It was a hot summer day when I met him on the construction site next to my parents’ house. Under the sweat and dirt, Manning Sutter was as handsome as the sun was bright. He was older, darker, experienced. I wore a smiley-face t-shirt and had never even been kissed. Yet we saw something in each other that would link us in ways that couldn’t be broken…no matter how hard we tried.I loved Manning … loved Manning before I knew the meaning of the word. I was too young, he said. I would wait. Through all the carefully-chosen words hiding what we knew to be true, through his struggle to keep me innocent, and through infinitely-starry nights—I would wait. But I’d learn that life isn’t always fair. That no matter how much you achieve, none of it matters if you suffer the heartbreak that comes with falling for someone you can never have. Because even though I saw Manning first, that didn’t matter. My older sister saw him next.
Book one in an epic, three-book saga of forbidden love.
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This book left me with a book handover. I immediately bought the rest of the series. The characters have stayed with me long after I stopped reading the book. The story of Manning and Lake pulls you in and does not let go.
This was one of those books that when it ended, my heart hurt. I didn’t want it to end and I was quickly looking for the next release date to see when I could get more. This book also had me cursing Jessica Hawkins for being a heartbreaker.
There were so many things going through my head and heart as I read this book. It was intense and emotional and insanely well written. I just loved it. The connection between Manning and Lake. The “what’s going to happen next?” moments. That ending.
Manning was a leading man that I fell in love with. He was such a good guy, from the very beginning to the very end of this part of the story. He deserves happiness and I want him to ultimately find it with Lake, but I honestly think I love him even more than her, so I just want him to be happy no matter who it’s with.
Lake was an interesting character for me. She was very young, and I can remember that age. I can remember the new feelings and emotions, especially when it came to boys. So I felt for her and could relate on that level. I just also had those moments where, as an adult, I didn’t want any big lines to be crossed and possibly tarnish Manning in my eyes, no matter how much she wanted it to.
Some of the secondary characters like Tiffany and their dad Charles pissed me off a little. But they also showed these moments of depth that made me second guess if they were really all bad.
Overall this story was one that I loved even while I remembered why I hate cliffhangers, and it will linger and stick with me until May when I can get my hands on the next book.
I loves this book. It took me on such an emotional rollercoaster but it was so worth the read. Loved the characters and the story, well written and just an overall great book. Waiting for the 4th and last book to release.
Did not like this book!! Left you hanging
I need this series to keep going! I’ve read them all and 3 isn’t nearly enough. Jessica writes in such a way that you see and feel everything. These books are AMAZING!
Omg love this book. Jessica’s words are amazing and I didn’t want the story to end. So can’t wait for book 2 too see what happens with Lake, Manning, and Tiffany. I voluntary reviewed a advanced copy of this book.
Jessica Hawkins writes the angst, the forbidden and the swoon worthy like no one else. I will admit, the heroine is 16, and I had reservations…but this is Jessica Hawkins, and there was no way she was going to write a book that was bad (she is just not capable of writing a bad book) so I dove in. And….
WOW.
I am going to need a minute to recover. I was up too late reading, I was crying, I was tortured, I FELT for the main characters, I hated the secondary characters (including one I think I was supposed to feel a little sorry for, oops) and I yelled at my Kindle when the book ended because I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. Yes, this deserves shouty caps. (Read it, and come back and tell me you agree, you will.)
Lake and Manning. She is 16 (trust me, you get over that quickly) and for obvious reasons, a relationship with an older man is a bad idea. But there is a friendship, and an attraction there that sets up one of the best slow burn relationships in the history of the slow burn. Seriously, this book is like a “how-to” of making the slow burn relationship work.
As always, the writing is perfect, the pacing moves quickly enough that you feel the tension of the main characters, but it is not overwhelming…until the cliffhanger ending when you will cry, scream and beg for more.
And, we get more. In MAY…because Jessica Hawkins knows how to leave you wanting more, May seems like a really long time from now.
I recommend this book, I would give it more than 5 stars if that were possible.
I’m not quite sure where to start with this book, especially because I want to keep it spoiler free. I read the blurb and it kind of reminded me of another book but I thought I’d give it a chance and see what I thought. So I read a chapter. And another chapter and I was hooked. I thought Something In The Way was bloody brilliant!! If I had to sum this book up in five words, they would be…READ IT, READ IT NOW!
I adored Lake. She’s very young in some ways, yet older than her years in others. I loved the connection between her and Manning. The delicate dance they have with each other, the inexplicable pull they both feel, it’s all portrayed perfectly in this book. Manning is a fantastic character. I loved him so much but at the same time he frustrated me because he was always trying to do what he thinks is the right thing. He’s a good man, he’s had a bad past but he’s trying to move on. Confused by his feelings when it comes to Lake and their friendship, he really does try his best to do the right thing.
This book completely tore me up. Jessica Hawkins has this unbelievable talent when it comes to writing a story and pulling you in. She is one of the few authors that are guaranteed to make me feel and this book is no different. I got to one point and I was so frustrated, annoyed and exasperated, I actually felt sick (I’m a little bit invested in this story just in case you missed that). I know how I want this story to go, I think I know which way it’s going to go (and it’s not what I want) but I’ve got a feeling Jessica Hawkins is going to keep surprising me, give me even more angst and I know for a fact I’m going to love every single second of it. Bring on book two.
Now I need the 2,3, & 4th
This series was easy to read, but I thought it was unnecessarily too long. The characters were interesting, and I thought it was a decent storyline that should have wrapped up in book two. It “jumped the shark” after book two. It became ridiculous and unbelievable, and I just wanted the damn book to end!
I HAD just HAD to know how their story would end, and I was so not disappointed. (Spoiler here: I knew I hated Tiffany from the beginning ugh WHAT A BITCH) I loved this story.
Awesome
Imagine being in your teens and meet a guy who is older. You both are attracted to each other, but he sees you as “off limits”. Most of the story is told from a mature, scholarly 16yr old point if view, but you do get to read some from the guy’s perspective. Well written and engaging. Apparently. This is part of a series because there is a cliffhanger.
You should totally get this book! It’s Awsome! Definitely the start of a great series.
Really enjoy
Manning and Lake are some of the most magnetic characters I’ve read in ages. I have remained in a book coma days after having finished this book because I was so consumed by this story. The tension had my head spinning, and I am now a forever reader of Jessica Hawkins. Superbly written!
A good start to the series, with well-developed characters and a heart-wrenching cliffhanger that will make you want to read the next one right away!
*Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, provided by the author and/or the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Such a beautiful love story I defiantly recommend reading.
I could not put this book down. I have not read the 2nd book, because the 3rd doesn’t come out until October. Once the 3rd comes out, I will read the 2nd. I loved this book!
This story focuses on 16 year old Lake, her sister Tiffany(19, I believe) and 23 year old Manning. I put the ages of the characters because its a huge part of this story as Lake and Manning have a connection that’s hard to fight. However, Tiffany and Manning are in a relationship; not committed but together. There are parts in this story where I was thinking Oh No, and then there were parts were I was thinking Hell Yes! In one way, some parts were so wrong but in the same way they seemed oh so right and that’s what made me love this story. This book ended with a huge cliffhanger and I’m excited to see what happens next because I was screaming don’t do it and in the same breath I was screaming go for it. As wrong as it seems, I know who I want to be together but I want to see how it plays out because I’m thinking just wait a little longer, don’t screw this up but it may be too late. The road leads to different paths and life might get in the way.