Living Again by L.L Collins Book Review

This book was breathtakingly beautiful...

 This book begins after the death of our main character, Kayley's husband, Alex. Alex dies in a car accident on his way home. What makes this story even more heart shattering is that she is also pregnant with their first child, a little girl who soon gets the name Alexis after her father. This story picks up after she has to go to the hospital as Alexis has a fall where she meets 'Dr. Yummy' otherwise known as Ben. But, Ben also has had a rough past and these events make both characters flawed, paranoid but most of all cautious. They are not doing anything lightly in their lives as they've both been hurt tremendously by former relationships in different ways. But, the events do not always equal less hurt for the characters. These events almost destroy them. 

 There connection is remarkable, they are attracted to each other of course but that part comes later in the book.The way they feel for one another emotionally is the core of this novel. Ben falls for Kayley hook-line-and-sinker but Kayley isn't all that happy that she feels this way towards a stranger, almost like she's cheating on Ben and that thought haunts her heart. She cannot give him her heart, not without a fight. Which he does. Ben found out his fiance was cheating on him, his fiance was a woman he loved with all of his heart, but upon meeting Kayley he's thinking maybe he didn't know what true love was.  

I loved the relationship between Ben and Lexi, as she was just the cutest child in the fiction world and I was very impressed with the writing style in which it showed her progression from baby to toddler. Ben adores Lexi as soon once he meets her, and Lexi is infatuated with him instantly. Ben loves both Kayley and Lexi and I think that's what makes Kayley love him, because he accepts her and her daughter. Mostly, he accepts and respects every memory of Ben. 

Bens past comes to bite them both on the butt in many ways but I liked that it wasn't dealt with irrationally like many other female leads in romance novels. She has felt real loss and although she feels as though she has lost him she doesn't throw caution to the wind and not carry on with her life. Sure she escapes for a little while but she hasn't lost herself, she allows herself to be swept away without resolving the issue thoroughly, but she carries on her normal life, with a heavy heart. This aspect reminded me of Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover she allows herself to recover from the pain for both her sake and her daughters.

 

This novel is well rounded which I really appreciate as I enjoyed reading about their lives after they fall in love. After they resolve an issue I want to see them continue being happy, or if they completely fall apart. Lily Collins does a brilliant job in giving these characters thoroughly thought out lives together, their continuous happiness and there growing family was a treat to have at the end of the book as I did not want to be kept hanging.

 Ben is now one one of my book boyfriends! But Ms. Collins herself has told me that Devin in 'Reaching Rachel' may just beat Ben! That is one incredibly high standard and with the bar so high after Ben I cannot wait to read about Devin and Rachel!! I have already downloaded the kindle version of her second book and I really hope there is some mentions of my bbf (book boyfriend) as I think I'm having withdrawals :'D 

This book left me with a huge book hangover so I hope her next one does not do the same... or I do, it's a feeling of euphoria really you're ecstatic you read the book, but sad it had to finish and now you're afraid nothing will live up to it. The struggle is real ;) 




Want to read this book? Purchase it on BookDepository today and I'll get a commission! http://www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=Micaela

 Stars? 5/5
Favourite Character? Ben, hands down. He treats both Lexi and Kayley greatly and with great care. 
Least Favourite Character? Is it bad that I really don't have one?
Favourite Quote? 'I understand you're scared. You lost a lot. You thought you were with the man you were going to stay with forever and he's gone. I get that. But please, baby. Please. Give me a chance to show you he wasn't the only one that can love you.'