Blog Tour Tens List & Review: Love, Lucas by Chantele Sedgwick

Love, Lucas

by Chantele Sedgwick

YA Contemporary Romance
Hardcover & ebook, 288 Pages
May 5th 2015 by Sky Pony Press    

Summary

A powerful story of loss, second chances, and first love, reminiscent of Sarah Dessen and John Green.

When Oakley Nelson loses her older brother, Lucas, to cancer, she thinks she’ll never recover. Between her parents’ arguing and the battle she’s fighting with depression, she feels nothing inside but a hollow emptiness. When Mom suggests they spend a few months in California with Aunt Jo, Oakley isn’t sure a change of scenery will alter anything, but she’s willing to give it a try.

In California, Oakley discovers a sort of safety and freedom in Aunt Jo’s beach house. Once they’re settled, Mom hands her a notebook full of letters addressed to her—from Lucas. As Oakley reads one each day, she realizes how much he loved her, and each letter challenges her to be better and to continue to enjoy her life. He wants her to move on.

If only it were that easy.

But then a surfer named Carson comes into her life, and Oakley is blindsided. He makes her feel again. As she lets him in, she is surprised by how much she cares for him, and that’s when things get complicated. How can she fall in love and be happy when Lucas never got the chance to do those very same things?

With her brother’s dying words as guidance, Oakley knows she must learn to listen and trust again. But will she have to leave the past behind to find happiness in the future?

  

Tens List & Review

Ten Reasons to Spend the Summer in California

1. Walking the beach at night is one of the most calming things ever. I love it and would love to do it all summer!
2. I've always wanted to learn to surf. Even though the creatures in the ocean kind of scare me...
3. Laying out in the sun with a book in hand sounds like the perfect day. Although, I burn like no other, so I'd probably be under a big umbrella...
4. The shopping! Even if you don't buy anything, I love looking through the little shops located close to the beaches.
5. The company. Spending the summer in California would be so much fun with my hubby and kidlets.
6. The smell on the breeze near the coast is my favorite.
7. Being near the ocean is so inspiring. I'd be out on the beach with my laptop to write, every chance I could get!
8. Running/walking/biking on the boardwalk with the beach right there. I'd love it.
9. Going on a boat ride or two would be amazing. Especially if I could see dolphins or whales.
10. The sunsets. They are beautiful and magical and I could watch them every day!

(Well, since we love going to the beach in California, I couldn't agree more!)

My Review

I wasn't sure what to expect from Love, Lucas. It was definitely a lot about the main character, Oakley, figuring out who she was becoming and her life, along with some sweet romance. I liked that there was so much more going on in this story than the romance and that there were a few painful twists as well that made this story differ from others. I also loved the letters from Lucas, Oakley's brother who died from cancer. The characters were messy and imperfect, but felt genuine and I especially loved Oakley and Carson.

The story pretty much pulled me in from the beginning. I felt conflicted right along Oakley when she starts developing romantic feelings for Carson when she's not going to be in California very long, while also feeling guilty because her brother has just died and she shouldn't be happy or get to live her life. Oakley and her family are so devastated and definitely didn't come out of losing Lucas unscathed. There were things to be worked out and pieces to be picked up and it took some time for that to happen. Lucas's letters were a humorous, sweet, and happy side to the story and how they affected Oakley. And then Carson really helps Oakley let go a little and finally confide in someone about how she feels.

If you enjoy contemporary YA with plenty of heartbreaking situations, but alongside them lots of hope and the possibility of love, then definitely give Love, Lucas a try. It was sweet, heartfelt, romantic, with friendship and family to carry the characters through their difficulties. I'm looking forward to seeing what Sedgwick writes next!

Content: Clean
Source: From the author/publisher through Edelweiss, which did not affect my review in any way.

About the Author

Chantele Sedgwick is a YA author, harpist, wife to one and stay-at-home mom to four. She loves happy endings, Kit Kats and judging by her book shelves, buys way too many books.

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