2024 the best of me ending review

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(as of Nov 17, 2024 23:43:09 UTC - Details)

A contemporary romance about courage, loss, and moving on. Callie Kingston’s life as an Orange County housewife isn’t as perfect as it seems. Her husband isn’t the same man she fell in love with nine years ago, and her home is no longer her safe haven. But she’s determined to keep up appearances, especially when it comes to concealing the bruises her husband’s temper leaves behind. Until Cole Luciano moves into her best friend’s house across the street. He’s abrasive and rude, but his steel-blue eyes tell a different story—one with dark secrets that has Callie curious. After suffering through an unspeakable tragedy, Cole settles into his sister’s pool house until he can get back on his feet. He’s convinced that he deserves to live with the guilt he harbors from his past, and wants nothing more than to be left alone. Yet he can’t seem to stay away from his beautiful neighbor. He sees right through Callie’s carefully orchestrated lies and is desperate to help her. Callie discovers more than an angry and bitter man underneath Cole’s hard exterior. But when Callie finally finds the courage to create a new life for herself, Cole isn’t sure if there’s enough of his heart left to give in order to be the man she deserves. Can two broken souls heal each other, or are some just too damaged to be put back together? This book contains some graphic scenes and very sensitive subject matter.REVIEW"It's very rare that an author surprises me. Kristen Granata didn't just surprise me, she completely blew me away. If you love emotional, poignant, and healing romance, you simply cannot miss What's Left of Me. A five-star must read and a lovely introduction for me to a new author I know I'll love for years to come." — Bestselling Author Kandi Steiner“This beautiful, heartrending book is a must-read. Kristen Granata delivered everything I want in a romance: romance, love, heartbreak, and healing. I’m still thinking about Cole and Callie weeks later.” — USA Today Bestselling Author Ella James“I’m making a bold statement, this is easily one of my top reads of 2020 and could likely be my number 1 read of the year. Quite frankly, this is one of the best books I have ever read. Hands down Kristen’s best work.” — Steamy on Sundays"There have been two books that have stood out to me, two books that I still think about today: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover and Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan. After this book, I'm adding a third to that list. Kristen knocked me off my feet with this one!." — NJPennyBookReviews“This is truly a once in a lifetime book. It's easily one of the best books I've read all year, and one of the best books I've ever read in general. There are definitely triggers, but if you are able to read safely, I encourage everyone to witness how amazing this book really is.” — Jenifer Briggs, GoodReads Reviewer"If you love: Co-Ho, Kandi Steiner, Emma Scott—those authors who run your heart through the wringer with high emotion, real struggles, solid friendships, and healing love—this is your book!" — Author Chloe Liese“Callie and Cole’s story is one I’ll never forget. It follows sensitive themes, so do read with caution, but I can assure you this story, as much as it may cause you upset and pain, it heals and provides hope in a different light.” — Book Fanatic“The writing was amazing, the story was heartbreakingly beautiful. This book kept me hooked from page one.” — Brie Reads Books"Once again, Kristen delivers on a raw, emotional, and beautiful storyline. I seriously loved this book so much." — Christine, ARC Reviewer

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08CD37RVC
Publisher ‏ : ‎ (July 16, 2020)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 16, 2020
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 2329 KB
Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 332 pages
Reviewer: Read Me Romance
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: This book is filled with hope, love, and healing. So many emotions!
Review: I generally read low-angst romances, but What’s Left of Me caught my eye and I try to read a new author at least once a month so I gave it a go. Wow. This book will wrap you in so many emotions and is truly heartbreaking at times as our heroine, Callie Kingston, navigates her own personal torment, yet remains hopeful and positive.Cole Luciano moves in with his sister who is best friends with Callie who lives across the street with her husband. From their very first meeting there was tension and assumptions, and I really admired Callie for recognizing that things aren’t always what they seem. They form a friendship and he calls her out on the secrets she has been keeping and helps her see her self-worth. I loved that one-on-one and group therapy was included in this story, and that the author recognizes that self-help starts from within.This book is about courage, loss, moving on, hope, forgiveness, and trust. I loved how these two broken souls found each other and helped each other heal. How they could admit all of their insecurities and pain and find happiness with one another. There were so many tears and heartbreaking moments, but honestly, I felt the author did a wonderful job describing real life struggles.I loved Callie’s positive energy and how she naturally went above and beyond to help others, and it can back to her ten fold. They were both so deserving of happiness and had such an intimate connection.Life can be very hard and we hurt and often don’t know what to do or say. People are often stubborn, but they are fighters and the human spirit is an extraordinary thing. This book was often sad, but it was also filled with hope, love, and healing, and had a very happy ending. If you are looking for a book to tug at your heartstrings, read What’s Left of Me.Please note: the author provides warnings that this book does include sensitive topics of domestic violence, infertility, miscarriage and SIDS, but it is told very empathetically and is integral to the story.

Reviewer: Lindsay L.
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Heartfelt Fuzzies with a Heaping Side of Frustration
Review: Another great read by Kristen Granata! This was an enjoyable story, but, at times, the characters were incredibly frustrating for me, so only four stars this time!What’s Left of Me is a contemporary (forced proximity?) romance about Callie Kingston and Cole Luciano, two people who’ve been bent by different, life-altering circumstances but not as broken as the two of them might at first believe.Callie, an Orange County housewife, is married to a successful lawyer, has a beautiful home, good friends, and a dog she loves. But not all is as it appears. Callie is suffering from depression, seeing a therapist, and overwhelmed with grief at her inability to have children. Several miscarriages, an unsuccessful surgery, and a diagnosis of low sperm motility have all forced Callie to accept children aren’t in the cards for her. On top of that, her husband Paul’s drinking has gotten worse and with every glass of alcohol he downs, Callie is left wondering if tonight will be another night he raises his fists to her.Cole, a New York native and brother to Callie’s best friend, Josie, has relocated to Orange County in the hopes of getting back on his feet. After watching his marriage, family, and life implode, Cole holes himself up in Josie’s pool house, working construction by day and hiding from his sister, brother-in-law, and nephews by night. He’s guilty, moody, and refuses to let himself get close to anyone, especially his sister’s beautiful best friend.But circumstances keep forcing the pair together anyway, and after Callie’s husband commits an unforgivable act forcing her to flee to Josie’s, the two are put in even closer quarters. Callie and Cole just can’t seem to stay apart from each other, and in the process of finding themselves, they learn there’s a reason they keep finding their way back to one another.As much as I enjoyed What’s Left of Me, I cannot ignore the few frustrating parts of this story. I love a good slow burn any day of the week, but this book takes that trope to a whole new level. Cole spends much of the novel buried beneath the weight of his guilt and refuses most of the affection and connections his family tries to make. And when he does connect with them, he almost immediately runs from it. When the truth of his past is revealed, it’s understandable why he behaves that way, but it goes on for just a bit longer than I wanted. However, Callie’s side of the story tends to make up for that. She takes a minute to come into her own, a rather long minute, but when she does, it’s a marvelous transition to experience. I will argue that it was a little unsatisfying how much of the novel she spends with her abusive husband, as well as how many chances she gives him to change when he clearly won’t, but it’s an honest depiction of how relationships like that often go. I know from others’ experience how difficult it can be to separate yourself from an abusive partner. (I was also disappointed we didn’t get to see Paul get any sort of comeuppance, but he’s not the important part of the story, so oh well!) Eventually, Callie does find herself and it’s delightful to see the person she soon allows herself to become. Her side of the story is a real credit to the spirit and drive in women to overcome obstacles that are thrown their way.Despite the frustrating moments, What’s Left of Me was a warm-hearted story with a strong man and an even stronger woman, a neatly tied up happily ever after, and a family full of individuals I’d love to be related to if I could be. (Josie’s a boss and I’d be her friend any day of the week!) If you’re looking for a heartwarming read that will inspire you to pull yourself up by your bootstraps when life is getting you down, Kristen Granata’s What’s Left of Me is the story for you!💛Trigger Warnings: Scenes and mentions of domestic violence, infertility, cheating, miscarriages/infant loss, drug abuse, prosititution, car accident, heart conditionSteam level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Reviewer: Krundel95
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: bring tissues
Review: This is a book I read out of left field. Amazingly written. Story line like no other. I don’t leave reviews often but this one deserves the praise.

Reviewer: Annah
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Easy love story.
Review: This was a cute love story. It was an easy read. It was kind of predictable but still enjoyable. It was a great quick stand alone read.

Reviewer: Nicole Ashley keys
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Healing
Review: This book has brought me so much healing. I’ve lost 4 babies! It validated my feelings and struggles! And it showed me I should start going to a grief group! Thank you so much Kristen!

Reviewer: chelsea -@chelseareadsromance
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Heartbreakingly Beautiful Romance
Review: ✨I’m not a big crier when it comes to romance novels. When people say a book brought them to tears I can understand why, but I never do. This one actually made me cry. I was cheering for both Callie and Cole’s healing from the beginning so they could inevitably get together and be absolutely perfect. Mental health is so important and Kristen doesn’t skip over the hard parts. And speaking of perfect, everything about this book is so real and flows so natural. The other characters are great! Josie is such a good friend and Gertie is full of wisdom. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it won’t be the last. I can’t wait to read everything she’s written!✨Callie Kingston has the perfect life. Big house, dream kitchen, cute dog, nice car... at least that’s what she tells herself while she covers the bruises and cleans up the broken glass that her husband leaves behind after their fights. She blames herself, and her inability to get pregnant, for husbands temper until enough is enough.Cole Luciano moves in to his sisters pool house after a tragedy in his life. He is mean and angry, and he just wants to be left alone with his guilt. But he can’t seem to stay away from Callie and her kind and bright personality.Cole and Callie could save themselves, and each other, if they just have a little hope.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫4.5/5

Reviewer: Lisa Anne
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Couldn't put it down! Just completely fell in love with it all the way to the end, will certainly be checking out Kristen's other books. Two of which are already on my shelf waiting for me 😊

Reviewer: Ana-Mariya
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Wow!! I am at a loss for words!! This book was just absolutely amazing!! It was also so heartbreaking and so well written. I love the fact that Kristen talked about so many taboo topics that are just very real in our society nowadays and not enough people talk about it. Thank you Kristen for touching on those topics, I really hope that Callie's story reaches and touches a lot of people.I mean I felt so much for Callie!! All she wanted was to have a family and be happy and for some reason none of it was happening. She had to go through so much and she would always blame herself for everything that was going wrong. This was so sad!! Thank god for her best friend and her family, and let's not forget, Maverick!! They helped her so much and I loved all the side characters!!And then there was Cole!! He was such a broken and broody character, but somehow, he managed to help Callie as well. He understood her so well and he went through so much as well. They did really help each other heal!!Thank you Kristen for writing this!! I honestly don't have enough words to describe how emotionally invested I was with those two.

Reviewer: Beyond the Pages Charli
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: This was an easy read even with the subject matter. An abusive husband but the promise of escape and hope and an understanding. This was beautifully written and I devoured it. I am loving Ms Granatas writing.

Reviewer: Lisa
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: A book about second chances at life and love. Callie is slowly coming to the realization her husband is no longer the person she met, causing her to rethink her whole life. Can her marriage be saved or does she need to rethink her future? Cole just wants to wallow in misery and lie with the ghosts that haunt him. Will Cole ever be free of the haunting images of loss? I loved that it was a slow burn and the couple were cognizant they needed time. It was a good read but there are several triggers to be aware of.

Reviewer: Kindle Customer
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Really enjoyed this book,easy to get into ,good strong characters and story line ,was written with compassion ,got through the book pretty fast would recommend