I thought the author was done with the emotional damage to my soul, but no... she brings Noah and Hayley's story to us. After having read and sobbed through their story, I don't know if my paltry words can do this book justice but I shall make an attempt. 

"I will choose you. Always."

Hayley and Noah were best friends first. From the moment they met at 4 they were fast friends. As they grew older and did more things together, their friendship evolved into something more. But they were tied together by more than that. And maybe that's exactly why they continued to hurt each other with their on again/off again relationship. I understood Noah's need to protect, to deflect. It was ingrained in his DNA. He was a McCallister after all. But that protectiveness stood between being 100% with Hayley no holds barred and continually hiding. Hayley lived with so much guilt after the death of parents. At first I didn't understand keeping Shiloh at arm's length, but as more truths are revealed, I got why. Those pivotal moments when Hayley and Noah put everything on the table and became truly raw and real with each other gave me perspective about their actions throughout the story. 

"Without you there is no me."

He thinks she needs him. She thinks he needs her. They're not wrong. But not in the ways they think. This third chance of theirs to get things right breaks them both apart in the most heartbreaking way possible. But this time, neither one runs and all the hurts and pains are finally laid out on the table. 

No matter how heartbreaking these stories are, I will continue to read them because while they break me apart, the author finds a way to put me back together. 

I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.