By Your Side - Kasie West (Review)

By Your Side by Kasie West
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Romance, Contemporary 
Publication date: January 31st 2017 
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: paperback, 346 pages
How I got it: My public library
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
My rating: 4/5 
 

In this irresistible story, Kasie West explores the timeless question of what to do when you fall for the person you least expect. Witty and romantic, this paperback original from a fan favorite is perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins and Morgan Matson.

When Autumn Collins finds herself accidentally locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn’t think things could get any worse. But that’s before she realizes that Dax Miller is locked in with her. Autumn doesn’t know much about Dax except that he’s trouble. Between the rumors about the fight he was in (and that brief stint in juvie that followed it) and his reputation as a loner, he’s not exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to rescue her.

Only he doesn’t come. No one does.

Instead it becomes clear that Autumn is going to have to spend the next couple of days living off vending-machine food and making conversation with a boy who clearly wants nothing to do with her. Except there is more to Dax than meets the eye. As he and Autumn first grudgingly, and then not so grudgingly, open up to each other, Autumn is struck by their surprising connection. But can their feelings for each other survive once the weekend is over and Autumn’s old life, and old love interest, threaten to pull her from Dax’s side?

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My thoughts:

After I read my first Kasie West book I knew I needed to read another one by this author and when I saw she had a new book out I knew I wanted to give it a try.

This book follows Autumn as she gets accidentally locked into the library for an entire long weekend with Dax the bad boy of the school.   Autumn tries to escape and then she tries to make the best of her situation.  The major issue is that Autumn has very bad anxiety and being trapped is something that is hard for her to deal with.

I had a lot of conflicted thoughts about Autumn as the main character.  I felt like she did have a condition that effects a lot of people and is something you can speak up about to your friends.  Autumn was trying to hide her anxiety, but that was only making things much worse for her.  I wanted her to be able to stand up for herself, because your friends should accept you for who you are.   During the book, she did grow on me and you can see that deep-down Autumn was a very strong character I just wish she was strong in all aspects of her life because she came off as a little shallow due to her importance of image in the beginning.

I loved Dax as the lead male character.  He was very guarded with his life and you can see why as the story develops all the issues that he is facing.  Dax is trying to lay low and just make it through high school without any additional altercations.  Dax is a very strong character and does a great job with guiding Autumn along and helping her to develop into a strong individual.   Dax is just trying to help Autumn where he can and that is why I loved reading about him.

The author does a great job with keeping the story moving along.  The two characters are only trapped in the library for a portion of the book and then they go back to their normal routines.   It felt like just the right amount of time having them trapped so we got to learn a little about each of them and then see where these issues could take us once they leave the library.  I love that we get to see what Autumn friends are like and her interactions at parties it is very interesting to see her actions.

I enjoyed the storyline and how it developed.  I did feel my one complaint would be that the accident that occurs seems a little crazy on the timing and I feel with the amount of anxiety that Autumn has explained to the readers her recovery time is a little quick.  She also steps up and help after the accident and takes on a great burden, which seems to be a lot in my mind for someone with anxiety  

I would suggest this as a beach read.  It was very fast paced and a lighter read.  It was easy to sit down and just want to devour this book! 

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About the Author

I write YA. I eat Junior Mints. Sometimes I go crazy and do both at the same time. My novels are: PIVOT POINT and its sequel SPLIT SECOND. And my contemporary novels: THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US, ON THE FENCE, THE FILL-IN BOYFRIEND, PS I LIKE YOU, and BY YOUR SIDE. My agent is the talented and funny Michelle Wolfson.

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