Echoes Between Us was a breathtaking story that touched my heart. I laughed, fell in love and when it all came together, the tears wouldn’t stop. But with whispers of paranormal moments within the pages, this book also gave me the chills. So if you’re looking for a book that will pull at your heart and also fill it with warmth, then definitely add this one to your tbr!
“There’s no such things as ghosts.”
Veronica offers me a slow daring grin like she knows secrets I don’t . “You’ll change your mind after living there a few weeks.”

I didn’t realize that this story had characters from Only a Breath Apart. And when I made the connection that Veronica was V, oh my gosh, I was so excited! We got to see Jesse, Glory, Leo, Nazareth and Scarlett! But if you haven’t read that story, don’t worry, Echoes Between Us can easily be read as a standlone.
Sometimes silence hurts more than words. – Sawyer

We alternated between Veronica and Sawyer. And while we started out a little bit in the dark, we got to know all of their secrets. Veronica saw and talked with the ghost of her mother. And Sawyer broke his arm doing something that we don’t learn about right away. They were both broken and drowning in a sea of hurt. And while they tried to be strong for others, it all became too much at times for them to handle.
He knows my secret, and I’m not okay with that.

I had already fallen for Veronica in Only a Breath Apart. I loved how she was kind, gutsy and had a take no crap attitude. And here I got to see how brutally honest she was and I loved that she stood up for herself. Others called her weird and she tried her best to let it bounce off her. But she was only human, and words hurt. Yes Veronica was quirky and celebrated holidays at different times of the year. But as we learned more about her past, her horrific migraines and the brain tumor she had, all the pieces of who Veronica was started to fall into place.
Most of the time, my life makes me feel as if I’m trapped inside a nailed-shut coffin that’s already been buried six feet deep, and I’m running out of air. – Sawyer

Sawyer broke my heart as I fell in love with him. He seemed like the golden boy to the world, but inside he was suffering. And to make the pain stop, he had an escape that was beyond dangerous. But Sawyer was so much more than he thought he was. He was strong, the best older brother ever, and stood up for those he loved. So while Sawyer had a few close friends, he didn’t do relationships. He was jaded and saw them as toxic. But when Sawyer, his mom and little sister ended up renting the first floor of the huge Victorian house that Veronica’s father owned, things started to change.
Then she does something unexpected. Veronica leans forward and places her hand over mine. Soft fingers, a delicate touch and my entire body sparks to life. As if I had been in darkness— the world was black and white —and then the flip was switched into color.

Fate pushed Sawyer and Veronica together and I hoped they would give each other a chance. But it wasn’t an easy path and there was so much in their way. Hurtful words, secrets, friends, family. And while there was some bite in their interactions, moments here and there gave me butterflies. Yet some of their times together, it felt like there was something more there. And I’m not just talking about friendship or love. But a presence that gave me the chills. There were scenes that made my hair stand up and not want to read this story in the dark. And I wasn’t sure how it was all going to play out.
She’s strong, she’s courageous , and for some reason, she’s trusting me.

Echoes Between Us was a beautifully haunting story. It truly had it all. Love, friendships, family and facing who you are. And when some twists shined light on stuff, oh my heart, this book made me cry. But it ended at a beautiful spot and my heart was so happy where Veronica and Sawyer ended up. So if you’re looking for a story that will touch your heart, definitely grab Echoes Betwen Us! In case you can’t tell, I’ve fallen for another Katie McGarry book!
Her throat moves as she swallows, then she whispers, “I saw a ghost.” – Lucy talking to Veronica

PS I love Sawyer’s little sister, Lucy! She was one of my favorites in this book!

PPS Two books later and Nazareth is still such a huge mystery to me. I’m hoping he gets his own story someday! Fingers crossed!

I'm a big fan of Katie McGarry, her books are always full of emotions and she is never afraid to take you on a rollercoaster of an emotional ride. Echoes Between Us is no exception.

This novel is about two teenagers from different social groups whose surprise friendship through a school project makes them reassess their lives and their beliefs.

When I started this I wasn't sure what to expect, it had aspects of the supernatural, bullying, a brain tumor, grief, and an alcoholic mother. It took me a little while to get into this story, but once I did, I was invested in the lives of Veronica and Sawyer, our two main characters.

We meet Veronica who is talking to her mother, who it turns out is a ghost only she can see. Veronica is struggling with the loss of her mother to a brain tumor while living with the knowledge and side effects of her own brain tumor. Veronica is a quirky character who I immediately liked, she's self-assured and different, with three loyal friends. She doesn't fit in at school, her quirkiness and her often time strange behaviour cause many of the other teenagers to spread nasty rumours about her and treat her like being weird is a bad thing. Veronica thinks she's ok with her tumor and that she is dealing with things in a positive way, but as the story progresses, she learns that maybe she isn't living as much as she thought, but rather, just waiting to die.

Then we meet Sawyer, one of the in-crowd, whose mother has just rented the downstairs apartment from Veronica's dad. These two are not friends by any means, both having a natural disdain for the other. Sawyer has a secret, he chases an adrenaline high to get him through his life, just like an alcoholic or drug addict would. The difference with Sawyer is, he knows it is dangerous and he wants to stop, which leads him to attend an AA meeting and gain a sponsor, Knox, who becomes an important part of Sawyer's life.

When Veronica needs a partner for an English assignment, she chooses Sawyer to be her partner to the shock/horror of everyone, including Sawyer's mother, who is a right piece of works. Sawyer's mother is a drunk, she's also manipulative and controlling, and I didn't like her one little bit.

Sawyer and Veronica's relationship starts off extremely rocky, with only the assignment in common, the assignment being Veronica's choice, to show that ghosts are real. What starts off as a very rocky truce, soon changes as they both start to realise they actually like who the other person is, especially when they aren't around their respective friends. I enjoyed these two getting to know each other, and I enjoyed the way they pushed each other outside of their comfort zones in really taking a look at their lives and the people around them.

There were some sad and confronting parts in the story, I admit to getting teary at times. There is also some very interesting knowledge I learned about alcoholics and those who support them. I feel sorry, especially for the teens out there who end up mothering their parents, essentially enabling them in their illness.

Another great read from Katie McGarry that broached many important subjects and poked at many emotions.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Tor Teen for providing me with a digital copy of this novel in return for an honest review.

Title: Echoes Between Us
Author: Katie McGarry
Genre: YA
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Veronica is the weird girl at school. Before, she had her small circle of friends to keep her grounded, but this year, she’s alone. Veronica sees ghosts. Well, she sees her mother’s ghost. With the blinding headaches—a symptom of her benign brain tumor—she’s afraid to tell anyone she sees ghosts. She doesn’t want to speak the possibility the ghosts are something more into existence—even when the ghosts start bothering the downstairs tenants.

Sawyer is a golden boy at school: handsome and the star swimmer on the school team. But Sawyer is hiding dark secrets. His mom is an alcoholic, so Sawyer takes care of everything at home and his little sister. And Sawyer is addicted to thrill-seeking. That’s how he broke his arm—although he’s never told anyone the truth. But when Sawyer gets to know Veronica, he realizes that maybe he’s not the only one with demons to conquer.

Veronica is such a great character! I mean, denial is clearly her modus operandi, but I can’t really blame her for that. She’s strong and feisty, yet she struggles with what she’s lost and is afraid to let anyone else in. Sawyer is just as good at keeping others out, but his secrets affect more than himself. And I love the secondary characters and their friendships with Veronica and Sawyer. I’d love to read more about these characters!

Katie McGarry is a writer and a mom. Echoes Between Us is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Tor Teen in exchange for an honest review.)

This book is definitely more for teenagers, middle schoolers even. But it was a cute start to a book that is definitely going to make some people happy. The characters were described easily and the writing was decent. I think the story will end up being predictable. You can basically see how it will end and while that may be ok for some, I would personally rather stick to books that are leaving me in suspense and an eagerness to read more. The first look, or whatever its called, is only 11 pages and I really couldn't get too much information from that but you can basically tell where the story will go. The main character will end up being strong as her friends all move on in their lives, she may make a good friend along the way, most likely the boy who just moved in downstairs, oh and she's also dying so there's that. Yeah, predictable.

Echoes Between Us was an endearing coming-of-age love story that showcased the beauty of first love and the joys of living for the present. With two teens on crucial crossroads, McGarry again utilized her effortless way of bringing opposites together and setting Veronica and Sawyer on a path to not just collide spectacularly, but to further their individual paths. That brilliance, captured so well, made for an easy story to fall for.

There was an added layer of the paranormal—what ended up feelings like a natural, smart way to move story progression forward and to deepen their connection—that somehow felt like it belonged in this contemporary setting. Veronica and Sawyer were sweet and incredibly easy to root for. Their arcs held depth and purpose, and I loved seeing how their friendship evolved into something more meaningful. I was slow on the come-up that this was a standalone set in the world of <i>Only A Breath Apart</i>, but rest assured that you can read this one without reading the other—knowing the heroine and some secondary characters previously just added a nice connection for those who've read it to enjoy. While the first quarter to half of the story was relatively slow-going, I was able to look past that once the story really opened up. I loved the message it told and how easy it was to like each character who came on the page, and I look forward to what she writes next.

I have loved Katie McGarry’s books since I was fourteen. That’s almost a decade’s worth of books from a single author. And I love every single one of them.

Of course, Katie McGarry has, up until now, been contemporary. Only A Breath Apart had just the slightest hint of paranormal. Until this one. Held in the same world as Only A Breath Apart, Echoes Between Us takes on death, grief and sicknesses in the way that only Katie McGarry knows how.

Veronica first made an appearance in Every Breath Apart. She was the “weird” kid, the one that everyone denied knowing in public. Sawyer was the kid that, according to the public, was perfect. But he was drowning in his reality.

They were both sick in completely different ways. Sawyer’s was more emotional and psychological while Veronica’s was more physical. Either way the challenges these two face were so much harder than any normal YA.

It was captivating and heart breaking and awesome. At the beginning, the voice was a little passive but I think that was deliberate because of the situation the characters were in. There’s diversity, family, love and growth. Katie McGarry keeps on getting better.

This book was a hard read for me because one of my greatest fears in life is getting a brain tumor. Nevertheless, I adore "Echoes Between Us". Katie McGarry has already established herself in my reading habits as an author I can trust to create sweet and saucy romances, worthy storylines, and just-right pacing. The addition of paranormal elements was FANTASTIC! I hope she continues this trend. Fun to read, memorable, and easily one of my favorite recommendations of this school year.

I’m sure I say it with her every new release, but when it comes to YA, Katie McGarry is my #1 go-to author. She writes the kind of stories that I love and I’m always ready and waiting for each new novel. In Echoes Between Us, Katie delivers a story with her trademarks: relatable characters facing real-life challenges, romance, and an emotional connection.

Life hasn’t been easy for seventeen-year-old Veronica since the death of her mother six months ago. Her father is a truck driver who is gone for days at a time and her best friend Leo, who she is also secretly in love with, is leaving for college. Veronica also has a brain tumor… like the one that killed her mother. The tumor causes debilitating headaches that seem to be getting worse, but she keeps that information from her father. She also doesn’t share with him that she sees and communicates with her mother’s ghost.

From outward appearances, Sawyer is the golden boy. Handsome, popular, a star athlete. But Sawyer is being crushed by the pressure he feels at home. Since his parent’s divorce six years ago he has felt increasingly responsible for not just his six-year-old sister but also his mother. Her drinking has gone from letting loose on the weekends to almost every night. Between her interference in his life, his resentment of his father, and pressure at school, Sawyer feels like he’s walking a tightrope. The only relief he finds is the adrenaline rush from cliff jumping but he finds himself craving that high more and more.

Veronica and Sawyer were an unlikely pair – the girl who marched to the beat of her own drum and who was considered “weird” by the kids at school and the boy who, from the outside, had it all. But they both felt a lack of control over their lives. In Sawyer, Veronica had someone who saw beyond the tumor and the quirks and appreciated her for the bold and fearless girl she was. And in Veronica, Sawyer found someone who accepted him for who he was, who cared about what he wanted, and supported him without judgment. They truly brought out the best in each other.

The friend groups played a big role and those who have read McGarry’s Only a Breath Apart will remember Jesse, Scarlet, Leo and Nazareth (side note: we seriously need a book about Nazareth). Veronica and Sawyer did not run in the same circles and their friends definitely started off as wary and judgmental of one another. I loved seeing the slow acceptance as they started to know and trust each other and were actually supportive of each other during times of need.

Katie did an amazing job of blending the paranormal elements (Veronica sees ghosts), the spiritual aspect (Veronica’s friend Glory is something of a psychic who believes in angels and an afterlife) and skepticism (Sawyer is convinced there is a logical explanation for any “phenomenon”). McGarry tackles some weighty issues in Echoes Between Us and, as usual, handles them with such a light, respectful hand. There are addiction issues, learning disorders, faith, grief, mortality, discussion of sexuality, and more. There is a big focus on acceptance, in many forms, and I loved how Katie wove that deftly throughout the story.

By the end of the story, I was in love with these characters and my heart ached for their struggles. Both Sawyer and Veronica had to have such inner strength to face their challenges and overcome them. Katie made these characters feel utterly realistic and I shed some tears as I was swept into their story. Once again, Katie McGarry has delivered an emotional and compelling story that is sure to be among my favorite books of the year.

An enjoyable read, I read it in one day. A gritty YA romance is always at the top of my to-read list. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an ARC egalley.

First Thoughts:

I quite honestly thought this book was going to go a different way by just reading the summary. But boy was I wrong. What looked to start as a typical ghost story turned into something much more Psychological. It was a deep down psychological and emotional story. it had parts that really grabbed me and parts that set me with unease. I saw that a lot of readers thought this was a great story but it didn't hit me right.

Summary:

Veronica is trying best to keep the secret that she has a brain tumor. As innocent as she portrays the tumor to be, she thinks it would turn her world upside down if anyone besides her dad, a few friends and doctors knew about it. She especially doesn't want the boy that just moved into the apartment under her house to know.

Enter Sawyer, the picture perfect all star swimmer. But Sawyer has a secret of his own. One that is slowly consuming him, one that only he knows about. But Sawyer is one of the popular kids at small town high school. Secrets are bound to be told.

Veronica and Sawyer start on a journey of self-discovery, where they are bound by a school project and the ghosts that Veronica is determined to prove are real. But will their two secrets be revealed and if they are will Veronica and Sawyer be ready to own up to them?

Plot:

I thought this book would be more syfy and less emotional roller-coaster. It started in a typical manner, an opening scene of a breakfast between father and daughter. And Veronica has an obsession to prove, one she tells herself has to be real because if it wasn't meant something much worse. There's constantly a pull of emotions as characters come in and out throughout the story. It adds more dramatic pieces and slowly the plot thickens and causes the reader to want to want to read more; to stop only until the book ends. I mean the plot was good, took a turn I didn't anticipate but for an average reader, I think they'd like this book. My opinion is that it started off rocky but snowballed into something better by the end. I still have mix emotions about the story line. There was some dark scenes in this book, scenes that could cause a reader to want to put the book down. (at least that's what it did to me at parts.) Overall I can see how attractive the plot would be to most readers but like I mentioned above it didn't settle well with me.

Romance:

The relationship between Veronica and Sawyer was unexpected in the way that they would fit together. To me they had personalities that would clash and yes it did at times. It kind of seemed too easy to pair the two, like it was predictable in that way. But in the end it was okay, not the shining aspect of the story.

Characters:

Veronica was hard to connect with to me. She had a whole a lot of barriers up that made it hard for the reader to connect with. But as I got to know exactly what Veronica's life was like and how hard it was for her to deal with life's problems made it more connectable. But Veronica was a complex character, she had all of these beliefs that she thought were real and had such a tender heart. When I did connect with her, I became a fan of her. She was weak at times and others the bravest of souls.

Sawyer was a more rough kind of character. His personality had sharp edges that made it hard to understand. But as information was released throughout the story it was easier to understand him.

The rest of the secondary characters were introduced well and gave a good spectrum of personalities. Like Veronica's dad, he is not one of my favorite characters but then you get someone like Veronica, whose whole life is like balancing on a tight rope above a tank of piranhas. Definitely an interesting piece of the story.

Transformation of the Character:

Veronica definitely transformed as the reader was able to understand her. She had so much against her but those obstacles just pushed her over the edge. She had to break out of her "cocoon" because the alternative was way too dark for her. Sawyer did his own kind of transforming, I felt you didn't get his whole transformation by the end of the book but you were able to see some transformation.

Description:

The scenery was well crafted to allow the reader to imagine each part, allowing the imagery to be pasted to our minds. There were some intense moments and the reader was able to really imagine the scene as it played out. One of the best scenes was the where Veronica and Sawyer first went out looking for ghosts by the bridge. That scene really made the reading experience terrifying and fun. The emotional part of this book was well described, I found myself on the verge of tears at parts. It really grabbed the reader and allowed them to understand what the character was feeling and thinking in some serious situations.

Style:

This was written in first person, it allowed the reader to understand what was going on in the character's mind. The emotional connection was better suited for first person. This was meant to be a deep and emotional book and it wouldn't have made such an impact if it was in 2nd or third person. This was also written in two point of views; Veronica's and Sawyers. I loved that it was two different point of views, it allowed a wider range of emotional connection. As for the writer's writing it was well written and enjoyable. As much as I have bashed this book, the writing itself isn't one of the reasons I had a hard time of connecting with the story. The author has a way with words that causes the reader to want to continue reading even though it doesn't connect with the reader.

Quote of the Book:

" "What's important is that you're comfortable with your body and how you decide to use it. If you want to kiss the boy and he wants to kiss you, you kiss. If you don't want to kiss the boy, you don't. Kissing is magical, but it's not magical enough to make your wounds heal. Only time can do that.""

Last Thoughts:

Even though I had parts of the book I didn't like doesn't mean I hated the book. It had it's moments. I think I really started to connect with the story when the characters became more serious; more realistic. I enjoy this author's writing and will continue to read other stories by her. I really; truly hope you will enjoy this book, maybe it's me; maybe I'm the reason it wasn't my favorite. Worth a try, happy reading!

Veronica is an extraordinary girl, who has nothing to lose. She expresses herself in a way people don’t understand. That’s why she’s known as a weird and scary girl. However, no one knows the secret she’s hiding from everyone. She has a small tumor in her head. Beside it, she tries to live her life, the best she can.
This school year will be much worse for her than the last one, as all her friends already graduated. Moreover, the most popular boy in the school, move in downstairs in her house. They never talked but he and his friends made fun of her more than once.

She didn’t like him, but he was the only guy in her class who will be easy to work with, as he lives close to her and has a car. She wants to work on the project to prove that the ghosts exist as she believes that her house is haunted. Moreover, she’s the only person in her household that actually sees and hears the ghosts.

Sawyer’s life isn’t so easy as everyone thinks. After his parents got divorced, he needs to take care of his mom and little sister. He’s passionate about swimming but because of his bad English grades, he couldn’t join his friends in the swimming practices at school. He needs to work harder, this year but he doesn’t want his friends to do all his work on the group English project. That’s why he decides to agree to Veronica’s proposition of being project partners.

My thoughts:

Echoes Between Us was the first book I read this year and I couldn’t choose any better one as a starter. This book is literally perfect. There is nothing I can hate in this it because all the aspects of the story created a beautiful whole. Veronica is a fascinating character, which has so many sides that I couldn’t keep up with her. She is funny, smart, brave and the most important she cares about people she loves and won’t let anything hurt them. She doesn’t want to show any of her weaknesses and sadness. She wants everyone to think, she’s just fine even if she’s more and more scared every day.

On the other side, Sawyer as much as he’s brave, he’s also tired. He wants to have a normal life, where he can focus on school, swimming and having fun like every teenager. His mother as much as she’s helping, most of the time she wants him to take care of everything. She makes him feel guilty and obliged to be a man of the house.

It pushes him to an addiction that isn’t normal and as much as he loves it, he’s also scared that it will take his life. He knows he needs to stop, but it’s hard when so many things push him to it. Veronica brings something important to his life: happiness and adventure. They changed their minds about each other very quickly as they get to know each other better and spent more time together.

I love how the characters develop during in this book. They grow and changes through out the book and create a perfect ending they deserve. As I thought this book might be the same as all in this genre, but I was nicely surprised when it turned up to be so different, deep and emotional.

The story surprised me so many times, made me laugh and cry. It’s the first book I read from the NetGalley and decided right away that I need to buy this book as soon as possible and read it again. It’s definitely worth reading by anyone who likes books. The book brings up subjects like addictions, dangerous illnesses and how they influence the lives of young people and their families.

I love this story from the bottom of my heart, and I am sure you all will also love it. I would like to thank NetGalley and Macmillan-Tom Doherty Associates for providing me this amazing book. I fell in love with the story and its characters. I can’t wait to read more of Katie McGarry’s amazing books. I hope they will be as good as this one.

Oh the FEELS! I absolutely LOVE this Book!

I have never read anything by Katie McGarry before, so I was really excited when I got this ARC. I've added some of her books on my TBR and even have 1-2... I think.... but I just never got around to reading any of McGarry's works. Well, that is changing as of right now because after reading Echoes Between Us, I am absolutely in love with her storytelling.

Her words are so full of heart, emotion, and everything else in between. I honestly loved everything about this book. I adore the characters. I enjoyed the surprises and twists. I loved the paranormal aspects, the thrill, the suspense, the humor, and even the heartbreak. Everything seemed so real to me and I connected with the characters so much. Sawyer and V will always have a special place in my heart and I am still reeling from all the flutter and aches I felt while reading this beautiful story. I know I'm just rambling now, but if you haven't read any of McGarry's book, then you have to add this on your TBR!

I'll write a better review in a few days as I let everything sink in, but I just wanted to leave this mini review now so you know that I AM UTTERLY IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK and you should DEFINITELY READ THIS!!!

Best book I've read so far this year and I have a feeling it's going to be on my Top Ten 2020 Reads.

I recevied an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinion are my own.

I also won a physical ARC of this book on Bookish First and because I LOVE it so much I bought the hardcover copy.

This book is definitely different from what I thought it would be. This is not a bad book and I did like some part of this book. Did enjoy the character growth from Veronica and Sawyer.

Thank you Netgalley and Tor Teen for the chance to read Echoes between us by Katie McGarry. Veronica sees her Mother’s ghost, deals with blinding migraines, and lives with her Dad in a haunted house – and is shunned by the popular crowd as a freak. Sawyer is the cute, popular boy, a champion swimmer, but an adrenaline junkie. He has secrets, a broken family, and has to deal with his Mom’s alcoholism. A girl with nothing to live for and a boy with everything to lose--can they conquer their demons together? I enjoyed this YA romance novel with dark themes of alcoholism, addiction and illness. I found the book easy to get into and read. The characters of Veronica and Sawyer were realistic, and worked well together. I recommend this to older teenagers and adults who enjoy reading YA.

***4.5 Stars***

This baby was all kinds of goodness.

I knew it would be intense and emotional, and it was, but it went beyond even my expectations and kept me turning the pages until the very end.

I loved Veronica and Sawyer. Both of them have been through more than anyone can fathom and yet they persevere and at least put forth as semblance of living their lives. They both have really good hearts and a sense of responsibility that they probably shouldn’t have at their ages, but they own it. While both of their journey’s broke my heart, I loved watching as they eventually confronted their own ghosts and came out stronger for it on the other side.

As for their journey to their HEA, it was all kinds of emotional, but it was also a fun one. Their first true collision was quite unique and I really enjoyed watching as they found that they had a lot more in common than either could have ever imagined. Their bantering was fun and I really enjoyed how their relationship evolved as the book progressed and loved how things worked out in the end.

Echoes Between Us was an intense and captivating ride from start to finish. The issues that these characters deal with were intense, but they were necessary to understand the characters motivation and appreciate their growth. And as for the secondary cast of characters, they were all very well written and though I don’t have a favorite, I wouldn’t mind spending more time with them all and see where life takes them

~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Something about this book was just off for me. I enjoyed it but something was missing. I am not sure if it was the characters or the pacing of the book, but it definitely felt like something was missing.

It was an okay read, I enjoyed it for what it was.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and netgalley for this review copy.

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. This is one of those books that will get a person all up in their feeling. The two main characters of Sawyer and Veronica are well written and doing the best they can with lives they have. Sawyer the golden boy who is having troubles at him and dealing with his addiction. Veronica who is doing her best to live day by day with the brain tumor and the loss of her mother. The two of them come together to work on a school paper and find something in the other they seemed to be lacking in their lives. Neither knew they need each other and the friendship that became more until it happened to them. This is the first book I have read by this author and I know now that I am going to have to change that.

This is a great paranormal story.

Veronica has a brain tumor. Her mother died of brain cancer, and Veronica’s tumor is getting worse, but she wants to keep it a secret. This is more complicated because she also sees her mother’s ghost in her house. That makes her want to research ghosts for a paper at school. When Sawyer, the popular boy at school, moves into the apartment in her house, she has her suspicions of her haunted house confirmed because his sister also sees the “monsters” downstairs.

I loved the paranormal, ghost hunting aspects of the story. They were creepy. I found myself holding my breath in many parts. Those parts were very descriptive and realistic.

The paranormal parts were slightly fantasy, but there were also serious issues addressed in this book. Veronica has a brain tumor, which she is in denial of. There are also some characters with addictions. These health problems were also scary because they were very realistic.

I really enjoyed this story!

Thank you Tor Teen for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Before I became a book blogger, I read several Katie McGarry novels, but none of those touched me even half as much as Echoes Between Us did.

Veronica is the odd girl, the weird girl, the petite girl with huge blue eyes who hangs out with weirdos who must be druggies because they’re fringe. Sawyer is the popular, handsome boy from a rich family and a huge swimming career ahead. For years, he’s ignored her, laughed at the gossip about her, but when situations bring them together, they find that perhaps realities are different than they thought.

Echoes Between Us resonates with so much emotion and so much truth that it’s hard to put down!

For starters, I loved both Veronica, who is strong and unique and so lovable, and Sawyer, who is fighting a good fight without knowing who the enemy is. I loved how they interact and react together. They have become one of my favorite YA couples.

Echoes Between Us is a mix of paranormal and reality and a blending of the two. Veronica wants to do a project to show that ghosts are real so that her father will realize she’ll always be there with him, even after she’s gone. I have to say that when reading one of the passages I was so engrossed and on edge that when one of my dogs barked, I almost literally flew out of my chair. McGarry writes suspense oh-so-well and I hope she continues to do so!

There have been few novels lately that make me forget they’re novels, that weave me into their framework, and just make me feel. This one did that. Close to tears, laughing, fearful, I felt them all. There may have even been some of that angst-stuff that I’m never of a fan of but here I was.

“I want you to laugh. The type of laugh that only comes with experience. The one that is drawn through years of understanding that life is so precious and that laughter is the best medicine for the soul.”

Echoes Between Us deals with addiction in a forgiving way, which must be commended because so few novels do. It’s easy to throw daggers but not so easy to give understanding. I loved what McGarry did with this.

The striking thing for me is how far this novel felt from previous McGarry novels that I read over five years ago. How strong all of the elements are that make this story work so fantastically well. How the emotions crept into me and held me. She wrote a story that could have devolved into melodrama and sentimentality but didn’t.

So, I loved Echoes Between Us. If you love YA romance with supernatural elements with life and death thrown in, this one may be for you. It may also be for fans of John Green’s Fault in Our Stars, if you don’t mind the element of paranormal.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I always enjoy McGarry’s books & this was no exception. It got pretty emotional & deep at times dealing with some heavy topics. I loved Veronica & Sawyer together. They’re opposites, but share a connection that’s undeniable.

I had no idea it’s connected to Only a Breath Apart until other characters started popping up & I had a huge ah-ha moment, amped up my investment in the story.