*ARC* As She Fades - Review

As She Fades

By: Abbi Glines

Published: April 3, 2018 by Feiwell & Friends

272 pages

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Source: Netgalley ARC from publisher

(Goodreads / Amazon)

Summary:

From the #1 New York Times- and USA Today-bestselling author of the Rosemary Beach and The Vincent Boys series, Abbi Glines delivers another smoldering, compulsively readable YA romance with As She Fades.

On the night of her high school graduation, Vale McKinley and her boyfriend Crawford are in a terrible car accident that leaves Crawford in a coma. They were supposed to spend the summer planning for college, for a bright future full of possibility. Together. Instead, Vale spends long days in the hospital, hoping Crawford will awaken.

Slate Allen, a college friend of Vale’s brother, has been visiting his dying uncle at the same hospital. When he and Vale meet, she can’t deny the flutter of an illicit attraction. She tries to ignore her feelings, but she's not immune to Slate's charm. Slowly, they form a cautious friendship.

Then, Crawford wakes up . . . with no memory of Vale or their relationship. Heartbroken, Vale opts to leave for college and move on with her life. Except now, she’s in Slate’s territory, and their story is about to take a very strange turn.

Glines’ millions of fans will adore As She Fades, a novel as romantic as it is full of twists and unexpected turns.

MY REVIEW:
This doesn't happen to me often....but I read this back at the end of April and finished on May 10, and forgot to write up a review. 2 months later and my brain is fuzzy but I'm going to try to remember how I felt after finishing this story.

What would you do if the guy you thought was the "one", your future, your world, suddenly is in a tragic car accident that leaves him in a coma? Probably sit vigil for long hours watching and praying and waiting for them to wake up, right? That's exactly what Vale does. She's loyal and consistent. Honestly though, she doesn't seem like she has much of an identity outside of who she was as a couple with Crawford. Her childhood bestfriend turned boyfriend. Everything they did was "their plan", including the college they were going to. I couldn't help but be a little frustrated at Vale's lack of independence. Though I could understand her sorrow and hope for Crawford to wake up, it was equally disappointing to see her so lost without him. She didn't even know who she was, what she really liked and didn't like or what she really wanted at the age of 18. A chance meeting with Slate Allen in the hospital, poster boy for your typical college frat boy, awakens things within her that she didn't know she was capable of. She had been "comfortable" with Crawford. She didn't have to really try with Crawford nor did he make her feel so much. It's really her connection with Slate that makes this story come alive.

I always enjoy Abbi's stories. They're typically fast reads and aren't super heavy which means I can enjoy the journey without feeling drained at the end to the point of needing a break. I appreciate those type of books in my reading repertoire.

One thing I always appreciate in a story is a good plot twist. This has that and I didn't see it coming. So kudos for that to the author!

Top Favorite Quotes:
A relationship was about us both being happy.

"Life tosses you things you're not expecting."

What you have to learn is that you're strong enough to live anyway.

Language: 2 (medium)
Mature Content: 2 (medium)
Final Rating: 3.5 stars