Review: First Crush, Last Love

'' He needed her to give them a chance-the chance he threw away ten years ago.  ''

★★★★☆

From Goodreads:
Back in high school, Lee Archer had the power to make Jessie Baxter’s cheeks flush and her heart race. But the popular athlete never wanted to be more than just friends. Ten years later, after a failed marriage and with her journalism career on shaky ground, Jessie’s come home for her high school reunion—and Lee still has the power to make her knees weak and her pulse pound.
Lee's teenage years were filled with more trauma and drama than anyone guessed. Though his damaged past has helped make him a successful police detective, it's hurt every relationship he's tried. But seeing the grown-up, stunning Jessie might just change his commitment-phobic mind.
Jessie’s psycho ex-husband had her convinced no one would ever love her, but Lee is ready to step out of the friend zone and into her heart. Can she learn to trust again before she loses her chance to turn her first crush into her last love?
Elizabeth McKenna’s novel will have you remembering the angst of high school, the grief of a failed relationship, and the joy of finding true love at last.

Sometimes it takes a little time to get to the point where everything is alright. Where the nightmares of the past have made way for the dreams of future. Oh god, how sappy does that sound? 😅
Jessie set her eyes on Lee in high school. She was so determined to snatch him, she even resorted to some stalker-ish tendencies. Lee being the oblivious one back then, he doesn't seem to notice Jessie's ever-growing affections. Ten years later, the tables have turned.

Going into this book, I assumed it would be a little more on the light-hearted side. Not the 'abusive husband and parents, running away from home, living in misery' -side. But that's alright, I think. Or what am I saying, four out of five stars! That's more than alright.

Told in alternating POV's, the plot takes the reader to two entirely different settings. The other is just surviving and making themselves small and insignificant as possible, and the other accomplishing things they never thought they could, creating something better for themselves. What is interesting, is that even though the two of them are worlds apart, the author still manages to bring them together. There is the awkwardness of the reunion (as expected), there are the sideglances the reader craves for, and there is the feeling of hope. The hope both of the characters have waited for a long time.

The plot progresses slowly at first. The high school years seem to last forever since there are not much revealed of the characters. All the events are portrayed without digging deep under the surface, which leaves the reader guessing a lot. But then. Then it begins. The misery, I mean. Not the happy times, they are still far off at that point. You get to follow the drama up close.

This obviously is a Happily Ever After - book. It's fairly quick to read, even though it deals with heavy subjects or abuse and the feeling of helplessness. But there still is the glimmer of hope, and that is what keeps you hooked to the story.