Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Khunsa

      A happy ending is what everyone looks forward to when they come close to finishing the book. But what about a SATISFYING ending? An ending that leaves you not knowing what happens but a sense of hope towards what will happen? Willow, by Julia Hoban, is that type of book. The story is about a 16 year old girl named Willow, whose life is changed on a rainy night. Her slightly drunk parents asked the teen to drive home that night. What happens? They crash. Her parents die. And she survives. And then comes along the guilt. Overwhelmed by her parents' death as being her fault and thinking she ruined her older brother's newly wed life as well as his just started parenthood, Willow becomes a cutter to ease the pain. Along comes Guy. I don't mean A guy. I mean Guy, as in a person. When he discovers that Willow is a cutter, he is shocked, starts having sleepless nights, and tries to always find Willow to make sure she is still alive. Upon Willow's urging, he, against his better judgement, does not tell her brother. But soon, Willow and Guy start to bond over the twisted secret they share. He, always trying to find her and pleads her to stop cutting and she, trying to cope with her feelings of guilt, pain, and in her opinion, undeserving happiness with Guy. A meeting about making sure Willow's not dead turns into coffee dates, library escapades, and opening up their hearts to one another. This is a story about the dark path of coping with loss and a sense of hope that love can light the way out of the darkness.