Review: By Your Side by Kasie West
10:00
Series: None
Author: Kasie West
Published January 31st 2017 by Harper Teen
Goodreads Synopsis
In this irresistible story, Kasie West explores the timeless question of what to do when you fall for the person you least expect. Witty and romantic, this paperback original from a fan favorite is perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins and Morgan Matson.
When Autumn Collins finds herself accidentally locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn’t think things could get any worse. But that’s before she realizes that Dax Miller is locked in with her. Autumn doesn’t know much about Dax except that he’s trouble. Between the rumors about the fight he was in (and that brief stint in juvie that followed it) and his reputation as a loner, he’s not exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to rescue her.
Only he doesn’t come. No one does.
Instead it becomes clear that Autumn is going to have to spend the next couple of days living off vending-machine food and making conversation with a boy who clearly wants nothing to do with her. Except there is more to Dax than meets the eye. As he and Autumn first grudgingly, and then not so grudgingly, open up to each other, Autumn is struck by their surprising connection. But can their feelings for each other survive once the weekend is over and Autumn’s old life, and old love interest, threaten to pull her from Dax’s side?
Goodreads
Review
I absolutely adore Kasie West's books, so when I first heard about this one, I knew I needed to buy a copy ASAP! In By Your Side, we follow Autumn, who one Friday night, finds herself locked in the local library. That's all well and good, but there's no way to contact the outside world, so she has to settle in for the weekend. And, to make matters worse, she's not alone - Dax Miller is also trapped. Autumn only knows that Dax is a bad boy - he's spent time in juvie - so she's not entirely comfortable being alone with him all weekend. As they both come to terms with the fact that there's nothing else to do than settle in, and get to know each other better.
As the weekend draws to a close, and they are rescued on Monday morning, Dex and Autumn know each other a lot better, but they also know that as soon as they return to the real world, and back to school, they are just too different, and run with different crowds, that their burgeoning friendship probably won't continue.
I loved both of the main characters in this book, and felt that we learnt more about them in such a natural way, because they were thrown together in such unnatural conditions. Autumn's character was fantastic, and real, and her anxiety was dealt with so well by West. Dax's character, not that much like West's other love interests, might be a 'bad boy', but because of him opening up about his past to Autumn, we learn that his loner persona was just that - a persona he uses as a shield to protect himself.
I don't think this one is my favourite of Kasie's - that honour falls to P.S. I Like You - but I definitely enjoyed it. Anyone who love's YA contemporaries, and hasn't read any of West's books yet, really needs to get on that.
Dates Read:
Rating
5 Stars
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