Just Remember to Breathe (Thompson Sisters, #3) in The Indie Bookshelf

Mar 08, 2013 Laura rated it it was amazing

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I had this book on my "to read" list for a long time and i was a bit hesitant. a story about a wounded war vet....i REALLY didn't think i would be down for that. Well, butter my biscuits. I am SO angry that i didn't read this sooner. Dylan is what you would expect him to be, but so much more. He's young. Too young to have been through all that he's been through and Alex is your 'typical' rich girl. Any seasoned reader knows, there's always a back story, and both Alex and Dylan have their back st ...more

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Jan 28, 2013 Ginifer rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

JUST REMEMBER TO BREATHE is the second book in the Thompson Sisters series, however, I read book two (A SONG FOR JULIA) first. And the way the series is written it doesn’t matter which book you read first – they can all be read as a stand-alone. So if series freak you out, you’re safe with this one. :) However, I adore both books so I highly recommend checking them both out. Now, let’s chat about the awesome that is this first book.

In JUST REMEMBER TO BREATHE we get acquainted with Alex, the thi JUST REMEMBER TO BREATHE is the second book in the Thompson Sisters series, however, I read book two (A SONG FOR JULIA) first. And the way the series is written it doesn’t matter which book you read first – they can all be read as a stand-alone. So if series freak you out, you’re safe with this one. :) However, I adore both books so I highly recommend checking them both out. Now, let’s chat about the awesome that is this first book.

In JUST REMEMBER TO BREATHE we get acquainted with Alex, the third oldest Thompson sister. This story has the second-chance-love theme, but it is vastly different than the ones I’ve read before (and I’ve read a good many because I LOVE that storyline). First of all, Alex and Dylan are not from the same town or even state. They met on a high school trip a few years ago and hit it off. But being so far away from each other after the trip was over, they had an interesting relationship to say the least.

After high school Dylan joined the military and served in Afghanistan, while Alex (a year younger than Dylan) finished up her senior year, then enrolled in Columbia University. The book begins with the start of Alex’s sophomore year at Columbia and she and Dylan have not spoken in months. She isn’t sure what happened between them – Dylan just stopped speaking to her in the spring. Alex has been heartbroken over the abrupt end of their relationship and was worried for a while that something had happened to him in Afghanistan. She is still recovering from the loss, but is trying her best to move on.

Dylan was injured in Afghanistan and is beginning his first year at Columbia, hoping to avoid running into Alex. That’s just not in the cards though as they have both been assigned to a work-study program together. And there’s no getting out of it since all the other programs are completely full with waiting lists.

Dylan is a great guy, but he’s also suffering from PTSD and trying to overcome the injury he sustained in the war. Alex is a fairly no-nonsense kind of girl, but she is vulnerable...particularly when it comes to Dylan. I feel so close to Dylan and Alex both. The story is so life-like it’s easy to get sucked in and believe that these characters actually exist. The setting and dialogue and emotions are so tangible – some of the most vivid I’ve ever read.

The author knows his stuff when it comes to war and politics, but is also well-versed in feelings and relationships – whether it be romantic, family, or friendship. It’s a perfect mix that creates a fantastic story. These books do not focus solely on the romance and I find that rejuvenating – the characters do not seem to revolve exclusively around each other. I like my romances with a little less cheese – a nice side helping is great, but it doesn’t need to be the main course. So as an author and a reader, Charles Sheehan-Miles and I are a match made in Heaven. :)

And of course being a series focused on all of the sisters, there are side-stories with each of them. (I was so excited to get a glimpse into Julia and Crank’s future!) JUST REMEMBER TO BREATHE gives just enough of a peek into the Thompson family to grab reader’s attention, but it doesn’t feel like an obvious setup for the next book either, as these types of series so often do. In fact, the Thompson Sisters series doesn’t follow any of the typical standards.

The third book will be published soon (scheduled for May) and I cannot tell you how eager I am to delve in. It takes place a few years after JUST REMEMBER TO BREATHE and I’m excited to see how things are going for the Thompsons, especially Carrie and a certain someone we’re introduced to in this first installment.

In short, these books are amazing folks, and I think you should all read them.

** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. No incentive was offered or accepted for a favorable rating or review. (Though I will be adding physical copies of the entire series to my shelves.) ...more

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