A review by cgj13
This Book Will Change Your Life by Amanda Weaver

4.0

I received an ARC of this ebook from Net Galley.

This was a really quick, fun read. Not much substance, but that's okay. Its a nice refresher from long, complex books. Mostly, this could be a YA book, until the sex scenes. Which are pretty mild, but I would hate to think of a young teen reading this book.

The premise of the book is a college freshman, Hannah, and college senior, Ben who meet by chance and fall in love. Both who have started their college careers but finding they want a change, but are afraid of telling their parents. Hannah knows her father will support her, but is afraid of disappointing her and her deceased mother. Ben, on the other hand, has an overbearing, controlling father who already doesn't like his major, and wants Ben to head down a career path he has no desire for, but is doing it because it's what's "right".

There is sexual tension between Hannah and Ben, that they won't admit to each other. And as most relationships go, there is a bit of uncertainty about the other person and their actions. At first I found Hannah to be irritatingly naive, a theme she also feels that Ben is viewing her as, but she brings up strong values of questioning Ben's motives and how that affects her and their relationship. As the story moves on, Hannah's strength is shown, and I like her more and more.

Beyond the romance of this book, I find that college students, or even high schoolers, and adults alike, could gain a boost of confidence to change their life path. I identify clearly with Ben and Hannah's, mostly Hannah, difficulty in owning their future because of disappointing others. I found myself in the same situation as Hannah when I was in my freshman year of college.

"I glance at the titles. What's in each one that he's considering? They all means so much to him. These books suddenly seem like windows to alternate universes, places he's been to and remembers. Places I want to go"