I am a total English nerd, and when I read the synopsis for Two Roads, I got giddy. What English nerd/teacher doesn't enjoy a book with poetry interwoven throughout the story line, especially one with her favorite poet Robert Frost? But when I began the novel, it was apparent that poetry was not the only driving force that connected the two main characters.College student Cali Monroe is trying to recover from her brother’s suicide in a less than desirable way. She has created a persona for herself full of deceit, gossip, and random hookups which never occur. This bad girl persona is her way of coping with her brother’s death, but deep down, Cali is broken. She hates to pretend to be something she is not in order to escape the guilt she carries from her brother’s suicide. She blames everyone for his death, including his best friend.Logan Waters is the essence of hot math geeks. He even wears the geeky shirts to prove it. Logan was Cali’s brother Ben’s best friend and the last person with him before he took his life four years earlier. When they were younger, the three were inseparable. Cali even crushed on Logan as a teenager, but things quickly changed after Ben’s death. The once deep-rooted friendship became something of the past, one that neither wants to admit to, and Cali engages in a six-month prank fest with Logan when transfers to the same college as she. Together, they produce a whirlwind of back-and-forth degrading banter. However, throughout the pranks and name calling, it is obvious that Logan is harboring some guilty feelings for Ben’s death, too. For both Cali and Logan, pranking and hurtful words are the only coping mechanisms that seem to take away the blame for Ben’s death.When Cali’s pushy parents set up a blind date for her, she is less than thrilled. And then, she discovers that the date is with Logan, her arch nemesis. It is at the end of this blind date that the mention of a poetry convention is leaked out. Unbeknownst to Cali and Logan, each one is a poetry lover, and the tables begin to turn. Yes, there are still goofy pranks between them, but the entrance of crepes and a little sound advice from Cali’s roommate Ruby make everything better.The two attend the convention, sharing their love of poetry. Cali quickly realizes that there is much more to Logan than his math knowledge, and Logan sees another side of Cali. Through their love of poetry, the two reconnect, bonding over a poem entitled “Two Roads.”I loved this book. Yes, I knew the Robert Frost and E.E. Cummings’ references, and I enjoyed playing the quote game along with Cali and Logan as they were on their way to the convention. However, the one aspect that I enjoyed the most is how L.M. Augustine is able to take such a dark theme (suicide) and present it in a way that enables the characters to find peace in the end.This is my first novel to read by L.M. Augustine, and I have now placed him on my go-to list. I applaud you, Mr. Augustine, for tackling a hard topic and delivering it in a way that doesn’t glorify it, but shows the true emotions of those who are left behind to pick up the pieces and choose their own roads to travel. I received an ARC of this book for an honest review.There are several paths people can take in life. One of easy and one of hard. Troubled or Smooth. Cali Moore has thought for years that Logan Waters is part of the reason her brother is dead. She has chosen a path of destruction. The mean girl. The one who puts down others to seem like she gets a kick out of putting people down and using guys for her pleasure with no commitment. That's who she portrays to be but not who she really is. She's stopped being Cali. The guilt of her brothers death weighing heavily on her shoulders....she stopped having a relationship with her parents and pushed everyone away. Logan was her nemesis.He transferred to the same college as her and she tried her hardest to pull the biggest pranks on him she could. They both took our their hurt on each other. Insults and relentless pranks. She tried to deny herself the feelings she's always had for Logan.They both share a love of poetry. She never knew he loved it as much as she did. Their parents set them up on a blind date and that's when they figured it out. They were connected by something else. Friendship, death, school, pranks, and poetry. Try as she might Cali can't fight her feelings for Logan. She wants so badly to tell him how she feels. She wants to give into his stares. To really truly allow herself to love.I found this story to be slow to start but interesting to finish. I would put it down then pick it back up. It didn't capture me at the start but I kept reading and by the end I enjoyed the story much better. These two kids have a lot to bond over and their story is typical but unconventional with the death of the one person that always was the center between the two. They have to learn how to let go of the grief to allow love in and chose which road they will take. Hard or easy....which one will be worth it?
What do You think about Two Roads (2013)?
DNF - really repetitive. I couldn't get into it as hard as I tried. Wasn't for me
—Anita
