Blurb:

Xavi doesn’t believe in love anymore. Love has never changed the outcome of anything. It has only hurt him.

Sam is sick, and he wants one last thing. He wants Xavi to be with him, to stay with him until the end. Xavi drops everything and promises Sam he will be there.

As they travel across the countryside in a stolen sea-green Cadillac, they search for something neither has the courage to admit he’s looking for. But as the days slip away, Xavi isn’t sure he can keep his promise; he isn’t sure about anything. He can’t help Sam do this. He can’t stand by and watch Sam suffer, can’t be content to let Sam give up.

Saving Sam becomes the only thing that makes any sense, the only thing Xavi wants. Loving Sam becomes the most important promise he will ever make. Now he just has to convince Sam that life—and love—are worth fighting for.

Stats:

Rating:     ????????.5

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Review:

I’d been meaning to read Suki Fleet for a while. I hate that it’s taken me so long, and there’s no good excuse, but I’m happy to say FINALLY.

This was an incredible first taste of an immensely talented author. Like really WOW. The best words to describe the power, the mood, the style of this would be…ethereal grace. Seriously, this is artful and poetic and had me spellbound from go.

Taking a road-trip to indulge Sam’s last wishes of visiting a seaside field of wildflowers, Xavi is in the position to hold the hand of a friend whose life is coming to an end far too soon. Their journey is a winding road of twists and turns, stops and starts. Somehow it manages to be coming-of-age more than saying goodbye.

I thought I knew what I was getting into, but was powerless to harden myself from what I assumed was an inevitable tragic end. Turns out, fate had a different tale to tell. And, instead of having my heart wrenched out and trampled on, the words gripped with a firm squeeze that felt oddly comforting. I appreciated that because it could have gone any number of ways requiring a box of tissues.

These eighty-five short pages sure packed in a bunch of memories, longing, despair, some redemption, forgiveness, lots of growth, and a little crime. It’s a trail of cake crumbs that teased the palette and, when it was all said and done, I was full to bursting — but could’ve happily gorged on more.

This review also posted on GoodReads.