(Review ) All Things New

All Things New by Lauren Miller

Publication Date: August 1, 2017

Pages: 328 (paperback)

Genre: Young Adult

My Goodreads Rating: 3.5 Stars

Goodreads Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Jessa Gray has always felt broken inside, but she’s gotten very good at hiding it. No one at school knows about the panic attacks, the therapy that didn't help, the meds that haven’t worked. But when a severe accident leaves her with a brain injury and noticeable scars, Jessa’s efforts to convince the world that she’s okay finally crumble—now she looks as shattered as she feels.

Fleeing from her old life in Los Angeles, Jessa moves to Colorado to live with her dad, but things go from bad to worse when she realizes she’s seeing bruises and scars on the people around her that no one else can see. She blames it on the accident, but as her body heals and the hallucinations continue, Jessa wonders if what she’s seeing could somehow have a deeper meaning.

In her quest for answers, she falls for Marshall, a boy whose kindness and generous heart slowly draw Jessa out of her walled-off shell and into the broken, beautiful, real world—a place where souls get hurt just as badly as bodies, and we all need each other to heal.

My Review: I wasn't sure what I was getting into with this one, but I was surprised at how much I liked it. Jessa seems like a strong character. You can tell that she's suffering from anxiety and that she's kind of vain. 

After her accident things change and she gets a reality check. When she moves in with her dad her life changes drastically. Suddenly she's being looked at because of her scars instead of her beauty, so she tries to hide from others. 

Making friends with Hannah and Marshall is pretty much what saves her. I love the dynamics between the three of them and how they all help each other out. I didn't feel like the romance was an insta-love; it was slow and sweet, starting with their friendship. Jessa's growth throughout the story is noticeable and appreciated. 

There's one point, at the end, that becomes a little weird as they describe one of the "characters" as an "angel". It's a little out of left field and also have an Every Last Word vibe, but I didn't think too much of it. 

All in all, a good story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Three Saints Press for the ARC.