by Adi Alsaid
Release date: July 29th, 2014
Published by: Harlequin Teen
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Format: Hardback, eBook
Format read: ARC from the publisher.
SUMMARY
Five strangers. Countless adventures. One epic way to get lost.
Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named LEILA. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most.
There's HUDSON, a small-town mechanic who is willing to throw away his dreams for true love. And BREE, a runaway who seizes every Tuesday—and a few stolen goods along the way. ELLIOT believes in happy endings…until his own life goes off-script. And SONIA worries that when she lost her boyfriend, she also lost the ability to love.
Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila's own 4,268-mile journey that she discovers the most important truth— sometimes, what you need most is right where you started. And maybe the only way to find what you're looking for is to get lost along the way.
Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named LEILA. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most.
There's HUDSON, a small-town mechanic who is willing to throw away his dreams for true love. And BREE, a runaway who seizes every Tuesday—and a few stolen goods along the way. ELLIOT believes in happy endings…until his own life goes off-script. And SONIA worries that when she lost her boyfriend, she also lost the ability to love.
Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila's own 4,268-mile journey that she discovers the most important truth— sometimes, what you need most is right where you started. And maybe the only way to find what you're looking for is to get lost along the way.
BOOK TRAILER
MY REVIEW
There are very few authors that can capture the true feeling of wanderlust - that deep desire to roam freely and find oneself. Adi Alsaid has not only captured the true essence of a self-journey, but he's also managed to bring five unforgettable main characters that .
Through multiple points-of-view, we learn that Leila is a girl on a mission, she is heading to Alaska to see the Northern Lights. Why is this tiny girl traveling across the States all alone, no one is really sure. Each time someone asks, she's very vague and changes the topic. However, Leila doesn't mind getting sidetracked a few times, and it's during these times that we meet four people during the most pivotal moments of their lives.
First we meet Hunter, sweet Hunter who is doing his best to stay out of trouble and get a scholarship to go to college. However, upon meeting Leila, he is smitten with her and after doing some maintenance work on her car offers to show her around town just so he can have as much time with her before she continues on. And then, it only takes one night to turn his life upside down, and Leila just happens to be there right beside him. Will he follow his heart? Or will he do what he thinks he's suppose to do?
Next, we meet Bree, a runaway who has lost both her parents to illnesses and couldn't stand to be mothered by her sister anymore. Being on the road for months has made Bree a pro at choosing who to trust, and how to survive on pure adrenaline. Until she hits the ultimate high and finds herself in a very bad predicament, and poor Leila is right beside her. Is this the end of the road, for both Bree and Leila? There's only one option, and the percentage of that one thing working out is too close to 0.
And then we meet Elliot, the boy who wears his heart on his sleeve and doesn't know it. The boy who is so crazy in love and needs to create a magical movie moment in order to claim it. However, even though we all know how those movies from the 80's go and end, Elliot is far off script. Leila is now the unforeseen twist to his plot... and every time everyone thinks things couldn't get worse, they do...
And lastly, we meet Sonia who is grieving lost love in the throes of new love. Is it possible to love two people at the same time? Leila doesn't know the answer to that but is willing to help Sonia sort it out, even if it includes crossing the border illegally.
Just like Leila, we briefly encounter each character during the most pivotal moments of their lives. Just like life, you never know who or what you'll come across. Leila's experiences will make you question yourself... can you really make a friend, find true love, forgive and figure out the most questionable things in life within hours of meeting the right person?
The writing is poetic, imaginative but realistic, and heartwarming. I felt like I was in the backseat of Leila's car for every single second of her trip and experienced every single drop of each of the characters blood, sweat and tears. For me, the ending was unexpected and melted my heart, it was exactly what I had hoped for.
I hope to see these characters again in the near future, perhaps in a novella or short story? I do wish to see how they're all doing now...
Lovers of contemporaries, especially about books that include road trips and matters of the heart, will overly enjoy this and reread many, many times... again and again! I am really looking forward to seeing more from this author soon! He's already on my insta-buy list for sure!!!
Through multiple points-of-view, we learn that Leila is a girl on a mission, she is heading to Alaska to see the Northern Lights. Why is this tiny girl traveling across the States all alone, no one is really sure. Each time someone asks, she's very vague and changes the topic. However, Leila doesn't mind getting sidetracked a few times, and it's during these times that we meet four people during the most pivotal moments of their lives.
First we meet Hunter, sweet Hunter who is doing his best to stay out of trouble and get a scholarship to go to college. However, upon meeting Leila, he is smitten with her and after doing some maintenance work on her car offers to show her around town just so he can have as much time with her before she continues on. And then, it only takes one night to turn his life upside down, and Leila just happens to be there right beside him. Will he follow his heart? Or will he do what he thinks he's suppose to do?
Next, we meet Bree, a runaway who has lost both her parents to illnesses and couldn't stand to be mothered by her sister anymore. Being on the road for months has made Bree a pro at choosing who to trust, and how to survive on pure adrenaline. Until she hits the ultimate high and finds herself in a very bad predicament, and poor Leila is right beside her. Is this the end of the road, for both Bree and Leila? There's only one option, and the percentage of that one thing working out is too close to 0.
And then we meet Elliot, the boy who wears his heart on his sleeve and doesn't know it. The boy who is so crazy in love and needs to create a magical movie moment in order to claim it. However, even though we all know how those movies from the 80's go and end, Elliot is far off script. Leila is now the unforeseen twist to his plot... and every time everyone thinks things couldn't get worse, they do...
And lastly, we meet Sonia who is grieving lost love in the throes of new love. Is it possible to love two people at the same time? Leila doesn't know the answer to that but is willing to help Sonia sort it out, even if it includes crossing the border illegally.
Just like Leila, we briefly encounter each character during the most pivotal moments of their lives. Just like life, you never know who or what you'll come across. Leila's experiences will make you question yourself... can you really make a friend, find true love, forgive and figure out the most questionable things in life within hours of meeting the right person?
The writing is poetic, imaginative but realistic, and heartwarming. I felt like I was in the backseat of Leila's car for every single second of her trip and experienced every single drop of each of the characters blood, sweat and tears. For me, the ending was unexpected and melted my heart, it was exactly what I had hoped for.
I hope to see these characters again in the near future, perhaps in a novella or short story? I do wish to see how they're all doing now...
Lovers of contemporaries, especially about books that include road trips and matters of the heart, will overly enjoy this and reread many, many times... again and again! I am really looking forward to seeing more from this author soon! He's already on my insta-buy list for sure!!!
An ARC was provided to me from the publisher.
All thoughts are mine and not influenced by any other.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Adi Alsaid
He's now back in his hometown, where he writes, coaches high school and elementary basketball, and has perfected the art of making every dish he eats or cooks as spicy as possible. In addition to Mexico, he's lived in Tel Aviv, Las Vegas, and Monterey, California. A tingly feeling in his feet tells him more places will eventually be added to the list.
Let's Get Lost is his YA debut.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving a comment today!
If you are asking a question and you are a no-reply commenter,
please email me directly at thebumblegirl at rocketmail dot com or leave your email in the comments...
Thank you! and, as always, happy reading :)