Title: Who We Were
Author: Lindsay Detwiler
Publication: February 25, 2017
Publisher: Hot Tree Publishing
Genre: Romance
Pages: 215
SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
“I guess that’s the thing about high school reunions, though. They make you snap a little.”
In the ten years since high school graduation, Maylee’s career, living arrangements, family, and especially her love life are at a standstill. When her twin brother, Mitch, falls for her high school enemy at their ten-year reunion, Maylee’s life is catapulted into chaos.
Maylee’s hatred for the blonde-haired Josephine isn’t the only thing she discovers at her reunion. Benson Drake, the introvert from high school, has matured into a sexy intellect. Now a writer and bartender, Benson’s grown into a man with a perfect balance of quirky wit and sex appeal. After a wardrobe malfunction, a spy mission gone wrong, and a dangerous cup of coffee, Maylee and Benson explore something they never even thought about during senior year. Along the way, they find out that reconnecting with the past can change you… or maybe just help you find your true self.
REVIEW:
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
Confession: Once again, I did not read what this book was about when asked to read it. I immediately said YES and cleared my reading schedule to accommodate the book. I was so excited. Lindsay Detwiler did not disappoint! True to form, she gave a book that spoke to all those nerdy girls from high school (which I am fairly certain I was one), gave hope to all those “mean girls” out there by convincing us people can change after high school. After all, we are all young, stupid and have no idea what will happen after we leave those four walls.
The book opens with Maylee getting around for her high school reunion. She is attempting, for what seems like the millionth time, to put her contact lens in. She finally gets it and does a happy dance around the bathroom. She does her make-up following the youtube videos that she watched to make her eyes looks smokey and gorgeous. Her twin brother, Mitch who she lives with, hollers for her to hurry up. She dashes to her bedroom and puts her wonder bra on that promises to make you go up at least two cup sizes. She squeezes herself into a tight, tight little black dress. Which she now realizes she tried on and bought without trying her wonder bra on with it. She squeezes, sucks, dances and finally gets that zipper up. She admires herself in the mirror. If she doesn’t take a deep breath she should be good. As she gazes at herself in the mirror she is determined to prove that she is not that mousy girl from high school with flat boobs and dorky glasses. Mitch and Maylee arrive at the reunion. Maylee immediately spots her arch-nemesis, Josephine. She made Maylee’s life a living hell in high school. From stealing her boyfriends to putting up embarrassing life size photos for the whole school to see. While trying to leave the reunion in a hurry Maylee trips over her feet putting a rip up her very tight dress from breast to navel showing everyone that she is wearing a wonder bra. She is rescued by an unlikely source, Benson. The geeky, nerdy guy in high school who is now very, very attractive. He drives her home, while Mitch stays at the reunion. One thing leads to another and Mitch begins a serious relationship with Josephine. Maylee is devastated. It’s just not the petty high school stuff that makes her despise Josephine, it goes much deeper. She must break up this relationship and reveal the secret. Will it ruin Mitch and Maylee’s twin bond? Will Maylee succeed in breaking them up?
I LOVED this book. I read it in 3.5 days. I could not put it down. It gave you everything. Elation when Maylee’s life finally falls into place. Sadness and tears when you find out more about her family. Embarrassment when Maylee and her best friend pull some crazy shenanigans. Shock when you finally find out what Josephine did to Maylee to make her resent her so much. This book spoke to me. I was that geeky kid in school. The one with the glasses hauling her books all over the place. I always had my nose stuffed in a book. I could relate to her so much. Our life might not turn out how we wanted it to in high school. But hopefully, when you take a step back, you realize your life turned out pretty amazing after all.
STAR RATING: 5/5
Who We Were by Lindsay Detwiler is available now on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Make sure to add Who We Were to your Goodreads To Read list and leave your feedback for Lindsay Detwiler when you are finished reading. Also make sure to check out more books from Lindsay Detwiler, including To Say Goodbye, Then Comes Love, Without You, and Voice of Innocence, which we have reviewed in the past.