I received this free eARC novel from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

This has been on my TBR pile for so long, and I'm glad I finally got around to it. I really enjoyed the storyline and seeing the characters change throughout the story was a great character development. The plot was great and kept my attention. I'm glad I got the chance to read this and will be on the lookout for more in the future!

DNF
Another case of I keep trying to sink into this story and can't. Vivi starts off as an intriguing character but it seems the more I read, the more annoyed and over her I become. And while the storyline isn't bad, it's not drawing me in. I find my mind wandering instead of being immersed in the plot. And that is the moment I knew that I would never finish this book.

When we Collided is a young adult contemporary standalone by the wonderful Emery Lord. Oh boy- where to begin. This book was an intense and emotional journey for me. It hit me right in the feels and took my emotions on one heck of a rollercoaster ride. I would warn readers that this book deals with some very difficult topics, like grief, depression and loss, so if those are trigger warnings for you, maybe think twice before picking this book up. But if you are up for the ride, When We Collided is a powerful read. I loved it!

In When We Collided, we meet our main characters Vivi and Jonah. At first glance this book is a beautiful love story between Vivi and Jonah who meet one summer when they work together. Vivi gets close with Jonah and his younger sister Leah, and starts to become integrated into his whole family. Jonah has his own issues, but it turns out so does Vivi (and honestly, don't we all?) When we dig a little deeper into their summer romance, we start to uncover so many other things, and this is where the brilliance of Emery Lord's emotional writing really shines. She displays feelings and emotions so vividly. I felt every single thing alongside Vivi and Jonah. All the love, loss heartbreak, mania and dysfunction. All of it. And I loved every second of them, their story and of this book. It really is a work of art. I had to be in the right mind set because some parts of the book were difficult for me to read, and my emotions were certainly all over the place, but it was so worth it.

Bottom line: If you are a fan of emotional and realistic young adult contemporaries, When We Collided is a must read for you! In fact, all of Emery Lord's books are must reads. I really loved this book. I dare you to read it and not feel something for Vivi and Jonah. Go on...I dare you.

I finally feel safe reading When We Collided by Emery Lord because I know that a new book by her is on the horizon (I still have a book by Morgan Matson, two by Sarah Dessen and two by Emma Mills in reserve for when I need it). As expected, When We Collided is excellent. It is an immediately compelling read with two unique voices. When We Collided provides a good look at mental illness and the impact it can have.

Emery Lord’s When We Collided features Jonah and Vivi who provide first person perspective for alternating chapters. Jonah is dealing with the fall out of his dad’s death six months ago and his mother’s depression. He’s just barely keeping it together along with his five siblings. What further complicates matters is the idea that Jonah’s dad’s restaurant may be in financial trouble. Jonah meets Vivi by chance as she’s summering in the town where Jonah lives – Verona Cove – and working at the ceramics shop. The attraction is instant. Vivi has quite the vivacious personality. She’s very imaginative and has a brilliant way of looking at the world. However, Vivi has bipolar. Which, FYI, is portrayed with sensitivity and honesty.

Lord’s book is beautifully written, heartfelt and excellently characterized. I especially loved some details at the end regarding a painting – -that part just struck me. I think that if you need a contemporary that is a solid return on your investment pick up anything Emery Lord has ever written.

Mental health is not spoken about enough. It's a taboo subject that we shouldn't discuss. Wrong. People are suffering through mental health illnesses everyday and they need to talk about it. They need to get help. The fact that When We Collided is one of the few books out there dedicated to young adults is sad. We need more books to help young adults start the discussion about mental health. The author Emery Lord did a great job going into multiple characters mental state. Bipolar, grief, depression, and so forth. I hope that this book will help someone who needs to talk about their own mental health.

Heartbreaking, yet full of hope. Emory Lord writes really amazing novels full of friendship and love!

** spoiler alert ** For a more in-depth review check out this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lBOb...

Vivi is a broken girl trying to deal with her past and Jonah is a boy whose family is broken since the death of his father. Over one summer Vivi and Jonah come together, falling in love and beginning to heal until their happily ever after is threatened by hidden issues.

It felt like this book started in one place and ended in a very different place. I was expecting a simple story about summer love but instead got a story of mental illness and it's dangers when it is untreated. The story was realistic and gave a very teen appropriate view of bi-polar disorder however it felt a little white washed. This is a great book for a teen curious about mental illness but it didn't feel as authentic as other fiction on this subject.

Outstanding! This novel was featured at our YA Novel Cuisine Luncheon! Loved the mention of so much yummy food! Powerful, emotional, and deeply moving, this is not a book one can forget and must be shared with others.