[Lisa’s Review]: Be With Me by J. Lynn

Teresa Hamilton is having a rough year—she’s in love with her big brother’s best friend, but he hasn’t spoken to her since they shared a truly amazing, mind-blowing, change-your-life kiss. She got out of a terrible relationship. And now an injury is threatening to end her dance career for good. It’s time for Plan B – college. And maybe a chance to convince Jase that what they have together is real.

Jase Winstead has a huge secret that he’s not telling anyone. Especially not his best friend’s incredibly beautiful sister. Even though he and Teresa shared the hottest kiss of his life, he knows that his responsibilities must take priority. He certainly doesn’t have time for a relationship. But it doesn’t help that all he can think about kissing the one girl who could ruin everything for him.

As they’re thrown together more and more, Jase and Tess can’t keep denying their feelings for each other. But a familiar danger looms and tragedy strikes. As the campus recovers, the star-crossed couple must decide what they’re willing to risk to be together, and what they’re willing to lose if they’re not…

Three words: addicting, dramatic, emotional. Be With Me is the second installment in Jen’s Wait for Me series, following a character we met in the first book, Cam’s younger sister Teresa. While this one can be read as a standalone, it will make much more sense if you read Wait for Me first. And you’d seriously be missing out if you didn’t. From the moment I met Teresa, I knew I had to read her story next.

Before we go into further detail about the characters and storyline, this book contains and deals with sensitive topics such as abusive relationships and therefore might not be a suitable read for everyone. Proceed with caution.

We enter the story shortly after a torn ACL bans Tess from the dance studio for the foreseeable future. Unsure whether a return to the studio will ever be possible, she decides to follow in her brother’s footsteps and go to college for a teaching degree. While the sudden proximity to her brother’s best friend Jase confirms the feelings she’s had for him since before they stole one forbidden kiss more than a year ago, he tries his best to keep his distance. Turns out, Jase’s best is not good enough. He can’t stay away from her any more than she can control her reaction to him. That being said, their relationship is a continuous up and down – almost like a dance. But that’s what makes romance interesting, isn’t it? Jase doesn’t want to want his best friend’s sister. Too bad that his heart as other plans.

While Teresa has found ways to let go of what happened to her, at least to some degree, Jase’s history has just started to catch up with him. Teresa has been through hell and came out the other end stronger. I don’t want to spoil too much of the story, especially If you haven’t read the first book yet, but her development, as well as her character, are simply amazing. Jen once again managed to address a serious topic realistically and unceremoniously and beautifully executed it throughout the storyline. I had to force back tears more than once. Jase, at least from the outside, is your typical handsome, sexy frat boy. But there’s more to him than meets the eye. He’s a good guy – responsible and protective, but he’s never really dealt with the demons from his past, having spent the last years burying them as deep as possible. When they threaten his relationship with the girl he loves and his shot at happiness, he has two choices: run and hide or find the courage to face them.

If you think this is your typical ‘my best friend’s little sister / my bother’s best friend romance’ – think again. Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster that will leave you wanting more. I had one of my most severe cases of a book hangover after this one; thankfully, there are more books in this series. It’s a definite must-read for all romance lovers out there.

Lisa

Hi! I’m Lisa. I’m twenty-three, a college student and a book lover. I spend every free minute, and most of my lectures, reading all kinds of books, which is how I ended up here. While I particularly enjoy books of the young and new adult variety, I also love historical fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal, all things romance, and one or the other classic as well. If I’m not reading, I’m either working, sleeping, binge-watching my newest obsession on Netflix, or on my way to Starbucks, to satisfy my slight caffeine addiction.