly loved the characters Lucas and Sawyer; in fact I want a best friend like Sawyer too! We need more Sawyers in the world, what a beautiful character she is. Lucas needed her in his life so badly and she was there for him, no matter how hard it must have been for her to love someone who was still in love with his dead ex-girlfriend. Sometimes Luc made me upset, he was physically using Sawyer while he was dreaming of Lil. Not that I could blame him at all, he was very confused having feelings for someone else just months after losing his first love. I just wanted him to admit he loved Sawyer and not just in a friend way.
I do agree with some other reviewers some of the story is a bit slow and repetitive but I really enjoyed it. I wanted to know about every dream Lucas was having of his dead friends and why he couldn’t move on, why he wanted to “live” in his dream world. I cried a lot for Luc and what he was going through, especially at the end I was reading with a tissue box on my lap at 3 am. I wanted him to move on so badly and be healthy for himself and for Sawyer.
The ending was beautiful and perfect. Their first time “together” was beautiful. I felt it with them and only wish everyone could have a first time “together” like they did. Graduation had me in even more tears and Lucas speech was wonderful closure for him and the loss of his best friends who should have been graduating with him.
I selfishly wanted a second book so I know what their life is like together in college but the book ended perfectly and doesn’t need any other ending, I am just selfish and will miss Luc and Sawyer very much. I think this a beautiful book for mature teenager and adults. It really makes you think about life and why things happen, why people live and why some do not. I definitely thought a lot about life when I finished this novel.
I give Collision Course 4.5 stars. WHEN you read it, has tissues ready and please do not give up on this book if you start to want to give up. I promise it is so worth the wait to read the entire book.
Collision Course is exactly the reason I LOVE books. It has everything from romance, death, grief, anger, friendship, even a little forbidden romance.
I don’t know how Ms. Stephens does it; every book I have read of hers is just amazing. The details she gives her characters makes you feel like you really know them and fall in love with them. Collision Course was no exception. That is why she is one of my favorite authors, what she writes in her books makes them true pieces of art.
I instantly loved the characters Lucas and Sawyer; in fact I want a best friend like Sawyer too! We need more Sawyers in the world, what a beautiful character she is. Lucas needed her in his life so badly and she was there for him, no matter how hard it must have been for her to love someone who was still in love with his dead ex-girlfriend. Sometimes Luc made me upset, he was physically using Sawyer while he was dreaming of Lil. Not that I could blame him at all, he was very confused having feelings for someone else just months after losing his first love. I just wanted him to admit he loved Sawyer and not just in a friend way.
I do agree with some other reviewers some of the story is a bit slow and repetitive but I really enjoyed it. I wanted to know about every dream Lucas was having of his dead friends and why he couldn’t move on, why he wanted to “live” in his dream world. I cried a lot for Luc and what he was going through, especially at the end I was reading with a tissue box on my lap at 3 am. I wanted him to move on so badly and be healthy for himself and for Sawyer.
The ending was beautiful and perfect. Their first time “together” was beautiful. I felt it with them and only wish everyone could have a first time “together” like they did. Graduation had me in even more tears and Lucas speech was wonderful closure for him and the loss of his best friends who should have been graduating with him.
I selfishly wanted a second book so I know what their life is like together in college but the book ended perfectly and doesn’t need any other ending, I am just selfish and will miss Luc and Sawyer very much. I think this a beautiful book for mature teenager and adults. It really makes you think about life and why things happen, why people live and why some do not. I definitely thought a lot about life when I finished this novel.
I give Collision Course 4.5 stars. WHEN you read it, has tissues ready and please do not give up on this book if you start to want to give up. I promise it is so worth the wait to read the entire book.
May 29, 2020
“Dreams didn’t mean anything ? But…what if dreams were all I had ?”
Oh gosh where to begin on how great this book is. Lucas is an average high school boy with his whole life ahead of him. In a split second, his whole life is changed. When he meets Sawyer a few months later, she becomes a small ray of light in his very dark and depressing world. This book should come with a warning as to how much it will break your heart. How the author so accurately gets in to the mind of a teenage boy is beyond me, but every emotion is real, raw and accurate.
I felt terrible for Lucas. The tragedy he endures is compounded greatly by the fact that everyone thinks the absolute worst of him, when in reality he was trying to do the right thing. He really is in a lose-lose situation. If he fights back, then he really is the asshole that everyone says he is. If he keeps his head down, and says nothing, then he’s still just as guilty. Everyone is against him except his mother, and the new girl, Sawyer. Sawyer has her own troubled past, but she and Lucas quickly begin to cling to each other for comfort. Their friendship is pure and really beautiful. They are both truly broken and hurting, yet they are so selfless that they only wish to fix the others problems. Being in high school and being a teenager is hard enough, but it would be even harder if the whole world is against you.
“I held her tight, my hands coming up to wrap over her shoulders, wishing I could wrap myself around her heartache.”
Let me warn you, you absolutely will cry when reading this book. I am getting teary eyed just trying to write this review and remembering all the heartache I felt. I literally had a lump in my throat the entire time. So many times, I was actively weeping. With that being said, there were a lot of very sweet and wonderful moments between Lucas and Sawyer. Being a mother of a teenage boy, I was also really touched by Lucas’s relationship with his mother. She was so desperate to help him and to take care of him that she was not taking care of herself. As any mother would, she was willing to do anything to fix his problems.
I loved this story. It is very different to her Thoughtless series, but is really a testament to how talented of a writer she is. 5 heartbreaking stars! Enjoy!
Oh gosh where to begin on how great this book is. Lucas is an average high school boy with his whole life ahead of him. In a split second, his whole life is changed. When he meets Sawyer a few months later, she becomes a small ray of light in his very dark and depressing world. This book should come with a warning as to how much it will break your heart. How the author so accurately gets in to the mind of a teenage boy is beyond me, but every emotion is real, raw and accurate.
I felt terrible for Lucas. The tragedy he endures is compounded greatly by the fact that everyone thinks the absolute worst of him, when in reality he was trying to do the right thing. He really is in a lose-lose situation. If he fights back, then he really is the asshole that everyone says he is. If he keeps his head down, and says nothing, then he’s still just as guilty. Everyone is against him except his mother, and the new girl, Sawyer. Sawyer has her own troubled past, but she and Lucas quickly begin to cling to each other for comfort. Their friendship is pure and really beautiful. They are both truly broken and hurting, yet they are so selfless that they only wish to fix the others problems. Being in high school and being a teenager is hard enough, but it would be even harder if the whole world is against you.
“I held her tight, my hands coming up to wrap over her shoulders, wishing I could wrap myself around her heartache.”
Let me warn you, you absolutely will cry when reading this book. I am getting teary eyed just trying to write this review and remembering all the heartache I felt. I literally had a lump in my throat the entire time. So many times, I was actively weeping. With that being said, there were a lot of very sweet and wonderful moments between Lucas and Sawyer. Being a mother of a teenage boy, I was also really touched by Lucas’s relationship with his mother. She was so desperate to help him and to take care of him that she was not taking care of herself. As any mother would, she was willing to do anything to fix his problems.
I loved this story. It is very different to her Thoughtless series, but is really a testament to how talented of a writer she is. 5 heartbreaking stars! Enjoy!
July 22, 2012
Lucas is involved in a horrible car crash along with his best friends and girl friend who all did not survive. It's everyone's worse nightmare and unfortunately Lucas has to live it.
*Note: I love this author's Thoughtless series and wanted to read more of her work. If you're looking for the same type of story...this is not it.
Gaaahhh...this book is soooo depressing! That doesn't mean it's not good because it is. And while I love emotional books, this one had me worried that I might not be able to finish it. It was almost too much. Luckily, it does end well.
Poor Lucas...he goes through so much, it's just hard to imagine. And it's hard to wrap your mind around that the story is fiction and you have to just "go with it". It probably affected me more with it being from his POV. I don't know if it is good writing or not but it made me really want to help him!
Sawyer was wonderful and thank goodness for her or else I don't know what Lucas would have done! It was great that she had gone through something similar but she still went above and beyond what most people would have. Crazy what love does to ya!
And yes, there are some crazy smexy scenes. Not something I would want a young teen to read especially because of all the emotions involved.
Cover Talk: There are two covers: the one from 2010 is the road with the yellow line. Not sure that it relays what the story is about if you haven't read it but after reading it, I prefer this one.
The other one from 2012 is Lucas sitting in a chair with his head in his hand. This one probably portrays more of what the story is about but it makes me sad to look at it.
Favorite quotes:
♥ See you around, bathroom girl.
♥ “I know, Luc. But I’m not gone. I’m right here…and I’m not going anywhere."
*Note: I love this author's Thoughtless series and wanted to read more of her work. If you're looking for the same type of story...this is not it.
Gaaahhh...this book is soooo depressing! That doesn't mean it's not good because it is. And while I love emotional books, this one had me worried that I might not be able to finish it. It was almost too much. Luckily, it does end well.
Poor Lucas...he goes through so much, it's just hard to imagine. And it's hard to wrap your mind around that the story is fiction and you have to just "go with it". It probably affected me more with it being from his POV. I don't know if it is good writing or not but it made me really want to help him!
Sawyer was wonderful and thank goodness for her or else I don't know what Lucas would have done! It was great that she had gone through something similar but she still went above and beyond what most people would have. Crazy what love does to ya!
And yes, there are some crazy smexy scenes. Not something I would want a young teen to read especially because of all the emotions involved.
Cover Talk: There are two covers: the one from 2010 is the road with the yellow line. Not sure that it relays what the story is about if you haven't read it but after reading it, I prefer this one.
The other one from 2012 is Lucas sitting in a chair with his head in his hand. This one probably portrays more of what the story is about but it makes me sad to look at it.
Favorite quotes:
♥ See you around, bathroom girl.
♥ “I know, Luc. But I’m not gone. I’m right here…and I’m not going anywhere."
April 21, 2012
I really liked this book. It was an emotional ride that really tugged at my heart.
I will say though, after hearing about this book from my friends, I had expected to be bawling. I will admit I did tear up in two places , but I was expecting a lot more. This is not to say the book wasn't sad or depressing because it was. At times, I felt Stephens did try a little too hard to pull every emotional string you had, which pushed my buttons a bit.
I really sympathize with Lucas, but I'm sorry, at times I really, really, really wanted to punch him. I know he's going through a rough time, but he can be such a jerk at times. But I really liked Sawyer. She was so emotionally strong - from being Lucas' support and dealing with his yo-yo affections to staying tough with her past and everything she has to deal with at school. I know I would have never been able to handle all of that.
I will say, I felt this book was really long - well heck, it WAS really long. There were parts where Stephens spent a little too much time, and I was ready to move on already. And really, I thought it could have ended at so many different points, but just as I thought it was going to end, there's yet another scene that unfolded. DO NOT CLICK THIS PART IF YOU HAVE NOT FINISHED THE BOOK. Whew, that was quite a bit. But I liked the end - though wished it was a few chapters shorter and even an epilogue or something.
Still, overall, it was a really good book, and I'm glad my friends had recommended it to me.
I will say though, after hearing about this book from my friends, I had expected to be bawling. I will admit I did tear up in two places , but I was expecting a lot more. This is not to say the book wasn't sad or depressing because it was. At times, I felt Stephens did try a little too hard to pull every emotional string you had, which pushed my buttons a bit.
I really sympathize with Lucas, but I'm sorry, at times I really, really, really wanted to punch him. I know he's going through a rough time, but he can be such a jerk at times. But I really liked Sawyer. She was so emotionally strong - from being Lucas' support and dealing with his yo-yo affections to staying tough with her past and everything she has to deal with at school. I know I would have never been able to handle all of that.
I will say, I felt this book was really long - well heck, it WAS really long. There were parts where Stephens spent a little too much time, and I was ready to move on already. And really, I thought it could have ended at so many different points, but just as I thought it was going to end, there's yet another scene that unfolded. DO NOT CLICK THIS PART IF YOU HAVE NOT FINISHED THE BOOK. Whew, that was quite a bit. But I liked the end - though wished it was a few chapters shorter and even an epilogue or something.
Still, overall, it was a really good book, and I'm glad my friends had recommended it to me.
January 2, 2013
I will admit that I was a little hesitant to read this book. I read the reviews and they all said the same thing. That it was sad and you will cry. But I loved thoughtless and effortless and wanted to read another one of SC Stephens books. I'm glad I did. The reviews were right, it was sad and my eyes did tear up quite a few times. But it was such a wonderful story.
It's a story about Lucas who lost his girlfriend, best friend since age 5, and his best friends girl in a car accident. He was behind the wheel that night, being the only sober one. But unfortunately the people in the small town that he lived in didn't believe he was innocent. They blamed him for their deaths.
This book deals with Lucas entering his senior year of high school and trying to cope with losing his three closest friends and the anger, criticism, stares and torture that he would face going back to school in September. He meets sawyer, the new girl in school who also has her own past issues to deal with. They find comfort in each other. But the struggle for Lucas is dealing with the pain of losing his friends and to find love again. It really is a heart warming story and you honestly feel for Lucas. You're heart will truly break for him, you will just want to jump in the book and hug him. It was a wonderful story of moving on from the hurt, trying to get past the blame and the guilt, and living your life again after experiencing something as tragic as Lucas did. It was a powerful story and SC Stephens did a great job writing it.
August 18, 2012
Wow, another review I am writing with giant panda eyes and the tears still rolling down my cheeks. What a beautiful, heart wrenching and deeply emotional read.
My heart broke for Lucas from the very first scenes of the book. As the sole survivor of a car accident that claimed the lives of his two best friends and his girlfriend, he is plagued by memories of that fateful night, the guilt and grief crushing him during his waking hours. With rumors circulating as to his ability to drive that night, those he used to call friends quickly become just another source of pain as they ceaselessly torment him. His one source of peace and comfort arrives in the form of the new girl in school, Sawyer. Sawyer was a wonderful character, she was patient and compassionate and exactly what Lucas needed. And while my heart continued to break for him, Lucas never ceased to amaze me with his capacity to love and the lengths he would go to in order to protect those around him and save them from the pain that tormented him daily. Truthfully, I couldn’t have loved these two characters any more than I did.
This book touched my heart and it touched my soul and I still find myself sitting here, my mind wandering back to various scenes in the book, the tears continuing to flow. While the story is one of profound tragedy and sorrow, it is also one of hope, of friendship and of an eternal type of love.
My heart broke for Lucas from the very first scenes of the book. As the sole survivor of a car accident that claimed the lives of his two best friends and his girlfriend, he is plagued by memories of that fateful night, the guilt and grief crushing him during his waking hours. With rumors circulating as to his ability to drive that night, those he used to call friends quickly become just another source of pain as they ceaselessly torment him. His one source of peace and comfort arrives in the form of the new girl in school, Sawyer. Sawyer was a wonderful character, she was patient and compassionate and exactly what Lucas needed. And while my heart continued to break for him, Lucas never ceased to amaze me with his capacity to love and the lengths he would go to in order to protect those around him and save them from the pain that tormented him daily. Truthfully, I couldn’t have loved these two characters any more than I did.
This book touched my heart and it touched my soul and I still find myself sitting here, my mind wandering back to various scenes in the book, the tears continuing to flow. While the story is one of profound tragedy and sorrow, it is also one of hope, of friendship and of an eternal type of love.
April 19, 2012
Generally I have like S. C. Stephens books but I had a real problem with certain aspects of Collision Course. My high school has had to endure many tragedies over the past few years resulting from car accidents. One happened actually really close to Lucas's circumstances. I didn't happen to be friends with the boy and girl who survived but I never once saw them treated with anything other than tenderness and sympathy. They had been at a party an had not been drinking that night but simply lost control of the car. I don't understand why in this book Lucas obviously was clean on his blood alcohol test, and those can't be faked, and this was public but no one believes him. To me it seems forced that the entire school believes that he was drinking when it's on record he wasn't.
I'm not saying that the emotion of losing friends isn't heart felt in this book. But I think the hostility his classmates was exaggerated. My community has always experienced a grief period after tragedies but it's also a time of great solidarity among classmates and families.
I'm not saying that the emotion of losing friends isn't heart felt in this book. But I think the hostility his classmates was exaggerated. My community has always experienced a grief period after tragedies but it's also a time of great solidarity among classmates and families.
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