Dylan Walker has spent six years trying to move on from the loss of his girlfriend, Presley Cooper. Motivated by grief and the desire to do for others what he couldn’t do for her, he burns the candle at both ends to make it through medical school. After graduation he moves west, putting as much distance as possible between his past and his present.Or so he thought.Unknowingly, Dylan has been set … Dylan has been set on a path that will destroy everything he thought he knew. All the pain, all the grief, was all for nothing. With the help of an unexpected ally, Dylan must find the answers and save the girl he loves before it’s too late.
Deceit.
Betrayal.
Revenge.
A second chance at love.
But first, he must find a way to make her remember her past. Remember him. Remember everything.
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I’m not going to lie, I struggled with this review. I struggled because, it’s hard to put into words how much this book has effected me, but I’m sure going to try. Let’s start with mechanics and get that all out of the way. I have been a fan of Evans’ writing style ever since I read her first book Hollywood & Vine. She writes primarily in third person dual POV, which happens to be my favorite and up until I read her first book, I had yet to find an author who could execute it the way she does. It’s like being in a movie and watching everything unfold before you.
Her character development is strong, whether it’s a main character or a secondary character who shows up a couple of times here and there throughout the story. Many times It’s clear that every character has been well thought out and has a purpose. On top of that, I have always been impressed with Evans’ dialogue. It feels real, and its believable. Probably some of the best I’ve read.
Okay, now that all of that is out of the way, let’s really get into it. For starters, flutter is original and unique. It’s so refreshing to read a book that you don’t feel like it’s been done a million times before. The story is so different, so special, so important, it demands your attention and not only does it demand to be heard, it deserves to be heard to be heard and it deserves to be heard. Evans has this ability to pull you into a story and not let you go. Not only do you read her words and devour her words, but you feel every damn one of them, whether you want to or not. And this book has you feeling it all. The emotion is raw and it’s real.
There are some pretty heavy topics in this book. Some topics that some authors may shy away from because they’re difficult and they’re scary but Evans not only takes on that challenge and succeeds in doing so, he crushes it. Some readers may not be ready to delve into such topics and maybe they don’t want to, but they’re very real and in a time where our society struggles daily, especially teenagers today, with mental health, it’s important to address topics like this. Evans has carefully executed a piece of work here that in no way glorifies actions or decisions that these characters make but instead concentrates on an understanding of sorts, along with consequences dealing with the aftermath of such things and she does this by putting you in the character’s shoes. To feel the sense of loss, despair, heartbreak and utter hopelessness makes it all that more powerful of a read. I think one of the most important messages this book conveys is that of hope. That no matter how dark and difficult times are and no matter how broken you feel, It’s not the end. an important message that so many people need to hear and for so many different reasons.
This book will break you, that’s what Evans’ does best. But she’ll always clean you up, throw a band aid on it, kiss it and make it better. So many people are going to relate to this book. So many people have been where Presley is, where Dylan is. This book is going to stay with you long after those last few words are read. Pure perfection. Thank you Olivia Evans for delivering such an important, brilliant work of art with flutter. And I just love that cover.
This book did all kinds of things to my heart…flutter is just one of them. This was my first read by this author, but I have downloaded everything because…it was just that good. I am not going to ruin the story for you and even the littlest mentions might throw it off…you must feel all the feels on your own. Who do you trust? Can you even trust your own memories? There is more to the story than meets the eye and every second spent reading is worth your time.
* A review copy was provided by the author *
What an AMAZING book!!!
This book is both heart aching and heartwarming. I will say this, this book does cover the tough subject of mental health and how we cope with it and those who suffer from it.
I thought this book was very well written and very well researched. You can tell the author put a lot of effort in telling this story correctly.
Flutter is a standalone novel and is told in Dual POV in the third person. Normally I am not a huge fan of the third person because I feel like it is more the author telling me the story than me as the reader feeling the story, but I have to say, I didn’t get that feeling with this book. I felt everything the characters felt throughout the whole story.
I don’t want to give too much of the storyline away because this is a story that needs to unfold for the reader as they read it. I will tell you this, it is a friends to lovers story but also a second chance love story. I would say it leans more towards a Mature YA but could also be labeled as a New Adult. While reading this book we see the characters as both high school aged and then also in their early 20’s. But because of the nature of the story I don’t feel it is appropriate for anyone under the age of 16 or 17 years of age to read this book.
I thought the storyline was very unique and intriguing. I was hooked with this story right from the beginning. As the story unfolded, I just became more invested in Presley and Dylan’s story. Their’s is a love that can stand over time and never died. This story truly made me believe in soul mates and a love that can stand the test of time!!
I truly don’t think I can do this book justice with my review, so I am just going to say… READ THIS BOOK!!! It is so worth it.
I could feel the suspense all the way through the book! I kept biting my nails waiting for the end of this book!
Dr. Dylan Walker lost his girlfriend, the love of his life, six years ago to suicide. They had been high school sweethearts. He’s now graduating in Psychiatry to help others the way he felt he didn’t help his girl. He lived in New York but moved to California to get away from all his sad memories. Encouraged by his grandmother, who is his best friend and best support, he reported to his residency at Grace Hospital in Sacramento, California.
Once at work, he subjected himself to a grueling schedule of work, in order to keep memories and emotions at bay. When he heard about Hilltop Institute, a private psychiatric hospital, he’s intrigued. From his friend’s recommendation, he requests to work there part time. And once he arrives, his world is torn apart. The girl he loves, the one he thought he had lost, is a patient there, and what is worse, she’s so drugged up, she doesn’t even recognize him.
From here on out, we get a scary story about what money can achieve in a negative sort of way. This girl had turned into a liability to her power hungry parents so they hid her away from the world, even away from her own mind. Dylan is a starting resident doctor, who has the training but not the means to do something about it. And yet, he must save his love from her mental and physical prison. Alone, with only the help of a thirteen year-old little boy who suffers dissociative personalities.
What I felt the most was anxiety. There’s the suspense of whether Dylan will be able to get through the fog in Presley’s mind. Also, the suspense of being able to act without getting caught. Also the fear of her parents finding out and whisking her away before he can help her.
The story is riveting and anxious and impatience personified. I wanted Dylan to fix Presley now and get her out of there now. But Dylan doesn’t have the kind of power that he can cut through tape so easily so he has to deal with what he can and slowly and carefully. Many nails were bitten through as this story unfolded. I loved how the author creates the suspense slowly and insidiously. The story is presented in past and present tense, developing the story of Dylan and Presley as high school sweethearts up to where all hell broke lose, and the present story as Dylan deals with the situation at Hilltop. The back and forth presentation was smooth and brought clarity very slowly as the story unfolds. So there are two types of suspense, from the early development of their separation, and the present and dangerous situation for both. There was also a huge heartbreak from what a good girl was subjected to, just because she loved the wrong guy, according to her parents. It was really very intriguing and suspenseful.
This is a new to me author and I will definitely read more books written by her. I only hope my nails can survive the trauma!
Talk about an absolutely crazy journey!! There was so much intrigue and unanswered questions that I couldn’t put the book down. I don’t honestly know what to write at this point without giving away too much, but I was so drawn into this world that Olivia created. Presley & Dylan will keep you entertained until the very last page!!
Dylan Evans is trying to get over the death of his girlfriend, Presley Cooper, 6 years ago and has decided to become a doctor. He decides to move across the country to do his internship at Grace Hospital to try and put some distance between himself and his past.
His grandmother connects him to Dr. Edmonds who has him working at Hilltop Institute where he is confronted with the past and he realizes how much of his life has been built on lies.
Can Dylan find a way of getting through and discovering the truth about the past before he gets caught?
This was such a good book and once I started reading it I couldn’t put it down!!
I loved Dylan and I liked reading about the past he shared with Presley. Her parents were awful but I loved how Dylan was so supportive of Presley and really loved her. You knew how much he loved her when 6 years later he still hadn’t gotten over her death but he recognized that he needed a fresh new start.
I could tell Dylan’s grandma was aware of so much more but I understood why she waited to let Dylan in on certain things and why she did what she did. She loved Dylan so much but also knew he had to be prepared for everything.
The secrets around Hilltop were huge and I really hated Dr. Sanders as you could tell he did not have his patients best interests in mind and was just drugging them into oblivion.
My heart broke for what my favorite girl was going through and I really blamed her parents. I liked when she began figuring things out for herself yet one wrong dose and she was back to square one. I was happy that she took everything slowly as she had been living in a fog for so lng and had no concept about what was real.
I absolutely loved Cody and Zach. I knew that the actual truth was different than what was said and I was so happy for everything that they did to help Dylan!!
I was worried towards the end as I had a feeling Dr. Sanders would start catching on and I was right but I loved how everything went down and how the truth finally came out!!
Such a great book!
I read a lot. A whole lot. I have come across many storylines in all my years of reading, but Flutter. I have never read this storyline before and I must ask, why did I not read this book when it was originally released?
I am not sure how to relay in words what this story is without divulging too much, so I will try and give you the feels.
Imagine a storyline so realistic, yet so far from reality, it almost seems impossible. Imagine it written emotions that hit you like a mack truck! Imagine characters that are unbelievable, yet real. Imagine trusting someone but that trust being trampled. Imagine loving someone so deep you do the unthinkable. Imagine sacrificing and soul searching. Imagine being found, but lost still.
This story is deep. This story is hard. This story is AMAZING!
What a unique take on a romance novel!! And second chance romance to rival them all. True love that knows no bounds and will do anything to get that back.
Olivia has created a story that I felt so deep it actually affected my emotions. Such a great book and what an amazing read!!!
~4.5 stars
I love Olivia’s writing and even if Flutter does not seem like your thing then I highly recommend you check out her other work.
I’ve been anticipating this book for a while, ever since she told me about it I was excited. Dylan and Presley’s story is a heartbreaking one. There was one thing that kept me from giving this a full 5 stars. It’s not huge but to me it was something and that is I would have liked to have had a bit more suspense and maybe a little more angst to this. Yes it is in here but I some things were wrapped a bit to fast for my liking or seemed like at the end were not that big of a deal as it was made out to be. This does not mean the book wasn’t amazing or that I didn’t love reading it. It is and I did. Your heart will break for them and you will not regret reading this. I can’t wait for more books from Olivia.
what a twisted story! But in a good way.
This story goes from the past to the future. You need to understand the past to forge the future.
Dylan and Presley are high school sweethearts. Presley’s dad is up and coming government official. Dylan’s family is old school money. Presley’s father isn’t happy about the relationship. Life happens and Presley is yanked away.
Dylan goes off to school. He dedicates his life to helping people. Then he runs into a ghost from his past and the world tilts. Everything he thought was a lie. Presley is back. But yet so far away. Can he untangle the web holding Presley back??
can there be a happy ending for Dylan and Presley?? Or is it too late?
I couldn’t put this book down. I was hooked from the beginning. however I did get bored with the past, yet I Know it was crucial to the story and how Dylan and Presley live and survive.