Love My Way

I was drawn to the cover, something about it spoke to me. I have owned the paperback for a while, but hadn’t the chance to read it. Thankfully I’ve found the time to sit and enjoy this story. It was enchanting, although it had a nasty, mean spirited side. We become who we are meant to be, as we grow through the hurdles life puts in our way. I fell in love with two men, just like Emerson did. Ms Sterrit’s narrative of aboriginal culture and story time, made me visualise their art coming to life.

Emerson, had a non maternal mother and a nasty stepbrother. Trent taunted and teased her, while her mother turned a blind eye. She found her best friend when she was ten, she fell in love with art and he was by her side every step of the way. They move to Melbourne, but she doesn’t follow her dreams, passion for art has died and Mereki is distant.

Mereki liked to fish on the river bank, while Emerson created art pieces. He’d tell her stories about the river and his culture, when sitting under the tree. They talked about leaving the small town, to go after their dreams and return to their tree every five years “no matter what.”

Joshua teaches an art class, has had to battle heartache after losing his father. He has never been able to find “the one,” but Emerson comes into his life when he least expects it. There is something about her that makes him feel close to her, like he already knows her. Josh wants more from her, but she feels guilty and pushes him away.

When a book grabs me from the prologue like Love My Way did; when it brings out feelings of helplessness, distresses me to the point of tears but still manages to give me hope, that’s when I know it’s going to be unputdownable. I have to add that after reading a couple of chapters, I knew pulling an all-nighter was liable to happen. I wasn’t wrong. I turned the last page at five o’clock in the morning and believe me, just thinking about the epilogue while writing this review fills my heart with every emotion. However, few reasons I will give you as to why I was so strongly affected since I have no wish to spoil this exceptionally well-written story for you. Now then, how could I not mention the cover! Gorgeous, isn’t it? And the body art; the feathers and the Eye of Horus fits the female protagonist’s story perfectly.

“If you ever feel lost and lonely again, always remember that you’re made of strong stuff.” “And this will always be your road map back to the light.”

Not having read any works by Sterritt was also a huge plus as I love discovering new authors, but what really caught me off balance was the literary technique used. Vividly descriptive scenes and realistic dialogue made me feel at times, like an imposter. Obviously, I wasn’t earwigging on the protagonists’ conversations; just a keen observer learning as much as possible about them. Here, I have to say that there are quite a lot of inner-thoughts on Emerson’s part. Normally, this would concern me as I’m a sucker for banter; nonetheless, without her stream of consciousness, the impact she had on me would have been lessened. The author’s character development is magnificent. I couldn’t help but fall hard Mereki, aka Ki and in part two, Josh literally bowled me over. I’d like to make it clear to those of you who are worried about amorous triangles. Give the book a chance because it’s not at all what you think it is and nothing like you’d ever imagine or expect.

“You can’t settle for anything less than you deserve.”
“I’m not.”
“You are destined for so much more than this.”

Boy meets girl. Such innocence, tenderness and undying friendship melted my heart. I loved the strength in Emerson. She knows how to defend herself but more importantly, she’s a protector. Regardless of not being protected by those who should have, her outlook on life I found to be quite ambitious for such a young lass. Her bestie, Ki, encourages her art, wants a better life for both of them, and becomes her everything. She in turn, adores the earth he walks on.

“Never let your light die because it’s going to brighten more than just my world.”
“But you’re my world. There is nothing and no one else.”

Fast-forward to present, thirty percent in and ooh boy, am I getting negative feels, or what? Trouble is, I can’t quite put my finger on it. Josh walks into Emerson’s life and a tenfold confusion grips me. I can’t begin to tell you how much I liked him though. I mean, his selfless compassion is beyond compare! His art, his ability to read Emerson….everything about him. But by now, I’m so blinkin’ nervous, I don’t know where to put myself.

“Remember what this is?”
“A paintbrush,”
“It’s a lifeline.”

I never saw it coming. The twist is as such that I went back to the epilogue and reread it, formed an opinion and whether I got it right or wrong remains to be seen. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever reread an epilogue as much as this one. The story per se left me exhausted, elated, and I grieved so much, I didn’t think my broken heart would be able to be mended. Bravo Sterritt, you did it!

STERRITT SHINES!!!

If I could, I’d give Love My Way more than 5 stars. I’ve been a fan of this author for a couple of years so I expected a fantastic read. I was pleasantly surprised to get so much more. This is a love triangle with an achingly beautiful twist. My heart fell in love with two extraordinary men and my soul was just as torn as Emerson’s. This is a love story that gives a reader ALL the FEELS. Read it for yourself and become immersed in Emerson’s world as she struggles with joy, pain, love, grief, and a chance at happiness that she just might miss. Join her as she seeks the answer to a five-year-old mystery and is forced to make a decision that will either seal her future or cause her to lose it to the past. I didn’t cry until the very last page. And when I did, it was therapeutic and healing. Thank you for a CAPTIVATING read, Kate Sterritt. I am your forever fangirl!

Love and sadness went hand in hand in this story.

I’m a wreck. I’m devastated. I’m at a loss for words.

You know, so many people started praising this book that I couldn’t ignore it much longer. Although I originally started reading this book months earlier, life got in the way and I only now picked it up again to finish it. Seriously, I could slap myself for taking so long.

Although I had this feeling in my gut that told me this story was going to make me fall in love and break my heart, I was not prepared for how ugly it was going to be and what a mess it turned me into. It wasn’t all perfect because at first it felt a bit too fast and later on slowed down too much. But doesn’t life feel like that too sometimes?! And when a book like this elicits such deep emotions, there’s no other way than to give it a full star rating.

I was really moved by this beautiful story no matter how wrong my assumptions were at some parts in the book. You can imagine my shock when I discovered just how wrong I was. This rarely happens because I’m quite good at figuring out the secrets behind a story. Not so in this book because I didn’t see it coming until it punched me in the gut.

I thought that I disliked the character, but in the end it was me I didn’t like because I judged her when I should have known better. I wanted to apologize to Emerson and tell her that I didn’t know and that I was sorry. My heart shattered and I felt terrible about my feelings and about what happened.

As the blurb already hints at there are two men in this story that are important to Emerson though I will not go further into that because I think it’s best to experience the story with as little knowledge as possible. I’m sure that my feelings would have been a lot different would I have known what I do now.

This book was one of the toughest to finish, but not for the reason one might think. I just didn’t think my eyes would stop leaking because this story absolutely destroyed me. I was a mess and my ugly crying wasn’t quiet and not pretty at all. So, be prepared for it. I wasn’t.

The Story:
Emerson was the main character and we got to see a lot of her childhood life were we witnessed her being bullied and mistreated even from her own family. The silver lining in her life was her best friend Mereki, without whom she wouldn’t have known where she’d be. He and art, which was more than just an outlet to her but her way of expressing her emotions and telling her stories, were the best parts of life.
Until everything changed.

Thoughts:
This absolutely tore me apart. When the story began, I was drawn to those two lovely young characters that had found one another and helped each other to get through a tough time during their childhood. I couldn’t help but fall in love with them when I saw their passion and love grow. I felt close to them and wanted to be in their inner circle and a part of their lives just to protect them from any harm.

My love for them grew as they got older and their love became stronger. You can imagine how heartbroken and sad I was to learn what happened later on. I felt sorrow and pain and wanted to help them so badly. As the story went on I was very emotional and really invested and captured by their journey, but I grew annoyed and frustrated with Emerson at about half way through. I just didn’t understand. I didn’t see. I was blind about what happened and I felt that the story was a bit too drawn out and Emerson just got on my last nerve.

What shocked me was the revelation of what had happened because I felt sorry for my way of thinking, for blaming Emerson and disliking her behavior. It felt like falling into a bottomless pit because I couldn’t handle how wrong I had been and how all those emotions were flooding my senses.

Conclusion: I absolutely adored and loved this book for its heart achingly beautiful story no matter how painful it was because there was always some spark of hope and light in the dark.

5 stars

“For a minute or a lifetime, some people try to clip your wings, while others help you learn to fly.”

This author is new to me, I didn’t know her work and now I’m in love with her writing style. I expected a book I would suffer, but I didn’t think it would suprise me. It is difficult for an author to impress us nowadays, but this one succeeded.

I read many types of romance novels but THIS … This is my favorite. The one that makes me really feel everything, that pulls all kinds of feeling from me.

Maybe someone will figure out everything really soon, but for me the book had the effect that I believe was exactly what the author wanted, which she planned. I followed it straight. I judged. I cheered. I doubted it. I was kinda set on the fence. But Kate Sterritt was brilliant. She was able to make me smile and cry so so sooo much.

LOVE MY WAY is the kind of book that will destroy your heart and then mend it. It will put you in the dark and then show you that the colors were there. You were the one that didn’t noticed.

This is a heartbroken story, however is also beautiful. In the end I felt like this girl on the cover. Looking nowhere. Contemplating and sighing. But pleased to have received such an exciting story.

For sure is on my Top 10 of 2017. I recommend it from the bottom of my heart.

“I’m really glad you found me.” The corner of his mouth curled into a smile.
“I didn’t know you were lost.”
“Neither did I.”

Oh my goodness Kate Sterritt. You should have put a warning label of “keep tissue near by cause you’re going to ugly cry reading Love My Way”. I was no where near right with what I thought 80% of the book. I absolutely loved it. I can’t wait to read your other books. Now I go make cold compresses for my swollen eyes.