Blurb:*Mikayla*In one night my fairytale ended. Or it may have begun. This is my story of friendship and love, heartbreak and desire, and the strength to show weakness.*Jake*One night I met a girl. A sad and broken girl, but one more beautiful than any other. She laughed through her sadness, while I loved through her heartbreak.*This is our story of a maybe ever after.*He was right. It made no difference whether it was 6 months or 6 years.I couldn’t undo what had been done. I couldn’t change the future.I couldn’t even predict it.It was one night.One night when everything changed.It was so much more than just the betrayal.It was the Tragedy.The Deaths.The Murders.But it was also that feeling.The feeling of falling.
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My Review
Mikayla is your typical high school teen. She's popular, get good grades, belongs to the A crowd and dates one of the most popular guys in her school. She's beautiful, well-liked and most of all, she had a great family. She has everything until one night, everything is taken away from her. Suddenly, her life was turned upside down and life was never the same again.
Jake is the guy who has a goal in mind. His parents made sacrifices in their lives so that he can achieve these goals. Between baseball and school, Jake has no time for a distraction. And he certainly has no time to play savior to Mikayla. But he was the person who has seen it all with her. He was there at the right moment and he became her everything.
More Than This is an enjoyable read from start to finish. I sucked in by Mikayla and Jake's story. Both so young but both had to grow up really fast, Mikayla especially. Her story just breaks my heart. In what was supposed to be one of the most unforgettable moment of her life, everything she has known was taken from her. She was betrayed by the two people she trusted people. She was supposed to be able to count on them but these two people, not only betrayed her, but one of them was actually instrumental in taking away her family.
Despite the tragedy, she also found herself by people she never expected to be there for her at all--Jake and his family. This is probably my favorite aspect of the story. It just shows the goodness in people who are essentially, strangers but in the process have helped Mikayla cope with the tragedy. I loved Jake and his friends and how they took to Mikayla. Same goes with his family.
Another thing I loved about this is the slow build up of Jake and Mikayla's relationship. It was clear they were attracted to each other but it due to the circumstances surrounding their relationship, the urge to act on those attractions were hampered somewhat. The sexual tension was phenomenally written and when they finally got together and admitted their feelings, it was a welcomed feeling.
More Than This is Jay Mclean's first novel and I'm pretty sure it won't be her last. Definitely an author to watch out for in the YA/NA genre.
4.5 More Stars!!
My Dream Cast for Mikayla and Jake
Author Interview
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I didn't know I wanted to be one. Not until I wrote More Than This and realized that people enjoyed the story. I'd never written anything in my life. Not a short story, a poem, nothing. I wrote More Than This because the story played in my head and it consumed me. I still don't consider myself a writer. It's still a little overwhelming for me.
What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
I'm a stay at home mom with two boys, 3 and 1
-- So I write whenever they nap or when they go down for the
night. A lot of the time I'm up until 3 or 4 in the morning and
get up at 6.30 - 7. I'm a zombie a lot of days.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I like to throw in a little comedy in between
the angst and drama, and I think it really helps with the leveling
of the story. No one wants to have too much of the one thing all
the time.
I didn't know I wanted to be one. Not until I wrote More Than This and realized that people enjoyed the story. I'd never written anything in my life. Not a short story, a poem, nothing. I wrote More Than This because the story played in my head and it consumed me. I still don't consider myself a writer. It's still a little overwhelming for me.
What inspired you to write More Than This?
Like I said previous, it was just a storyline
that consumed my mind. I'd always had characters and stories and
scenes play out in my mind and I always though it was because I
watched too much T.V. Around June last year I picked up a book and
ten books later, reading became an obsession. So, I thought I'd
just give it a try. I guess I was lucky that people enjoy the
story as much as i enjoyed writing it.
How much of the book is based on your own personal
experience? Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in
your own life?
None of the major events are based on personal
experiences. There are some things, like the way Kayla's parents
met, is similar to how me and my partner met. Insta-love,
insta-attraction, etc. Also the way Mikayala and Megan met, is
based on me and my best friend's meeting.
Which of the characters you relate to the most?
I think a mix between Lucy and Mikayla.
When you are not writing, whose books do you like to read?
Any fave authors or books that come to mind?
I love Tijan's work. She writes teenage angst
like no-ones business. But her books are a
sit-down-and-don't-talk-to-me-What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
What's in store for your readers after this series?
I don't know how many books I'll be releasing
in this series - but I have a road trip book that I'll be writing
soon. I don't know how much more I'm going to write - I guess it
just depends on whether or not people keep reading my stories :)
Playlist
More Than This Playlist
About the Author
Author of Mature YA / New Adult contemporary novels, MORE THAN THIS and a soon to be released sequel, MORE THAN HER. I enjoy reading and writing books that make people laugh, cry andswoon for dreamy book boyfriends. When not doing either of those, I can be found looking after my two little boys, and trying to avoid house work at all costs.
Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
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Author of Mature YA / New Adult contemporary novels, MORE THAN THIS and a soon to be released sequel, MORE THAN HER. I enjoy reading and writing books that make people laugh, cry andswoon for dreamy book boyfriends. When not doing either of those, I can be found looking after my two little boys, and trying to avoid house work at all costs.
Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
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