WOW this book was SO GOOD!! First thanks to NG for the ARC!! This is the story of two brothers, Ash and Elliot, two brother in foster care because of a really awful family life. Elliot is the older of the two and spends a lot of his time drinking and partying. Ash is 16 and in HS, trying to get good grades and move on. Ash's best friends James is his rock. James is also gay. Ash has had girlfriends in the past but now finds himself attracted to James. They are SO adorable together and Ash really needs James because he has anxiety and cuts himself too, and James is the only one who knows about it. Ash is kind of falling into a hole and can't get out. Elliot wants to get guardianship of Ash and move out of the foster home but his drug problem is getting worse and he is jeopardizing the whole situation. Also Elliot finds out that Ash and James are together as boyfriends and leaves with no explanation. Ash sees no way out after Elliot disappears and he has a fight with James, and he kills himself leaving James to deal with the fallout and also completely alone, because Elliot disappeared. James spend his time during the year following Elliot's death, trying to locate Elliot to find out what really happened to Ash before he died--and Louise sees his online post and answers which is in the present day. This book is SO emotional. IT is written from the points of view of Ash and James both in the present and the past, and Elliot in present along with Louise, Elliot's current best friend. I loved Ash and James relationship. They obviously love each other so much and James is so supportive and caring. Ash is so confused and needs James so much. I don't want to ruin the ending but I LOVED it. I had my suspicions all along what was going on but I wasn't 100% sure until the very end. Definitely do not miss this book if you love a great story with amazing characters and a little mystery. WELL worth your time!! I will definitely look for more from this author!!!

Can we all give a big cheer for good bisexual representation? And also for the fact that some people don’t feel the need to ‘come-out’, they just are what they are and don’t feel the need to make a big production out of it because it’s no one else’s business. (Not that there’s anything wrong with coming out either but seeing ‘not coming out’ but not hiding who you are portrayed as valid was very liberating.) In fact in terms of tackling big themes that YA should tackle, The Law of Inertia knocks it out of the park – DSH, Metal Illness, anxiety and depression, LGBT representation, troubled familial origins, suicidal ideation. It’s a mystery of sorts too with a very satisfying plot. The characters are likeable. The romance is believable and very sweet. Ordinarily YA contemporary is very hit and miss for me but this one was a big hit.

The feelings that come from this book are deep and can be uncomfortable. That being said, the storyline was well crafted. I did find the shifting POV's something I had to get used to- but it helped to deepen the mystery. The twists at the end were very uexpected- and it's hard to pull one over on me. It was perfectly editied, the dialogue was very appropriate and engaging for the age group. I felt the author portrayed depression and suicide both respectfully and with careful insight. I am normally not a YA reader but this book kept me engaged and interested all the way through. I thought the characters definitely speak to the reader in a way that makes them invest. I would definitely recommend the read.

What happens when life jolts you off the tracks? What choices are you left with? Gonzales gives us Ash going through this very well, she is able to create his voice and that of the other people around him very well. Giving us the story from several perspectives, from several characters so that we see how life effects them the cause and effect.

Very very well done, definitely recommended.

Note: The setting is never really specified but after a lot of googling and piecing clues together I've come to the conclusion that the setting is Australia.

This romance is suitable for young adults. It contains sensitive and moving perspectives of young gay and bi friendships, as well as issues of substance abuse, mental illness, and suicidal ideation..

In the multi-ethnic melting pot of modern Australia, two small town brothers struggle with the terrible parenting situation in which they landed after their mother's death. While wearing out their welcome at one foster placement after another, Ash must also come to terms with his unusual sexual attraction to his best friend forever.

The mystery of 'Who are Ash and Elliot Taylor?' is finally solved by learning self-acceptance and life balance.

Though there are sexual situations, they are never explicit. I have nothing but praise for this story.

I want to thank Amberjack Publishing and Netgalley for this partnership.

I was immediately attracted by the cover, we see James in a station.

We find James who does not agree on this story of the suicide of his boyfriend: an adopted child who has had ups and downs in his life. James is going to ask about Ash, and the only person who can answer him is Ash's big brother who's gone. The more he goes in his answers the more he will discover funny things about what happened during Ash's last day.

A moving, captivating story filled with suspense and twists. I loved the context of the story James who is trying to find out if Ash really committed suicide?

Look forward to reading another book by this author.

It is so hard to review this book without spoilers! Such great suspense and several unexpected twists! The characters are endearing and the writing is entertaining. Difficult to put down. I will read everything by this author following this!