To the Stars by Molly McAdams Series: Thatch #2
Published by William Morrow Paperbacks Publication Date: February 9th 2016
Pages: 384
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In the second book in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Molly McAdams’ Thatch series, Knox Alexander must convince his long-time love Harlow Evans that they’re meant to be together.
He promised to wait for her. She told him he was wasting his time. Not waiting for him ended up being the biggest mistake of her life.
When they were younger, Knox Alexander swore to Harlow Evans that he would wait for her to turn eighteen so they could be together. But that was three and a half years away, and Harlow couldn’t ask him to give up all the fun and thrills of going away to college for her. As the years passed, Knox remained a constant in her life—whether she liked it or not—but when her eighteenth birthday came around, Harlow’s heart belonged to someone else.
Every day for the last four years, Harlow has been haunted by that fateful choice. And though he may appear unaffected by what happened in their past, Knox has always tried to fill the void Harlow left. But when he comes stumbling back into her life and refuses to leave, will Harlow finally let him into her heart…?
Well, I can I was McAdamsed again. What is that, you ask? It quite simply when you read a Molly McAdams book that guts you. To the Stars caused me to ugly cry on an elliptical machine at the gym. The older gentleman beside of me asked if I was ok. My response was simply, “Not really but I know it will be ok by the end”. And that is the simple answer you have to keep in the back of your mind when you are ready Molly McAdams work.
To the Stars features Harlow and Knox and the format of the book goes back and forth between their two POVs. It also alternates between the present and the past. Sometimes, this format bothers me but for this story it was absolutely necessary. The prologue sent chills down my spine and I knew I was hooked and wouldn’t be able to put this one down. I read it in one seating. I don’t want to give away the plot but it is important to say that this book dives into some serious issues that will have you looking away at the pages but immediately picking it back up to see what happens.
Harlow and Know meet when they are young. Harlow is only 15 and Knox is in college and 18. They immediately feel something for each other but know that it can’t happen. I was personally pleased that Knox knew he couldn’t go there with Harlow and stood his ground. Knox tells her he will wait for her until she is 18. Harlow tells him he shouldn’t and he should go live his life. He tries but he just can’t. These two stay devoted to each other and the years pass and before you know it Harlow is 18.
You are probably asking, “What happened?” Miscommunication, distance and unforeseen cirsumstances cause Harlow and Knox to not end up together. Flash forward to Harlow’s current life and it is brutally ugly. She is in an abusive marriage and has no way out. Reading the chapters in Harlow’s POV were so painful. I wanted to help her, comfort her and just fix her life. Watching such a beautiful and vibrant girl being abused both physically and mentally is painful to read.
Knox is living the life he always wanted except he is missing one thing: Harlow. He has never gotten over her and it just seems he isn’t going to. A chance in counter in a coffee shop after 4 years changes everything.
The end of this book takes you for a ride and you just pray that Harlow survives. I can’t tell you how many times my heart was racing and I was screaming in my head at the characters. You never know with Molly McAdams what might happened and I just prayed that we would get a HEA for these two. Pick this one up…I promise you it is worth it….it may even give you an ugly cry. This was an easy 5 star read for me.
About Molly McAdams
Molly grew up in California but now lives in the oh-so-amazing state of Texas with her husband and furry four-legged daughters. When she’s not diving into the world of her characters, some of her hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, traveling, and long walks on the beach … which roughly translates to being a homebody with her hubby and dishing out movie quotes. She has a weakness for crude-humored movies and fried pickles, and loves curling up in a fluffy comforter during a thunderstorm … or under one in a bathtub if there are tornados. That way she can pretend they aren’t really happening.
