The Secret of Ella & Micha (The Secret #1)
Genre: YA, Contemporary romance, coming of age,
Written by: Jessica Sorensen
Available as Paperback and Kindle edition
Published: October 2nd '12
Buy it here:
''Just because it's broken doesn't mean it loses its importance and I figured i'd give it to you one day when you realized it was okay to make mistakes.”
Just after a couple of pages in, I had a feeling I'd enjoy the book, Jessica's writing style is so sweet, it's hard not to fall in love with her characters.
It didn't feel like she was trying too hard to appeal to certain audiences, her words just flowed naturally and nothing felt forced or too much.
And isn't it always a little frustrating when you come across an author who tries too hard to sound 'young and hip' and all want to do is give 'em a stern glare, pat their back and tell them that no-one talks like that.
Seriously, there's no need for that.
We all remember those highly comical moments when one of your parents tries to approach you as 'their friend' by using what they believe to be 'trendy lingo' (then again, I may not be the most qualified critic, even with only being in my early twenties, I couldn't be any further from knowing anything about what's hip and trendy at the moment..Keep living on the wild side,eh?)
But these things happen, it's almost like a rite of passage. It's one of those moments in life where you're not sure wether to start running for the hills or to burst out in hysterics. Or maybe both. Not necessarily in that particular order.
But either way, there was none of that and that was quite refreshing.
It's a story about two childhood friends growing up together, separated by nothing but a thin fence, two friends that shared everything, laughter, tears, and in the end, a heart.
Until disaster strikes and Ella discovers her mum dead in the families bath tub and her dad falls into alcoholism. Devastated by the sudden loss and confused by the feelings for her best friend, she runs, runs because she needs to forget, has to forget. Her decision is made and she enrols at a College miles and miles away from home.
But Micha won't give up until he finds her again, won't rest until his Ella May is right back in his arms, where she belongs.
School ends for the summer and Ella dreads her return to her broken home, frightened what might be or rather who may be waiting for her. Will he still be there?
But the walls she's carefully built up around her heart for the past 8 months, dare to come crumbling back down the second she's reunited with her childhood friend. He's still the same, the boy with the wicked smile and the silver lip ring. He's still..Micha, but she's not the girl she used to be, she can't be. Won't be, ever again. The old Ella May Daniels died month ago, along with mother.
"Micha, this is who I have to be otherwise I can't breathe. Please just leave it alone. That dame fire might exist, but I want it gone." I spin my back to him, praying he'll listen to me for once, because if he keeps it up, sooner or later I won't be able to resist. But Micha has never backed down on a challenge in his life."
Several times throughout the book, I felt the urge to just step into the story and give both of 'em a hug, tell them it's gonna be fine and offer them a cup of tea.
In the end, it's a story about first love, grief and second chances, about a girl who lost herself, about learning to forgive and most importantly about moving on. About coming right back out of that dark hole and facing the the world head on, no matter how much the darkness in your chest is telling you to hide yourself away.
I laughed, I cried, I swooned and I couldn't put it down.
