From the moment Will and Sarah first set eyes upon each other, they know that what they have is special. There’s just one little problem… each of them already has a significant other. After weeks of flirting with danger, it becomes clear that their passion is too strong to be denied. They decide to give it a go, making their relationship official. But there’s another challenge in store: Will is leaving for college at the end of the summer, heading for a new life on a big campus, and leaving Sarah behind in their small suburban town. The pair vows to be true to one another while they’re separated, but the distance comes with its fair share of challenges. Will is busy and hard to get a hold of, and Sarah feels jealous of his shiny new life. To make matters worse, he’s pledging for a fraternity, a system filled with details Sarah dreads. Sarah can’t help but feel tortured by the way they met. Is Will cheating on her? Can cheaters ever change?
Some time ago I read a novel where a father was advising his son on the secret to hooking up with girls his age. He told his son that he should go after the girls that had low self esteem since they would be easy and comply with anything. When the son asked where he could find these girls, his father laughed and said everywhere because kids his age all have low self esteem. And the protagonist in While You’re Away Part 1 is no exception.
Sarah is your typical music-obsessed and self-doubting teen. She and her boyfriend, Dave, formed a band named “Dasa” and she’s supremely intimidated by Dave and his many fans which is why she is easily enamored when the school’s notorious playboy, Will, actually looks her way. Now, I’m not a fan of cheating but the chemistry between Will and Sarah was just so…so enticing! From reading about their first encounter, I was absolutely hooked and had to know where exactly their new new-found attraction would lead them. Still, I kind of resent Sarah for cheating on Dave because, as much of a smug guy he is, he’s still very sweet and affectionate towards Sarah. But I don’t think he’s oblivious to the budding relationship between his girlfriend and the school’s hotshot and I’m definitely counting on him to find out in While You’re Away Part 2.
Aside from that, Jessa Holbrook writes in such a way that you can’t not notice that Will and Sarah’s relationship isn’t just about lust but unrecognized raw feelings. Sarah feels inadequate and constantly questions herself on why she even decided to date Dave in the first place. Will, on the other hand, seems as if he’s drawn to Sarah because of her need to be consoled. However, I may be wrong and he might just be a total ass who’s taking advantage of Sarah’s loneliness. Still, considering that there’s a part 2, I doubt he’s the latter.
Rating: 7.5/10
Book Info:
Publisher: Razorbill (October 15, 2013)
Length: 48 pages
Series: While You’re Away (Book 1)
Source: ARC (Provided by Publisher)
Genre: Teens & YA, Romance
Completed: October 2013
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