*** ½
Before:
Kelsey and David became best friends the summer before freshman year and were inseparable ever after. Until the night a misunderstanding turned Kelsey into the school joke, and everything around her crumbled—including her friendship with David. So when Kelsey's parents decided to move away, she couldn't wait to start over and leave the past behind. Except, David wasn't ready to let her go...
After:
Now it's senior year and Kelsey has a new group of friends, genuine popularity, and a hot boyfriend. Her life is perfect. That is, until David's family moves to town and he shakes up everything. Soon old feelings bubble to the surface and threaten to destroy Kelsey's second chance at happiness. The more time she spends with David, the more she realizes she never truly let him go. And maybe she never wants to.
Told in alternating sections, LAST YEAR'S MISTAKE is a charming and romantic debut about loving, leaving, and letting go.
Kelsey and David became best friends the summer before freshman year and were inseparable ever after. Until the night a misunderstanding turned Kelsey into the school joke, and everything around her crumbled—including her friendship with David. So when Kelsey's parents decided to move away, she couldn't wait to start over and leave the past behind. Except, David wasn't ready to let her go...
After:
Now it's senior year and Kelsey has a new group of friends, genuine popularity, and a hot boyfriend. Her life is perfect. That is, until David's family moves to town and he shakes up everything. Soon old feelings bubble to the surface and threaten to destroy Kelsey's second chance at happiness. The more time she spends with David, the more she realizes she never truly let him go. And maybe she never wants to.
Told in alternating sections, LAST YEAR'S MISTAKE is a charming and romantic debut about loving, leaving, and letting go.
Review:
When Kelsey and David meet the summer before freshman year they make an instant connection. Sadly, David was feeling that connection a little more differently than Kelsey. Kelsey is still in that
“love and romance is gross” stage. Ah…young unrequited love. As the next couple school years progress we, the readers, watch the train wreck that is their relationship. Ok, maybe train wreck is unfair. But it was frustrating to see Kelsey close herself off from all other possible friendships. David, being a much more sociable creature, maintains his relationship with Kelsey (always hoping she’ll fall for him too) while forming friendships with other people at school. Even the people that Kelsey absolutely hates. And, of course, Kelsey realizes her feelings when it’s too late. Or at least she thinks it’s too late.
“love and romance is gross” stage. Ah…young unrequited love. As the next couple school years progress we, the readers, watch the train wreck that is their relationship. Ok, maybe train wreck is unfair. But it was frustrating to see Kelsey close herself off from all other possible friendships. David, being a much more sociable creature, maintains his relationship with Kelsey (always hoping she’ll fall for him too) while forming friendships with other people at school. Even the people that Kelsey absolutely hates. And, of course, Kelsey realizes her feelings when it’s too late. Or at least she thinks it’s too late.
Kelsey and her family move away the summer before her junior year. Along with starting a new school, Kelsey decides to start a whole new life. A life that includes leaving David behind. In every possible way. She ignores his texts and messages and cuts off contact completely. Fast forward the beginning of her senior year and Kelsey has a great best friend, a popular boyfriend and hangs out with the “cool” crowd. But her world is tilted when David walks into her new school and her new life the first day of their senior year.
What follows is an uncomfortable school year as both Kelsey and David figure out what they can salvage of their former relationship. They each make so many mistakes. I mean, I know Kelsey is judgmental and not always likable, but the kids that she avoided in high school were total jerks. And they were fairly obvious about it too. I didn’t like how purposefully blind David was to that. And then later, how it’s obvious to everyone but Kelsey that her boyfriend is an ass, is beyond me. But all that being said, I WAS rooting for Kelsey and David. They had a connection that is made even stronger by their friendship. But that same connection and friendship makes the hurt they cause each other pretty devastating.
I definitely enjoyed Last Year’s Mistake. It hit a couple of my most favorite romance buttons. Angst, check. Friends to lovers, check. It even had me teary eyed a few times. If you are fan of teen contemporary romance, this a great one to add to your collection.
Nat
