Lovin' los libros

Two Roads
   by: L.M. Augustine

Publication Date: Aug. 26, 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC received from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 216 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

I was so excited to be a part of the cover reveal for this book and even more excited when L.M. told us to send her an email if we were interested in reading an advanced copy of this book. Naturally, I jumped at the chance! A book about the two main characters hating each other? Finally, something different! And Cali and Logan's rivalry is so funny and witty that I just couldn't help but love them both. However, this book goes beyond these two's rivalry against one another. There are much deeper forces at work here that really make this story shine.

When Logan Waters transfers to Cali's college, she can't believe her bad luck. Instantly the two begin throwing insults at one another, and then raising the stakes to an all out prank war. However, what happens when Cali goes a step too far? She realizes how much her rivalry with Logan actually makes her feel. She is afraid of losing that, of losing him- though she won't admit it to herself. It was so interesting to watch a story's two main characters go at each other's throats for a good portion of the novel.

Cali is such an intriguing character. She portrays herself as one of those shallow girls who sleeps around, when she couldn't be more different. Cali channels her anger and assumes this mean girl persona to hide her true feelings of numbing pain she still feels after her brother's suicide. She in part blames herself for not paying more attention to the signs and equally blames her brother's best friend- Logan. Her parents are closed off from her and are not encouraging of her aspirations to write poetry. They have not felt like a family since her brother Ben's death and things are quite strained between them. I feel bad for Cali's parents, though. I can't even imagine losing my child to suicide- much less be able to cope with it afterwards. There is one scene towards the end of the book where Cali receives a picture of her and her brother when they were younger and there is a message on the back from her parents and I felt my heart shatter. Literally.

Logan's character was precious. He is that uber nerdy, geeky (but hot) guy who wears sexually suggestive Math shirts, glasses, and has 'obnoxiously long eyelashes'. I really liked him immediately. He is also still hurting over his best friend's suicide, because he was more than just a friend to him- he was like a brother. He also used to be close to Cali also, as she would hang around them when they were younger. When a set-up brings the two together and after realizing their shared love for poetry, it is up to Logan to convince Cali to attend a big poetry convention in California. However, Cali refuses to go- as Ben had promised he would take her someday. She finally gives in and together the two make the journey together. During their time together, both Cali and Logan realize certain truths that will change everything.

L.M. has done a brilliant job of incorporating poetry into her novel and the way she makes it fit perfectly seriously gave me chills. (Not to mention Frost is my favorite poet!) Cali's favorite blog is run by someone named the Roadkeeper and she has discovered one poem in particular that she can't get out of her mind. Reading how L.M. handles that seriously had me squealing and I love how she tied it all together.

A beautiful story about forgiveness and acceptance, second chances, and the discovery of love in the least likely of places, Two Roads is definitely worth reading. You will laugh at Logan and Cali's hilarious rivalry, watch them slowly forgive themselves and each other, watch them fall in love, and learn how to let go and move forward.