Book Review: Sideswiped

Sideswiped (Off the Map #2)

By: Lia Riley

Published By: Grand Central/Forever

Publication Date: October 7, 2014

Page Count: 384

Buy it at Barnes & Noble 

Source: ARC Kindly Provided by Publisher

Genre: New Adult Contemporary

In this second book of the Off the Map series, Talia and Bran are reunited when Talia takes up her research place at a Tasmanian University. It seems that she and Bran will finally have some time together to work on their blossoming relationship. Things soon get complicated, however, when the stress of her research project causes Talia’s OCD to flare up. Bran is dealing with his own problems, finding that academia is interfering with things he’d rather be doing. When they attend a logging protest that goes disastrously wrong, Bran must choose between sticking to his principles, and contacting his family. 

Talia and Bran are determined to find a way to be together, but they both have ambitions which will force them to be apart. Choosing to be true to themselves may mean ending their relationship, but now that they’re finally together, can they bear to let each other go? 

 What I loved about Upside Down was its accurate and realistic portrayal of Talia’s anxiety disorders, and that holds true for this book. We see further development of both characters throughout the novel, with both Talia and Bran forced to deal with their family issues and their own insecurities. 

This book ends on one mighty cliffhanger! I’ll be looking forward to the final book in the series to see how it all turns out.

Summary:

It was only meant to last the summer . . .

Talia Stolfi has seen more than her share of loss in her twenty-one years. But then fate brought her Bran Lockhart, and her dark world was suddenly and spectacularly illuminated. So if being with Bran means leaving her colorless NorCal life for rugged and wild Australia, then that’s what she’ll do. But as much as Talia longs to give herself over completely to a new beginning, the fears of her past are still lurking in the shadows.

Bran Lockhart knows that living without the beautiful girl who stole his heart will be torment, so he’ll take whatever time with her he can. But even though she has packed up her life in California and is back in his arms for the time being, she can’t stay forever. And the remaining time they have together is ticking by way too fast. Though fate seems determined to tear them apart, they won’t give up without a fight—because while time may have limits, their love is infinite . . .