Squee! I love when you want a book SO desperately, and then when you actually get it in your grasp, it’s as freaking good as you wanted it to be. That’s the best, right? Towle has absolutely met my expectations plus some with this one. When I Was Yours is a highly emotional, angst-driven, tension-filled whirlwind of a romance and I enjoyed every last page of it.
I think by far the most enjoyable aspect for me was the flashbacks. I’m always so so on any flashbacks in a book, because for me, they always seem to be a means to an end. It’s a way to help the reader understand why things were done and how the characters are reacting to that in the present. With When I Was Yours, I found myself being swept away into both timeframes. She makes you care so deeply and become so enthralled with not only their reunion in the present day, but you’ll be eager to jump back 10 years earlier. It was like two fantastic books in one, and I’m not sure I can choose which I really loved more. So to combine both? I couldn’t get enough. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, and pretty much refused to put it down.
I think by far the most enjoyable aspect for me was the flashbacks. I’m always so so on any flashbacks in a book, because for me, they always seem to be a means to an end. It’s a way to help the reader understand why things were done and how the characters are reacting to that in the present. With When I Was Yours, I found myself being swept away into both timeframes. She makes you care so deeply and become so enthralled with not only their reunion in the present day, but you’ll be eager to jump back 10 years earlier. It was like two fantastic books in one, and I’m not sure I can choose which I really loved more. So to combine both? I couldn’t get enough. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, and pretty much refused to put it down.
Who isn’t a sucker for second chance romance, really? Towle seems to have done it even better than so many others. The angst and tension will rip you apart, along with the heartbreak. The storyline set in the past was especially hard for me to handle because they’re so overwhelmingly in love. You know it’s coming. It’s right there in the synopsis. But how she built these worlds and the emotions she’ll cause you to feel, it’ll just tear you up in the very best way. Seeing how much they’ve matured yet not let go of that relationship makes for an emotional roller coaster ride as well, but it was a ride I didn’t want to get off of.
I will say that the lead character, Evie, frustrated me occasionally. Adam straight out asks her, “Why’d you leave?” and I felt like she should have come out and said it. The big reveal is heartbreaking and you DO understand her reasoning for leaving, but I just didn’t quite understand why she couldn’t have fessed up from the get go once she was back. From a reader standpoint though, I get why Towle had to do it that way. The story couldn’t have taken the turns it did or unfolde as it does without her lies and secrets, but it still caused a smidge of frustration. Not enough that I wouldn’t gladly jump back in and reread right this moment, but enough to make note of it.
Overall, I was SO excited for When I Was Yours and Towle did not disappoint. It’s a beautiful love story with just enough up’s and down’s to keep you reeling days later. It was a fun read, and a big 4 stars from me.
<3 Erin
I will say that the lead character, Evie, frustrated me occasionally. Adam straight out asks her, “Why’d you leave?” and I felt like she should have come out and said it. The big reveal is heartbreaking and you DO understand her reasoning for leaving, but I just didn’t quite understand why she couldn’t have fessed up from the get go once she was back. From a reader standpoint though, I get why Towle had to do it that way. The story couldn’t have taken the turns it did or unfolde as it does without her lies and secrets, but it still caused a smidge of frustration. Not enough that I wouldn’t gladly jump back in and reread right this moment, but enough to make note of it.
Overall, I was SO excited for When I Was Yours and Towle did not disappoint. It’s a beautiful love story with just enough up’s and down’s to keep you reeling days later. It was a fun read, and a big 4 stars from me.
<3 Erin