This was such a sweet read and definitely the first of many I will be reading by this author. I found all the characters relatable in their own way. The romance aspect was written so well.

Thanks to NetGalley / Edelweiss and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for a review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Only a Breath Apart by Katie McGarry
Jesse Lachlan has been told about the Lachlan family curse his whole life. Tragedy has followed him the whole time and now he’s lost his grandma. He has always know that the land would be his but much to his surprise his grandma set up some some rules he has to prove to his former best friend, Uncle and the Pastor that he can handle it.
Scarlett lives across the road from Jesse and they were bffs up to 8th grade. Jesse cut her off and she never knew why. Scarlett has a rough life her father is controlling and abusive to her mother. She’s trapped and doesn’t see a why out.
Can Jesse win her back so he can get her vote?
Thanks to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley for the Arc.

Only a breath apart was a did not finish for me back in 2018. I never tried to give it another chance due to the fact that I have long since forgotten about it and lost interest. Thank you for chance!

A troubling story about emotional abuse, we get the story of two teens as they strive to break a curse, and maybe some generational trauma. Scarlet realizes that she needs to break free of her controlling father, if not for herself then for her little sister. The journey is sad and bittersweet, but very necessary.

I love Katie McGarry. Therefore, I loved this book. It wasn't perfect, but what is? I adore romance, and the whole curse concept was everything. It was a good balance of sweetness and serious themes. It also felt real - some actions of the characters I didn't really understand, but that's just life. Overall, very solid and I adored it. All hail Katie McGarry!

Katie McGarry was a very popular author in 2014, when I first learned about booktube, and while she has written some fine romances, this was jarring and uncomfortable. I don't think there's anyone I can recommend this to.

Such an awesome book!
Loved the story and the requirements of the will.
Katie never seems to disappoint with her stories.


Thank you so much for allowing me to read and review your titles.
I do appreciate it and continue to review books that I get the chance to read.
Thanks again!

Amazing plot, the characters had interesting developments and storylines, and I enjoy reading this very much.

Such an emotional story! From the first pages of the book until the last this was an emotional roller coaster. Jesse and Scarlett are very easy characters to love and is told from both of their POV’s. It’s very interesting to see where the story takes their relationship since they both have some personal struggles throughout the story as well. A very good read!

Katie McGarry brings another tale full of grit and heart. All her books have a raw, face-your-demons edge, but Only a Breath Apart takes a slightly darker path. It is filled with the ache of haunting memories, domestic abuse and the shadow of murder. At the centre is the significance of land and human bonds.

We start with Jesse, who is grieving the death of his beloved grandma. He has been brought up to believe that his family is cursed. Nothing but melancholia and disaster has befallen each family member, especially his mother. When he discovers that, in order to inherit his land, he must win the approval of an old childhood friend, he feels certain that he is doomed. His past has come to bite back. On the other end is Scarlett, imprisoned by her dominating father and bursting to come out of the icy shell she has formed to protect herself. When she runs into Jesse, the boy who used to be everything to her, she can feel that her control is going to crack for better or worse. Read an excerpt below and in my last post.

McGarry has long been one of my favourite YA writers. Her work has found a way to make my soul feel both ravaged and warmed (Walk the Edge I still listen on audiobook on loop). As described, Only a Breath Apart, is darker but not as forlorn as I may have outlined in the plot. It carries a strong hopeful tone with fierce characters that fight for the next sunrise. Jesse and Scarlett claw tooth and nail for their independence, whilst trying to figure out the depth of their attraction to each other (McGarry scores again with another dynamic couple). Scarlett's situation, in particular, exposes the sinister extent of domestic instability and its manipulation of security and control. I love the supernatural theme that carries throughout, circling around anxieties about the future, the afterlife and the role of destinies. Some parts of the story lingered a little too long on the over-riding message about land and relationships. Overall, it will sweep you into McGarry's world of rural dust-bitten America and teen love.

https://www.instagram.com/s/aGlnaGxpZ2h0OjE3OTA2NDU4MzU0MTcwMDg2?igshid=1icflv2tnc4jq&story_media_id=1972938589412320281

Only a Breath Apart by Katie McGarry is a contemporary romance filled with emotion. These characters will pull at your heartstrings.

I will always love a YA, will-they/won't-they, should-they/shouldn't-they romance and this one does not disappoint. It's sweet, and not too steamy (an appropriate amount of steam for the genre). The two main characters work through near-real issues (plus some paranormal ones) and overall, I'm impressed.

I’ll admit that this started off slow but once I got into the story, I absolutely fell in love with these characters.

Ok I don’t even know how to explain my feelings about this book except to say I beyond adored it. The plot was so heartfelt, the writing so beautiful and the characters so believable. It deals with some hard topics and doesn’t shy away from the difficult moments. This is my first book by this author, but you can bet it won’t be my last.

Scarlett needs to escape her home but it feels like she has no options. Dad is controlling and emotionally abusive. Jesse needs Scarlett’s vote to keep his farm but he broke off their friendship three years ago. Can their relationship be repaired enough to help them both?

I have loved every Katie McGarry book I’ve ever read, and this one is no exception. There is romance, drama, and a bit of magical realism in this one.

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Is your destiny set in stone? Or can it be changed if you work hard to do so?

This was a really cute book with characters that were easy to fall in love with. I was rooting for Jesse and Scarlett from the beginning and couldn't wait to confirm that they would get their happy endings.

REVIEW: 4.5 STARS
"I don't want to kiss someone to feel. I'd rather kiss someone because I'm feeling."

Well, I can honestly say that I will add Katie McGarry to the list of YA authors I will happily read more of. For my first ever book by her, I got caught up in this little world of two teenagers working through their own pain while helping the other deal with theirs - in a very age-appropriate way. I loved it! This book, while it may have started out a little slow for me - that was quickly sorted out and it ended up completely capturing me and continued until the very end. Her words carried me away; the lilt that she had - her voice was beauty in wonderment. Spinning in fields? Holding hands but not understanding the zing being felt? I love when the words can take on a mind of their own and bring to life a young love that is growing right before my very eyes.

I feel like this story took on a whole new possibility, or realm, for me to discover, and in doing so, it gave me a lot to think about - in a very charismatic way. Touching on some "mystical" aspects, I readily admit this book tested my side-eye abilities quite a bit, but I ended up enjoying it immensely. The whole book was understandable, but I can appreciate that McGarry made it relatable for this genre and storyline. There was a certain magic in her words that brought the story alive.

But, gosh - the exploration alone, that got me real good. When the characters are following a natural thought process, and their feelings are coming out - I feel like it's more endearing because it's not all drama and craziness. There was a certain truth and reality in regards to their feelings, even though they were not fully understanding what was going on, only knowing the need to explore it more in depth. This story was one in which I got to fondly remember a first love, secretly meeting up, falling in love, and fighting for that love I just couldn't live without. That's what a good YA book does for me - it reminds me of all those feelings and emotions, and when I can 'escape' back into them, that's a win for me.

"Are we meant to be friends or are we one, big tragic mistake?"

I love that McGarry was able to bring to light an angering situation, with a young lesson on realizing that nothing is black and white and everything is subjective, as well as manipulatable. It was a scary reality to watch Jesse and Scarlett discover all that their world held for them and how they needed to survive it. Their journey was fantastical and magnificent, and I enjoyed the ride.

I will be honest and admit that I hemmed and hawed about reading this book knowing it was YA, knowing that the genre can teeter totter either way for me. I don't really sit in the middle on these kinds of books either - I either love them or am completely frustrated by them and end up DNF'ing them. I really liked McGarry's voice and will definitely keep her on my YA reading list. I don't recommend YA often enough because it's hard to find a voice and a storyteller that can do that genre justice. McGarry has been added to my very short list and I am very excited to read more by her.

"It's not every day when people who are lost find a way to be lost together."
~BEE

My Thoughts:
Warning: This book contains situations of abuse which may be a trigger.


The Cover:
I really liked the cover for this one. To me, it is very Katie McGarry-ish. A young couple, looking very in love. Looking at this cover, it is very believable that this is Scarlet and Jesse as they spent lots of time outside in the grass and the trees. But it does not hint at the darker side of this story.


The Plot:
I very much enjoyed the storyline of Only a Breath Apart, aside from the situations of abuse. But every story must have it's problems, right? That's what makes the story. The protagonists must overcome thier issues and suceed to achieve their happily ever after. Katie has again written an amazing story that keeps your reading even through difficult subjects.


The Characters:
Our characters in this story are very well written, each with flaws and features that make them real. I really like Jesse's friend V. She seems to be that kickass friend that everyone wants. One that will put you in your place when you deserve it or make a decision you might not like if she thinks it is in your best interest.


Was It Worth Reading?:
I really liked Only a Breath Apart. I felt that it was everything I have come to expect from Katie McGarry, and more. I love that Jesse and Scarlett were very much like Peter Pan and Tink as kids. But it illustrates the unfortunate truth that we all must grow up at some point. And some are forced to grow up faster due to difficult experiences. I give Only a Breath Away 5 out of 5 crossbows and recommend it to readers of YA romance and drama with the precautionary trigger warning.