By Your Side by Kasie West
What's it about?:
"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?" - Goodreads Synopsis
My Thoughts:
Storyline:
I went into this thinking it was just going to be another contemporary romance with the same conflict, same resolution, and same ending. But amazingly, I was proven wrong. Although this book does have a little bit of that “I’ve definitely read a million of these books” feeling, but it also addressed mental health. Mental health is something very personal to me, so when it’s brought up in a book, a platform that could spread so much awareness, I am instantly hooked on the book.
The only thing that frustrated me was the fact that Autumn never thought to try to break a window. I get that after she discovered Dax in the library, things changed, but that would’ve been my first go-to if I discovered I was locked in a library with no phones, food, or heat. I feel like when it comes to survival of the fittest, Autumn would not do well.
Characters:
Autumn: Autumn at the beginning was that prissy girl that I hated in high school. But slowly but surely, her true character started to show and you realize that she actually has really bad anxiety, something I can personally relate to.
Dax: Obnoxiously “bad boy” in the beginning with not a care for anyone else in the world. Maybe I didn’t like Dax too much because to me he never “opened up” to Autumn about basically anything and that really irked me. Like, I get that he was a nice guy, but I didn’t really find any other qualities that were endearing. But maybe that’s just me being picky.
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