I'm sorry this is posting so late today! I received my review copy for the tour a little late, and only finished reading it this morning. I tried to stay up late last night, but my eyes refused to stay open despite how engrossed I was in the story. Katie McGarry never fails to captivate me with her writing, and Only a Breath Apart was no exception. My heart was breaking for both Jesse and Scarlett, and I enjoyed watching them learn to trust in each other again.

Neither character has had an easy life, and their secrets are vastly different, but they've always been connected. I don't know if it was something they shared as children, or some connection the land, but there was something that kept these two together. They've needed each other, and their loneliness was painful to read about. They've guarded themselves against the world (with good reason), and it took the two of them working together to penetrate those walls. It's hard to overcome the need for self-preservation, and learning how to love is never easy.

I hated the way these two treated each other at the beginning of the book, especially after seeing how much they cared for one another as children. They grew up together, and then something happened to end their friendship. The reason isn't revealed for awhile, and I wish Jesse had been honest with Scarlett from the beginning. He could have told her the promise he made to his mother, and how it contradicted the one he made to his Gran. I think Scarlett would have been understanding, but instead he left her in her own personal hell with no one to talk to.

There are some supernatural aspects to this story, but it's subtle. Glory claims to be a psychic and tells Scarlett she is too, but even Jesse just thinks his cousin is exceptionally good at conning people. Glory would read palms and perform tarot card readings, but she also managed to make predictions that had an uncanny ability to come true. It's left up to the reader to determine whether or not they want to believe in something magical, or play it off as a coincidence. I thought McGarry did a wonderful job balancing between the two.

I was so angry while I read this book, but it wasn't directed at Scarlett and Jesse. Yes, I wanted them to talk to each other and share confidences, but I also understood where both of them were coming from. I was angry with how the world treated them, and what they had to endure just to get though each and every day. They both had dreams and aspirations, but neither had people that believed in them. Their friends were there, but on the outskirts and never privy to the emotional turmoil they both experienced.

Only a Breath Apart was another phenomenal book by Katie McGarry! If you've enjoyed her books in the past, I'm sure you'll love this one even more. If you haven't had a chance to read anything by this author, I highly recommend your grab one her books as soon as you can. She sufficiently ripped my emotions to shreds, and then slowly glued them back together. I have so many feelings right now, and I love it!

Originally posted at Do You Dog-ear? on January 21, 2019.

Only a Breath Apart was my very Katie McGarry read, and it won't be my last. It was heartbreaking watching it unravelling, everything felt so real, such a heart wrenching reading experience but one I wouldn't have gone without. Strength and courage at its best.

Young Adult Literature is not a genre that I usually read and review, but every time Katie McGarry has a new release, I always sign-up because her emotionally-charged stories about teenaged characters who struggle to find their place in the world as well as attempt to figure out how to deal with the baggage that always seems to follow them resonates with me, partly because I see some of the same behaviors and situations as a high school English teacher for the past 20 years and partly due to the way that McGarry crafts her characters and realistically portrays all that they must endure for individuals so young.

There’s nothing picture perfect about the world that McGarry’s hero and heroine live in; in fact, it’s anything but an ideal situation, and at the start of their story, Jesse Lachlin and Scarlett Copeland couldn’t be more at odds and separated by a mountain of obstacles and the heartbreak that Jesse inflicted on Scarlett some time ago. But, in order to heal…in order to forge a new path in life…in order to work through the pain and devastation that continues to weight them down…in order to move forward in a way that solidifies Jesse’s ownership of his family farm, their fractured friendship must be mended and mistakes and secrets must be admitted and discussed because the only way Jesse can get out from under his family’s curse and Scarlett can shed her demons are by creating a bond between them that is more powerful than anything they’re either hiding or running from as fast and as far away as they can.

In order to truly understand just how much Jesse and Scarlett need each other in the present, it’s necessary to venture to the past and witness their closeness as well as gain insight into what both of them are dealing with due to their respective families and the secrets that they keep. And in those flashbacks, it’s more than obvious that these two come from different worlds…from different sides of the divide and these ideas are reason enough to put Jesse and Scarlett’s friendship at odds, regardless of how tight they may be holding on to it.

Scarlett and Jesse’s story is not an easy one to read due to some of the subject matter explored, but readers shouldn’t let that stop them from reading Only a Breath Apart because amidst all of the overwhelming pain and the hidden feelings of helplessness and struggle is an empowering tale of second chances, of tormented souls finding their way into the light, of two people conquering what weighs them down and of a sense of hope found despite all of the darkness.

4 Poison Apples

"Stay, Tink." These two little words pulled on my heartstrings and from that moment on, I knew I'd fall in love with Jesses character.

Only A Breath Apart, a book about young love, curses, and deep dark secrets is yet another amazing read by the very talented Katie McGarry. How she continues to write books that make me fall in love again and again is amazing, and I was thrilled to get an ARC.

Jesse and Scarlett grew up together, and were inseparable when they could sneak about the land Jesse lived on with his gran. They climbed trees, chased fireflies and lived a carefree life when together, just the two of them. Things at home with Scarlett were not quite as carefree though and one day Jesse downright stops talking to Scarlett altogether. They go years without talking, and it's an unfortunate event that brings them slowly back together: Gran's funeral. Jesse may be able to inherit the land on which he came and went as a child and which keeps him grounded, but he has a lot to prove to some very different people.

Jesse, a young man who's been through so much in his short life has to deal with the whole farm land now that Gran is gone. It's a lot of work, but he's cut out for it. It's what he lives for. I really enjoyed this character and his commitment to his Gran and her farm. I felt like he was a loyal and kind friend with a few minor issues, but overall, I felt like Jesse was a true gentleman. I would really have liked more background on his friends, V, Leo and Nazareth though. I felt like these characters and their stories could have been expanded tenfold and it would help understanding Jesse a little more.

Scarlett, broken-hearted Scarlett. This poor young lady has been through so much heartache and it keeps tearing at her. She tries ever day to get up, go to school and be emotionless. It's just easier that way. But seeing Jesse at Gran's funeral stirs up emotions that she's not ready for, and Glory, town psychic says that Scarlett and Jesse may have to depend on each others help.

Only A Breath Apart is a book that deals with dark issues, it will make the reader cry and feel every emotion from beginning to end. Isn't that was makes a good read though, when you FEEL the book? (and also some pretty hot and steamy kissing scenes!) I'd encourage fans of Katie's other works and anyone else really to pick up Only A Breath Apart - you won't be disappointed.

4.5 stars!

Katie McGarry knows how to write engaging, heartfelt YA drama, and she has delivered a fantastic read with this book! A beautiful coming of age story with drama, romance and a touch of the mystical, this is the story of two very damaged teenagers dealing with heartwrenching situations, and in doing so, finding out who they are, what they want, and falling in love along the way. It’s a beautiful book with all the feels, and I loved it!

“Do you ever wish you were somebody else?”


From an early age, Jesse Laughlin was taught two things – to love and respect his family’s land, and that to leave the land would activate a curse that has haunted his family for decades. His tragic childhood only reinforced those lessons and, looked down upon by the two he grew up in, the only peace he found was on the land with his best friend and his beloved grandmother. Following the death of his grandmother, the land is all that he has left and he has a deep love for it – though a stipulation in her will could see him lose his legacy.

Scarlett was Jesse’s childhood best friend. She grew up on the property next to his, though with a very different life. The daughter of a well-loved, well-respected businessman in their small town, she was forced to keep her friendship with Jesse a secret from her disapproving father but that didn’t stop her from disappearing out her window whenever she got the chance so that they could run free together. It was an arrangement that continued up until they became teenagers and Jesse broke Scarlett’s heart, deserting her without a word and distancing himself completely. His cruelty left her confused, shattered and alone, and though she has since moved on, she still mourns for the friendship they once had. But that pales in significance to the drama now unfolding in her house as her father’s anger and demand for control spirals out of control, shifting their family dynamic in inevitable ways.

Everything begins to change for Jesse and Scarlett when Jesse learns that in order to keep his land, he’ll need to win Scarlett’s approval. With the intervention of Jesse’s psychic cousin, the two enemies are suddenly forced together, told that they need to rely on each other to get through the brewing storm, with Jesse fighting hard to win back the trust of the girl that he hurt so badly.

I have nine months to win her over, and it’s going to take all that time to undo what’s happened between us.


I loved the dynamic between these two! There is so much emotion between them – good and bad – and their journey as they get to know each other once again, re-establish their friendship and earn and learn trust is beautifully written.

“Why did you stop talking to me?” she asks. “After all those years of seeing each other day in and day out, why did you stop being my friend?” She pauses, and I lower my head because each and every word is a paper cut on my heart. “What did I do wrong?”
I shake my head because I got nothing. Nothing that will make sense to her. What’s worse, I don’t have anything that makes sense to me. At least not anymore.


Each moment with Scarlett and Jesse together is just beautiful. It’s honest, raw, confusing and painful, but the moments of sweetness increase as their bond is re-established and it was so gorgeous to watch.

It’s as if the sun has melted off her outer shell and has revealed the girl I once knew, and a woman I want to get to know.


And, of course, there is romance. Slow-burning, sweet and innocent, I could feel the shifting feelings between them and I fell right along with them as they bravely followed their hearts and openly explored their emotions.

There’s something more than friendship between us. A trust and love that had taken root when we were children, something that has grown, something that once took a wrong turn and had to be pruned. Something that has been allowed to reflourish and is on the verge of going wild.


But the romance is just a small part of Scarlett and Jesse’s journeys. Scarlett is dealing with a hellish situation at home and Jesse’s entire future is up in the air. They both have a lot of growing and learning to do, and watching them find their inner strength and deal with it all is amazing! They have each other to lean on, of course, but there is a fantastic cast of side characters helping them on the way and bringing so much to the story. The mystical aspect of the book is there, but it’s minor - at first I was a little wary of how that all was going to play out, but it worked with the themes of the story and I thought it was handled well. It’s Scarlett and Jesse’s individual battles to find their way forward that are the crux of the story, and that make this such a special read.

“Pain is what makes you grow, it’s what makes you mature, it’s what helps lead you to the path you are meant to be on. If everything is good all the time, there would never be change.


The book deals with some really serious subject matter with themes of violence, murder and domestic abuse, with emotional and physical assault occurring on the page, and the emotional impact of all of that explored in detail. Those scenes are hard to read but the harshness of those moments is softened somewhat by the strength of Scarlett and Jesse, and by their love story which brings a beautiful lightness and had my happily lovesick little heart soaring.

“You love me?” …
“I’ve been in love with you for as long as I can remember. I don’t remember not loving you.” It’s always been there – as easy and beautiful as the sun rising in the morning.


I really loved this story. It reminded me a bit of Pushing the Limits – one of my all-time fave reads and the reason that McGarry is an auto-buy author for me – with some similarities in the story setup and the way it all played out. Scarlett and Jesse are amazing characters and I finished this book with tears rolling down my face at how beautiful it all was, and then when I saw the playlist and quite unintentionally listened to Ed Sheeran’s ‘Perfect’, I started crying all over again.

Beautiful. 4.5 stars.

Wow, this book was another fantastic story which deals with some serious issues. This is a poignant story. I really liked Jesse and Scarlett. They were trying to figure out who they really are!


"Scarlett, there are two times that I can breathe in deeply without wincing in pain, and being with you is one of them. If I could, I’d keep you here forever.”

My heart was aching for both of them. Both of them dealing with some of the most heartbreaking situations .Katie McGarry made me feel like I'm a part of the story and the charecters life.

Wow, this book was another fantastic story which deals with some serious issues. This is a poignant story. I really liked Jesse and Scarlett. They were trying to figure out who they really are!


"Scarlett, there are two times that I can breathe in deeply without wincing in pain, and being with you is one of them. If I could, I’d keep you here forever.”

My heart was aching for both of them. Both of them dealing with some of the most heartbreaking situations .Katie McGarry made me feel like I'm a part of the story and the charecters life.

Only A Breath Apart is a beautiful, heart-wrenching story about love, hope, resilience and self discover through the greatest of trauma and challenges. It is earthy, emotional and magical- everything readers have come to know and love from Katie McGarry. Devoted fans and new readers alike will not be disappointed with this gripping story.

From the outside, Scarlett has a perfect life - a great family, big house and secure plans for her future. What no one sees is the stifling control her father has over her life, the fear she lives in, or her own dreams that she will never get to realise. Across the road lives Jesse Lachlin. Once the best of friends, Jesse pushed Scarlett away at the start of high school in a bid to protect Scarlett from the curse he feels plagues his family - anyone he loves will be hurt. After the death of his beloved grandmother, the land he owns, loves and lives on is all he has left but he must decide how far he will go to save it and, as it reconnects him with Scarlett, where his future lies.

It’s no surprise that this book was an emotional rollercoaster - it’s what I love best about Katie McGarry’s books. This story is reminiscent of some of her earlier works and I loved the nostalgic feel alongside a new and totally different story. Despite themes of magic and overtones of the fantastical - curses, psychics - Only A Breath Apart remains within the boundaries of contemporary, realistic fiction. And yet this book is magic. It’s the magic of finding love for the first time, the magic of connection with others and the world, the magic of everyday, little things that mean so much. I also loved the intertwining of faith and the spiritual in this story. Beautifully done.

Once again, Katie brings us a wonderful group of supportive friends surrounding her main characters. While Jesse’s friends don’t get a lot of page time, their support and tight bonds forged through life’s harshness are tangible throughout the story. The other secondary characters, Jesse’s cousin Glory, Scarlett’s pastor, and Jesse’s uncle help restore your faith in humanity a little and provide the perfect balance between certain other adults in this book.

Scarlett and Jesse shine. Both have experienced the worst of humanity and yet remain so strong, despite everything life has done to knock them down. Finding each other, restarting their childhood friendship and closeness, and finding a new spark of romance is simply a continuation of their story and it all felt so natural and meant to be. Together they forge new paths for themselves, but while they are each there to support and love the other, their romance and relationship never gets in the way of the growth that they must each make and the choices they must face alone. Their self-discovery and resilience is inspiring.

Only A Breath Apart is an achingly beautiful story, with hope to counter the despair, faith and love to counter hurt, and a book I know contemporary fans will love - I certainly did.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog <a href="https://madisonslibrary.wordpress.com">Madison's Library</a>

mcgarry's latest contemporary finds former childhood besties jesse and scarlett reconnecting after his grandmother's death. jesse is led to believe that scarlett holds the deciding vote on whether or not he keeps his family farm. he believes that he is cursed to remain on the land, that leaving the farm means terrible things for anyone he loves.

years ago he cut her out of his life to protect her. but scarlett has demons of her own she's hidden. her father is emotionally and physically abusive. and her home life is lived on eggshells. but as only a breath apart unspools, and as jesse makes amends for how he's treated her, scarlett begins to set herself free from everything tying her up.

this isn't a light and breezy read. there's a little more mysticism than in her motorcycle club books or the pushing the limits series. but her characters have real-world issues and angst. their lives are hard. they are young adults who are forced to make very adult choices and decisions. they forge a way forward, and honestly seeing how jesse and scarlett tackle their issues and grow as people is really a worthwhile journey. i loved these two together and i so enjoyed their journey.

**only a breath apart will publish on january 22, 2019. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/macmillan-tor (tor teen) in exchange for my honest review.

Moving, gripping, and heavy, Katie McGarry tackled tough topics with poise that will leave readers in awe. This book weighted heavy on my heart and really shows Katie in a new light. She addresses hard topics in drastic detail that will leave readers reeling. Prepare to have your emotions go through a crazy rollercoaster but in typical fashion, Katie will always leave us with a glimmer of hope, a smile on my face, and an HEA. This book is not one to be missed.

Only A Breath Apart is beautiful, emotional, and so captivating. While it is a contemporary romance there are also these mystical aspects to it that make it feel so special and magical. Although it seems as if the author leaves it open for you to decide if the magic is real or not. Jesse seems to believe in some aspects of it, but not others. He thinks his cousin is a con and that there are no such things as psychics, but on the other hand he also believes he has a special connection with his land. That it heals him and that bad things will happen if he ever leaves it. It's kind of funny seeing how that works (or doesn't work) for him. He has experienced so much for someone so young and when his grandmother dies it hurt my heart to know he felt so alone in this world. I wanted him and Scarlett to help each other mend so badly. I definitely fell in love with their story and the way they feel about each other. They have always had this connection and I completely understand how Scarlett felt so betrayed when he severed that connection with no explanation. I am not happy for the pain they endured or the secrets they both felt compelled to keep, but I am so thankful that out of all of that they were brought back together. The ending was perfect. There are still things to work out and still obstacles to face (such is life), but the happily ever after feeling is still definitely there. Making it feel happy yet realistic, which I appreciate. It really is a beautiful story and I highly recommend it!

I’m a huge fan of Katie McGarry’s and always love being able to be a part of her new book’s blog tours. This book ended up not being my favorite Katie McGarry book but it’s still very good and still feels very much like a Katie McGarry book. The character development is great and even though I didn’t ever really connect with the main characters, I did appreciate their strengths and courage and growth and love throughout the book. They were fascinating characters and had a lot of history together, which is something I always love. I also really enjoyed most of the side characters and wish we could see more of them. And there is plenty of drama. This book has a lot of tense moments and the characters are both under a lot of pressure and stress, pretty much throughout the entire book. Katie’s books aren’t meant to be light and fluffy and this one is no different. It tends to be dark with moments of light and hope. There are some tough scenes to get through but the characters are strong and resilient and hopeful. And sometimes a little stupid. But that only helps make them more realistic.
This is a book about childhood friends torn apart and brought back together to overcome some very difficult and intense issues. There is physical and emotional abuse in this one and some religious themes as well, but overall I thought the messages and lessons were good and really liked the fact that while the characters did fall in love and were stronger while supporting each other, they still stood on their own when they needed to and learned to support and believe in themselves as well. The romance is important to the characters but not the only thing, nor I’d say the most important thing, about them and I think that makes this book so much better than if the romance had been the focal point. I really enjoyed seeing how they dealt with everything at the end and felt like they truly had learned and grown during their journey. As an adult reading a YA book, I like seeing when romance has a positive effect on the characters but doesn’t solve their problems. They worked on their own problems with the support of the other and I think that’s what I most appreciated about this book. We all need support systems and people in our lives that we can trust and depend on but in the end we need to be willing to do the hard work ourselves. And if you want romance, it’s still there. And actually pretty cute.
If you’re already a fan of Katie McGarry’s, I think you’ll be happy with this one. If not, you should definitely check out her books!

Only a Breath Apart will have you wrapped up in its pages after the very first heartbreaking, heart wrenching, chapter and it will only get worse as the story goes.

You will be consumed by it, not wanting to put it down for a moment. You will be wrapped up in the characters lives and need to know more, need to know that some how, some way, everything will be okay. That there will be a happy ending by the end. That these characters you have come to not only care about but truly love, will be more than okay, they will have everything they have ever wanted and everything they never knew they needed.

McGarry has always stunned me with her writing but I think, with Only a Breath Apart, she has truly outdone herself.

I didn't want to put this down and it hit so many emotions for me. From the tough subject matters, right down to the touching romance, it just did it all.

Truly one that will not only leave you with a book hanger when you are done but will have you still thinking about it days later. One that stands out and one of her best stories yet.

Let me start by saying that I have read and loved almost all of Katie McGarry’s books. McGarry knows how to write characters that were not dealt the winning hand in life. I went into this read thinking it would be like her others, but that was not the case. The extreme detail of abuse right in the beginning just didn’t work for me. Then there was mention of a family curse, which was taken very seriously and kind of threw me off. And then the first scene with Scarlet and her dad just made me cringe. And there’s a real religious element present at times. Unfortunately, this book was just not for me. I’d say this story is just so much darker, so much faster, than the others of hers I’ve read. Don’t go into this read lightly, but do go into it if you like what I’ve described. I have a feeling that if I wasn’t so bothered by the setup, I would enjoy this story. Katie McGarrydoes an amazing job at realistic happy endings, so you have that to look forward to!

Thank you so much to Macmillan, Tor Teen, and NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review!

“Jesse Lachlin used to be my childhood best friend. We were inseparable. We had the type of friendship people strive to have, and then, a few years ago, he cut me so deeply that I still bleed.”

Only A Breath Apart is a marvellous young adult contemporary novel all about discovering your inner strength and being true to yourself.

Jesse Lachlin is cursed, or so the town folklore says.

But while Jesse has had his fair share of tragedy, the only curse he believes is in can be found in his grandmother’s will. If Jesse wants to inherit his family farm he must win the approval of his childhood best friend, who also happens to be the girl her froze out his freshman year Scarlett Copeland.

Scarlett Copeland is psychic, or at least that’s what Glory Gardner tells her, but Scarlett thinks Glory is delusional.
What is real is Scarlett’s father’s irrational fears, controlling attitude and dark secrets at home. Scarlett may have a plan to escape, but there’s just one problem; she’ll have to rely on Jesse Lachlin, the one person her used to trust and who ended up breaking her heart.

As Jesse and Scarlett begin to confront their secrets and their feelings for each other, the curse rears its ugly head.

“Rule number one: Don’t upset Daddy. Rule number two: Be home by four, plenty of time before her father returned home from work. Daddy worried and needed to know where they were, at all times. Rule number three: Don’t tell Daddy she played with Jesse.”

Only A breath Apart starts with a flashback, when Jesse and Scarlett are both young children before jumping to the current day. I really liked this because it gave some important backstory and information without having too much exposition form the characters, which can often, I find, ruin the flow of the writing.

I have been a fan of Katie McGarry for quite a few years now and I just love her realistic, and often gritty, novels. McGarry writes one hell of a coming of age story and is never afraid of taking on confronting topics that many people have dealt with in their lives, such as domestic violence- which is something that featured in Only A Breath Apart.

I loved how well paced and natural Jesse and Scarlett’s reconciliation was, as they worked through their issues to regain each other’s trust and friendship, and then moved from friendship to love.

‘“Second star on the right then straight on till morning.”
Second star on the right. I haven’t been Tink to his Peter Pan for a long time. But watching Jesse head off to the land the two of us conquered in battles that belonged in our heads creates a sense of nostalgia I can’t ignore. I start for the land that calls to Jesse, the land that used to call to me. It’s definitely time for an adventure.’

One of my favourite things about this novel, was that it showed two young people supporting each other through difficulties, but also allowing each other to stand up and handle it themselves when they need to. So often in YA books I find that one person will sweep in and fix everything (or try to) for the other person, and it develops into a kind of co-dependency that isn’t very healthy. Sometimes in life you need to know you can do it yourself, to face your demons, but also be prepared to ask for help or support, and that’s exactly what happens in Only A Breath Apart.

“The point I’m making is that you can choose to look at the tough moments as failures or you can choose to look at them as a bad few minutes in a good day. It’s okay to feel sorry for yourself for a few seconds, but then you need to pick yourself up and brush yourself off. If you do that, you never fail.”

Only A Breath Apart is a remarkable story and a definite must read.

4.5 Stars!

"I loved him once--the way a six-year-old loves with abandon. I loved him how I once loved myself. Jesse was freedom when so much of my life meant confinement. He was laughter during dark nights, he was the warrior who scared the monsters under my bed away...he was my friend."

"I don't know what being friends means anymore. Not just with you, but with anyone. There's something wrong with me. When I look inside me, I don't see anything. I'm empty."

"Scarlett, there are two times when I can breathe in deeply without wincing in pain, and being with you is one of them. If I could, I'd keep you here forever."

Only a Breath Apart was one of my most anticipated YA reads for 2019 and I am proud to report that this book does not disappoint. In true Katie McGarry fashion, Only a Breath Apart is a raw and gritty story of second chances and self discovery.

Only a Breath Apart follows the story of Jesse and Scarlett. All his life, Jesse has been told that he is cursed. That if he leaves his family's land, tragedy will follow. And while Jesse is no stranger to tragedy, he truly believes that there is a special power and peace that comes with his family's land. He'll do anything to keep his little peace of heaven, even if that means jumping through the hoops his grandma set forth for him in order to keep it...On the outside, Scarlett's life looks picture perfect. The reality couldn't be more further from the truth. Scarlett has deep secrets that no one knows about. Ever facet of her life is controlled and Scarlett's only dream is to find a way out...

Only a Breath Apart had me glued from the very first page. This story is incredibly well written and captivating. The characters, while young, are very easy to connect with and have been tested in many ways. Jesse and Scarlett's story is intense, heartbreaking, yet beautiful all at the same time. They were so real, their story so raw...I couldn't put it down.

Only a Breath Apart is a story of self discovery, loss, pain, heartache and survival. This story deals with some very heavy subject material and will take your emotions for one heck of a ride. Despite all the heaviness, this story has a lot of beauty, hope and sweetness to it. It was everything that I have come to know and appreciate from this author and as I've said before, it does not disappoint. A must read for Katie McGarry fans.

In the latest book from Katie McGarry, we have two people that used to be best friends but then are separated because of Jesse’s fear that something may happen to Scarlett. He grew up believing that the family curse is really and would do anything to protect Scarlett, even if it’s slowly killing her.

Scarlett is the master of schooling her emotions. She has had tons of practice doing it. But the only person that she can’t keep her emotions from is Jesse. He has always been able to get under her skin and while she wants to hate him, she can’t. I relate to Scarlett on so many different levels. She struggles with trying to be a normal teenager but is confused because of the life that she is being brought up in. It only gets more and more complicated as time goes on and she has to make a decision on what is best for her family vs what is best for her.

Jesse has worked so hard to try and defeat this curse that he has grown up with. I like seeing him soften when he finally lets Scarlett back in his life and when he doesn’t let his pride win out on him trying to accomplish his dreams.

McGarry’s books always touch upon something that is dark and complicated in every one of her books. But that is what I love about them. I feel like anybody with every background can either understand the themes that are represented or have felt them first hand. I can’t wait to see what she is going to do next.

I was granted an e-copy of this novel from NetGalley and the Author in exchange for an honest review.

Sooo I may have devoured this book in one day. I didn't plan to, but it is just so easy to read!
McGarry has an incredible writing style, it flows with ease and even with the intense subjects that this book deals with, it is still free-flowing, not forced and easy to read. It definitely doesn't feel like a chore.

I love the magical intentions throughout this book. The connection that Jesse has with the land, the way that Glory can keep Jesse and his family connected through her psychic abilities. And the way that Scarlett entwines with both Jesse and Glory within the realms of their individual magical connections with land and spirit.

I feel as though this book was a much darker novel from McGarry than usual, and I think it is important to say that if you have your own demons surrounding familial and/or spousal abuse, physical and psychological, then this book isn't one for you. Scarlett has an incredibly controlling father, who doesn't have limits when it comes to enforcing his control and rule. It is incredibly intense and at times it is hard to read. So be prepared for that.

I loved this book up until the last 10%. Something happens and I can't say much about it without spoiling it (if you want to know how I feel about it and what happens, pop to my blog www.bookishintoxicationwrites.com), so all I am going to say is that something happens that I don't think needed to happen. It didn't really take the book anywhere, other than giving Jesse a little more farming experience. Which is important to the story line, but I feel that it could have been done in a different way?
So after that situation, the sweet ending, for me, wasn't as sweet and as final as it could have been.

I did enjoy this book, the semi-ending did force my enjoyment down, hence only 4 stars. But all in all it was a fantastic read, it was so refreshing to read about a couple who each have their own demons. There was no knight in shining armour. They saved eachother.

I’m still an internal chaotic, emotional mess from this book, and it’s been hours since I finished it. Only a Breath Apart made me feel rage, sadness, happiness, frustration, wonderful – it made me feel everything. The characters, the story, the emotional vulnerability, this book was so good.

I’ve read a Katie McGarry book in the past – Pushing the Limits – I don’t know why I never finished the series, or read any of her other books, because I did like it. So, this was my first of her books in years, and it didn’t disappoint. It was so well written and so engaging. I legit stayed up ALL NIGHT reading yet (yes, I regret that choice now) but I couldn’t put it down. I just kept turning the pages, completely caught up in this world and these characters.

The writing was beautiful, and the character arcs were believable and real. I felt like I was right in the middle of their lives, their world. It was so easy to picture everything, to feel everything.

This book was pain, it was beauty and it was magic. It’s about learning who you are, and what you can survive. It’s realizing that, that journey to self-discovery can be an adventure with good and bad moments. Moments when you triumph and moments when you fail. It’s about when you fail, you have to get back up and try again.

It’s about finding adventure – “second star to the right and straight on till morning”.

I loved this book so much, and I hope you do too. It’s now one of my top four favorite contemporary novels (all are tied for first place) and all have given me the same kind of feeling.

I don't know why, but going into this I wasn't thinking contemporary, I was expecting something futuristic or maybe a bit more paranormal; I'll take the awesome story we got instead. If you're a long time reader or follower you are well aware of my love for Katie's writing and her stories. This story took me out, I wasn't ready for all of it and man it slayed my emotions and I fell into the story and didn't want to come out.

I literally writing this right after I finished the book and I still can't process. Reading this and knowing that there are teens living this everyday breaks my heart. I wanted to rage at the adults in the scenarios that they were failing the children, As the story moved on and we realized that much of what was happening was generational we could see the setup to whether or not Jesse and Scarlett would be able to pull themselves out. Does what everyone else in town believe about you really make you who you are??

We go into the story from Jesse and Scarlett's perspectives, when they met as children and learned to rely on each other for friendship and complicated love. I absolutely love that they had each other to help weather the storm of growing up. As the story progresses and we see the adults pushing their agendas, and ideas ( read that as fears, their failings, and fears) onto the kids and knowing that young children absorb whatever they believe will help I just wanted to yell, no that's not true don't believe it. Jesse's home life is complicated, his mother doesn't really know how to parent, but luckily for her, her family is there to help even when she can't see it. For Scarlett, her world changes one summer when her best friend, the boy she's always known distances himself from her and leaves her without a rudder in a world that is slowly suffocating her with its expectations and demands of perfection.

My heart broke so many times reading this, I wanted to yell that talking would help, but then realized the characters were right, it didn't always help. There were so many lessons to be learned here by both Jesse and Scarlett. I absolutely loved Glory, Pastor Hughes & Marshall. As adults, there were pretty amazing for the two to have in their corners and learn from. I loved how Glory was such a great catalyst for change in their lives, was a great sounding board when they needed it and place to come to rest.

I would have loved more from the friends than we got in the story. I do understand the story is really about Jesse and Scarlett, however, their friends made many choices and chances for them and pushed them when needed and I wanted to know more about V, what made her tick, and why the lost boys ended up there. I wanted to know how their story changes and progresses as well. I'm not sure I like all of Scarlett's friends because of the situation they put her in.

I was so invested in what was happening and I was so nervous the closer we got to the end of the book. I could see some of the solutions that were needed and understood the steps necessary for the characters to grow and change; I was super excited when those came through and understood why Katie made the decisions she did for the characters. I was fully invested in their development and the progress being made. In the end, I felt proud as if they were my friends because I was so happy to see the success and growth.

I love, love that nothing was glossed over and made perfect, Katie shared the reality of the situation and how it doesn't always go the way we plan or hope. I absolutely love the scenes where they are viewing the apartments because I had the same thoughts and was like Girl?!! I loved that Jesse knew not to say anything but let her learn the hard way the reality of the situation. One of my favorite things wasn't the adults who stood for them when they needed, it wasn't the amazing friendships they had, it wasn't even that Jesse and Scarlett had such an amazing bond. I loved that therapy was seen and shown in such a positive light. I loved that the adults who cared gave them room to come to them but also let them know without a doubt I would believe you. I loved their connection to the land as well, the fact that they felt the Earth breathing and could connect down to that?? Another of my favorite moments.

If you can't tell by now, I highly recommend this one. Be ready to be emotionally invested, to be angry and afraid to be nervous for the characters. To be excited as friendship becomes more, to be sad when reality crashes into the scenes and know fear.

Like all of Katie's books, this one also comes with a soundtrack and I think the songs she picked were perfect. I'll have that up this weekend along with a link to the Youtube playlist.