Review: Just Look Up by Courtney Walsh

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing 

Synopsis

After tirelessly climbing the ranks of her Chicago-based interior design firm, Lane Kelley is about to land her dream promotion when devastating news about her brother draws her back home--a quaint tourist town full of memories she'd just as soon forget. With her cell phone and laptop always within reach, Lane aims to check on her brother while staying focused on work--something her eclectic family doesn't understand.

Ryan Brooks never expected to settle down in Harbor Pointe, Michigan, but after his final tour of duty, it was the only place that felt like home. Now knee-deep in a renovation project that could boost tourism for the struggling town, he is thrilled to see Lane, the girl he secretly once loved, even if the circumstances of her homecoming aren't ideal.

Their reunion gets off to a rocky start, however, when Ryan can't find a trace of the girl he once knew in the woman she is today. As he slowly chips away at the walls Lane has built, secrets from his past collide with a terrible truth even he is reluctant to believe. Facing a crossroads that could define his future with Lane and jeopardize his relationship with the surrogate family he's found in the Kelleys, Ryan hopes Lane can see that maybe what really matters has been right in front of her all along--if only she'd just look up.

My Review

The title of this book is absolutely perfect! The story portrays a powerful theme of the importance of looking up from technology or the busyness of the daily grind to cultivate our relationships with those around us, appreciate the beauty of life, and take time for peaceful moments. A deeper theme is looking up to God for help with accomplishing this, even through our struggles and difficult times.
Lane is flawed but easy to relate to. She has many hurts from her growing up years and is extremely vulnerable- so much so that she left town at the first chance and never looked back. She sacrificed her relationships in order to forget her past, but in reality it shapes who she is and affects her choices. The author skillfully reveals various details gradually, keeping me curious and full of anticipation as I read. I feel like I connected more with Brooks, who used a never-ending positive attitude to cope with his insecurities and trials. He and Lane had great romantic chemistry and tension, and I loved seeing him charm and tease her into smiling and lifting her mood. I enjoyed the different phases of Lane and Brooks journey as they deal with pressure and stress from work and learn important lessons from each other. There are so many details I loved in this book but I don't want to share any spoilers, so I'll just say, this is such a great book! Highly recommend!!!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Extras

I love the book trailer!




* Stay tuned for my interview with author Courtney Walsh! *