Book Review: Days Like This

Days Like This 

By: Danielle Ellison

Published By: Bookish Group Press

Publication Date: June 2, 2015

Page Count: 219

Buy it at Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Source: ARC Kindly Provided by Publisher via NetGalley

New Adult - Contemporary

Cassie broke Graham’s heart when she left suddenly to go to College in another state. He’s done his best to forget about her and move on, but it’s not easy when her mom still lives next door, and everything reminds him of her. 

 Cassie knows that she did the wrong thing by Graham, but she did it for the right reasons. After growing up with her mother, who has bipolar disorder, she couldn’t put someone else through that. What if she got sick too? 

When Cassie’s mother is hospitalized, it’s Graham who calls Cassie and tells her to come home. After a year apart their reunion is awkward, to say the least. The two circle round each other, trying to work out where they stand and whether they can be friends. It’s fairly obvious that they’re both still crazy about each other, but Cassie is still scared, and Graham has a lot to forgive. 

 I really enjoyed Days Like This. The portrayal of Joyce’s bipolar disorder was sympathetic and realistic. Although the characters found themselves in some extreme situations due to Joyce’s illness, it wasn’t sensationalized or over the top. I got a real sense of how difficult it had been for Cassie growing up, and she remained a sympathetic character even through her shoddy treatment of Graham and her friends. 

 I also liked that although the characters were 19 and 20, they still addressed each other’s parents as Mr and Mrs. That seems such a rare thing in society today, and although it’s a small thing, it made me like the story more. 

 The chemistry between Cassie and Graham is tangible and translates into one or two steamy scenes. The book is quite tame by NA standards, but does go beyond what one expects in YA. 

 Danielle Ellison has created a compelling story with great characters that, as a reader, you just want to get their act together and live their happily ever after.

Summary:

Sometimes the only thing standing between fear and hope is you. 

Almost a year ago, nineteen-year-old Cassie Harlen had a lot to deal with. A stack of college acceptance letters waiting for answers, a proposal from the boy next door, and a mother whose most recent bipolar episode left Cassie hurt and confused. Tired of cleaning up the messes caused by her mother's disorder, of resenting her mother for not being there, and scared of being trapped by an inevitable future—which included marrying Graham Tucker—Cassie did the only thing she could think of to keep from ending up like her mother: she left.

Graham never knew why Cassie walked away. He woke up one morning and she was gone—along with the life that he’d created around her. After eleven months, Graham has a new plan for his future. One that doesn't involve Cassie Harlen.

When Cassie's mom nearly burns down her house, Cassie’s forced to return home. Back to a mother she’s tried to ignore and the guy she’s been unable to forget. Graham doesn't know how he's going to spend the whole summer living next door to the person who broke his heart without letting those old feelings push through to the surface.

Neither does Cassie.