Sunday

Review: All It Takes by Sadie Munroe (NA)



Book Blurb

Nineteen-year-old Star Collins never intended to return to her hometown, Avenue. That part of her life ended when she was nine years old, and child services took her away from her hoarder mother. Her mother chose her stuff over her daughter. That part of her life was supposed to be in the past.

But her mother has just passed away and Star finds herself giving up her summer to quietly clean out her old home. She just wants to sell it and move on with her life. However, things aren't going the way she planned. With her dyed-black hair and tattoos, she's attracting almost as much attention from the small town residents as Ash Winthrope, the guy who was just released from prison.

All Ash wants is a chance to start over. He screwed up and he knows it, he's going to have to live with the guilt for the rest of his life. But he's stuck in Avenue until his parole ends, and no one, not even his own parents, wants anything to do with him. Nearly out of money and completely out of options, Ash takes the only job he can, helping Star haul stuff out of her mother's house.

Neither of them expects anything to happen between them, or for their lives to change. But sometimes meeting the right person is all it takes.

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Toot's Review by Stacy Sabala

Star is back in her hometown. She hasn’t been back since Child Protection Services took her away and placed her in foster care. She is now back to clean out her mother’s house after she has died. She has the summer to clean it out in order to sell. It’s a big job since her mother was a hoarder.

Ash just got out of prison. Five years ago he got into a car accident while high and killed a man. His life is forever changed as his parents kick him out and the town shuns him. In fact they treat him like a serial killer. Ash needs a job. He is homeless living out of his car.

Star needs help with her mother’s house and offers him a job. She can’t pay much but she is the only one offering Ash a chance. He jumps at that chance. They work together cleaning the mess left behind. They also have to deal with what shape their lives are in. They grow closer as they both see past the other’s walls. No one truly matters but them.

This story was sweet. Out of devastation and baggage comes strength and love. Star’s circumstances were out of her control but she overcame them with strength and good friends. She is an awesome main character. I loved her instantly. Ash knew he messed up and spent five years paying for it. He now wants to move on. It’s sad that no one will give him a chance. I felt so awful for him. The author did a great job portraying his guilt and how he curled into himself thinking he deserved what treatment he got.

The author also hit on a lot of truthfulness with the small town mentality when it came to judgment of others. I was sad to see the accurateness of the portrayal. It is sad to know and witness that this type of behavior still exists. I liked the main characters’ us against them theme and their relationship as it grows. I also think the author did a great job creating a story where two lost people find and heal each other. I give it a 4 out of 5.







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