As Much as I Ever Could

March 15, 2020
A summer of love provides a girl with the strength needed to recover from a car accident in which her little sister and mother were killed. Eight months after the accident, CJ carries emotional and physical scars. Hoping a change of scenery will do her good, her father sends her to summer at Memaw's house on Edisto Beach, South Carolina. That her father has reached out to his estranged mother is enough to shock CJ and help start her healing process. If it is surprising that CJ, who has said she will never drive again, falls for Jett, a race car driver, it just adds to the sexual tension. But it is the way the couple confides in each other that brings about the biggest change. The consummation of their relationship offers a solid example of consent so it's disappointing that contraception is glossed over with a weak hint at condom use. A dramatic event nearly throws CJ off track, but soul searching and a loyal network of family and friends bring her around. Well-drawn characters, expressive language, and a slow reveal of the details of the accident will hook readers. Most affecting is the heavy dose of a start-and-retreat, butterflies-in-the-stomach romance that becomes a large part of CJ's cure. All main characters seem to be white. A swoonworthy summer read with a hopeful lesson about how to move forward without fear. (Fiction. 14-18)

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June 26, 2020

CJ Ainsworth has been sent to live with her Memaw for the summer, in the hopes it will help her recover from the trauma of her mother and sister's deaths in a car accident. Jett Ramsey, future NASCAR heartthrob with his own pile of trust issues, immediately recognizes the loss and hurt in CJ and is determined to help her overcome her fear of driving and maybe her fear of love. As the summer progresses, Memaw's carefree but loving ways, Jett's persistence, and friends old and new combine to help CJ to open up again. As the end of the summer draws nearer, CJ knows she'll be leaving to testify at the trial related to her mother's and sister's deaths and Jett will be back on the circuit with all his adoring fans. CJ and Jett both realize they need to trust each other, and their family and friends, with their secrets and fears if they are going to have a shot at something more. VERDICT Readers looking for a gentle read about recovering from grief, buoyed by a community of welcoming new friends and new love, will find Snow's (Meant To Be Broken) latest fits the bill.--Kellie Tilton, Univ. of Cincinnati, Blue Ash

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