Stand AloneHer world was color. Canvas and paint. Indie O’Connell lived inside her head. Her voices the muse. And as a freshman at St. Peter’s College, all she wanted, was to create a name for herself with the brush in her hand.His world was over. Despite his humble upbringing, Kai Carter seemed to have it all. Captain of the swim team and a full scholarship. His golden boy status a mask he had … golden boy status a mask he had to wear to keep his dream and his family afloat. All the pieces of his life dangled precariously from his fingertips.
Forced to fight a battle he’d never signed up for, Kai’s loyalty turned out to be his undoing, and like a good captain, no matter what the cost, he’d gone down with the ship.
They never planned for their worlds to collide.
He was her brother’s best friend.
She was supposed to be invisible.
Off limits.
Being together, regardless of how much they wanted it, was a line they’d never cross. But when lives get messy, lines get blurred, and in love, nothing is ever black and white.
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AM Johnson’s writing is beautiful. The words flow like poetry and stay with you long after the book is finished. Seven Shades of You is my favorite book by AM Johnson. Kai and Indie’s story is an emotional masterpiece. A must read!
“A painting in prose.” I’ve used this phrase to describe AM Johnson’s writing before, but I still think it’s the perfect choice when it comes to reviewing her masterpieces. Each and every word is perfectly placed to create the most stunning work of art. Even the simplest sentences can rip your heart out and leave you a sobbing, blubbering mess. You will instantly fall in love with every aspect of the story, immersing yourself into the richness of her writing like it’s a warm bubble bath.
If you’d like to have your heart burst with emotion, then this is the book for you.
If you’d like to experience truly amazing prose, then this is the book for you.
If you’d like to discover a brilliant author to include into your favorites, then AM Johnson is undoubtedly the one.
Indie O’Connell embraces her genetic blemishes and turns them into flawless works of art. She’s loved and admired in her family. A place colored with freedom and safety. Indie’s twin, Royal, stands by her side as a best friend, protector, and her light in the dark times. When Royal finds his happiness in Camden, a fellow college student, Indie gains a new confident but loses a bit of Royal.
Kai, Camden’s roommate, fights his own demons. He shields himself from his own pain through swimming, majoring in something he believes will make others proud, and finding friendship in the least likely of places; his teammate, Royal. The complication comes when he makes a move to make himself happy, and he finds himself seeking shelter in Royal’s sister. A girl who asks him for nothing but makes him want to be a better man. A man she can trust and rely on as his own world falls apart.
I knew diving into Johnson’s work the themes and topics would follow the tropes of difficult choices, situations, and taboos most authors shy away from penning. Johnson once said this work might upset her following as it contains the least amount of sex of any of her works. I disagree, Indie and Kai develop as two lost souls and search to find the key to those flaws they see within themselves. They each desire love, commitment, and trust. Deep down within each of them is an innocence they work hard to cover up to the outside world; An innocence which needs fostering and molding by the best artists. Artists who know it takes time developing perfection and dance with purpose through the process.
I made the mistake of finishing reading Seven Shades of You while in my classroom. Johnson’s words moved me in ways only her works are capable. She showed me the layers of violets, reds, blacks, browns, blues, yellows, and more which breathed life and passion into every word of this prose. She touches on mental illness, deadly diseases, suicide, and self loathing while building the backbone of the series which relies on truth, trust, and an open heart for viewing others and oneself in a light of joy and depth which destroys the naysayers and builds only the bridges of love, light, rainbows, and happiness. In the end, Johnson checks off one more incredible work which opens the doors for taboo subjects and healthy discussions and solutions for all walks of life to enjoy
I honestly believe that books choose you at the right moment when you need them the most, and this book is definitely one of them.
I have been reading A.M. Johnson since her debut novel, and with every book she releases, she not only gets better, she also steals a piece of my heart with each and every one of her books. So by now, I think she wholeheartedly owns me.
From page one, this enchanting, soul-stirring tale resonated with me. A.M. Johnson knows how to write characters you’re desperate to spend time with, and Indie and Kai are no exception. With every turn of the pages, they burrowed deep under my skin—leaving me breathless with every word, every touch, every moment they spend together.
Sometimes it’s hard to read a book that relates to you in more ways than one, but I got through it and it was BEAUTIFUL.
With Seven Shades of You, A.M. Johnson delivers another romantic gem. A work of poetry and colors—with characters, you can’t help but root for, and a unique, heart-warming tale that goes far beyond the classic boy meets girl and gives us a peek into the world of Mental Health Disorders.
Easily, my favorite book from her and a top read of this year. Thank you so much, Amanda. I can not wait to see how you’re going to steal my heart next time. I RED you .
First off lets say that I love AM Johnson’s writing and the way she describes/defines here characters. Seven Shades of you is no exception and I loved this sweet story about Indigo and Kai. This was just a coming of age, sweet romance novel while they are finding themselves in a way as well.
I was happy to see an email that contained an early copy of this book and I am happy to leave this review in my thanks!
I adored Let There Be Light in so many ways that I didn’t expect too, but it was Indie’s story that I yearned for. Both of these twins found the Light in their stories and they were beautiful.
As the daughter of Declan (my fave book boyfriend that Amanda has written!) who shares her father’s mental struggles I couldn’t wait to see how her story would go. Her father’s story showed a story of a boy who struggled with the darkness in mental illness, one that no one knew how to help him cope with and it controlled him and spiraled his life into the darkness for so long. Yet because of his story, even though Indie deals with the same illness, she has a support system who gets her better than anyone else. Her father, mother and twin brother support her, understand her and expose her to supportive therapies from a young age. What a difference taking care of her mental health had on her story!!! Sure, she struggled with the darkness that threatened to consume her, but she had tools to help her deal with it and because of that there was a light to Indie’s internal voice that her father didn’t have.
I adored the brothers best friend love story. The one man that should have left her alone, but in the end was the perfect fit for her.
Kai showed me that many of us struggle with mental illness at one point or another, and it isn’t about who’s is worse, but about how you deal with it that is important. Kai’s self hatred and anger burn bright, he does nothing without full intensity, and oddly enough it is that same fire that helps brighten the darkness that threatens Indie. Together there was a sweetness that I didn’t expect from Kai, but how could he not be! Indie is the sweetest soul!
And I am eternally grateful for the glimpses of her family that we are treated with in this book, each moment that Declan appeared I simply swooned and fell for him again.
I have been reading Ms. Johnson since her debut novel and with every book she releases I fall more in love with her work.
I knew while reading Let There Be Light that Indie and Kai’s story was going to ruin me in the best of ways. From the beginning this story captures you and I don’t think it’s let me go yet.
I love when stories stay with you and you find yourself at random moments just thinking of the characters. The Twin Hearts novels have been those stories to me.
Ms. Johnson has a way of just grasping on to you with words and takes you on the journey with her characters. I will forever read whatever Ms. Johnson writes. 5 stars are no where near enough for my love for this book. MOST DEFINITELY A MUST READ!!! ALL THE FEELS!!
This slow burn love story will have you in your feels. Indie and Kai are two broken souls whom find comfort and love in each other’s company. The pull that these two have to each other is genuine and pure. They find solace and a feeling of home within each other’s hearts. They are truly each other’s other half.
This is such a beautiful emotional story that will hit every single feeling you have, you get sucked in every page and feel everything as Indie and kai struggle through all their worries of just dealing with every day life the most beautiful characters I have ever read with such big hearts. I was so glad Indie has such a big support system and not just from family but her family at school I loved them all and how the colors are explained to describe a feeling in this story is so poetic and perfect the most beautiful explanations I have ever read. The writing is beyond amazing and so descriptive and just flows freely I could not put this down.
Beautiful, fluid writing and a love story that was as sweet as it was intense, Seven Shades of You was easy to get lost in. Although, I think that’s the saddest prologue I’ve ever read from A.M. Johnson. But you know what? It pulled me in, wanting only to go deeper so that I knew by the time I was finished my heart would be ok. And the colors! The title is perfect.
Kai Carter with the heaviness on his shoulders is trying to find himself beyond the facade he’s created and wants to be seen for who he is. He may have his faults but he is a good guy, a loving son and deserves more.
Indie O’Connell was more than the battle in her head. She was amazing. She just needed to believe. She loved her brother fiercely,but needed out of his shadow.
Of course this is a romance and a love story, but it’s important to point out it’s also a story about the love and acceptance of family – the one you’re born into and the one you create. Ms. Johnson’s writing is always done with sensitivity and care for even the subjects that aren’t easily dealt with.
Young love, struggles, an unwavering support system, finding happiness on your own terms, believing you’re enough are all pulled together to create a love story that is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Their story is, quite simply, beautiful.
My heart! I am so in love with this series and never want them to end! Seven Shades of you was beyond amazing!!
Such a beautifully written love story. I love AM Johnson’s writing, it has you experiencing every emotion with the characters as if you were one of them.
Indie and Kai are both opposites in many ways, but both dealing with their own demons. I love how Indie doesn’t hide from Kai and shows him how painting can be an expressive way of showing your emotions.
I was hooked from beginning to end! I can’t say enough how much I loved it!!
Love Love Love this book! It’s one of those you can’t wait to finish and at the same time don’t want it to end at all!
It would be so easy to slap a label of “falling for your best friend’s sibling” or “falling for your sibling’s best friend” on this book and call it a day. However, just like the labels that have been placed on Kai and Indie, as well as Royal O’Connell and Camden Morgan (Let There Be Light) before them, there’s more to Seven Shades of You than that. Kai barely acknowledged Indie’s presence in book one, so here, the two nurture a friendship even as they remain mum over their respective crushes on each other prior to even actually having a conversation. Nothing is rushed but it isn’t necessarily a slow burn either. It felt…real, and rooted in a universal truth, if that even makes any sense.
I mentioned in my review for Let There Be Light that A.M. Johnson had a lyricism to her writing, but allow me to amend that. Johnson is poetic in her prose, with a cadence that doesn’t make her story or characters sound trite. She doesn’t shy away from complexities in either the tale she tells or the men and women her readers can’t help but become emotionally invested in and connected to. I love that she doesn’t seem to underestimate her reader, that she believes and trusts that we won’t merely wrap our heads around it all but embrace it and possibly even become empowered by it. Seven Shades of You is a novel to be experienced and is one of the best out there, whether it be prior to 2019 or even beyond. Five-plus stars could never be enough for a love story this impeccable.
Wow.
After Let There Be Light, I knew that Kai and Indie’s story would be special, but this was extraordinary. The words that are on these pages are a brilliant work of art.
Everything about this story was stunning…..and Kai and Indie were absolutely mesmerizing. I’m a fast reader and I found myself reading slowly to fully absorb every word and to stay immersed in their world a little longer. Their love story was beautiful and heartbreaking, but my heart was so happy by the time the end came.
Easily, this is the authors best work to date.
Seven Shades of You was a wonderfully written heartfelt young adult romance.
I loved the way Amanda Johnson portrayed mental illness Indie and her father both suffered from. The approach was so respectful and honest, simply perfect.
Both Indie and Kai were lovely characters.
I adored Indie when I first met her in Let There Be Light and couldn’t wait to read her story. I loved her quiet but strong personality the way she fought her illness. Though tempted, still, never giving in to the voices in her head. Her art was her therapy and anchor. Through art she found a way to be more than her illness. I loved their family’s dynamics.
I also liked Kai. He was so troubled, victim of difficult circumstances. He fought so hard still he lost his way for a while on the way to find his true self under the mask he wore for so long. I loved the way he saw Indie, how captivated he was with her.
Their love blossomed gradually day by day until what they felt was no longer concealable. I loved the honesty of their emotions and the support they gave each other.
Seven Shades of You was a great read I can only recommend.
Kai – the golden boy, swim god, man-whore, grieving son, fledgling artist. So many things I could say about this young man, and all seven shades of him. Absolutely beautiful, righteously angry, will he sink or swim?
Indigo – sister of Royal, Pink, avenging angel, mentally ill, angry voices, painter extraordinaire. This girl speaks to me, I know what those voices can do. When will she know she is enough?
Together Indie and Kai almost broke me, but their ending, both of them reaching for the Sky is more gorgeous than anything I’ve read this year. A.M. Johnson writes poetry in novel form, my favourite book this year, I’d give it 10 stars if I could.
Well written, deep, emotional, real, raw perfection. I love this author and the worlds she creates. One of my top reads of 2019.
10 FAVORITE BOOK STARS!! MY FAVORITE BOOK OF THE YEAR!! This story is EVERYTHING!! I absolutely loved Kai and Indie…they are PERFECTION!! This story hit all my emotion buttons and engraved itself on my heart. A.M. Johnson deserves an award for this beautiful book. YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!!
“I was just another girl who’d been discarded in the halls of her high school, the halls of her mind. A girl with thoughts no one would ever understand.”
Every time I read an A. M. Johnson book, it’s so hard to put my thoughts into words because her books are just so profound and poetic. There aren’t many authors that have the talent that this author has and her ability to make you sink into the words on the page. I always get lost in her words and I’m okay with that. Sometimes I just want to stay lost in her words. And Seven Shades of You was no different.
“She was the promise of something better. Something more. Even if I had to force myself to keep it platonic. She was worth the acute pain.”
This book will leave you with stars in your eyes and goosebumps on your skin. It’s the kind of book that you will never forget reading. Indie and Kai are a special kind of characters, and they are written in a way that only Johnson can.
“He was chasing dusk and dawn. The rays of the sun as they moved beyond the horizon every day.”
Seven Shades of You follows the story of Indie and Kai. These two are both lost souls. Kai has left everything and feels like he is drowning in his life. Once he’s demoted from his position on the swim team, he feels like he’s lost and alone in this big world we call life. Kai has always been the light, breezy, fun one. But circumstances have changed and he finds himself in therapy. But the last person he expects to find in the waiting room covered in paint is Indie. His best friends sister.
“I wanted them all. Every first she had. I wanted them to be mine.”
Indie is off limits to Kai. Bro code and all that. But Kai finds himself drawn to her. Wanting to peel back all her layers and see what’s inside. But Indie doesn’t trust very easily. She has a disease that not many people understand.
“He was too perfect standing in front of my destruction.”
Indie’s life is full of color. Paint in her hair and all over her clothes is the norm for her. And when Kai Carter starts to want to get to know her and take an interest in her paintings, she can’t her but to feel confused. But also elated. She knows he’s her brother’s best friend and Royal would never approve. But she’s tired of living in the shadows swallowed by the demons in her head. Indie is ready to live and be bold.
“She was everything I could never have, everything I didn’t deserve.”
This story is everything and more you could ever want in a book. I related to Indie more than I have to any other character. I felt her pain and her confections. It’s all things I’ve thought and gone through, and Amanda writes them in such a way…that you will feel their pain, their love, their hate, their passion, and their hope.
Trust me, you’re going to want to read this book!
What a great story! I love that the story of Declan and Paige continues in their children. Declan was my favorite O’Connell brother so to see his kids doing their own thing, dealing with their own demons and together facing them is so dear to my heart. I love the relationship that Indigo has with Declan seeing as how she apparently inherited his talent and also his torment. He helps her deal with all of the voices in her head through art. I also love that she “sees” people and things in color like her dad. It’s so magical to read.
Indigo is such a sweet soul. She is a bit shy and a very talented artist. She admires and is crushing on Kai Carter, the captain of the swim team who stepped up for her brother in a big way. But Kai has always ignored her for some reason she can’t fathom. A chance meeting changes that and starts them on the way to a beautiful friendship and then some.
Kai lost his spot as the captain on the swim team when he stood up for Royal and Camden but he doesn’t regret it. Royal is his best friend, which is why he has always “ignored” Indie while secretly admiring her from afar. That damn bro code prevented him from getting close to her even though he wanted to. His family life is in shambles with a sick mom, a cheating father who has returned home and an anger inside him that he can’t control sometimes. Indie calms this rage in him though.
I love Kai and Indie together. I love that even though she’s a bit shy she has a boldness inside of her that makes her say exactly what’s on her mind and what she wants and what she wants is Kai. He feels unworthy of her but can’t seem to let her go once they start spending time together. It’s like their each other’s lifeline in a crazy chaotic colorful world.
I have loved this author’s writing since I read her first book. It’s like poetry the way feelings are expressed and emotions are experienced. I especially love the description of feelings when Indie is painting and just like her dad, everything she is feeling pours out onto the canvas. I would definitely recommend this book. It’s a sweet and magical ride.