First published 2013
Tressa and Luke grew up as stepsiblings, inseparable since childhood. As teenagers, their bond deepens beyond friendship into something their family finds disturbing. They refuse to deny their connection despite the discomfort it causes everyone around them. Then Luke dies in a tragic accident, leaving Tressa consumed by grief and guilt. She contemplates suicide, overwhelmed by loss and isolation. At night, Luke appears to her as a ghost. When he touches the scars on her wrists, she can feel him. During these visits, the pain fades and they exist together as if nothing changed. She cannot tell him about her life since his death. By day, the living world intrudes. The same people who opposed their relationship now push Tressa to heal and move forward. She resists their efforts, terrified that any step toward recovery will sever her connection to Luke forever. Nina de Gramont explores forbidden love and the weight of letting go.
Genres: romance, literary-fiction, grief, ghost-stories, contemporary-romance, family-drama
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: forbidden-love, ghost, grief
384 pages · Hardcover · Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Content warnings: suicide