Most girls would kill to spend months traveling around Europe after college graduation with no responsibility, no parents, and no-limit credit cards. Kelsey Summers is no exception. She's having the time of her life . . . or that's what she keeps telling herself.
It's a lonely business trying to find out who you are, especially when you're afraid you won't like what you discover. No amount of drinking or dancing can chase away Kelsey's loneliness, but maybe Jackson Hunt can. After a few chance meetings, he convinces her to take a journey of adventure instead of alcohol. With each new city and experience, Kelsey's mind becomes a little clearer and her heart a little less hers. Jackson helps her unravel her own dreams and desires. But the more she learns about herself, the more Kelsey realizes how little she knows about Jackson.
We
all know I’m Team Garrick and will probably be forever, but let’s just say that
Jackson Hunt comes in a very close second to the boy with a British
accent. I’ve been looking forward to Kelsey’s story most since reading Losing
It, partially because Kelsey is awesome but also because she’s traveling
through Europe. I think that all new adults, young adults, and adult adults
should go traipsing through Europe at some point. I did my fair share of
traipsing, but not in the way Kelsey takes on Europe. We knew she was a bit of
a fireball/party animal in Losing It, but I don’t think anyone really
had an idea how crazy she actually is.
I
have to say that I love Kelsey. I think a lot of people are frustrated or
annoyed by her, which is actually understandable because, in the beginning she
is a little out of control. The thing is - I loved her in Losing It because of her awesome energy. She just seemed so alive
and carefree. Of course, when you take out all the other factors, this aspect
of her personality is overwhelming and actually seems really shallow. She’s
partying her way through Europe, so she’s basically seeing the inside of dingy
bars and mingling with other foreigners until she gets a huge wake up call.
Kelsey
has an incident at a party in the Budapest baths, which is quite terrifying for
her, but it was actually one of my favorite scenes in the book because all of
her walls slip away and she’s quite sweet and scared. We also get to see
Jackson Hunt come to the rescue and let me just say that a dude like that can
carry me out of a party anytime.
Jackson
is everything you want in a book hero. Although he has a bit of a stalker vibe
going on, he’s also ex-military, perfectly mysterious, and just the right
amount of sweet and bad. He’s clearly hiding something and it’s hard to imagine
what that something is, so when you find out it’s so easy to feel the rug slip
out from underneath Kelsey. But because he’s hiding something, he’s builds
great tension between the two of them, as it takes a lot to get him to finally
make a move. Remember the awesome part of Losing
It where Bliss and Garrick are holed up in her apartment because they have
mono? When Kelsey and Jackson finally come together, it’s like that but without
the mono and instead of an apartment it’s all of the Cinque Terre in Italy. It’s
wonderful.
I
love Kelsey and I really love Hunt. But honestly, the European background just made
this story amazing in my eyes. Kelsey really grows while she’s there. And part
of it has to do with Hunt coming into her life, but a big part of it is clearly
the setting. Even though she stays because she is running away from something,
she still gains a lot by the end in independence and maturity. Europe changed
me in a big way, so I could completely relate to Kelsey.
Don’t
give up on Kelsey too early. Let her surprise you. And if nothing else, read
this book to take a bit of a mind vacation to Europe. And hang out with the
incredible Jackson Hunt. I am a little sad that we’re out of Losing It characters for Cora to write
about, but I can’t wait to read everything else she writes.
