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The Secret to Letting Go
Haunted with guilt after his girlfriend's death, Daniel Hudson has no interest in committing to anyone. At the end of the summer, he'll be leaving Florida for a new start in college. If only he could avoid the mysterious new girl in town, who seems every bit as naive and eccentric as she looks. Trouble is, she's hard to ignore, with her beautiful piercing eyes, pitiful-looking dog, and unsettling tendency of finding trouble. Clover Scott lived her whole life off the grid and arrives on the Gulf coast in search of her grandparents. She never expected to nearly drown, or get caught in a hurricane, or fall in love with the boy who rescues her. Now, she has a chance to rewrite her life's story, to finally fit in somewhere, but Daniel wants answers about her past. When the police start asking questions about the disappearance of her parents, she must make a choice: go to jail or confess her secrets-even if they might destroy her chance at a happily-ever-after.
334 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2016
8 people are currently reading
993 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Fleet
4 books101 followersAfter a decade of living in the sunny Caribbean with her pilot husband and three amazing kids, Katherine Fleet has recently moved back to her hometown of St. John’s, Newfoundland, the most easterly city in North America. In addition to adjusting to life back in Canada, she loves to write, read, travel, and embarrass her kids on social media. She is an active member of RWA and loves NaNoWriMo. The Secret to Letting Go (Entangled Teen, 2016) was her contemporary YA debut. Her latest contemporary YA, The Sound of Drowning, will release from Page Street Publishing in winter 2019. She is represented by Emily Sylvan Kim of Prospect Agency. You can connect with her at www.KatherineFleet.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
February 14, 2016
***5 "Heartbroken" stars with all my heart***
Honestly, guys!!!! This was an amazing story!!!
Intense, emotional, heartbroken at the same time, but with a wonderfull plot that couldn't keep you untouched!!!!
I didn't want for this book to come to an end... ever!!!
This was a story about secrets that kept you at the bottom.... about invisible chains that were holding you away from the life that it should be yours...
This was a story about paying other's mistakes.... For doing your own mistakes... from fear, from guilts, from need!!!
It was about pure love that could consume you and confuse you at the same time...
It was about bravery in its most raw form.... and it was about the strength that you have inside of you, but you never knew that you had!!!!
It was a wonderfull and unique story that could captivate you... At least, it captivated me!!!!
Well, this story was telling by two persons....
Clover and Daniel...
Both of them had many demons from their pasts to chasing them down....
And in an unexpected time, they met each other and they couldn't let go from each other....
But there were secrets that were keeping them apart... and ghosts that kept hunting them down!!!!
"What i was supposed to do with this girl? It was like kicking little orphan Annie and her mutt. I didn't want to be the villain in Clover's sad little tale. I wanted no role in it at all, yet i still walked over and crouched next to her."
Clover appeared to the town from nowhere... There was no family and no friends for her... Only a faithful dog...
She moved Daniel in an unbelievable way and he wanted so badly to help her....
The need to protect her became stronger when she put herself in dangerous situations that needed to be saved from him...
And as the time was passing, they came really close...
But there were barriers between them in the form of secrets...
Secrets that Clover refused to reveal to him, but when the time came, she had to choose if she will reveal her secrets or if she will lose her freedom!!!
And when her secrets unfolded, everything changed...
For better, for worst??? I can't tell you!!!
"I didn't know much about boys and girls being together, but i was pretty sure that honesty was an important part. I could keep thinking inappropriate thoughts about Daniel, but I was also lying to him. My secrets were a snare. The more I struggled, the moreI flailed, and the more I flailed, the more the wire tightened around my throat."
You couldn't not love Clover....
She was so pure, so innocent, so kind that it was impossible to not adore her!!!
Her life before was aching my heart so deeply...
Clover was a fighter even though that she didn't believe that!!!!
She was a homeless kid that was struggled to live her life with dignity!!!
She was a strong young woman, a kind woman who didn't hesistate to give her money to those that were needed them, even though that means that she was staying without food in her plate!!!!
She loved the others with so much clarity that nobody couldn't resist to her wild charm...
I also adored the way she loved Daniel!!!
"Our hurricane had done more than change the world outside. It changed me. It tied me to Daniel in a way that was new and unsettling. Did he also feel it? I was scared that he did, and even more afraid that he didn't."
Before two years, Daniel lost his girlfriend and from that moment he couldn't let anyone to come so close to him...
But Clover was so different and from the first moment that he laid his eyes on her, he was drown toward her....
She didn't stop to surprise him and even though that he didn't want to get attached to her, he couldn't do anything to stop it!!!!
Clover changed the way he was seeing the things around him!!!
He was a good person before, but she made him a better person...
"I barely knew anything about her, but lying next to her in the dark felt comfortable and familiar. The thought twisted my stomach. I didn't want to feel anything for Clover Scott. She may have been a stranger, but I already understood that getting sucked into her life would lead to nothing but complications. So how come alone with her, sleeping inches apart?
I was just doing the honorable thing... that was all. Clover had been in danger, and i was making sure she was safe."
Daniel and Clover together were fitting so perfectly!!!
They were connected with a unique bond and they were consolation for each other...
Their hearts heeled by their love!!!
The road for them wasn't easy... Too many secrets, too many revelations...
In some point, they just got confused....
Was their love pure and unforced???
Did Clover really loved Daniel or she thought she was because of his constant saving actions toward her????
Did Daniel have true feelings for her or he was clinging to her because she needed a savior and he wanted salvation from his haunted past???
"All these things have gotten in the way of us being together, but they don't need to, not anymore."
I swallowed past the lump in my throat. I felt naked and exposed. He held the power to crush me or pull me back into the light, and I'd given him that power."
As i told you before, i loved this story so much....
I loved Mrs. Fleet's writing and her characters were unique and wonderfull...
And I'm not talking only about Daniel and Clover, because they were too many characters in there and every single one of them had an important part in this story....
I loved them all so much!!!! And now I'm sad that this story ended it!!!!
This book will be forever in my heart!!!
***ARC kindly provided via NetGalley for the exchange of an honest review***
Honestly, guys!!!! This was an amazing story!!!
Intense, emotional, heartbroken at the same time, but with a wonderfull plot that couldn't keep you untouched!!!!
I didn't want for this book to come to an end... ever!!!
This was a story about secrets that kept you at the bottom.... about invisible chains that were holding you away from the life that it should be yours...
This was a story about paying other's mistakes.... For doing your own mistakes... from fear, from guilts, from need!!!
It was about pure love that could consume you and confuse you at the same time...
It was about bravery in its most raw form.... and it was about the strength that you have inside of you, but you never knew that you had!!!!
It was a wonderfull and unique story that could captivate you... At least, it captivated me!!!!
Well, this story was telling by two persons....
Clover and Daniel...
Both of them had many demons from their pasts to chasing them down....
And in an unexpected time, they met each other and they couldn't let go from each other....
But there were secrets that were keeping them apart... and ghosts that kept hunting them down!!!!
"What i was supposed to do with this girl? It was like kicking little orphan Annie and her mutt. I didn't want to be the villain in Clover's sad little tale. I wanted no role in it at all, yet i still walked over and crouched next to her."
Clover appeared to the town from nowhere... There was no family and no friends for her... Only a faithful dog...
She moved Daniel in an unbelievable way and he wanted so badly to help her....
The need to protect her became stronger when she put herself in dangerous situations that needed to be saved from him...
And as the time was passing, they came really close...
But there were barriers between them in the form of secrets...
Secrets that Clover refused to reveal to him, but when the time came, she had to choose if she will reveal her secrets or if she will lose her freedom!!!
And when her secrets unfolded, everything changed...
For better, for worst??? I can't tell you!!!
"I didn't know much about boys and girls being together, but i was pretty sure that honesty was an important part. I could keep thinking inappropriate thoughts about Daniel, but I was also lying to him. My secrets were a snare. The more I struggled, the moreI flailed, and the more I flailed, the more the wire tightened around my throat."
You couldn't not love Clover....
She was so pure, so innocent, so kind that it was impossible to not adore her!!!
Her life before was aching my heart so deeply...
Clover was a fighter even though that she didn't believe that!!!!
She was a homeless kid that was struggled to live her life with dignity!!!
She was a strong young woman, a kind woman who didn't hesistate to give her money to those that were needed them, even though that means that she was staying without food in her plate!!!!
She loved the others with so much clarity that nobody couldn't resist to her wild charm...
I also adored the way she loved Daniel!!!
"Our hurricane had done more than change the world outside. It changed me. It tied me to Daniel in a way that was new and unsettling. Did he also feel it? I was scared that he did, and even more afraid that he didn't."
Before two years, Daniel lost his girlfriend and from that moment he couldn't let anyone to come so close to him...
But Clover was so different and from the first moment that he laid his eyes on her, he was drown toward her....
She didn't stop to surprise him and even though that he didn't want to get attached to her, he couldn't do anything to stop it!!!!
Clover changed the way he was seeing the things around him!!!
He was a good person before, but she made him a better person...
"I barely knew anything about her, but lying next to her in the dark felt comfortable and familiar. The thought twisted my stomach. I didn't want to feel anything for Clover Scott. She may have been a stranger, but I already understood that getting sucked into her life would lead to nothing but complications. So how come alone with her, sleeping inches apart?
I was just doing the honorable thing... that was all. Clover had been in danger, and i was making sure she was safe."
Daniel and Clover together were fitting so perfectly!!!
They were connected with a unique bond and they were consolation for each other...
Their hearts heeled by their love!!!
The road for them wasn't easy... Too many secrets, too many revelations...
In some point, they just got confused....
Was their love pure and unforced???
Did Clover really loved Daniel or she thought she was because of his constant saving actions toward her????
Did Daniel have true feelings for her or he was clinging to her because she needed a savior and he wanted salvation from his haunted past???
"All these things have gotten in the way of us being together, but they don't need to, not anymore."
I swallowed past the lump in my throat. I felt naked and exposed. He held the power to crush me or pull me back into the light, and I'd given him that power."
As i told you before, i loved this story so much....
I loved Mrs. Fleet's writing and her characters were unique and wonderfull...
And I'm not talking only about Daniel and Clover, because they were too many characters in there and every single one of them had an important part in this story....
I loved them all so much!!!! And now I'm sad that this story ended it!!!!
This book will be forever in my heart!!!
***ARC kindly provided via NetGalley for the exchange of an honest review***
May 31, 2016
Review posted on Fafa's Book Corner !
Beware spoilers ahead!
I had heard about this book through Twitter. At the time I didn't think much of it. About a month later I read the synopsis and the reviews. The synopsis was interesting but there were several mixed reviews. After some contemplating I decided to read it. I am happy to say that I enjoyed it!
The book begins with Daniel working in his fathers shop. A girl who has just entered the shop catches his eye. She lingers in the golf section and seeing that she needs needs help he assists her. Eventually she asks him to show her some camp stoves. The girl can't afford any of them. As she is about to leave Daniel stops her and mentions that his family has an old one that isn't being used and he can lend it to her. They agree to meet at the beach the next day. The girl introduces herself as Clover.
For whatever reason Daniel can't seem to get Clover out of his head. He's not really sure what to expect when he meets her the next day. But for once he was able to pass Grace's house without noticing. As Daniel gets ready to go to the beach he mentally prepares himself for meeting Clover. At the beach he meets some of his friends and they surf for a bit. He sees Clover talking to his sister Amelia and meets up with them.
The three of them introduce each other without Clover realizing that Amelia and Daniel are siblings. Clover then explains Amelia that she meet Daniel at the shop and how he agreed to give her his camp stove. And in exchange Clover has brought some preservatives. Just as she's about to give the preservatives she drops it. When she runs to get it she gets caught in a high tide and goes under.
Daniel jumps in after her and manages to pull her up. The ER is called and everyone is fine. When the paramedics see Clover she refuses to got to the hospital. Daniel agrees to drop her off and to keep an eye on her during the ride. Clover remains silent during the car ride. She points to a house and gets out of the car. She promises Daniel that she will be fine. Daniel watches her leave. Out of some paranoia Daniel follows Clover. Much to his surprise Clover doesn't go into her house but walks in the other direction.
This book was exactly what I was expecting. A fairly short heavy read with a huge emphasis on family. This book is written in first person and switches between Clover and Daniel's point of view. There are some flashbacks here-and-there. The writing style was good. Clover and Daniel had distinct voices.
Two years prior to the book Daniel's girlfriend Grace died. Since then Daniel hasn't exactly dated anyone. Or gotten close to people. He has a in strings attached relationship with Morgan. When Clover comes into his life he's surprised that he likes her and wants to get to know her more. Throughout the book Daniel continues to be surprised by Clover and realizes what he wants in life. I loved how well Daniel's voice was written! Very realistic.
Two years ago something terrible happened to Clover. She's come to Daniel's town to look for her grandparents. Upon arriving her car broke down so she couldn't go any further. When she meets Daniel and he saves her life twice she develops feelings for him. Feelings that she's never had before and doesn't quite understand. Throughout the book Clover learns and experiences new things. She realizes that she can no longer hold on to her past and works to move on. Just like Daniel she goes after what she wants from life. I adored reading about Clover! Her voice reminded me of Lara Jean. She was so sweet and a delight to read about.
I loved the emphasis on family relationships! Especially Amelia and Daniel! There aren't a lot of books with well done brother and sister relationships. While Clover's family remains a secret for most of the book it was nice reading about her interactions with Daniel's family. Especially Ginny Daniel's grandmother.
Amelia and Clover's relationship was adorable and sweet to read about! It's nice to read about female friendship. Most of Daniel's friends don't come in the book. The one friend that does come is Sam the sheriff's son. It was nice to read about Sam and Daniel.
The mystery surrounding Clover's past was a bit predictable after reading a few flashbacks. I didn't guess a 100% correct but for the most part I was right. Nonetheless it was still heartbreaking to read about. It's so sad to think that many people go through the same thing. The mystery surrounding Daniel's girlfriends was revealed early on. Again this was just as upsetting.
The romance in this book was odd. It wasn't insta-love more like intsa-attraction. This was done on purpose though. While Clover and Daniel are together they really grow. They realize that they need to work things out with themselves and kept in contact. I liked how their relationship was handled.
Personally I had no problems with The Secret to Letting Go. It just felt like a three star. Note there is abuse in this book. It is slightly dramatic and for most people the romance was off-putting. Also most people didn't like the switch in point of view. The point of view switch isn't predictable. I got used to it but not everyone will. If any of these things bother you I would suggest reading another book.
Overall this was a good book! I will definitely be keeping a lookout for this author. I recommend it to contemporary fans.
Beware spoilers ahead!
I had heard about this book through Twitter. At the time I didn't think much of it. About a month later I read the synopsis and the reviews. The synopsis was interesting but there were several mixed reviews. After some contemplating I decided to read it. I am happy to say that I enjoyed it!
The book begins with Daniel working in his fathers shop. A girl who has just entered the shop catches his eye. She lingers in the golf section and seeing that she needs needs help he assists her. Eventually she asks him to show her some camp stoves. The girl can't afford any of them. As she is about to leave Daniel stops her and mentions that his family has an old one that isn't being used and he can lend it to her. They agree to meet at the beach the next day. The girl introduces herself as Clover.
For whatever reason Daniel can't seem to get Clover out of his head. He's not really sure what to expect when he meets her the next day. But for once he was able to pass Grace's house without noticing. As Daniel gets ready to go to the beach he mentally prepares himself for meeting Clover. At the beach he meets some of his friends and they surf for a bit. He sees Clover talking to his sister Amelia and meets up with them.
The three of them introduce each other without Clover realizing that Amelia and Daniel are siblings. Clover then explains Amelia that she meet Daniel at the shop and how he agreed to give her his camp stove. And in exchange Clover has brought some preservatives. Just as she's about to give the preservatives she drops it. When she runs to get it she gets caught in a high tide and goes under.
Daniel jumps in after her and manages to pull her up. The ER is called and everyone is fine. When the paramedics see Clover she refuses to got to the hospital. Daniel agrees to drop her off and to keep an eye on her during the ride. Clover remains silent during the car ride. She points to a house and gets out of the car. She promises Daniel that she will be fine. Daniel watches her leave. Out of some paranoia Daniel follows Clover. Much to his surprise Clover doesn't go into her house but walks in the other direction.
This book was exactly what I was expecting. A fairly short heavy read with a huge emphasis on family. This book is written in first person and switches between Clover and Daniel's point of view. There are some flashbacks here-and-there. The writing style was good. Clover and Daniel had distinct voices.
Two years prior to the book Daniel's girlfriend Grace died. Since then Daniel hasn't exactly dated anyone. Or gotten close to people. He has a in strings attached relationship with Morgan. When Clover comes into his life he's surprised that he likes her and wants to get to know her more. Throughout the book Daniel continues to be surprised by Clover and realizes what he wants in life. I loved how well Daniel's voice was written! Very realistic.
Two years ago something terrible happened to Clover. She's come to Daniel's town to look for her grandparents. Upon arriving her car broke down so she couldn't go any further. When she meets Daniel and he saves her life twice she develops feelings for him. Feelings that she's never had before and doesn't quite understand. Throughout the book Clover learns and experiences new things. She realizes that she can no longer hold on to her past and works to move on. Just like Daniel she goes after what she wants from life. I adored reading about Clover! Her voice reminded me of Lara Jean. She was so sweet and a delight to read about.
I loved the emphasis on family relationships! Especially Amelia and Daniel! There aren't a lot of books with well done brother and sister relationships. While Clover's family remains a secret for most of the book it was nice reading about her interactions with Daniel's family. Especially Ginny Daniel's grandmother.
Amelia and Clover's relationship was adorable and sweet to read about! It's nice to read about female friendship. Most of Daniel's friends don't come in the book. The one friend that does come is Sam the sheriff's son. It was nice to read about Sam and Daniel.
The mystery surrounding Clover's past was a bit predictable after reading a few flashbacks. I didn't guess a 100% correct but for the most part I was right. Nonetheless it was still heartbreaking to read about. It's so sad to think that many people go through the same thing. The mystery surrounding Daniel's girlfriends was revealed early on. Again this was just as upsetting.
The romance in this book was odd. It wasn't insta-love more like intsa-attraction. This was done on purpose though. While Clover and Daniel are together they really grow. They realize that they need to work things out with themselves and kept in contact. I liked how their relationship was handled.
Personally I had no problems with The Secret to Letting Go. It just felt like a three star. Note there is abuse in this book. It is slightly dramatic and for most people the romance was off-putting. Also most people didn't like the switch in point of view. The point of view switch isn't predictable. I got used to it but not everyone will. If any of these things bother you I would suggest reading another book.
Overall this was a good book! I will definitely be keeping a lookout for this author. I recommend it to contemporary fans.
February 1, 2016
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Entangled Publishing, LLC and NetGalley.)
This was a YA contemporary romance about a girl who needed saving, and a boy who wanted to save her.
I felt quite sorry for Clover in this story, being left with no family and nowhere to live must have been awful for her, especially considering the circumstances. She did come across as a little naïve though.
The storyline in this was about Daniel trying to save Clover, quite literally in a couple of places, and there was also a bit of mystery over what had happened to Clover for her to end up where she did, and also about Daniel’s old girlfriend who had died. There wasn’t quite enough about the dead girlfriend for me though, and I wanted to know more about what had happened and why.
There was some romance in this, although again, there wasn’t enough romance for me. I felt like Clover and Daniel fell for each other pretty quickly, but there weren’t many romantic scenes between the two of them.
The ending this was fairly happy, but overall I just wanted a bit more romance.
6 out of 10
"His lips found mine, as soft as a dragonfly landing, so soft that maybe I'd imagines it. Was he kissing me? My first kiss?"
This was a YA contemporary romance about a girl who needed saving, and a boy who wanted to save her.
I felt quite sorry for Clover in this story, being left with no family and nowhere to live must have been awful for her, especially considering the circumstances. She did come across as a little naïve though.
The storyline in this was about Daniel trying to save Clover, quite literally in a couple of places, and there was also a bit of mystery over what had happened to Clover for her to end up where she did, and also about Daniel’s old girlfriend who had died. There wasn’t quite enough about the dead girlfriend for me though, and I wanted to know more about what had happened and why.
There was some romance in this, although again, there wasn’t enough romance for me. I felt like Clover and Daniel fell for each other pretty quickly, but there weren’t many romantic scenes between the two of them.
The ending this was fairly happy, but overall I just wanted a bit more romance.
6 out of 10
May 31, 2017
She has amazing eyes. That's what Daniel thought when he met Clover. She's also weird ...
He is my savior ... but can I really trust him? Clover wondered about Daniel.
The story was pretty good. First of all, it had a lot of things I liked.
For example drama.
It also had a lot of agony. Because what happens to this girl and does she have this attitude?
Why is she alone in the world?
Where are her parents?
Why so many secrets?
As the story passes the queries remain questions (I really thought we would never learn the truth ever) and when I learned the whole truth I can say I was shocked ...
What I did not like ... I did not like the story from the revelation afterwards. It seemed a little abrupt and fast.
For that reason 3,5 Secrets of Stars
He is my savior ... but can I really trust him? Clover wondered about Daniel.
The story was pretty good. First of all, it had a lot of things I liked.
For example drama.
It also had a lot of agony. Because what happens to this girl and does she have this attitude?
Why is she alone in the world?
Where are her parents?
Why so many secrets?
As the story passes the queries remain questions (I really thought we would never learn the truth ever) and when I learned the whole truth I can say I was shocked ...
What I did not like ... I did not like the story from the revelation afterwards. It seemed a little abrupt and fast.
For that reason 3,5 Secrets of Stars
February 16, 2016
3/5 stars
Trigger Warning: abuse, death of loved ones
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Secret to Letting Go is a mystery that deals with grief and the fear of letting go.
One summer can change everything...
Haunted with guilt after his girlfriend’s death, Daniel Hudson has no interest in committing to anyone. At the end of the summer, he’ll be leaving Florida for a new start in college. If only he could avoid the mysterious new girl in town, who seems every bit as naive and eccentric as she looks. Trouble is, she’s hard to ignore, with her beautiful piercing eyes, pitiful-looking dog, and unsettling tendency of finding trouble.
Clover Scott lived her whole life off the grid and arrives on the Gulf coast in search of her grandparents. She never expected to nearly drown, or get caught in a hurricane, or fall in love with the boy who rescues her. Now, she has a chance to rewrite her life’s story, to finally fit in somewhere, but Daniel wants answers about her past. When the police start asking questions about the disappearance of her parents, she must make a choice: go to jail or confess her secrets—even if they might destroy her chance at a happily-ever-after.
I don't know how to feel about this book. On one hand it was very unbelievable, but on the other hand it was fast paced and dealt with grief well. The first couple chapters just seemed fake. A girl that looks out of place and skittish walks into his fathers store and wants a camping stove. She doesn't have enough money so he offers her an old one that you don't use. She agrees and he plans to meet her the next day at the beach. I'm not saying you shouldn't help people out but isn't this a little creepy and lets be honest how many 18 year olds would do this? But, we can breeze past that. Until we get to the "accidents". This girl must have a target on her back because she almost drowned and then a day later almost gets killed in a hurricane. And who saves her? The boy from the store!
Clover Scott was naïve and such a fun character to read about. She was blatantly honest about everything and loved everything we took for granted. She is a character that makes you take a step back and re-evaluate your life. What privileges do you have? Being able to experience everything for the first time with her was hilarious and a little sad at times.
Daniel Hudson is a kind and respectful teenage boy that has been through a lot. You can tell by his demeanor that he was looking for someone to help or in other words, he wanted a "project". I didn't really connect with Daniel as much as I wanted to. I felt like he was your average male main character and didn't have anything unique about him.
This book was written in dual point of view and it didn't really work for me. We would have about 5 chapters on and off with each character. It made me feel disconnected from the characters. If this was written with only one POV it would have been much more successful. The writing itself was really good, especially for a debut novel. The pacing of the book was great but that dual POV was the down fall. One of the aspects of this book that intrigued me was the mystery. What is the secret that Clover is hiding from Daniel? But, that mystery was a little lost when we knew everything she was thinking. You pick up on what happened early on in the story and then when you switched to Daniel's POV and he wouldn't stop whining about it.
Instalove. Clover and Daniel immediately couldn't stop thinking about each other. Daniel was extremely protective of her after only meeting her once before. This book only takes place over a couple weeks and already they're confessing their love for each other? It just didn't sit well for me. I didn't find it believable and I saw it as more of a need then a love . After finishing the book I understand why the instalove took place but I still can't stop cringing. They're relationship should have steadily grown instead of diving "right off the pier".
After Colver's accidents Daniel and his family try to help her get back on her feet. His Gran, a very proper lady, lets her stay at her house. I absolutely loved the relationship that grew between Clover and Gran. Gran was very stern with Clover when they first met, but over time you saw her soften around the edges. I did think it was a little odd how easily everyone accepted Clover because come on the circumstances are a little weird. This girl from Virginia that hasn't experienced anything, doesn't talk about her past, and doesn't have a cent to her name just happens to be in Florida?
The Secret of Letting Go dealt with grief very well. With Daniel, dealing with the passing of his former girlfriend, and Clover, with her secrets, they had a lot to cover.
It shows how people don't just forget and move on . Grief is something that you carry with you for your entire life. You just learn how to live with it. With grief may come anger and that's okay. No one can tell you what you should feel and when you should stop feeling. Everyone deals with loss in their own way and we should respect that.
The conclusion for the mystery was nicely spaced out and it tucked in all of the loose ends. The conclusion for the book wasn't as good. It didn't really hit me as believable and left me with an uneasy feeling. That's my biggest problem with this book. It just seemed fake.
I just want every person to know that you don't need a significant other in your life to feel loved or wanted. Sometimes you shouldn't focus on relationships with others and focus on yourself. That's what Clover desperately needed. She needed to be able to love and want herself. To forgive herself before she went around forgiving others.
All in all it was an okay book and I might pick up another Katherine Fleet book.
Trigger Warning: abuse, death of loved ones
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Secret to Letting Go is a mystery that deals with grief and the fear of letting go.
One summer can change everything...
Haunted with guilt after his girlfriend’s death, Daniel Hudson has no interest in committing to anyone. At the end of the summer, he’ll be leaving Florida for a new start in college. If only he could avoid the mysterious new girl in town, who seems every bit as naive and eccentric as she looks. Trouble is, she’s hard to ignore, with her beautiful piercing eyes, pitiful-looking dog, and unsettling tendency of finding trouble.
Clover Scott lived her whole life off the grid and arrives on the Gulf coast in search of her grandparents. She never expected to nearly drown, or get caught in a hurricane, or fall in love with the boy who rescues her. Now, she has a chance to rewrite her life’s story, to finally fit in somewhere, but Daniel wants answers about her past. When the police start asking questions about the disappearance of her parents, she must make a choice: go to jail or confess her secrets—even if they might destroy her chance at a happily-ever-after.
I don't know how to feel about this book. On one hand it was very unbelievable, but on the other hand it was fast paced and dealt with grief well. The first couple chapters just seemed fake. A girl that looks out of place and skittish walks into his fathers store and wants a camping stove. She doesn't have enough money so he offers her an old one that you don't use. She agrees and he plans to meet her the next day at the beach. I'm not saying you shouldn't help people out but isn't this a little creepy and lets be honest how many 18 year olds would do this? But, we can breeze past that. Until we get to the "accidents". This girl must have a target on her back because she almost drowned and then a day later almost gets killed in a hurricane. And who saves her? The boy from the store!
Clover Scott was naïve and such a fun character to read about. She was blatantly honest about everything and loved everything we took for granted. She is a character that makes you take a step back and re-evaluate your life. What privileges do you have? Being able to experience everything for the first time with her was hilarious and a little sad at times.
"I wanted to know what evil she’d seen, but I wanted even more to escape the narrow store aisle. Warning bells pealed in my brain. 'She’s crazy. Don’t get involved.”
Daniel Hudson is a kind and respectful teenage boy that has been through a lot. You can tell by his demeanor that he was looking for someone to help or in other words, he wanted a "project". I didn't really connect with Daniel as much as I wanted to. I felt like he was your average male main character and didn't have anything unique about him.
This book was written in dual point of view and it didn't really work for me. We would have about 5 chapters on and off with each character. It made me feel disconnected from the characters. If this was written with only one POV it would have been much more successful. The writing itself was really good, especially for a debut novel. The pacing of the book was great but that dual POV was the down fall. One of the aspects of this book that intrigued me was the mystery. What is the secret that Clover is hiding from Daniel? But, that mystery was a little lost when we knew everything she was thinking. You pick up on what happened early on in the story and then when you switched to Daniel's POV and he wouldn't stop whining about it.
Instalove. Clover and Daniel immediately couldn't stop thinking about each other. Daniel was extremely protective of her after only meeting her once before. This book only takes place over a couple weeks and already they're confessing their love for each other? It just didn't sit well for me. I didn't find it believable and I saw it as more of a need then a love . After finishing the book I understand why the instalove took place but I still can't stop cringing. They're relationship should have steadily grown instead of diving "right off the pier".
After Colver's accidents Daniel and his family try to help her get back on her feet. His Gran, a very proper lady, lets her stay at her house. I absolutely loved the relationship that grew between Clover and Gran. Gran was very stern with Clover when they first met, but over time you saw her soften around the edges. I did think it was a little odd how easily everyone accepted Clover because come on the circumstances are a little weird. This girl from Virginia that hasn't experienced anything, doesn't talk about her past, and doesn't have a cent to her name just happens to be in Florida?
The Secret of Letting Go dealt with grief very well. With Daniel, dealing with the passing of his former girlfriend, and Clover, with her secrets, they had a lot to cover.
“Because even if you buried yourself in guilt, you can't go back and change what happened.”
It shows how people don't just forget and move on . Grief is something that you carry with you for your entire life. You just learn how to live with it. With grief may come anger and that's okay. No one can tell you what you should feel and when you should stop feeling. Everyone deals with loss in their own way and we should respect that.
The conclusion for the mystery was nicely spaced out and it tucked in all of the loose ends. The conclusion for the book wasn't as good. It didn't really hit me as believable and left me with an uneasy feeling. That's my biggest problem with this book. It just seemed fake.
I just want every person to know that you don't need a significant other in your life to feel loved or wanted. Sometimes you shouldn't focus on relationships with others and focus on yourself. That's what Clover desperately needed. She needed to be able to love and want herself. To forgive herself before she went around forgiving others.
All in all it was an okay book and I might pick up another Katherine Fleet book.
January 31, 2016
This is drama at it's finest! Full review to follow!
January 31, 2016
Working in his father's sporting goods store Daniel Hudson never expected to come across a customer quite like Clover Scott. Clover has a hair cut that looks like she's been attacked by a pair of scissors, clothes that don't quite fit right and sometimes says the strangest things but Daniel is immediately drawn to her. After coming to Clover's rescue twice Daniel finds himself wanting to help this girl that so obviously needs someone to do so.
The Secret of Letting Go is truly a touching tale of two teenagers that each have had tough times in their past to deal with that somehow end up in each other's lives. The story changes POV a few times between the two to get to know each side a bit better.
I don't even really know what to say about Clover, her life growing up was the things nightmares are made of. She is naive to the world because she's never experienced anything that a normal teenager would. She is obviously a lot stronger than most would give her credit for though since she had made her way down to Florida and had been taking care of herself for a while. A character that will make every day problems seem a lot less significant in the scheme of things.
Daniel was a kind, caring and compassionate soul that was made that way because of his past. A few years before his girlfriend had passed away which made him grow up in ways that he wouldn't have otherwise. Even though he has had a much easier life than Clover he still feels things a bit deeper than normal teenagers due to his past.
There are also quite a few of other great characters involved, a small town feel to the story when people open up their homes and lives to welcome Clover in and help her when she needs it. With a bit of suspense involved with the touching tale it made for a real page turning read that should touch your heart. Would definitely recommend.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
The Secret of Letting Go is truly a touching tale of two teenagers that each have had tough times in their past to deal with that somehow end up in each other's lives. The story changes POV a few times between the two to get to know each side a bit better.
I don't even really know what to say about Clover, her life growing up was the things nightmares are made of. She is naive to the world because she's never experienced anything that a normal teenager would. She is obviously a lot stronger than most would give her credit for though since she had made her way down to Florida and had been taking care of herself for a while. A character that will make every day problems seem a lot less significant in the scheme of things.
Daniel was a kind, caring and compassionate soul that was made that way because of his past. A few years before his girlfriend had passed away which made him grow up in ways that he wouldn't have otherwise. Even though he has had a much easier life than Clover he still feels things a bit deeper than normal teenagers due to his past.
There are also quite a few of other great characters involved, a small town feel to the story when people open up their homes and lives to welcome Clover in and help her when she needs it. With a bit of suspense involved with the touching tale it made for a real page turning read that should touch your heart. Would definitely recommend.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
October 17, 2017
*4 estrellas*
Argumento:
Un verano puede cambiarlo todo…
Atormentado con la culpa tras la muerte de su novia, Daniel Hudson no tiene interés en comprometerse con nadie. Al final del verano, se irá de Florida para un nuevo comienzo en la universidad. Si tan solo pudiera evitar a la misteriosa nueva chica del pueblo, quien parece ser tan ingenua y excéntrica ven su apariencia. El problema es que es difícil de ignorar, con sus hermosos ojos penetrantes, perro de aspecto lastimoso, e inquietante tendencia a encontrar problemas.
Clover Scott vivió toda su vida fuera de la red y llega a la costa del Golfo en busca de sus abuelos. Nunca esperó casi ahogarse, o quedar atrapada en un huracán, o enamorarse del chico que la rescata. Ahora, tiene la oportunidad de reescribir la historia de su vida, de finalmente encajar en algún lugar, pero Daniel quiere respuestas sobre su pasado. Cuando la policía empieza a hacer preguntas sobre la desaparición de sus padres, debe tomar una decisión: ir a la cárcel o confesar sus secretos… incluso si pueden destruir su oportunidad de felices-para-siempre.
Qué lindo libro.... me gustó mucho la trama, una historia un poco triste... que trata de perdidas y el como sobreponerte a a eso y el saber perdonarse... además te mantiene un poquito en ascuas sobre qué fue lo que le pasó a Clover, que me pareció una protagonista algo peculiar (un poco infantil pero se entiende por como fue criada, no?) con su forma directa de abordar algunas cosas con Daniel... al pobre lo descolocaba todo, pobre jajajaja .... se quedaba sin saber que decirle!! Me gustó eso...
Tiene muchos personajes secundarios que me gustaron como la abuela de Daniel, su mejor amigo Sam y su hermana Amelia. También el abuelo de Clover, que aunque todo lo que pasó se pudo haber evitado si no hubiera metido sus manos (todo pudo haber sido tan diferente para Ella.... porbrecita.... esa chama cargaba un trauma que bueno pues!!) me agradó bastante y me gustó como recibió y defendió a Clover cuando lo necesitó.
Me encantó como terminó... muy realista !!
Es un libro que se lee super rápido y es muy entretenido con una trama muy interesante...
Ahhh y no me puedo olvidar de caesar el inseparable compañero de Clover... me encantó ese perrito!! :)
Argumento:
Un verano puede cambiarlo todo…
Atormentado con la culpa tras la muerte de su novia, Daniel Hudson no tiene interés en comprometerse con nadie. Al final del verano, se irá de Florida para un nuevo comienzo en la universidad. Si tan solo pudiera evitar a la misteriosa nueva chica del pueblo, quien parece ser tan ingenua y excéntrica ven su apariencia. El problema es que es difícil de ignorar, con sus hermosos ojos penetrantes, perro de aspecto lastimoso, e inquietante tendencia a encontrar problemas.
Clover Scott vivió toda su vida fuera de la red y llega a la costa del Golfo en busca de sus abuelos. Nunca esperó casi ahogarse, o quedar atrapada en un huracán, o enamorarse del chico que la rescata. Ahora, tiene la oportunidad de reescribir la historia de su vida, de finalmente encajar en algún lugar, pero Daniel quiere respuestas sobre su pasado. Cuando la policía empieza a hacer preguntas sobre la desaparición de sus padres, debe tomar una decisión: ir a la cárcel o confesar sus secretos… incluso si pueden destruir su oportunidad de felices-para-siempre.
Qué lindo libro.... me gustó mucho la trama, una historia un poco triste... que trata de perdidas y el como sobreponerte a a eso y el saber perdonarse... además te mantiene un poquito en ascuas sobre qué fue lo que le pasó a Clover, que me pareció una protagonista algo peculiar (un poco infantil pero se entiende por como fue criada, no?) con su forma directa de abordar algunas cosas con Daniel... al pobre lo descolocaba todo, pobre jajajaja .... se quedaba sin saber que decirle!! Me gustó eso...
Tiene muchos personajes secundarios que me gustaron como la abuela de Daniel, su mejor amigo Sam y su hermana Amelia. También el abuelo de Clover, que aunque todo lo que pasó se pudo haber evitado si no hubiera metido sus manos (todo pudo haber sido tan diferente para Ella.... porbrecita.... esa chama cargaba un trauma que bueno pues!!) me agradó bastante y me gustó como recibió y defendió a Clover cuando lo necesitó.
Me encantó como terminó... muy realista !!
Es un libro que se lee super rápido y es muy entretenido con una trama muy interesante...
Ahhh y no me puedo olvidar de caesar el inseparable compañero de Clover... me encantó ese perrito!! :)
February 7, 2017
Hermoso, de punta a punta. Bueno, el epílogo fue medio X pero en si la historia es preciosa.
June 7, 2016
3.5 stars!
The Secret to Letting Go is the story of Clover, a lost and suffering teenager, who finds herself in the company of Daniel Hudson, a local with his own demons to fight. It is immediately obvious to the reader that Clove is hiding something. It’s also quite apparent that she’s very different from others her age. She’s very out-of-the-loop when it comes to real life. She has been extremely sheltered and lived a life very different from others. I really appreciated the mystery elements to this story. The way we have to read on while the details slowly unravel to finally reveal what has affected Clover so deeply. The anticipation was a very good form of torture.
I also really liked Daniel, though I didn’t connect with him quite as much as I’d have liked. He was also suffering quite a bit after the loss of his exgirlfriend, which he, sadly, blamed himself for. All too often people blame themselves for things they had no control over. I could have done this. I wish I had done that. I think we’ve all been there a time or two. But David’s suffering caused him to hold back when it came to his emotions. He became closed off a bit and unwilling to get to know people on a deeper level.
“Like the woods back in Virginia, his eyes changed color with his mood—greener when he laughed and darker, like now, when he was angry or worried. They were kind, serious, intelligent eyes that crinkled in the corners when he smiled.”
The connection between Clover and Daniel was so sweet. As friends, both walking on thin ice, they were so hesitant to give their all to this friendship. These two went through so much, and together they were able to learn how to handle the life they were given, despite the troubles they suffered from the past.
“He was so close his breath touched my cheek. Staring into his eyes, I could almost forget about the nightmare.”
The Secret to Letting Go has a strong emphasis on friendship, family and forgiveness. The way these families came together, despite their pasts, was very sweet and made my heart happy. I also loved the amount of support and encouragement these families gave to each other. I especially appreciated Daniel’s mother, the way Daniel spoke to her, and the mother/son connection these two had. Clover’s family from her childhood wasn’t the best, though her mother appeared to always put her first and want only the very best for her daughter.
“…even if you buried yourself in guilt, you can’t go back and change what happened.”
I don’t want to go into any major details of this story, as I think it’s better left on the mysterious side. This is one you’ll want to experience for yourself. With that being said, I’m such a huge fan of contemporary books and I’m always looking for new authors in the genre. Having the bit of suspense/mystery involved in this story added such a nice touch. This is the perfect book to curl up with on a rainy day and get completely lost among its pages. Katherine Fleet is an author to keep our eye on, that’s for sure. I’m eager to see what she comes out with next.
(Thanks to Entangled Teen for the review copy!)
Find this review and others like it at Lost in Literature!
The Secret to Letting Go is the story of Clover, a lost and suffering teenager, who finds herself in the company of Daniel Hudson, a local with his own demons to fight. It is immediately obvious to the reader that Clove is hiding something. It’s also quite apparent that she’s very different from others her age. She’s very out-of-the-loop when it comes to real life. She has been extremely sheltered and lived a life very different from others. I really appreciated the mystery elements to this story. The way we have to read on while the details slowly unravel to finally reveal what has affected Clover so deeply. The anticipation was a very good form of torture.
I also really liked Daniel, though I didn’t connect with him quite as much as I’d have liked. He was also suffering quite a bit after the loss of his exgirlfriend, which he, sadly, blamed himself for. All too often people blame themselves for things they had no control over. I could have done this. I wish I had done that. I think we’ve all been there a time or two. But David’s suffering caused him to hold back when it came to his emotions. He became closed off a bit and unwilling to get to know people on a deeper level.
“Like the woods back in Virginia, his eyes changed color with his mood—greener when he laughed and darker, like now, when he was angry or worried. They were kind, serious, intelligent eyes that crinkled in the corners when he smiled.”
The connection between Clover and Daniel was so sweet. As friends, both walking on thin ice, they were so hesitant to give their all to this friendship. These two went through so much, and together they were able to learn how to handle the life they were given, despite the troubles they suffered from the past.
“He was so close his breath touched my cheek. Staring into his eyes, I could almost forget about the nightmare.”
The Secret to Letting Go has a strong emphasis on friendship, family and forgiveness. The way these families came together, despite their pasts, was very sweet and made my heart happy. I also loved the amount of support and encouragement these families gave to each other. I especially appreciated Daniel’s mother, the way Daniel spoke to her, and the mother/son connection these two had. Clover’s family from her childhood wasn’t the best, though her mother appeared to always put her first and want only the very best for her daughter.
“…even if you buried yourself in guilt, you can’t go back and change what happened.”
I don’t want to go into any major details of this story, as I think it’s better left on the mysterious side. This is one you’ll want to experience for yourself. With that being said, I’m such a huge fan of contemporary books and I’m always looking for new authors in the genre. Having the bit of suspense/mystery involved in this story added such a nice touch. This is the perfect book to curl up with on a rainy day and get completely lost among its pages. Katherine Fleet is an author to keep our eye on, that’s for sure. I’m eager to see what she comes out with next.
(Thanks to Entangled Teen for the review copy!)
Find this review and others like it at Lost in Literature!
February 1, 2016
SO I just need to first mention this: Please have a look at the cover. Isn't it very pretty?
The coverslut in me was very happy indeed, when I got this novel.
And while one shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, this one, well just go ahead and do.
Because if I had to describe The Secret to Letting Go in one word? My choice would be beautiful.
I love Fleet's prose. And I am definitely going to look out for more books by her. Her writing style is descriptive, thoughtful and subtle.
The plot was well paced. I liked the back and forth in time. And Fleet chose the right moments to expose more details of the mystery. It kept you in the exact right amount of suspense, to eagerly read on but not be distracted from the subtle changes and small events. There were some nice twists, bits that I didn't exactly anticipate.
But I also have to say that some events were kinda unbelievable and a tad too convenient. Especially how Clover's situation got solved.
I was however too wrapped up in the characters to care. I connect with both Daniel and Clover quite quickly. While I wasn't a fan of their insta-connection/love or whatever. I did love both POV and I routed for them. I loved Clover's inexperience and her wonderment. I love how Daniel found himself as her protector but also how they helped each other deal with their past. They both change over the run of the story- and it is believable. Fleet it an amazing job at showing their heartbreak, their insecurity without being melodramatic- but rather it's subtle yet raw and real. Heartbreakingly beautiful.
Last but not least: a word to the epilogue. I would have been ok with the end- before the epilogue. The epilogue made me grin- the perfect cute & fluffy to a heartbreaking & heartwarming story.
So even if the romance was rather insta, the story line rather unbelievable at times - it is still overall a unique cute & fluffy- that has actually some serious depths. And there lies my favorite part of the book. The depth. The unexpected dealing with loss and overcoming the past. It's beautifully done, incredibly moving and yet wonderfully uplifting.
The coverslut in me was very happy indeed, when I got this novel.
And while one shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, this one, well just go ahead and do.
Because if I had to describe The Secret to Letting Go in one word? My choice would be beautiful.
I love Fleet's prose. And I am definitely going to look out for more books by her. Her writing style is descriptive, thoughtful and subtle.
The plot was well paced. I liked the back and forth in time. And Fleet chose the right moments to expose more details of the mystery. It kept you in the exact right amount of suspense, to eagerly read on but not be distracted from the subtle changes and small events. There were some nice twists, bits that I didn't exactly anticipate.
But I also have to say that some events were kinda unbelievable and a tad too convenient. Especially how Clover's situation got solved.
I was however too wrapped up in the characters to care. I connect with both Daniel and Clover quite quickly. While I wasn't a fan of their insta-connection/love or whatever. I did love both POV and I routed for them. I loved Clover's inexperience and her wonderment. I love how Daniel found himself as her protector but also how they helped each other deal with their past. They both change over the run of the story- and it is believable. Fleet it an amazing job at showing their heartbreak, their insecurity without being melodramatic- but rather it's subtle yet raw and real. Heartbreakingly beautiful.
Last but not least: a word to the epilogue. I would have been ok with the end- before the epilogue. The epilogue made me grin- the perfect cute & fluffy to a heartbreaking & heartwarming story.
So even if the romance was rather insta, the story line rather unbelievable at times - it is still overall a unique cute & fluffy- that has actually some serious depths. And there lies my favorite part of the book. The depth. The unexpected dealing with loss and overcoming the past. It's beautifully done, incredibly moving and yet wonderfully uplifting.
August 15, 2017
The Secret to Letting Go is, as the title implied, a coming-of-age, family/friendship book. Clover, a teenage girl who was locked with her mom in her house by her dad and became the prisoner of it when she was little so she had never seen the outside world until two years ago. What’s worse, how she got out of that place was even darker than you could imagine. When she first escaped to somewhere far away from that house, she was extremely curious about literally EVERYTHING—both physically and mentally—from the leaves on the trees, the magic of Mother Nature to the love and friendship she never had.
With the help of Daniel, a boy who showed her how to love, broke her heart and mended it gradually, Clover managed to pick up what she missed in the past decade. In my opinion, Clover and Daniel learned quite a lot from each other; Clover explored her newly-discovered world with fresh eyes whereas Daniel took his friends, family, everything he saw every day for granted. What’s more, Clover also picked up some of Daniel’s attitude and became a bit sarcastic, but that was totally understandable, right? I mean, how could a kind-hearted, utterly innocent person survive in a world full of cynical, selfish people?
Anyway, their transformation into better people was the only part I liked about this book. I enjoyed seeing Clover’s contagious curiosity/happiness make Daniel think differently about his life in general. Funny enough, Clover always knew how to put someone on the spot, particularly Daniel. Hence, after being with Clover for a while, he no longer treated people around him like they owed him something, which was a real good start for him.
Honestly, I was a bit confused in the author’s writing. For example, Clover obviously didn’t do anything to her parents but she acted as if she killed them or something and got really anxious when seeing police officers. She looked terrified, actually. Also, Daniel tried very hard to make Clover open up and tell him what happened in that house before she escaped but she always changed the subject to dismiss him. Besides, I didn’t like Clover’s grandpa’s interference in her relationship with Daniel. I mean, granted, he definitely cared a lot about her but most of the time, he was too overprotective and his behavior irked me a lot. Furthermore, I strongly despised the way Daniel broke things off with Clover when he simply couldn’t stand her innocent, childish mind. Daniel might as well behave like a civilized, good-mannered gentleman and have a nice yet heartbreaking talk with her instead of 1,000% avoiding her like the plague. Seriously, what kind of man you were, Daniel?!
As for the writing style in this book, it was like a draft to me. I could get the outlines as well as the structure of the story but somehow, in my opinion, the author didn’t manage to pull all the loose ends together. She merely changed how she wrote when presenting those pieces of information in the story so reading this book was like finding the scattered threads of plot on the ground.
The ending was even more disastrous. It was surrounded with the never-ending blame and guilt from Clover and basically, it was just a repetition of what was disclosed in the previous chapters. I was too sick of Clover and her grandpa’s self-blaming to continue reading this book several times. There was too much negativity among the characters so I had no choice but to put the book down once in a while. I mean, the story had apparently reached the point where the protagonists should simply move on since they already uncovered the truth. There was no use crying over spilt milk, wasn’t it?
All in all, there was a well-thought-out plot in The Secret to Letting Go but it lacked in-depth development so to some extent, the story looked incomplete to me. Without enough twists and turns, the story was too predictable; therefore, I already knew what would happen way before it actually did. Mercifully, the happy ending kind of made up for the flaws I pointed out previously. Lastly, this book was just meh for me and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, unless you’re really interested in seeing more of Clover and Daniel’s interaction.
With the help of Daniel, a boy who showed her how to love, broke her heart and mended it gradually, Clover managed to pick up what she missed in the past decade. In my opinion, Clover and Daniel learned quite a lot from each other; Clover explored her newly-discovered world with fresh eyes whereas Daniel took his friends, family, everything he saw every day for granted. What’s more, Clover also picked up some of Daniel’s attitude and became a bit sarcastic, but that was totally understandable, right? I mean, how could a kind-hearted, utterly innocent person survive in a world full of cynical, selfish people?
Caesar bolted ahead of us, sniffing at a pile of wood and seaweed. Clover walked in silence, a condition she’d maintained on the drive from Gran’s house. She stooped to pick up a piece of driftwood, tracing the knots and swirls with her thumb. She’d changed in the short time I’d known her. Clover looked at everything in her unique, unfiltered way—a mix of innocence, compassion, and frankness. Somewhere along the way, cynicism had crept in. She’d grown a little jaded. Had she learned that from me?
Anyway, their transformation into better people was the only part I liked about this book. I enjoyed seeing Clover’s contagious curiosity/happiness make Daniel think differently about his life in general. Funny enough, Clover always knew how to put someone on the spot, particularly Daniel. Hence, after being with Clover for a while, he no longer treated people around him like they owed him something, which was a real good start for him.
“Yeah. You notice everything, even the small stuff that other people assume is unimportant, and you’re so…committed to life. You make me think about the things I take for granted, like maybe I’ve been just getting by for the past two years and maybe it’s not enough.”
Honestly, I was a bit confused in the author’s writing. For example, Clover obviously didn’t do anything to her parents but she acted as if she killed them or something and got really anxious when seeing police officers. She looked terrified, actually. Also, Daniel tried very hard to make Clover open up and tell him what happened in that house before she escaped but she always changed the subject to dismiss him. Besides, I didn’t like Clover’s grandpa’s interference in her relationship with Daniel. I mean, granted, he definitely cared a lot about her but most of the time, he was too overprotective and his behavior irked me a lot. Furthermore, I strongly despised the way Daniel broke things off with Clover when he simply couldn’t stand her innocent, childish mind. Daniel might as well behave like a civilized, good-mannered gentleman and have a nice yet heartbreaking talk with her instead of 1,000% avoiding her like the plague. Seriously, what kind of man you were, Daniel?!
As for the writing style in this book, it was like a draft to me. I could get the outlines as well as the structure of the story but somehow, in my opinion, the author didn’t manage to pull all the loose ends together. She merely changed how she wrote when presenting those pieces of information in the story so reading this book was like finding the scattered threads of plot on the ground.
The ending was even more disastrous. It was surrounded with the never-ending blame and guilt from Clover and basically, it was just a repetition of what was disclosed in the previous chapters. I was too sick of Clover and her grandpa’s self-blaming to continue reading this book several times. There was too much negativity among the characters so I had no choice but to put the book down once in a while. I mean, the story had apparently reached the point where the protagonists should simply move on since they already uncovered the truth. There was no use crying over spilt milk, wasn’t it?
All in all, there was a well-thought-out plot in The Secret to Letting Go but it lacked in-depth development so to some extent, the story looked incomplete to me. Without enough twists and turns, the story was too predictable; therefore, I already knew what would happen way before it actually did. Mercifully, the happy ending kind of made up for the flaws I pointed out previously. Lastly, this book was just meh for me and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, unless you’re really interested in seeing more of Clover and Daniel’s interaction.
February 1, 2016
I received this eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity!
The Secret To Letting Go is a book that once you start, you simply can't put down. You're so curious about Clover's, the main character, past. Like, I got this urge to find out what the heck happened to her parents, and when you think you're about to find out she runs away from scene, literally. I'd complain about this, but let's be real, if Fleet told us from the very beginning what happened to sweet Clover's parents we'd put the book down without thinking.
About the main characters:
The book is told in dual POVs, Clover's and Daniel's, so let's talk about these two. Daniel has just graduated high school and is going away to Georgia (if my memory doesn't betray me) on a golf scholarship. To be honest, Dan managed to get on my nerves sometimes, but then he made me happy; I found he was perfect for Clover after a while. *quick note: Don't let yourself get influenced by what others tell you. You are you, amd you don't need to listen anyone if you feel you're doing the right thing.* We learn that Daniel is still not over the death of his now ex girlfriend, Grace (I think...gosh, I suck at names so badly), it takes us a while to find out that she committed suicide. What I really didn't like is that we never get a clear insight as to why she killed herself, and we also never get details on Daniel and Grace's relationship. We just know he's still not completely over her death. I don't blame the guy, when we really love someone we truly never get over losing him/her. I requested this book merely because of the title, at the moemnt I felt like I needed to read something like this and I thought it would center on Daniel letting go of Grace, but I was so wrong. Which brings us to Clover, who's been on the run for over two years. There's a point on thenstory that we realize that when the author was talking about "letting go" on the title, she meant Clover letting go of her parents' deaths. I don't want to spoil you guys the story too much because I really want you to read it so I'll talk about her personality because it's quite necessary. First, I LOVED HER CHARACTER! Even though she's eighteen, she has the personality and energy of an eight year old. I don't mean it in a bad way, it's just that she radiates happiness and all those crazy feelings you get when you're around a cute little kid. Due to her past, she's very oblivious to the present world and seeing (well reading) her thoughts and emotions while she discovers the joys of the present world squeezes your heart inna really good way. Oh, and she has a dog, named Caesar, who adores her. I'm a terrible sucker for pets, so naturally I fell in love with the pup.
So, this book has a lot of great things all mixed up together. If you decide to pick this book up you'll find yourself entangled with a million feelings every time Clover is present in a page. Ah! And it has a very clever, and truly unexpected, plot twist that will have your jaw hitting the floor. I can't stop fangirling over this book! To me, i was a nearly perfect read and it was really needed to improve my mood.
The Secret To Letting Go is a book that once you start, you simply can't put down. You're so curious about Clover's, the main character, past. Like, I got this urge to find out what the heck happened to her parents, and when you think you're about to find out she runs away from scene, literally. I'd complain about this, but let's be real, if Fleet told us from the very beginning what happened to sweet Clover's parents we'd put the book down without thinking.
About the main characters:
The book is told in dual POVs, Clover's and Daniel's, so let's talk about these two. Daniel has just graduated high school and is going away to Georgia (if my memory doesn't betray me) on a golf scholarship. To be honest, Dan managed to get on my nerves sometimes, but then he made me happy; I found he was perfect for Clover after a while. *quick note: Don't let yourself get influenced by what others tell you. You are you, amd you don't need to listen anyone if you feel you're doing the right thing.* We learn that Daniel is still not over the death of his now ex girlfriend, Grace (I think...gosh, I suck at names so badly), it takes us a while to find out that she committed suicide. What I really didn't like is that we never get a clear insight as to why she killed herself, and we also never get details on Daniel and Grace's relationship. We just know he's still not completely over her death. I don't blame the guy, when we really love someone we truly never get over losing him/her. I requested this book merely because of the title, at the moemnt I felt like I needed to read something like this and I thought it would center on Daniel letting go of Grace, but I was so wrong. Which brings us to Clover, who's been on the run for over two years. There's a point on thenstory that we realize that when the author was talking about "letting go" on the title, she meant Clover letting go of her parents' deaths. I don't want to spoil you guys the story too much because I really want you to read it so I'll talk about her personality because it's quite necessary. First, I LOVED HER CHARACTER! Even though she's eighteen, she has the personality and energy of an eight year old. I don't mean it in a bad way, it's just that she radiates happiness and all those crazy feelings you get when you're around a cute little kid. Due to her past, she's very oblivious to the present world and seeing (well reading) her thoughts and emotions while she discovers the joys of the present world squeezes your heart inna really good way. Oh, and she has a dog, named Caesar, who adores her. I'm a terrible sucker for pets, so naturally I fell in love with the pup.
So, this book has a lot of great things all mixed up together. If you decide to pick this book up you'll find yourself entangled with a million feelings every time Clover is present in a page. Ah! And it has a very clever, and truly unexpected, plot twist that will have your jaw hitting the floor. I can't stop fangirling over this book! To me, i was a nearly perfect read and it was really needed to improve my mood.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2016
Originally posted on www.yareads.com, reviewed by Nichole.
Ok…I have so many thoughts and feels over this book, I don’t really know where to begin. My overall thought? I thought that The Secret to Letting Go was a solid contemporary read that had a few quirks that bugged me.
The number one thing that I want to talk about is the dual POVs between Clover and Daniel. I absolutely adored the first POV (Daniels,) and I was super excited that we had another YA book with a male perspective. They don’t really exist in the bookosphere. I was completely stunned, though, when it switched over to Clover’s POV. I have a bad habit of not reading synopsis’, so I don’t know if that was in there, but I didn’t see it coming. And then it happened several more times! I’m not a reader who enjoys having the POV switch around like that. While I understand that some readers will enjoy hearing from both main characters, it rubbed me wrong.
Another thing that I want to discuss is the two main characters, Clover and Daniel. On one hand, I adored Daniel. I thought that he was an awesome male lead. Seriously, I could have read about him all day long. On the other hand, I couldn’t stand Clover…..for several different reasons, really. I thought she went on and on and on and ON about her secret for 65% of the book (probably because she did,) and it was just so DRAMATIC! I like suspense as much as the next person, but COME ONE, ALREADY! I needed it to get to the point a lot faster than it did! I was also really put off by how needy she was. Toward the end of the book, she begged Daniel several times to stay with her and to say her loved her and blah, blah, BLAH. I don’t like the message that females should resort to begging in their relationships. That was a big no, no for me.
What I did really like about this book were the twists and turns. Some of them I didn’t even see coming from a mile away! It was very suspenseful and kept me on my toes. So, kudos for that!
The Secret to Letting Go seemed to have a bit of an identity issue when it came to a genre/age range. Technically, this is a YA book. However, the main characters are 18 (college aged.) For me, I was lost in a YA book that technically should have drifted over into the NA range. 18-year-olds have sex. It happens. You can’t deny it. While attraction was addressed in this book, I thought that it was very PG for the ages addressed in this book.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. It was a bit more dramatic than my reading tastes tend to prefer and there were some issues that bothered me in the book. Overall, though, I thought that it was a solid contemporary read that YA contemp/suspense/lovey readers will really enjoy!
Ok…I have so many thoughts and feels over this book, I don’t really know where to begin. My overall thought? I thought that The Secret to Letting Go was a solid contemporary read that had a few quirks that bugged me.
The number one thing that I want to talk about is the dual POVs between Clover and Daniel. I absolutely adored the first POV (Daniels,) and I was super excited that we had another YA book with a male perspective. They don’t really exist in the bookosphere. I was completely stunned, though, when it switched over to Clover’s POV. I have a bad habit of not reading synopsis’, so I don’t know if that was in there, but I didn’t see it coming. And then it happened several more times! I’m not a reader who enjoys having the POV switch around like that. While I understand that some readers will enjoy hearing from both main characters, it rubbed me wrong.
Another thing that I want to discuss is the two main characters, Clover and Daniel. On one hand, I adored Daniel. I thought that he was an awesome male lead. Seriously, I could have read about him all day long. On the other hand, I couldn’t stand Clover…..for several different reasons, really. I thought she went on and on and on and ON about her secret for 65% of the book (probably because she did,) and it was just so DRAMATIC! I like suspense as much as the next person, but COME ONE, ALREADY! I needed it to get to the point a lot faster than it did! I was also really put off by how needy she was. Toward the end of the book, she begged Daniel several times to stay with her and to say her loved her and blah, blah, BLAH. I don’t like the message that females should resort to begging in their relationships. That was a big no, no for me.
What I did really like about this book were the twists and turns. Some of them I didn’t even see coming from a mile away! It was very suspenseful and kept me on my toes. So, kudos for that!
The Secret to Letting Go seemed to have a bit of an identity issue when it came to a genre/age range. Technically, this is a YA book. However, the main characters are 18 (college aged.) For me, I was lost in a YA book that technically should have drifted over into the NA range. 18-year-olds have sex. It happens. You can’t deny it. While attraction was addressed in this book, I thought that it was very PG for the ages addressed in this book.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. It was a bit more dramatic than my reading tastes tend to prefer and there were some issues that bothered me in the book. Overall, though, I thought that it was a solid contemporary read that YA contemp/suspense/lovey readers will really enjoy!
January 19, 2016
First things first: I received this ARC through NetGalley.
The book comes out on February 1st and you should definitely check it out!!!
The year has only just now begun but I feel like this is a top candidat for my favorite book of the year.
The book is about Daniel, who can't wait to get out of town, and Clover, who showed up in town out of nowhere, looking for someone. They both have secrets and they both had something bad happen to them in their past. Both have huge walls build around them. I love these two characters, there were so many layers to them.
I loved the journey they made in the book, how they both changed each other in a really natural way without the whole 'they make each other better because they are in LOVE'.
When talking about characters, I just loved the side characters. There were so many of them but they all had their own place in the story. Amelia, who is Daniel's sister and quickly becomes a best friend to Clover. Sam, Daniel's friend, who has a thing for Amelia. Daniel's grandmother, who is just so lovely in her own kind of way. Sam's father. Mr. Alexander. There is even homeless Pete, who was just mentioned twice, I think, but who I kind of feel attached too?!
The relationships were wonderful. Especially the family ones. They are just the most important to me.
The story was wonderfully written (even the sad moments where just so beautiful!!!). The story is told from Daniel's and Clover's POV. It doesn't switch every chapter, something that I really enjoyed. The switch was made clear on top of the page but other than that, I feel even without that I could tell after a while who was who.
i think the pace was really good. Daniel talked about his secret, the thing that happened in his life that changed him, a bit earlier than Clover. Which I thought was the right thing to happen. When we finally found out what happened to Clover, I loved how that was written. The flashbacks were really well written and something that I always look for, that they were cleary marked/visible as flashbacks. Amazing twists that happened around the time that Clover's secret got out. I really needed a breather after that, cause it felt just so intense.
I won't go into details, cause I seriously had no idea what the heck I was getting into, at the same time I expected a lot from it. I just had a feeling. And I didn't get disappointed at all. The book was everything I wanted, and so much more.
The book comes out on February 1st and you should definitely check it out!!!
The year has only just now begun but I feel like this is a top candidat for my favorite book of the year.
The book is about Daniel, who can't wait to get out of town, and Clover, who showed up in town out of nowhere, looking for someone. They both have secrets and they both had something bad happen to them in their past. Both have huge walls build around them. I love these two characters, there were so many layers to them.
I loved the journey they made in the book, how they both changed each other in a really natural way without the whole 'they make each other better because they are in LOVE'.
When talking about characters, I just loved the side characters. There were so many of them but they all had their own place in the story. Amelia, who is Daniel's sister and quickly becomes a best friend to Clover. Sam, Daniel's friend, who has a thing for Amelia. Daniel's grandmother, who is just so lovely in her own kind of way. Sam's father. Mr. Alexander. There is even homeless Pete, who was just mentioned twice, I think, but who I kind of feel attached too?!
The relationships were wonderful. Especially the family ones. They are just the most important to me.
The story was wonderfully written (even the sad moments where just so beautiful!!!). The story is told from Daniel's and Clover's POV. It doesn't switch every chapter, something that I really enjoyed. The switch was made clear on top of the page but other than that, I feel even without that I could tell after a while who was who.
i think the pace was really good. Daniel talked about his secret, the thing that happened in his life that changed him, a bit earlier than Clover. Which I thought was the right thing to happen. When we finally found out what happened to Clover, I loved how that was written. The flashbacks were really well written and something that I always look for, that they were cleary marked/visible as flashbacks. Amazing twists that happened around the time that Clover's secret got out. I really needed a breather after that, cause it felt just so intense.
I won't go into details, cause I seriously had no idea what the heck I was getting into, at the same time I expected a lot from it. I just had a feeling. And I didn't get disappointed at all. The book was everything I wanted, and so much more.
April 27, 2020
Overall I think this was a good enough book, but I was a little let down by it in ways. First off I could understand early on what type of life Clover lived growing up. It was pretty obvious by the way she acted, but after reading the reviews I expected to see her grow a lot as a character, and found myself disappointed in the lack of growth. I read this story was filled with a lot of self-rediscovery and character growth for both of them, but I don’t feel like we got that.
It’s not that Clover doesn’t grow and become a stronger person. It’s just there’s not enough parts in the book to show her grow as a person. We know she’s doing better and decided to forgive herself, but I guess I just wanted to see more of it and also I understand that she felt guilt about what happened to her Mother, but why spend most of the book making her act the way she did, when it wasn’t necessary? I understood how she felt to an extent, but I can’t understand how and why she blamed herself for other things.
I did find myself liking her more than I did Daniel though. He really started to frustrate me towards the end. I also didn’t like how their relationship went. I felt the same as everyone else did about the insta-love she had for him and their reasoning was solid. I just think he did everything wrong towards the end, and came off like a jerk because of it. I wanted to hit him and I wanted her to truly show him she could move on from him.
Why couldn’t we at least get him seeing her happy and have him realize how he truly felt about her? I just felt the end was rushed, and I think I would’ve preferred him to maybe get jealous at least once when she had to see him with Morgan so many times. I don’t know, but anyway I liked that Clover got a better life. I still wish I could’ve got more out of it and wish some things would’ve been different, but still a quick read and I know others will enjoy it more than I did.
It’s not that Clover doesn’t grow and become a stronger person. It’s just there’s not enough parts in the book to show her grow as a person. We know she’s doing better and decided to forgive herself, but I guess I just wanted to see more of it and also I understand that she felt guilt about what happened to her Mother, but why spend most of the book making her act the way she did, when it wasn’t necessary? I understood how she felt to an extent, but I can’t understand how and why she blamed herself for other things.
I did find myself liking her more than I did Daniel though. He really started to frustrate me towards the end. I also didn’t like how their relationship went. I felt the same as everyone else did about the insta-love she had for him and their reasoning was solid. I just think he did everything wrong towards the end, and came off like a jerk because of it. I wanted to hit him and I wanted her to truly show him she could move on from him.
Why couldn’t we at least get him seeing her happy and have him realize how he truly felt about her? I just felt the end was rushed, and I think I would’ve preferred him to maybe get jealous at least once when she had to see him with Morgan so many times. I don’t know, but anyway I liked that Clover got a better life. I still wish I could’ve got more out of it and wish some things would’ve been different, but still a quick read and I know others will enjoy it more than I did.
January 25, 2016
For more reviews click HERE
*I was provided a copy by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I don’t know how I’ll be able to write this review without giving too much away. This one of that books that is good to go without knowing a lot. But first like just all admire the gorgeous cover that this book has. I’m going to be honest this cover was one of the reasons why I requested this book.
I really liked this book. I loved that it was told in two different POVs and that we could know what was on the MC’s head. The MC’s are completely different from each other but in the end they end up helping each other with the issues they have. Daniel is a normal guy who grew up having everything but that still feels guilty over his girlfriend’s death. One the other hand, Clover is a very mysterious character. In the beginning you only know that she hasn’t had a normal life and that there is something that haunts her life. I spent all book trying to figure out what happened to her for her to be like this. The girl doesn’t even know what an exercise bike is. While the author drops a lot of clues about Clover’s past I was still shocked when I found out the true. I also liked the romance but in the end I wanted a little bit more. My only problem with the romance was how Clover always wanted to get back to Daniel and thought that she needed him in her life. I understand where this comes from but sometimes it would annoy me a little bit. Another thing I loved was the other characters. I loved Daniel’s twin sister Amelia. She was an amazing character and I would read a book about her and Sam because they are the cutest and by now you know how much I love cuteness.
Overall, I really did enjoy this book and even more than what I was expecting. I’m pretty sure that after this I’ll keep Katherine Fleet under my radar because I want to read her next books
*I was provided a copy by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I don’t know how I’ll be able to write this review without giving too much away. This one of that books that is good to go without knowing a lot. But first like just all admire the gorgeous cover that this book has. I’m going to be honest this cover was one of the reasons why I requested this book.
I really liked this book. I loved that it was told in two different POVs and that we could know what was on the MC’s head. The MC’s are completely different from each other but in the end they end up helping each other with the issues they have. Daniel is a normal guy who grew up having everything but that still feels guilty over his girlfriend’s death. One the other hand, Clover is a very mysterious character. In the beginning you only know that she hasn’t had a normal life and that there is something that haunts her life. I spent all book trying to figure out what happened to her for her to be like this. The girl doesn’t even know what an exercise bike is. While the author drops a lot of clues about Clover’s past I was still shocked when I found out the true. I also liked the romance but in the end I wanted a little bit more. My only problem with the romance was how Clover always wanted to get back to Daniel and thought that she needed him in her life. I understand where this comes from but sometimes it would annoy me a little bit. Another thing I loved was the other characters. I loved Daniel’s twin sister Amelia. She was an amazing character and I would read a book about her and Sam because they are the cutest and by now you know how much I love cuteness.
Overall, I really did enjoy this book and even more than what I was expecting. I’m pretty sure that after this I’ll keep Katherine Fleet under my radar because I want to read her next books
January 29, 2016
This book left me quite conflicted, I’m not sure if I am completely in love with it but the message is a strong one and it’s quite beautiful, so I’m not even sure how to rate this. I’m also getting ahead of myself, let’s just talk about it first.
The concept is quite an interesting one as there’s quite a bit of mystery present and you know that tragic things have happened to a lot of the characters but most stay very vague until it all comes crashing down. I love books in which characters are just full of guilt by things that happened in their past and I know that sounds weird and just horrible, but it really shows their humanity and how disfunctional we can be when we get stuck in our own head. That’s why I think this book has a great message, that sometimes you just need to learn to let go.
FULL REVIEW: https://melgoethals.wordpress.com/201...
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
The concept is quite an interesting one as there’s quite a bit of mystery present and you know that tragic things have happened to a lot of the characters but most stay very vague until it all comes crashing down. I love books in which characters are just full of guilt by things that happened in their past and I know that sounds weird and just horrible, but it really shows their humanity and how disfunctional we can be when we get stuck in our own head. That’s why I think this book has a great message, that sometimes you just need to learn to let go.
FULL REVIEW: https://melgoethals.wordpress.com/201...
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
February 2, 2016
I received a copy of this through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
3.5 stars
This was so beautifully written that I didn't mind the duel perspectives at all. The mystery surrounding the characters kept me intrigued throughout and I thought Clover and Daniel were incredibly dynamic and they brought the story to life perfectly. There is quite bit of tragedy in this book but don't let that put you off as it is a great exploration of love and moving on.
The Secret to Letting Go has just been released and is a must for any contemporary lover
3.5 stars
This was so beautifully written that I didn't mind the duel perspectives at all. The mystery surrounding the characters kept me intrigued throughout and I thought Clover and Daniel were incredibly dynamic and they brought the story to life perfectly. There is quite bit of tragedy in this book but don't let that put you off as it is a great exploration of love and moving on.
The Secret to Letting Go has just been released and is a must for any contemporary lover
January 29, 2016
I received a copy via netgalley.
Wow so this was a page turner. Clover's innocence and Daniel's heartbreak from another really meshed well all the secrets they kept once finally out made their characters really bloom. There was crazy twists all over the place. I really enjoyed how everything came together and fell into place the ending was satisfying. Writing style a bit off and random PoV switches but they make more sense after it all is over. 4.5 Stars
Wow so this was a page turner. Clover's innocence and Daniel's heartbreak from another really meshed well all the secrets they kept once finally out made their characters really bloom. There was crazy twists all over the place. I really enjoyed how everything came together and fell into place the ending was satisfying. Writing style a bit off and random PoV switches but they make more sense after it all is over. 4.5 Stars
January 17, 2016
Let me start by saying that this book was not what I expected in the least. Maybe I missed parts of the synopsis when I was too busy admiring the gorgeous cover, I don’t know. *shrugs* Somehow I thought I was going into a light YA with a dash of suspense, but what I got was…entirely different.
Daniel Hudson doesn’t let himself get close to anyone, not since his girlfriend died tragically and the guilt still haunts him about whether or not he could’ve saved her. The last thing he needs is to meet a girl who constantly needs saving, be it from the drowning in the ocean or an approaching hurricane. But Clover Scott is different from most girls, and he knows it and can’t seem to stay away. Clover has been through alot in her short life. She grew up very sheltered and in an unstable environment. So when she ends up in Florida searching for grandparents she’s never met, homeless and alone, she doesn’t expect to fall in love with the boy who is constantly saving her. But the secrets of her past come at a cost - will she be able to move on from her past and tell the police, and Daniel, the truth?
Told from the perspectives of both Daniel and Clover in parts (starting with Daniel), this book had me surprised at every chapter. I honestly didn’t even know how I felt about it until I was about halfway in! Clover had a genuine and simplistic outlook on life that made her childlike and it was endearing. Daniel could be a little infuriating at times, but you can understand why and his feelings for Clover were beyond cute. Their relationship was romantic, but the message of finding yourself before diving into a serious relationship was realistic and well done. I appreciated the fact that the initial secrets Clover kept weren’t revealed only in the last two pages, like a lot of books I’ve read in the past. The author did a really nice job with giving us a well-rounded, complete story. And I just found out that this is her debut YA novel, which is amazing!
My only "complaint" was that while the subject matter was serious, I felt like I wasn’t getting any real depth from the main characters and it ended up coming off more distant than it could have been. BUT, the last half of the book was so much better than the mysterious nature of the first - the characters started showing growth and secondary characters like Amelia and Henry were the backbones of the story and made me smile. By the end, the warm sense of family and belonging that Clover experienced was enough to bring tears to my eyes and make me feel all gushy inside.
Emotional and genuine, Daniel and Clover’s story of young love amidst chaotic circumstances is sure to pull at your heartstrings. Such a fantastic debut YA from this new author! If you’re looking for a YA different from the “norm” then you should give The Secret to Letting Go a shot. Not what I expected, and I can confidently say that it’s a very good thing!
*I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
{Content Warning: }
See this review and more on my blog: http://www.willbakeforbooks.com/2016/...
Daniel Hudson doesn’t let himself get close to anyone, not since his girlfriend died tragically and the guilt still haunts him about whether or not he could’ve saved her. The last thing he needs is to meet a girl who constantly needs saving, be it from the drowning in the ocean or an approaching hurricane. But Clover Scott is different from most girls, and he knows it and can’t seem to stay away. Clover has been through alot in her short life. She grew up very sheltered and in an unstable environment. So when she ends up in Florida searching for grandparents she’s never met, homeless and alone, she doesn’t expect to fall in love with the boy who is constantly saving her. But the secrets of her past come at a cost - will she be able to move on from her past and tell the police, and Daniel, the truth?
Told from the perspectives of both Daniel and Clover in parts (starting with Daniel), this book had me surprised at every chapter. I honestly didn’t even know how I felt about it until I was about halfway in! Clover had a genuine and simplistic outlook on life that made her childlike and it was endearing. Daniel could be a little infuriating at times, but you can understand why and his feelings for Clover were beyond cute. Their relationship was romantic, but the message of finding yourself before diving into a serious relationship was realistic and well done. I appreciated the fact that the initial secrets Clover kept weren’t revealed only in the last two pages, like a lot of books I’ve read in the past. The author did a really nice job with giving us a well-rounded, complete story. And I just found out that this is her debut YA novel, which is amazing!
My only "complaint" was that while the subject matter was serious, I felt like I wasn’t getting any real depth from the main characters and it ended up coming off more distant than it could have been. BUT, the last half of the book was so much better than the mysterious nature of the first - the characters started showing growth and secondary characters like Amelia and Henry were the backbones of the story and made me smile. By the end, the warm sense of family and belonging that Clover experienced was enough to bring tears to my eyes and make me feel all gushy inside.
Emotional and genuine, Daniel and Clover’s story of young love amidst chaotic circumstances is sure to pull at your heartstrings. Such a fantastic debut YA from this new author! If you’re looking for a YA different from the “norm” then you should give The Secret to Letting Go a shot. Not what I expected, and I can confidently say that it’s a very good thing!
*I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
{Content Warning: }
See this review and more on my blog: http://www.willbakeforbooks.com/2016/...
March 17, 2017
I received this book for free from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Wow I am not really sure of what to say about this book. I didn’t expect much and I was so wrong. This book was full of raw emotions which made my heart ache more than once. The story was beautifully written and it successfully managed to convey all the emotions it wanted you to experience. I felt pain, love, betrayal and above all sadness. Sadness for these two main characters who were broken in different way. For Clover who, due to traumatic experiences needed to be saved in so many ways, in ways she didn’t even know and Daniel…Brave, honest lovely Daniel who would do anything to save her to redeem himself from his past.
The alternate point of view was really well done and you could help but identify with Daniel and Clover. They are so different but in need of healing and without realizing it they find solace in each other.
The story is very well paced and it was a real page turner which kept me awake (mostly with teary eyes and achy heart) until the wee hours of the day. The writing is beautiful and the flow’s close to perfect.
It is a standalone book and even if you wish you could have continued the road with Daniel and Clover the conclusion is satisfying and is enough to give you closure.
In conclusion: This book is a MUST READ for any fan of YA contemporary romance. It has all the right things to make you fall in love.
5/5
Wow I am not really sure of what to say about this book. I didn’t expect much and I was so wrong. This book was full of raw emotions which made my heart ache more than once. The story was beautifully written and it successfully managed to convey all the emotions it wanted you to experience. I felt pain, love, betrayal and above all sadness. Sadness for these two main characters who were broken in different way. For Clover who, due to traumatic experiences needed to be saved in so many ways, in ways she didn’t even know and Daniel…Brave, honest lovely Daniel who would do anything to save her to redeem himself from his past.
The alternate point of view was really well done and you could help but identify with Daniel and Clover. They are so different but in need of healing and without realizing it they find solace in each other.
The story is very well paced and it was a real page turner which kept me awake (mostly with teary eyes and achy heart) until the wee hours of the day. The writing is beautiful and the flow’s close to perfect.
It is a standalone book and even if you wish you could have continued the road with Daniel and Clover the conclusion is satisfying and is enough to give you closure.
In conclusion: This book is a MUST READ for any fan of YA contemporary romance. It has all the right things to make you fall in love.
5/5
February 27, 2016
Beautiful story about love, grief, painful memories, and learning how to live...really live again after experiencing tragedy. It's also about how real love can happen at any age, even when one is a teenager, even when you least expect it to happen.
Written in the alternating dual POVs of Daniel and Clover, it's interesting to see the commonalities between two teens who have been raised in very different circumstances. They met randomly, and that may have been the end of it, but Daniel showed compassion toward Clover. Each of the next few times they meet, It's like Daniel wishes he could avoid her, but circumstances keep bringing them together, and Daniel can't help but try and save her, possibly as penance for circumstances he couldn't control in his past.
The more they meet, the more he wants to help her, but at the same time, the more special he realizes Clover is. While she won't explain why, she clearly is unfamiliar with all the things that we take for granted, from things as simple as the normal response to how a mutual acquaintance is to the experience of seeing a movie for the first time at the cinema. Readers, like Daniel, will fall in love with the way that Clover is.
So much more to say about these characters and novel, but to keep this review spoiler, I'll refrain from giving it all away. Readers who like stories about love, secrets, and sensitive portrayals of grief will love this one.
Written in the alternating dual POVs of Daniel and Clover, it's interesting to see the commonalities between two teens who have been raised in very different circumstances. They met randomly, and that may have been the end of it, but Daniel showed compassion toward Clover. Each of the next few times they meet, It's like Daniel wishes he could avoid her, but circumstances keep bringing them together, and Daniel can't help but try and save her, possibly as penance for circumstances he couldn't control in his past.
The more they meet, the more he wants to help her, but at the same time, the more special he realizes Clover is. While she won't explain why, she clearly is unfamiliar with all the things that we take for granted, from things as simple as the normal response to how a mutual acquaintance is to the experience of seeing a movie for the first time at the cinema. Readers, like Daniel, will fall in love with the way that Clover is.
So much more to say about these characters and novel, but to keep this review spoiler, I'll refrain from giving it all away. Readers who like stories about love, secrets, and sensitive portrayals of grief will love this one.
January 19, 2016
First off this is an amazing cover which I have a cover crush on and that is one of the things that drew me to the book, the second was the mystery aspect to the story as the book takes place in a smalltown where we first meet Daniel Hudson whose family owns the local sports store in town and a female named Clover. Clover has had a rough life and spent most of her growing up off the grid, in fact she has been running for the past two years after an tragic accident occurred . Clover is in search for the grandparents, she never met and her journeys have brought her to a local town in Florida. Daniel's ex-girlfriend Grace committed suicide and he felt he could not help her , so when he notes that Clover is in danger - Daniel will go out of his way to ensure she is safe - even if that means keeping a truckload of secrets as Clover isn't going to let anyone in on her past as she has learned that if she can keep invisible , then she is safe and no-one will ask questions. What will happen though when questions are asked and Clover learns that her family had more secrets hidden and one of them surrounding her birth is one of the town's hidden ones and that her being here will cause a domino effect of hidden truths and lies to come rolling out . Is Clover prepared for the truth to be revealed ? Is the Truth really The Secret to Letting go and moving forward with the future ?
Find out in this awesome YA Book that I think everyone should have on their reading lists for 2016.
Find out in this awesome YA Book that I think everyone should have on their reading lists for 2016.
February 25, 2016
*I received an e-arc of this book from Entangled Teen Publishing on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
This book was just okay for me. It wasn't terrible but it wasn't great either. I wasn't expecting the dual point of views and I still kind of wish it was told from just one, but I did think that it was done pretty well. I thought Clover's naivety was pretty annoying even though there was an explanation for it, but sometimes the things she would say/thought just sounded more like she was 12 than 18. I also found some of the dialogue to just be awkward, but other than those things the writing was pretty solid. I found myself most interested in the mystery/thriller plot rather than the romance. Once we found out the answer to the mystery I realized I really didn't care about the romance or anything else that happened even though I still had 20-30% of the book to go.
Full Video Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaCsc...
This book was just okay for me. It wasn't terrible but it wasn't great either. I wasn't expecting the dual point of views and I still kind of wish it was told from just one, but I did think that it was done pretty well. I thought Clover's naivety was pretty annoying even though there was an explanation for it, but sometimes the things she would say/thought just sounded more like she was 12 than 18. I also found some of the dialogue to just be awkward, but other than those things the writing was pretty solid. I found myself most interested in the mystery/thriller plot rather than the romance. Once we found out the answer to the mystery I realized I really didn't care about the romance or anything else that happened even though I still had 20-30% of the book to go.
Full Video Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaCsc...
Read
February 12, 2016omgggggg.
Ok, so I think the end dragged out a little.... and I disagreed with a few of the conclusions about guilt and bravery.
But the rest of the book was so amazing. Five Stars All The Way Man. All. The. Way.
Ok, so I think the end dragged out a little.... and I disagreed with a few of the conclusions about guilt and bravery.
But the rest of the book was so amazing. Five Stars All The Way Man. All. The. Way.
June 27, 2016
Way more emotional than I expected - which was good :)
June 8, 2017
Me ha fascinado. Ni siquiera creo tener las palabras correctas para describirlo. Sólo sé que este libro llegó a vida justo en el momento preciso. Amé que antes de ser una historia de amor, fuera una historia de perdón, de lazos, de autodescubrimiento y de gentileza. Lo único que hubiera querido es que durará más.
January 30, 2016
Originally posted on: http://xbookwonderlandx.blogspot.com
Note: I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher, Entangled Teen, in exchange for an honest review
Everyone one has their secrets; Clover Scott happens to have many. When she walks into a sporting goods store in Florida, she catches the eye of Daniel Hudson. Immediately he is drawn to her but his past confines him from wanting to get to know her more. But after saving her twice, all he wants to do is help her.
The Secret of Letting Go is a touching tale of two teenagers who have been hurt in the past but end up being put in each others problems. Clover has a secretive past and won't tell anyone anything personal. She's afraid of any governmental groups like the hospital, the police, and the local sheriff. The life that she had wasn't the life of a normal teenager. She has experienced things that no one should experience. And all she wants to do is keep her past and her motives a secret.
Daniel Hudson is a scholarship percipient for golfing. His rough past keeps him from wanting to get to know Clover better when he is drawn to her the moment she walked into his fathers sporting goods store looking for a camp stove.
Straight from the beginning of the book, starting in Daniel's point of view, we meet the two main characters. The reader immediately gets a taste of the strangeness that is Clover Scott. Her hair is choppy, her personality is non-social, and her life is secretive. And throughout the book the point of views switch a couple of times and the characters grow. I've never read a book with a unique and yet abnormal character like Clover. Her abnormality was what truely drew me more into the story.
There were so many unique scenes that truly helped build up the relationship and the characteristics of the characters. But in the beginning, it was hard for me to get drawn into the story. There were some points where there would be an exciting event happening but then after a couple of pages of excitement and intriguing scenes, the interest in the story would go down. My enjoyment through the first hundred pages of the book wasn't consistent and it did take me a while to get into the story. But once I did, I fell in love with the plot.
Another thing that bothered me was that the events were kind of random and almost felt misplaced. To me, I think it was because I wasn't drawn to it for a portion of the story that the events that would happen would be really good and enveloping but then it would go back down. It was very up and down with the interest towards the beginning of the book. But in the middle of the book, the consistency of interest stayed the same and I was able to focus on the book more.
Clover was such a secretive character compared to the rest of the characters in the book. She made me want to tell Daniel to shhh whenever he asked a question about her past and the reason why she was in Florida because I loved the mysteriousness of her. But all Daniel wanted to do was help and that made me fall in love more with the character. He was charming are really went out of his way to help Clover who, to him, was a girl he had met at his father's sporting goods store while she was looking for a camping stove.
The side characters made the story even better because instead of just being there to support the main characters and their motives, they had their own lives and their own motives. Daniel's sister, Amelia, becomes friends with Clover immediately and Sam, Daniel's friend, has a thing for Amelia. One of the first scenes in the book is a family scene with Daniel's grandmother who is quiet the character
Throughout the story, the point of view changes between Daniel and Clover. When it is Clover's point of view, the reader gets to know more about her past which is more of a nightmare. It truly allows the reader to learn more into the story than it would have been if it was only one point of view.
The bond that is built upon the two main characters is so unique. Both characters have a past that has hurt them. Daniel doesn't want to start things and have the same outcome he had before. Clover doesn't want to have anyone find out about her past and wants to stay invisible. But together they created such a strong relationship.
But the best part of it all was that it wasn't the predictable "fall in love and change each other". Instead it was joining together to jump over a much larger obstacle. It allowed the reader to enjoy the book so much more with its uniqueness because it wasn't the usual YA romance novel.
Though out the book there are so many unique events that Clover and Daniel experience together that create a bond between the two characters. Katherine Fleet has created a touching story of not letting the past limit you. gaining trust. It is a truly unique and lovable story of two people who have gone through so much and yet only want to be without their pasts to define them.
The Secret To Letting Go is released on February 1st. I will be posting a Q&A with the author, Katherine Fleet, on February 1st.
Rachel xoxo
Note: I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher, Entangled Teen, in exchange for an honest review
Everyone one has their secrets; Clover Scott happens to have many. When she walks into a sporting goods store in Florida, she catches the eye of Daniel Hudson. Immediately he is drawn to her but his past confines him from wanting to get to know her more. But after saving her twice, all he wants to do is help her.
The Secret of Letting Go is a touching tale of two teenagers who have been hurt in the past but end up being put in each others problems. Clover has a secretive past and won't tell anyone anything personal. She's afraid of any governmental groups like the hospital, the police, and the local sheriff. The life that she had wasn't the life of a normal teenager. She has experienced things that no one should experience. And all she wants to do is keep her past and her motives a secret.
Daniel Hudson is a scholarship percipient for golfing. His rough past keeps him from wanting to get to know Clover better when he is drawn to her the moment she walked into his fathers sporting goods store looking for a camp stove.
Straight from the beginning of the book, starting in Daniel's point of view, we meet the two main characters. The reader immediately gets a taste of the strangeness that is Clover Scott. Her hair is choppy, her personality is non-social, and her life is secretive. And throughout the book the point of views switch a couple of times and the characters grow. I've never read a book with a unique and yet abnormal character like Clover. Her abnormality was what truely drew me more into the story.
There were so many unique scenes that truly helped build up the relationship and the characteristics of the characters. But in the beginning, it was hard for me to get drawn into the story. There were some points where there would be an exciting event happening but then after a couple of pages of excitement and intriguing scenes, the interest in the story would go down. My enjoyment through the first hundred pages of the book wasn't consistent and it did take me a while to get into the story. But once I did, I fell in love with the plot.
Another thing that bothered me was that the events were kind of random and almost felt misplaced. To me, I think it was because I wasn't drawn to it for a portion of the story that the events that would happen would be really good and enveloping but then it would go back down. It was very up and down with the interest towards the beginning of the book. But in the middle of the book, the consistency of interest stayed the same and I was able to focus on the book more.
Clover was such a secretive character compared to the rest of the characters in the book. She made me want to tell Daniel to shhh whenever he asked a question about her past and the reason why she was in Florida because I loved the mysteriousness of her. But all Daniel wanted to do was help and that made me fall in love more with the character. He was charming are really went out of his way to help Clover who, to him, was a girl he had met at his father's sporting goods store while she was looking for a camping stove.
The side characters made the story even better because instead of just being there to support the main characters and their motives, they had their own lives and their own motives. Daniel's sister, Amelia, becomes friends with Clover immediately and Sam, Daniel's friend, has a thing for Amelia. One of the first scenes in the book is a family scene with Daniel's grandmother who is quiet the character
Throughout the story, the point of view changes between Daniel and Clover. When it is Clover's point of view, the reader gets to know more about her past which is more of a nightmare. It truly allows the reader to learn more into the story than it would have been if it was only one point of view.
The bond that is built upon the two main characters is so unique. Both characters have a past that has hurt them. Daniel doesn't want to start things and have the same outcome he had before. Clover doesn't want to have anyone find out about her past and wants to stay invisible. But together they created such a strong relationship.
But the best part of it all was that it wasn't the predictable "fall in love and change each other". Instead it was joining together to jump over a much larger obstacle. It allowed the reader to enjoy the book so much more with its uniqueness because it wasn't the usual YA romance novel.
Though out the book there are so many unique events that Clover and Daniel experience together that create a bond between the two characters. Katherine Fleet has created a touching story of not letting the past limit you. gaining trust. It is a truly unique and lovable story of two people who have gone through so much and yet only want to be without their pasts to define them.
The Secret To Letting Go is released on February 1st. I will be posting a Q&A with the author, Katherine Fleet, on February 1st.
Rachel xoxo
October 16, 2017
💕Me encanta💕
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