**Book Blitz Review** ~ Better by Carey Heywood

Title: Better
Author: Carey Heywood
Genre: Romance

Publication Date: February 2014
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Synopsis 

Aubrey is embarking on a bucket list trip around the world, the last wish of her Aunt Ally. It was supposed to be the trip Ally would take when she got better. Now it's just a chance for Aubrey to say goodbye.

Adam escapes in his solo trips overseas, working just enough to fund the next one. When the opportunity to circle the globe falls in his lap he can't refuse. The only catch, he won't be traveling alone this time.

Unable to hide from each other Adam's overprotective nature thwarts Aubrey's desire to find her own way. Can they move past initial assumptions to find something better?



My Review

This was a great story about learning to say goodbye to someone you love all while finding yourself and figuring out where you belong in this world.

Aubrey is twenty-four years old and has just lost her aunt (who was more like her best friend or sister) to cancer. Aubrey had given up so much of her life to stay home and help take care of her. She missed out on going away to college, boyfriends, friends…pretty much anything someone would experience in their early twenties.

After her aunt passes away, she leaves a letter with one request. She wants Aubrey to fulfill her dream for her and travel around the world. She knows how much Aubrey has given up to take care of her and so she wants her to experience this time away from her home and comfort zone to figure out who she is. The only way her parents will allow it though is if she has a travel companion.

Adam is a photographer. Now when I heard this I automatically assumed it was some well-traveled playboy photographer. Even though Adam has traveled quite a bit, he is nothing like I imagined. He starts out as kind of a jerk but he is actually really sweet. He ends up really caring about Aubrey and just wants to make sure she is safe.

 

So basically throughout the book, Aubrey and Adam travel all around the world while visiting places they want to see and Aubrey spreads her aunts ashes at places she thinks her aunt would have liked. She is really struggling to let go of the pain that losing her has caused.

Aubrey and Adam grow closer as the trip goes on. Eventually they get together but Adam “warns” her that he doesn’t do relationships and that even though he can’t really make promises…they have their time together right now- for as long as the trip is. Aubrey’s feelings for Adam grow stronger and as the end of the trip nears, she is left feeling scared all she wants to do is tell Adam how she feels about him. But she is scared that if she does that she will ruin any time they have left together so she opts to just let it be and enjoy the time she does have with him. 

I didn’t really care for Aubrey’s character. She is twenty-four years old and half of the time I was reading it, I could have been reading about a sixteen year old. Her parents are way too protective of her and she asks permission to do things a twenty-four year old should just be able to do. Aubrey’s character just had an immature feel to it and I just couldn't connect with her.

I did, however, really like Adam’s character but I would have LOVED to have his POV…even if it was just a little. He wasn't a very talkative guy and he didn't have anyone to confide in so you never knew what he was really thinking or feeling. I kept waiting for his POV to show up and it never did. I think that would have added a lot of depth to the book.

The beginning started out really slow for me. It was really sad with Ally (the aunt) dying and I did get a bit teary but I think the grieving dragged out too much. I would have liked to have seen more in depth moments towards the end of the book because at the end I felt like some important things were just skimmed over. One being, when Aubrey and Adam had to say goodbye. I think that had to potential to be a very emotional and heartbreaking moment…instead I don’t even think there was dialogue. All we had were Aubrey’s thoughts and her describing Adams actions.

Like I said before, I think the message of this book is wonderful. I think it shows people you need to learn to live in the moment. Don’t wait until this or that…if you want to do something, go somewhere, or tell someone something… plan it and do it now. No one is guaranteed a tomorrow so live each day to its fullest. I also think it showed that fate can lead you to places you never thought possible. Through sadness can come light. You have to allow yourself to open up to possibilities no matter where or what you are doing in your life.

★★☆ 3.5 Stars ☆★★

Reviewed by Alissa Evanson

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About the Author

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author. I make up stuff and write it down. Here are some things that make up who I am, in no particular order; Books, Swedish Fish, Rivers, Kids (I have some), Husband (I have 1), Dog, Wuss, Reader, Elephants, Mermaid Shows, Belgian Chocolate, Plastic Rings, Fizzy Water, Abs (I don’t have them…well yes, I have them but they’re nothing to look at I meant Abs that I like to look at), Twitter (@careylolo), Making up Words, Chair Dancing, Old Movies, Cartoons, Belgian Waffles, Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, People, Kayaks, Screen Porches, Laughing, Colored Paperclips, Junky Green Laptop, Golden Rule, Falling in Love, Jumping in Puddles, Spellcheck, Windy Days.

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