Review: Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles

Title: Return to Paradise
Author: Simone Elkeles
Publisher: Flux
Pages: 312

Separated by the car accident that left Maggie with a permanent disability and sent driver Caleb to jail for hitting her, the two teens are surprised to encounter each other in Re-START, a monthlong program where teens talk about how their lives were changed by reckless driving. Everyone wants to keep them apart, but they end up in a van with four other teens and a program counselor. Only Caleb and Maggie know that although he did the time, he didn’t commit the crime. Is a month long enough to undo the damage inflicted by the accident, their families, and each other?





Review:
LOVE! I enjoyed this book a lot.  I knew I would.  It takes place 9 months after Leaving Paradise.  Maggie has accepted her disability and is learning to be a new person who isn't afraid to try new things.  She is learning to live without Caleb.  He's gone remember? He's not written or called.  She is a bit bitter about it. I know I would be!  But then she comes face to face with him.  They have to spend a month traveling together.  This is their story coming to terms with who they are and what they want.  Parts of this story just tore me apart! I was rooting for them the whole way. I wanted Caleb to be the guy he was suppose to be instead of the ex-con. I loved every bit of this book. It flowed effortlessly. Oh to be a teen with such trivial problems... Haha! I really loved this series.  It was just what I needed this week.


Quote:
"My brain tells me it will be better to just let him go.
My heart... not so much."