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drynankaylee42810's review against another edition
I honestly could not stand this book. The beginning of the book was okay which is why I'm giving it 3 stars. However by the middle to end of the book I was forcing myself to finish it. I'm not sure how anyone else feels but I could NOT stand Kaley by the end of the book. She treated Ryan horribly and was all around incredibly selfish except when it came to helping Cade. She essentially stole from Ryan, lied to him and cheated on him while still continuing this poor me attitude. I had hoped this would be a great love story but unfortunately this was a huge disappointment.
kheiron's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.25
yodamom's review against another edition
4.0
Imagine: You are on a date with your fiance' at a fine restaurant when you exit you see your first love outside, the one who disappeared years earlier with no word. He's homeless, thin, dressed in rags and doesn't seem to know you. What would go through your head ? What a horrendous thing to even imagine right ? Well this is just the tip of the giant iceberg. The troubles go so much deeper and more complicated. The ties to the past are strong but the present is perfect.
The story was so well written I felt like a fly on the wall of these relationships. The old and the new crashing together, was heartbreaking, no matter what someone was going to hurt. Kailey, is living the dream, a wonderful loving fiance', good friends, great job and her wedding just around the corner. Ryan, the successful steady man who loves her, and is to be her husband in days . Cade, the man who was her first love, who was creative and lived life to the fullest, now an empty broken shell, that may never return to himself. Kailey, could not turn her back on Cade, she must try to save him as he once saved her. Heartbreaking, and beautiful.
Mental illness, brain damage, the homeless plight and people responses to the homeless are all represented here. There was some social awareness in bits throughout the story but never overdone to take me out of the drama.
This was my first Jio book and it will not be my last. I enjoyed the character centered story and loved how they were developed. I felt like I was there, like I knew them.
The story was so well written I felt like a fly on the wall of these relationships. The old and the new crashing together, was heartbreaking, no matter what someone was going to hurt. Kailey, is living the dream, a wonderful loving fiance', good friends, great job and her wedding just around the corner. Ryan, the successful steady man who loves her, and is to be her husband in days . Cade, the man who was her first love, who was creative and lived life to the fullest, now an empty broken shell, that may never return to himself. Kailey, could not turn her back on Cade, she must try to save him as he once saved her. Heartbreaking, and beautiful.
Mental illness, brain damage, the homeless plight and people responses to the homeless are all represented here. There was some social awareness in bits throughout the story but never overdone to take me out of the drama.
This was my first Jio book and it will not be my last. I enjoyed the character centered story and loved how they were developed. I felt like I was there, like I knew them.
sandiet's review against another edition
4.0
Love…true love. Is there really only one person who is our one true love?
That I believe is the question at the heart of this book about a long-lost love. Kailey Crane is out enjoying a dinner with her fiancé Ryan and as they’re leaving the restaurant she encounters a homeless man who she offers her bag of leftovers. To her ultimate shock and horror Kailey discovers the homeless man is the love of her life Cade McAllister who literally dropped out of her life 10 years ago with no explanation. Despite the fact that Cade is a mere shadow of the man she once knew, she is heartbroken when it appears that Cade doesn’t recognize her.
The story continues as we find out the lengths that Kailey will go to ensure that Cade gets the help he needs. She tries to convince herself, her fiancé and her friends that it’s because she must do the right thing and she says that if the situation were reversed Cade would do the same for her. Digging into the past and trying to find out what happened to Cade during those ten “missing” years takes a toll on her relationship with Ryan and her job (although she has a remarkably understanding boss who is a romantic at heart) but none of this stops her.
The story alternates between the past and present and I love books that take you back and forth to explain the dynamics of the various relationships between couples and friends alike.
Kailey loves Ryan and she also loves/loved Cade and she must figure out which love is worth fighting for.
I would have liked a cleaner explanation of Cade’s business partner’s actions and what happened to their relationship both personally and professionally. That segment of the book felt rushed and deserved a more in depth reveal. All in all, I enjoyed this feel good emotionally moving book and it made me wish that one day I might find my own one true love.
I received this ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased honest review.
Thank you!
That I believe is the question at the heart of this book about a long-lost love. Kailey Crane is out enjoying a dinner with her fiancé Ryan and as they’re leaving the restaurant she encounters a homeless man who she offers her bag of leftovers. To her ultimate shock and horror Kailey discovers the homeless man is the love of her life Cade McAllister who literally dropped out of her life 10 years ago with no explanation. Despite the fact that Cade is a mere shadow of the man she once knew, she is heartbroken when it appears that Cade doesn’t recognize her.
The story continues as we find out the lengths that Kailey will go to ensure that Cade gets the help he needs. She tries to convince herself, her fiancé and her friends that it’s because she must do the right thing and she says that if the situation were reversed Cade would do the same for her. Digging into the past and trying to find out what happened to Cade during those ten “missing” years takes a toll on her relationship with Ryan and her job (although she has a remarkably understanding boss who is a romantic at heart) but none of this stops her.
The story alternates between the past and present and I love books that take you back and forth to explain the dynamics of the various relationships between couples and friends alike.
Kailey loves Ryan and she also loves/loved Cade and she must figure out which love is worth fighting for.
I would have liked a cleaner explanation of Cade’s business partner’s actions and what happened to their relationship both personally and professionally. That segment of the book felt rushed and deserved a more in depth reveal. All in all, I enjoyed this feel good emotionally moving book and it made me wish that one day I might find my own one true love.
I received this ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased honest review.
Thank you!
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
3.0
Always is the latest novel by Sarah Jio. Kailey Crain is a journalist with the Herald in Seattle, Washington in 2008. Kailey and her fiancé, Ryan are leaving a restaurant when she spots a homeless man outside. Kailey walks over to give him her leftovers, and discovers it is Cade McAllister. Cade and Kailey were very much in love and she had just discovered she was pregnant when he disappeared. Kailey has not heard from him since early August of 1998. Cade had co-owned Element Records with his best friend, James. Cade’s Aunt Fay had lent them the money to start the company. But, the business relationship between Cade and James started to deteriorate rapidly when James wanted to take the company in a different direction. Kailey is shocked to find Cade in such a state. She slowly wins his trust and gets him to a doctor. It turns out that Cade suffered a TBI (traumatic brain injury) which has left him in a state of confusion (has Swiss cheese memory). The doctor recommends a new program for Cade that will help him recover and get back the skills he has lost. Over time, he might regain his memory. Cade re-entering her life creates a dilemma for Kailey. She thought she had moved on from Cade, but seeing him has brought all the feelings back to the surface. Kailey, though, is also in love with Ryan. Kailey needs to make a choice. Which man has captured Kailey’s heart?
I look forward to Sarah Jio’s new book every year. But I did find Always to be a disappointment. I found Always to be a cliché romance novel. It is nicely written and had a good pace (for the most part). The story is somewhat intriguing (especially in the beginning), but then it turns into a predictable romance novel. There are some interesting music references in the book based on Cade’s love of music. I did find the characters to be a little flat (one-dimensional). I give Always 3 out of 5 stars (there are readers who will enjoy it). It is easy to figure out what happened to Cade in 1998. I was a little disappointed that Ms. Jio finishes the book with unanswered questions. The reader never finds out how Cade survived the ten years on the street especially with his injuries. There are areas that will have you shouting at Kailey. Cade just enters the program and Kailey is the only person he knows. He counts on her to visit him. But, Kailey goes on a vacation to Cabo with Ryan. Is this the best time for a romantic trip to Mexico? Does she really think Cade will handle not seeing her? Another moment that was odd (and had me shaking my head with disbelief) is when Kailey finally tracks down Cade (not the first night she sees him outside the restaurant). Instead of taking him somewhere to get immediate assistance, she takes off to visit James. If you had been hunting for this man, would you just leave him again? Kailey had no idea if she would be able to locate him once again. I wish less time had been devoted to Kailey thinking about Cade (how he looked, his charm, etc.). It reminded me of the Harlequin romance novels I read as a teenager. Always was not up to Sarah Jio’s normal standards (like The Violets of March or Blackberry Winter). I will, of course, order Ms. Jio’s next book. Always could have been an off novel for her.
I look forward to Sarah Jio’s new book every year. But I did find Always to be a disappointment. I found Always to be a cliché romance novel. It is nicely written and had a good pace (for the most part). The story is somewhat intriguing (especially in the beginning), but then it turns into a predictable romance novel. There are some interesting music references in the book based on Cade’s love of music. I did find the characters to be a little flat (one-dimensional). I give Always 3 out of 5 stars (there are readers who will enjoy it). It is easy to figure out what happened to Cade in 1998. I was a little disappointed that Ms. Jio finishes the book with unanswered questions. The reader never finds out how Cade survived the ten years on the street especially with his injuries. There are areas that will have you shouting at Kailey. Cade just enters the program and Kailey is the only person he knows. He counts on her to visit him. But, Kailey goes on a vacation to Cabo with Ryan. Is this the best time for a romantic trip to Mexico? Does she really think Cade will handle not seeing her? Another moment that was odd (and had me shaking my head with disbelief) is when Kailey finally tracks down Cade (not the first night she sees him outside the restaurant). Instead of taking him somewhere to get immediate assistance, she takes off to visit James. If you had been hunting for this man, would you just leave him again? Kailey had no idea if she would be able to locate him once again. I wish less time had been devoted to Kailey thinking about Cade (how he looked, his charm, etc.). It reminded me of the Harlequin romance novels I read as a teenager. Always was not up to Sarah Jio’s normal standards (like The Violets of March or Blackberry Winter). I will, of course, order Ms. Jio’s next book. Always could have been an off novel for her.
librariansrule's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting question about how far you would go to help someone in need and the conflict that can develop from extending a hand.
jdavis147's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
jackiehorne's review against another edition
2.0
ARC from Netgalley
Running into an ex boyfriend and discovering he's homeless: that premise intrigued me, which is why I picked this ARC from Netgalley. Unfortunately, the premise proved more of a sensational hook than a promise to explore homelessness in any great depth. Twelve years after her beloved but troubled boyfriend disappeared from her life, Kailey Crane runs into a homeless man outside a restaurant where she's been having dinner with her too-good-to-be-true fiancé, Ryan. She recognizes the man as Cade, her ex, but he runs off before she can talk with him. Kailey spends the rest of the book tracking Cade down, and trying to help him after she finds out that he is suffering from TBI (traumatic brain injury), all the while hiding her efforts from Ryan.
The story alternates between the present and the past, the past showing the development and then the falling apart of Kailey and Cade's relationship in 1996, the present (2008) showing Kailey's efforts to track down and help Cade. In neither set of chapters did the author give us a strong sense of Kailey as a character or a person, or of Cade, which made it difficult to care that much about either of them or their romantic relationship. Or to understand just why she doesn't tell Ryan anything about what's been happening. Without that understanding, Kailey comes across as a too-stupid-to-live kind of protagonist, not at all appealing. And the suspense plot ends up falling pretty flat in the end. Not a satisfying read.
Running into an ex boyfriend and discovering he's homeless: that premise intrigued me, which is why I picked this ARC from Netgalley. Unfortunately, the premise proved more of a sensational hook than a promise to explore homelessness in any great depth. Twelve years after her beloved but troubled boyfriend disappeared from her life, Kailey Crane runs into a homeless man outside a restaurant where she's been having dinner with her too-good-to-be-true fiancé, Ryan. She recognizes the man as Cade, her ex, but he runs off before she can talk with him. Kailey spends the rest of the book tracking Cade down, and trying to help him after she finds out that he is suffering from TBI (traumatic brain injury), all the while hiding her efforts from Ryan.
The story alternates between the present and the past, the past showing the development and then the falling apart of Kailey and Cade's relationship in 1996, the present (2008) showing Kailey's efforts to track down and help Cade. In neither set of chapters did the author give us a strong sense of Kailey as a character or a person, or of Cade, which made it difficult to care that much about either of them or their romantic relationship. Or to understand just why she doesn't tell Ryan anything about what's been happening. Without that understanding, Kailey comes across as a too-stupid-to-live kind of protagonist, not at all appealing. And the suspense plot ends up falling pretty flat in the end. Not a satisfying read.
sharper's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lovesresqdogs's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the book, it was a good quick read. However I am left with a question that is not resolved. It never says who signed Cade out of the hospital. I also find it extremely hard to believe that someone who has lived on the streets with an untreated brain injury for years and years suddenly recovers in a matter of days / weeks. Most people with brain injuries end up being an entirely different person, they have experiences of unexplained rage, anger, outbursts, etc. I know it's a book but living with someone who has had a bring injury is not a cake walk and it pretty much never comes with millions of dollars.
Good book, unrealistic ending.
Good book, unrealistic ending.