ARC Review: By Your Side by Kasie West

By Your Side by Kasie West (Jan. 31, 2017)
Length: 352 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: I received an eARC from the publisher. This did not affect my honest review. Thanks so much!
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: When Autumn Collins finds herself accidentally locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn’t think things could get any worse. But that’s before she realizes that Dax Miller is locked in with her. Autumn doesn’t know much about Dax except that he’s trouble. Between the rumors about the fight he was in (and that brief stint in juvie that followed it) and his reputation as a loner, he’s not exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to rescue her.

Only he doesn’t come. No one does.

Instead it becomes clear that Autumn is going to have to spend the next couple of days living off vending-machine food and making conversation with a boy who clearly wants nothing to do with her. Except there is more to Dax than meets the eye. As he and Autumn first grudgingly, and then not so grudgingly, open up to each other, Autumn is struck by their surprising connection. But can their feelings for each other survive once the weekend is over and Autumn’s old life, and old love interest, threaten to pull her from Dax’s side?

+ Add to goodreads

My Review

Review in Three Words: Happy. Feelings. Sweet.

By Your Side made me smile and chuckle and swoon. This book proves that Kasie West is the master at writing young adult contemporary romance novels. I have read every single one of her books and this one may just be my new favorite.

The setting of By Your Side will be a favorite among many readers. Who hasn't wondereed what it would be like to be trapped in a library over night? I was worried that two teens getting locked in the library would be too far-fetched, (I do work in two libraries and we have a pretty good closing procedure and an alarm system, yet just a few weeks ago our alarm system wasn't running for several days...) but I think it was believable and it worked. Autumn is a relatble and likable character who also happens to be stuck in a library with pretty bad anxiety. Although she may not think so at first, Dex, the secretive boy from school, is there to help her make it through the weekend at the library. I found Dax intriguing right from the start. I wanted to know his secrets and be his friend.

Readers will get lost in the way Dex and Autumn's story is told. Their time in the library together is entertaining and at times sweet. I loved the writing. At times I could easily feel the chill of the library and the silence in the stacks. When the plot gets more serious the tone transitions nicely and still manages to stay sweet. This is a book worth reading.

The Verdict: Sooooo good!