Review – Echoes Between Us by Katie McGarry

Posted January 15, 2020 by Carole in 2020 New Release Challenge, Book Reviews / 17 Comments

Echoes Between Us by Katie McGarry
Publisher: Tor Teen
Publication Date: January 14, 2020
Date Read: January 12, 2020
Length:  385 pages
Source: Publisher via Bookish First
★★★★☆

Echoes Between Us is bestselling author Katie McGarry’s breakout teen contemporary novel about a girl with everything to lose and the boy who will do anything to save her.

Veronica sees ghosts. More specifically, her mother’s ghost. The afterimages of blinding migraines caused by the brain tumor that keeps her on the fringes and consumes her whole life haunt her, even as she wonders if it’s something more…

Golden boy Sawyer is handsome and popular, a state champion swimmer, but his adrenaline addiction draws him to Veronica.

A girl with nothing to live for and a boy with everything to lose–can they conquer their demons together?

My Review

I had such a good time with this book!  It has been years since I last picked up Katie McGarry’s work but I knew that I had to give this book a try.  Once I picked this book up, I couldn’t stop reading and ended up spending most of the day cuddled under a throw with this book in my hand.  I can’t think of a better way to spend the day.  This was one of those books that you just don’t want to put down.  I am really glad that I decided to give it a try.

Veronica believes in ghosts.  Of course, she sees them all the time so it would be hard not to believe.  Veronica lives with her father in the top two floors of an old house, that happens to be haunted.  She has a pesky little tumor in her brain but she isn’t going to let that have any control over her life even though the headaches she gets, as a result, can wipe her out.

Sawyer lives with his mom and 6-year-old sister.  They move into the rental unit that takes up the first floor of the house that Veronica lives in.  Sawyer is responsible and spends a lot of time taking care of his sister and his mother.  He excels at swimming and has an addiction to adrenaline rushes.  He does not believe in ghosts.

I loved Veronica and Sawyer.  They were both dealing with some pretty big issues and I thought that they really saw each other in a way that no one else did.  They had wonderful chemistry together and I loved it when they were able to be together and just be themselves.  They both go through some pretty rough stuff in this book and I loved the way that they were there for each other and supported each other.  Their actions really showed how much they care for one another.

I would recommend this book to others.  I thought that this was a very well done story with amazing characters.  The story took a few turns that I didn’t see coming which made it even more exciting.  I plan to read much more from Katie McGarry soon!

I received an advanced review copy of this book from Tor Teen via Bookish First.

About the Author

KATIE MCGARRY is an award winning and critically acclaimed young adult novelist. The author of Only a Breath Apart and the Pushing the Limits and Thunder Road series is currently living out her real life love story in Kentucky with her husband and three children. Katie is a lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

Author Links: Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

17 responses to “Review – Echoes Between Us by Katie McGarry

  1. Great review, Carole! I’m reading this one right now and am enjoying it so much. I’m not far into it yet but I already feel bad for all the responsibility that is heaped on Sawyer. And I love the way Veronica stands up for herself.

  2. McGarry is a favorite of mine, and it's because of the way she doesn't shy away from topics, and there is always a gritty side to her stories. I laughed and cried, and then I cheered, because the ending was fabulous.

  3. I think I met this author at NOLAStorycon in 2016 but she was one of only 5 authors at the event which I didn't read any of her books before the event. I did try but the high school age / YA aspect doesn't always work for me.

    I'm glad it worked so well for you. Fantastic review!

    Anne – Books of My Heart

  4. That is a pretty cover. I've read a few of her books before. Although reading about illnesses and such can creep me out at times, the blurb does have me wonder whether the ghosts are real or not and if this story has a paranormal aspect as well. This author does seem to handle big issues well and still have a great romance as well.

  5. I haven't tried any of her books before but I have seen this one flying around and it seems like most people love it, so maybe I need to get on this! I also really like the sound of ghosts and haunting being slightly involved too…