Return to Paradise (Leaving Paradise #2) by Simone Elkeles review

Caleb Becker left Paradise eight months ago, taking with him the secret he promised to take to his grave. If the truth got out, it would ruin everything.

Maggie Armstrong tried to be strong after Caleb broke her heart and disappeared. Somehow, she managed to move on. She's determined to make a new life for herself.

But then Caleb and Maggie are forced together on a summer trip. They try ignoring their passion for each other, but buried feelings resurface. Caleb must face the truth about the night of Maggie's accident, or the secret that destroyed their relationship will forever stand between them.

From Goodreads 

Leaving was the hardest thing Caleb could ever imagine doing, but it was also the best thing he could do for those he left behind...or so he thought. Caught in another legal misunderstanding, Caleb finds himself on reStart, a summer tour of teens whose lives were adversely affected by drinking and driving. What he didn't expect was the girl he was convicted of hitting was also on the tour.

At first Maggie can't believe he's actually there and okay. When Caleb left Paradise months earlier, she was crushed. Despite already knowing the secret that Caleb believes he harbors alone, she couldn't help but fall in love with him. But she's moved on now. Things are different. Or, at least that's what she keeps telling herself.

Could just a few short weeks repair the damage Caleb caused by running and it is enough time to finally let the truth out before it destroys them all?

Simone Elkeles is masterful! She spins romantic stories that you can't help but love! Caleb and Maggie are two people who have absolutely no reason to love one another. Despite having grown up next door to one another and being very close as children, the drunk driving accident that nearly cost Maggie her life changed every minute detail of their once simple lives.

As the second book unfolds, we find ourselves enmeshed with other teen victims of drunk driving. Through their relationships with Caleb & Maggie, the two main characters further develop and repair their relationship. I believe that these teens serve as a substitute for Mrs. Reynolds, under who's watchful eye the teens first uncovered their mutual attraction.

The scenery and players may have changed, but Simone's ability to convey inner turmoil and important character flaws really makes all the difference. At times I found myself becoming emotionally overwhelmed by what the characters were experiencing. Throughout their personal discoveries, the story progresses until the climax where the "secret" is finally resolved. 

The ending is mostly tidy. She doesn't give you all the details, but just enough to give you a sound resolution to most of the plot lines. I honestly don't think I'd change a single thing about this book. If you're looking for a fairly quick read, be sure to pick up Leaving Paradise and then dive right into this one!

Waiting on Wednesday: Return to Paradise (Leaving Paradise, #2)

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I am super excited to think about the September 1st arrival of Return to Paradise (Leaving Paradise, #2) by Simone Elkeles. You may remember how much I liked Leaving Paradise and so you can understand my enthusiasm for the follow up story. Obviously MAJOR SPOILERS for the first book follow in the summary below for the second book. You've been warned.

Maggie and Caleb just went through the worst year of their lives. Hit by a car and starting life over with a limp, Maggie never thought she would forgive Caleb. But she did-and fell in love. What they shared was real. But Caleb wanted to be free from the past-and a terrible secret: he wasn't the one who hit Maggie. So he left Paradise-and Maggie-forever.

When Maggie and Caleb run into each other in a different town, they can't deny their true feelings. Will Maggie let Caleb get away again? Or will Caleb face the truth and return to Paradise?

From Goodreads

Whoa. That's all I really have for that one. The first book was so heart-wrenching and emotionally-charged that I don't think this one can disappoint. I am practically drooling in anticipation. What are you waiting on this week?

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles

Accidents happen all the time. The consequences of those accidents vary based on the severity of the accident. In this case, many relationships were destroyed and someone almost died when Caleb got behind the wheel drunk and hit his twin sister's best friend Maggie.

After a year of painful physical therapy and home schooling, Maggie is heading back to high school. Unable to play varsity tennis, or anything anymore, she isn't sure where she fits in with the other students. The one thing she is sure about is that Caleb is in jail for what he did to her.

Unfortunately even school isn't safe because after serving a year in juvenile detention and being on his best behavior, Caleb has been released and is also returning to school. All he has to do is complete 150 hours of community service and he will be home free.

Apparently though, fate has decided that these two need a second chance. Both of them end of working for a no nonsense older lady named Mrs. Reynolds. Maggie is to be her companion, helping her around the house; while Caleb is building a gazebo. The story is told from both points of view so that we gain a fuller understanding of just how easily appearances can deceive us. The biggest deception though has yet to be revealed.

Simone Elkeles has done a fantastic job conveying the reality of this kind of situation. The emotions are raw, powerful, and revealing. It read quickly, like her other novel Perfect Chemistry, and it had the same feel to it. There is an energy that you get form reading it and knowing that the ending isn't really the end. The characters are extremely likable and diverse. I really enjoyed the fact that the author made sure that the accident, that the whole story revolves around, didn't just affect the key players. Everyone was affected differently and there are varying degrees of that affect present in them. A terrific read if you like straight up fiction and a different take on high school drama.