How to put into words what this book meant to me is not an easy task. I first need to start by going back to Luke in Night Shifts Black, the first book in the NSB series. When I originally read book one, I was a crazy mess of emotions. I didn’t realize this story was about mental illness or the impacts of this disease. Never in my reading experience had I come across something that was so beautifully written and so incredibly accurate about the effects of depression. Nor did I realize it would exert such intense emotions in me, about a subject so few are willing to discuss. My heart broke for Luke over and over, yet cheered for the boundless friendship that grew between Callie, Casey and him.
I was beyond sad when I reached the end of one of the most powerful books I’ve ever read. Craving to know more about where Luke’s new journey would take him, I looked for any signs of a sequel. Unfortunately, there was no hint of this from Ms. Santos.
I did my best to find something new to read but it was difficult coming off the emotional roller-coaster this book had me on. So imagine how elated I was a few months later, when Alyson Santos started to suggest Luke might be coming back to us, with a new story and new insight to where he’s been. Best day ever!
When the title Tracing Holland first lit up my Kindle, I would be lying if I didn’t say I was a nervous mess about what I was about to read. Seriously, if you haven’t read Night Shifts Black you might not understand. If you have, then you know exactly what I was experiencing at that moment. After taking a deep breath, I began what would be the start of yet another homerun by this author.
In this next chapter of his life, Luke is learning how to live with his depression and how to make amends with the mistakes of his past. One of these comes early on with his visit to Elena’s grave, and his apology to her for what has happened and the strength he finds when he’s done.
“I finally get it. This hope, this budding strength, this overwhelming sense of who she still is because of who she was. I may have failed her then, but she won’t fail me now. I finally believe.
I can get up. I can still live.
I can move on without letting go.”
This was a pivotal moment in this book, for me. It felt like one door was closing; allowing room for another one to open. Through this new door enters Holland, the frontwoman for Tracing Holland. The band that is on tour as one of the opening acts for Night Shifts Black.
You might be thinking it turns into a typical romance novel from here, where boy meets girl and his problems are over, while they fall madly in love. Nope, not even close, there won’t be any instant hearts and roses from this author. No, Ms. Santos believes in showing you the gritty reality of what it takes to find and build new love especially for someone like Luke, who is battling what he wants, with what he thinks he deserves. It’s raw, gritty, heartbreaking, healing and exposes the dents and scratches a couple endures when you love someone. Don’t take this as all doom-n-gloom because it’s not. We also get to see laughter, fun, and plenty of sharp wit between the two of them.
Although sad to see it end, I felt the ending left me satisfied that Luke is being left in good hands. His future is bright, even as a person who will have a life long battle ahead of him, he’s going to be okay.
As with the first book, there are several other storylines entwined with Luke and Holland. We get to see more of Callie and Casey’s sweet relationship. Plus cameos by returning characters, like Eli and Sweeny, mixed in with some new ones that you will fall in love with, like Wes, who I won’t say more about other than I’m slightly intrigued by this one.
If you haven’t read Tracing Holland and you’ve wondering if this series is worth it, the answer is overwhelmingly, YES! Buy it, read it, and fall in love with Luke and Alyson Santos. Her writing style is unlike anything you’ve ever read. In two words -it’s beautiful!
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Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2016
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Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2016
Top reviews from other countries
Di D
So good, worth more than 5 stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 20, 2019
