Series: Stupid Awesome Love #3
Release Date: December 6, 2018
The only downside is it’s in New York, where my family died. Going back would
be a nightmare.
Not to mention I can’t remember anything from before the accident, and I don’t
want to.
My brain is messed up, and here comes this devastatingly sexy guy who tells me
we used to be in love, that I was his everything, and that he’s gonna do all he
can to help me get my memories back. All he wants is my happiness, but what the
hell do I want? Is it Santiago, or is it the idea of a love I can’t remember?
Santiago…won’t ever forget.
I needed a vacation, badly. I’m on the outs with my family, and I’m struggling
with my music. California sounds like a great way to ignore my problems. Until
the one who got away falls back into my arms. Literally.
Opal broke my heart after disappearing without a word. No calls. No texts.
Nothing. I thought I was over her but being near her only brings up all the old
feelings. She was always the one for me, now I’ve gotta convince her I’ve
always been the one for her. Even if she refuses to remember.
My review:
This book opens 17 years in the past, when Santiago and Opal meet at Santi’s college graduation party. Opal and her friends had already attended their own party (different colleges in NYC) and they’ve crashed this one. Santiago and Opal bond over their mutual hatred of the graduation song, and love of the ocean and science facts. They begin an intense summer relationship, spending time with each others’ families, and have plans to continue their relationship after Opal goes to grad school in California to continue her marine biology studies. Then the day before she is to leave, she disappears without a word.
Jump to present day, and Opal is in San Francisco. Santiago is still living in New York City but goes to California with his brother Nick for a month long vacation to visit friends. It turns out the friends they are visiting are friends with Opal, and she literally falls into Santi’s arms at a party that night. He confronts her about her disappearance, and is shocked when she says she has no idea who he is. Nick learns that the day before she was leaving all those years ago, she and her family were in a terrible accident and her entire family was killed and she has no memories before waking up in the hospital afterwards. Santiago is in the middle of his own family conflict and it’s hurting his relationships with his parents and his brothers, but he is too stubborn to deal with it and would rather help Opal.
This book was so good, and very different (in a good way) from most other romances. Opal is afraid of getting her memories back, afraid the pain and loss will break her. Santiago knows she’s stronger than that and wants to help her heal, even though she can’t remember him or their time together. Opal also wants to help Santiago. She can see how his family crisis is hurting him and the rest of the family.
What I liked: This was a nice change from the standard romance novels. Opal and Santi are so good for each other, too. The years apart were painful for him, but they each grew into their own person and are better together now because of that separation. I also liked that even though this was the third book in a series, I didn’t feel like I was missing anything. I’d actually forgotten it was part of a series and was pleasantly surprised to be reminded that I could read about the other characters.
What I didn’t like: Storywise, nothing. There were a few editing mistakes, but nothing major, and I’m hoping that it was only because I read an advanced copy and not the final release and they were corrected.
Overall: Super good read.
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
#AmReading 