Katy Upperman
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
Since her sister’s tragic death, seventeen-year-old Callie Ryan has basically given up. Her grades have plummeted, she’s quit her swim team, and she barely recognizes the people her parents have become.REVIEW
When she returns to her aunt’s run-down coastal Victorian one year after Chloe’s death, Callie resigns herself to a summer of guilt and home renovations. She doesn’t expect to be charmed by the tiny coastal town or by Tucker Morgan, a local boy brimming with sunshine.
But even as her days begin to brighten, Callie’s nights are crowded with chilling dreams, unanswered questions, and eerie phenomenon that have her convinced she’s being haunted. Will Callie be able to figure out what her sister is trying to communicate before it’s too late?
It had been a year since she visited her aunt in Bell Cove, since she had that fight with her sister, since her sister died. After a painful period of mourning Chloe's death, Callie found herself back where her nightmare began, and it seemed as though her nightmares were bleeding into her waking hours when reminders of her sister began popping up. Was her sister reaching out to her from the beyond? Was she trying to tell her something? Could Callie finally come to terms with her sister's death?
I am a Katy Upperman fan. Her two previous books were exactly the type of novels I would pick up. That was why I had no problem going slightly outside my normal reading zone for this one, and I sure am glad I did, because this is now my favorite Upperman book.
How the Light Gets In was about the grief, pain, and guilt felt, when people lose a loved one. It was about the way those left behind deal with the gaping hole in their lives due to that person's absence. It's about them finding the strength to move forward without that person by their side. I, for one, thought Upperman did a magnificent job exploring the emotional impact associated with losing someone, and she really delivered the feels. Callie's heartache and pain of missing her sister coursed through me, but so did the joy Callie felt, when she fondly remembered her.
I will admit, I wanted to read this book because (1) Katy Upperman wrote it, and (2) it dealt with grief and loss, but there was so much more that kept me glued to the pages. Aside from Callie's healing journey, there was a bit of a small town mystery, a fantastic romance, and a touch of the supernatural. Upperman took all these elements, and wove them together spectacularly.
Obviously, the romance stood out for me, but it was largely due to how much I adored Tucker. He came across as happy-go-lucky, affable, and always UP. It sort of shocked me, that my inner cynic didn't rebuff him, but Upperman gave him many layers, and it was something beyond that shiny veneer that called to me. He was utilized very thoughtfully in this story, which really took it to the next level for me, and he definitely earned a place on my beloved hero list.
Once again, Upperman has presented me with a story, that took me through a large array of emotions, while, in the end, leaving me filled with happiness and joy.
* ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Katy’s debut novel, Kissing Max Holden, was published August 1, 2017, and her sophomore effort, The Impossibility of Us, released July 31, 2018. Her third novel, How the Light Gets In, will be out August 6, 2019. All three books are with Swoon Reads/Macmillan.
Do you believe in ghosts?
Let us know in the comments!
Let us know in the comments!
It sounds like the author did a really good job balancing out the grief with the romance. I can already tell this is a book that will absolutely gut me. I love the kinds of books that take you on an emotional journey. Great review, Sam!
ReplyDeleteShe did, and that is something that is so necessary, when I read books like this, but I really loved the interconnectedness of it all. That made a big impression on me.
DeleteOh wow, Callie sounds like she has been through it. But her journey sounds emotional and wonderful at the same time. Lovely review. I will be keeping an eye out for this one.
ReplyDeleteShe had been through a lot, and she was not dealing with it in a healthy way. The summer ended up being very beneficial for her.
Deletemystery, romance and a touch of the supernatural. sounds like a great read and my kind of book. great review
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
It had a nice blend of elements, and I was a fan of the way Upperman used them.
DeleteFantastic review as ever Sam! I have never read her books but when you say that you love them well, I will add some to my TBR!
ReplyDeleteShe usually writes straight forward contemporaries. This was a little different, as it had the paranormal element, but still felt like an Upperman book to me. I just love sibling and grief stories, so it hit all the right notes for me.
DeleteI haven't read this author before, but the bit of a supernatural element intrigues me!
ReplyDeleteIt was in interesting way to help Callie deal with her grief.
DeleteGlad this was good! The supernatural element does have me curious, I'll admit. To make that work in a contemporary type story can be tough.
ReplyDeleteThat cover almost reminds me of a Katie Cotugno cover.
Ghosts! I am not that into PNR these days, but Upperman had just the right blend of it all.
DeleteOooooh love a bit of supernatural and mixed with grief sounds intriguing!! Great review Sam. ❤
ReplyDeleteThe combination was done well and worked for me. And, everyone knows I love a good grief book
DeleteI hadn't heard of this author before but it sounds like she balanced a lot of elements quite well.
ReplyDeleteKaren @ For What It's Worth
This was a different kind of book for her, yet still very her, which is why I think the paranormal elements worked for me.
DeleteI like how many layers this book has - the grief, the romance, the supernatural elements. Sounds like it has a little something for everyone, including me. :)
ReplyDeleteUpperman is good at layering her stories. I kind of like that she brings a little something different to each book she has put out so far.
DeleteAh, a book which tackles grief as a main topic, and the guilt as well... that is very intense and I can imagine that this book does it incredibly well. Her writing sounds wonderful and I know I need to read this.
ReplyDeleteUpperman is an auto-read for me, at this point. I have really enjoyed all three of her books. She really knows how to get an emotional response from me.
DeleteWonderful review, Sam! I loved Kissing Max Holden and I adored The Impossibility of Us but for some reason the synopsis of this one just wasn't pulling me in and I decided to forgo the arc request and maybe forgo the book. I've also (inadvertently) read an over abundance of books dealing with grief lately and want to steer clear of anything remotely resembling grief for a long while. But despite all that, your review still gets me interested and I'm feeling certain I will read this one at some point. I mean, just the fact that it's Katy is a big bonus. :)
ReplyDeleteI wasn't sure, and then, in the beginning, the character is sort of hitting rock bottom, but shortly thereafter, I found myself fully invested. I wanted Callie to get back to the living, I wanted her family to heal, I wanted Tucker to get some answers. It was all done in typical Katy fashion, and that's why it worked for me.
DeleteThis sounds like a book I would really enjoy. For some reason I prefer my YA reads to deal with emotion and this one sounds like it would have all of that covered. And it sounds interesting! I will definitely try and read this one.
ReplyDeleteIt's a grief books, so lots of deep emotional stuff there, but there were also all the moments she celebrated her sister's life and took those steps to get un-stuck.
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