I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios
Published by Macmillan on February 3rd 2015
Genres: Adolescence, Family, Love & Romance, Military, Parents, Social Issues, Suicide, Young Adult
Source: ARC from Publisher
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I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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 freedomâthat is, until her mother loses her job and everything starts coming apart. Torn between her dreams and the people she loves, Skylar realizes everything sheâs 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 Paradiseâa quirky motel off Californiaâs dusty Highway 99. Despite their differences, their shared isolation turns into an unexpected friendship and soon, something deeper.
So far, I have read exactly two books dealing with the tough subject of post traumatic stress disorder as it relates to war. So far, both of these books have been a slam dunk. I’ll Meet You There can easily be compared to Something Like Normal by Trish Doller. In SLN you see only from the victim’s perspective, whereas in I’ll Meet You There you have an outsider’s view in, as well as the victim’s perspective out. If you like SLN, you will likely feel the same about this book – although I have to admit, I’ll Meet You There often sinks into deeper and darker places. Are you willing to meet the characters there?
The location. One thing I LOVED about I’ll Meet You There is that it takes place near where I grew up during my elementary school years. I could easily picture the setting of the novel. Though I did not live in a “small town” (where I lived in Clovis, CA is actually an outskirt of Fresno, which is ironically a city that is slammed in the novel) I had friends who did – plus, I frequently passed through these types of place on my way to “somewhere else”. These “hick” towns exist in various places across the country and everyone who has lived in or passed through one of these towns will likely understand the solidarity, almost “other-worldliness”, of such locations.
The feeling of being “stuck” and accepting what is rather than what could be is not an unfamiliar feeling for me. I understand Skylar’s need to be free from her current situation and, like me, there are certain things holding her back. Although Skylar’s mom is her personal downfall, she is also her security blanket of sorts and Creek View is her safe haven. It’s almost as though Skylar is looking for an excuse to stay – to stay young and innocent, to stay where she is most familiar. Her conflict rests in her desire to move on… Whereas Josh has already seen what’s out there. While Creek View is his safe haven (just like it is for Skylar) it is also a place where he feels he no longer belongs. Plus, he’s dealing with PTSD while trying to recover from a personal tragedy. It is not surprising how he has changed in the eyes of those who knew him before he was sent overseas. It is not surprising how the world he’d known had changed in his own eyes.
Tragedy seeps on every page in I’ll Meet You There. Your emotions will be taken through the wringer. Characters make really, really bad decisions and you will want to smack them over the head numerous times. But there is also so much beauty within these pages. You will appreciate the character’s insights, the dialogue, the descriptions on every page. Do you love scenes that involve dancing in the rain? I’ll Meet You There has got you covered. Do you appreciate art and creative insight into a city and the people in it? Just you wait until you read about Skylar’s “pet project”. Do you like contemporary fiction at it’s best? Well what are you waiting for???
Read it. Read it NOW.
Josh. Oh, Josh… Although I eventually fell for you – and fell hard – you really, really made it hard for me to sympathize (or is it empathize?) with you at the start. Oh, and that one mistake you made toward the end? I will blame it on your emotional constipation. But just know that you broke me, too. That HURT. That really, really hurt…
…And SKYLAR! I almost wanted you to NOT forgive and forget… but alas.
This ship still sailed, at least. (But not without rough waters.)
Strong central themes, characters and dialogue, plus a very hard-hitting and emotionally engaging story, are what keep I’ll Meet You There afloat. One must learn to forgive when it comes to reaching the end, though. Forgive and forget. Or at least cover it up with magazine clippings and lots and lots of glue.
Four 1/2 these two kids need all the hugs emojis!
 
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About Heather Demetrios
When she's not traipsing around the world or spending time in imaginary places, Heather Demetrios lives with her husband in New York City. Originally from Los Angeles, she now calls the East Coast home. Heather is a recipient of the PEN New England Susan P. Bloom Discovery Award for her debut novel, Something Real, which Publisher's Weekly calls â[An] addictive yet thoughtful debutâ about reality TV stardom. She is the author of EXQUISITE CAPTIVE, a smoldering fantasy about jinn in Los Angeles and what Kirkus called in its starred review "an intoxicating, richly realized realm of magic, politics, spirituality and history" (#1 in the DARK CARAVAN CYCLE). She is also the author of the upcoming Iâll Meet You There (Winter 2015). Iâll Meet You There is a love story about a young combat veteran and a girl trapped in their small town, both struggling to escape the war at home. Heather is the founder of Live Your What, an organization dedicated to fostering passion in people of all ages and creating writing opportunities for underserved youth. She is proud to have an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Tell us what you think of the book or my review in the comments below!
This book broke my feels. I haven’t read Something Like Normal (even though I own it), but I’m not sure I can handle another book about a soldier so soon! The thing with Josh near the end really was hard to handle, and he did make it difficult at times to like him, but in the end, he won me over. Even though I didn’t like that part, it was realistic – you can blame his age (hello raging hormones) and being traumatized…at least that’s how I justified it without wanting to throttle him lol. Great review!
Oh! I’m sure you can handle SLN! You definitely need to get on that STAT! ð Trust me.
I used your justification for Josh’s actions, also. In my “old age”, it is getting harder and harder to relate to those teenage “raging hormones”, though. Haha!
Amazing post sweetie. <3 I'm glad you enjoyed this book
Though I do wish I could see more negative reviews, like mine, lol. It was a two star for me. I hated so many parts of it 
but I do get why you and many others loved it 
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. <3
I can also understand why people might not like the book, too. So many difficult things to swallow – and I am not kidding when I say that it was really, REALLY hard to accept Josh’s actions in particular, regardless of his circumstances.
I am heading off to read your review now. I love seeing the other side of things!
I really want to read this one! I’ve heard all the good things about it. Plus, the story looks like something I would REALLY enjoy!
Great review [also that MLP gif is <333]
MLP forever!! I have a feeling you will LOVE this book, Nova. I can’t wait to hear our thoughts once you’ve read it. (Pack the tissues!)
Awesome review Jenna. I have this beauty pre-ordered already. I’m really looking forward to it. I hear nothing but good things. xoxo
All those good things being said are VERY well-deserved. It’ll be one of the “big contemporaries” of 2015, for sure.
Adding to my list to-read…. You know I loved SLN.
AND YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK ALSO, NANCI!
Great review. I’ve read a lot of reviews for this book. I’m still not sure it’s for me but I liked your analysis of Skylar wanting to leave but considering her home a safe haven. That resonates with me. And accepting what is as opposed to what cannot be. That was a really moving section.
It’s what so much of this book is about, Kat. If those points resonated with you, you definitely want to give this book a try. More so than the romance, it’s Skylar’s crossroads to her future that really hit me emotionally.
I’m scared to read these types of books. I’ve just heard so many wonderful things about this book I feel like I’ll be missing out if I don’t read it. Maybe one day I can get over my aversion to contemp. Great review!
You CAN do it, Kristen! You can!!! Some contemporaries are worth it, too!
Awesome review! I’m reading Heather Demetrios’ Something Real right now and I like her writing style. I’ve been seeing good reviews of I’ll Meet You there so I’m getting really excited to read it!
What’s hilarious is that I haven’t even read Something Real yet. This is my first Heather Demetrios book… DOH! But SR is sitting on my shelf and I plan to read it soon!
My friend Nereyda LOVED this book too. I love your review. I love books that are very emotional and well-written! I am going to try to read this soon. It will be my first Heather Demetrios book!
Awesome post!!! I’ve been dying to read this!