Review: I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co.
Publication Date: February 3rd 2015.
My rating: 3.5 stars. 

If seventeen-year-old Skylar Evans were a typical Creek View girl, her future would involve a double-wide trailer, a baby on her hip, and the graveyard shift at Taco Bell. But after graduation, the only thing standing between straightedge Skylar and art school are three minimum-wage months of summer. Skylar can taste the freedom—that is, until her mother loses her job and everything starts coming apart. Torn between her dreams and the people she loves, Skylar realizes everything she’s ever worked for is on the line. Nineteen-year-old Josh Mitchell had a different ticket out of Creek View: the Marines. But after his leg is blown off in Afghanistan, he returns home, a shell of the cocksure boy he used to be. What brings Skylar and Josh together is working at the Paradise—a quirky motel off California’s dusty Highway 99. Despite their differences, their shared isolation turns into an unexpected friendship and soon, something deeper.

For the past few months I have read several glowing reviews for Demetrios’ work. And now finally after reading I’ll Meet you There. I can see what all the hype is about. Demetrios’ writing is absolutely gorgeous. She is able to weave a story of heartbreak and hope so well that I had a hard time keeping my emotions in check. 

The famous Josh Mitchell had returned from serving as a marine in Afghanistan, Skylar had worked with him at the hotel Paradise before he left, so was interested in when she had heard he had returned. However when she saw Josh, she didn’t expect to see what she saw. But Skylar being Skylar took it all in her stride and didn’t treat Josh differently because of it. It definitely had a huge impact on Josh’s character, before Josh was known to be a ladies’ man, he could easily charm anyone, but after his return you could say his confidence took a bit of a knock and Josh didn’t really know who he was, he had lost a lot in Afghanistan, so it was a massive step taking one day at a time. Skylar too thought she had it planned out, she would finally be leaving for San Francisco, she was tired of being cooped up in this town. But then things hit the fan and Skylar didn’t know what to do either. Skylar and Josh end up being two lost people that end up helping one another when they least expect to. Skylar has great friends in Dylan and Chris, but Josh seems to get her and ends up being there for her when she needs it the most. 

I loved the slow build up of Josh and Sky’s relationship, I was at first really wary about Josh’s character, especially what I’d heard of what he was like before. But I loved getting into Josh’s head and learning and understanding about his character. For Sky it was a tough at times getting through to him, but I’m glad that she didn’t give up on him. The build up of their relationship of course wasn’t without obstacles; I did hate it when one particular event did take place and also the constant Josh mood switching. But slowly Josh was able to chip away at these feelings of disappointment that I had formed against him. I was kind of annoyed by how things went down, but in the end I think it was important for both Sky and Josh’s character development. 

Josh and Sky’s character did have a huge impact on me, but Demetrios’ was able to include a great set of secondary characters which I ended up adoring too; Dylan, Chris and Marge. Dylan and Chris were like the two best friends a girl could ever ask for; they had their own stuff going on too, but would drop everything to be there for Sky. They were also great in livening up a scene with their bubbly personalities. And Marge was just an awesome motherly figure dishing out advice to Sky and Josh when they needed it the most. 

Although I didn’t end up enjoying I’ll Meet you There as much as I’d hoped, it still was a beautiful story that I’m glad I gave a go. It has certainly given me the encouragement to pick up more of Demetrios’ books up soon.