Romance Addict Book Blog: REVIEW - When It Rains by Lisa DeJong

One night changed my life forever.

Beau Bennett has been my best friend since I can remember. He was my first crush before everything came crashing down, and now he wants more, but it's more than I can give him. Things are different now. I wish I could tell him why, but I can't.

I haven’t told anyone.

I never knew how much I really needed him until the day he left for college, and I was completely alone.

Then one day, Asher Hunt rides into town with his dark, captivating eyes and cocky grin. He doesn't care who I used to be, he's simply breathing life into what’s left. People warn me to stay away from him, but he helps me forget the pain that has held me hostage for so long; something I thought was impossible before he walked into my life.

I’ve been hurt.

I’ve been saved.

And I’ve found hope.

I thought my story was written that night, but now I know it was only a new beginning. Until one secret turns my world upside down…

Again.

I have an addiction to love triangles. I admit to it. Ask anyone. I’m obsessed with them. I relish the angst and drama that comes with a love triangles, and I will always read them. Always. I have to say, this book was interesting. It was a love triangle, yet it really wasn’t. It didn’t have the angst that I’m used to in love triangles. Which makes me think that it wasn’t really even a love triangle. Now, I see what people are talking about when they say it’s kind of a love triangle, but not really. I can name two points in the plot when it deals with the love triangle, however, this was more of a love story about healing and moving on. It’s heartbreaking and it’s overwhelmingly emotional.

“I never imagined a day without life. A day without hope. A day where I had nothing to look forward to.”

The beginning of the book gets the ugly part out of the way really quick. Seventeen year old Kate is raped by the star football player at a party one night. Her best friend, Beau, was grounded that night, so he wasn’t at the party with her. She can’t tell anyone because they live in a small town and his family has a lot of power and her and her mom have next to none. So she internalizes it. She becomes a completely different girl. Withdrawn, cold, and depressed. She can’t even tell Beau what happened, but he continues to be her friend. Up until he has to leave for college.

“You’re not in love with me. There’s a difference between being in love and loving someone. I’ll always love you, but I’m not the girl you deserve to be falling in love with. You need someone who can give you everything.”

Yeah, surprise, the best friend is in love with her. I don’t know how to be honest. After that night, Kate wasn’t even a whole person anymore. She lost herself, and you know that saying about how you have to love yourself before others can love you? Yeah, that basically applies here. Kate had to figure out how to move on and escape her past before she can even think about loving Beau back. That’s when Asher comes into play.

“I can’t make promises, Kate. I want to get to know you, and I want to be there for you, but I don’t think being your friend is going to work for me anymore. I want to kiss you whenever I want. I want to hold you. I want you to tell me all your secrets and eventually I’ll tell you all of mine. I want you in my life.”

Asher, Asher, Asher. He’s basically what made the book for me. He’s one of my top book boyfriends now. He came into Kate’s life basically out of nowhere. And I freaking love him for it. I don’t want to say that he saved her, but he coaxed her out of her shell. He made her happy again. He made her WANT to be happy, to get over the depression. And they fall in love *happy sigh*. It wasn’t insta-love. That’s the best part. It was more like their souls recognized each other. So, they start off as friends. It’s slowly progresses. It has to be that way. Asher helps Kate work through every bad memory from that night. And it’s so ridiculously cute. I think I fell in love with them faster than they fell in love with each other. He says all the right things, and not in a creepy way. They truly understand each other. They were really meant to be.

“”From now on…” kiss. “When it rains” kiss. “Think of me.” I swear my heart just melted into a puddle on the ground. It’s a moment I’ll never forget… the moment Asher Hunt kissed my fears away. I’ve spent two years waiting for the sun, and all I’ve ever needed was him.”

Then the whole plot spins out of control. At like 60%ish? And I get super depressed. And I cry. And I die. And I end the book a different woman, basically. I did not see that coming. The ending had me in shock. I am definitely not going to say anything more about the end. Just be prepared. It’s super emotional. Heart-breaking. Heart-melting. A whole spectra of emotions. I loved watching Kate on her journey of moving on and learning how to live again. I loved watching Asher take care of her, even after… everything *sobs*. Beau was kinda just there, but not really. I totally forgot about him till the end to be honest. I JUST LOVE ASHER OKAY. I don’t know if I can read another Lisa De Jong book after this. I don’t think my heart could handle it. But, I’m masochistic when it comes to books, so I have the next book already ready to go.

“I shouldn’t ever have to let you go”

“You don’t have to. No matter if we’re together or apart, I’m always with you. I’m alive because of you.”

“You don’t live because of me. You live because you let me love you. You made the choice to breathe all on your own… I just helped you find the strength to inhale.”