Real friendships can stand the test of time…

Synopsis

Ella and Roly have bright futures ahead of them when they meet as teenagers and strike up an unlikely friendship. She has her career in academia all mapped out, and his star is in the ascendant as member of a manufactured boy band.

But ten years later, neither is where they expected to be. A chronic illness forced Ella to abandon her studies and put her dreams on hold, while Roly got kicked out of the band and lost everything – all his money, his career in music, even the underwear-model girlfriend. 

When they cross paths again they’re both ready to start over, and they rekindle their friendship as they each try to get back what they lost.

But Ella didn’t tell Roly what really happened the last time they met. And if he finds out, will it be the end of their new beginning?

My review

When Ella and Roly become friends as teenagers, their paths couldn’t be more different. Ella is ready to start her years in academy, while Roly is member of a boy band ready to conquer the world.
Even if the contact isn’t always that close, ten years later they are still friends. However, their lives took a whole different direction… Ella has struggled with a chronic illness, putting her whole life and all her dreams on hold, while Roly got kicked out of the band and lost everything when his addiction became public knowledge…
Together they decide to start over again, and they try to win back what they once lost. And their friendship becomes a solid one. But Ella carries a secret, a secret that would devastate Roly and put their whole friendship at risk… 

I have read one previous book from this author, and as I truly enjoyed it (and had a few shocks there!), I was very curious to read this new book.

Even if Ella and Roly took a whole different direction in their lives, I absolutely loved reading how in several moments they find each other again and how easy their friendship is, even when some time has passed since their previous meeting.

Seeing how Ella is trying to live again after facing her illness, made me feel very proud of her. I do not know a lot of this chronic disease, so I cannot understand how difficult it is for Ella, but her courage and determination to get out there again, I cannot say more than just ‘bravo’!
I had a blast during her job interview, and even if the job was not something younger Ella would imagine doing, I could see how perfect it would be for present Ella.
Slowly Ella is not only getting back out there, but she also starts to enjoy the things she (sometimes under a gentle obligation) is doing.

Roly’s backstory is a bitter one… Being a member of a boy band is a dream for so many us ‘normal’ people, and seeing Roly accomplish that, well, I would be jealous of having such an amazing career. However, it’s easy to see only the glitter and glamour. But there is also a dark path, and unfortunately that’s the path Roly chose…   
And seeing how his life has been and still is falling apart, broke my heart, especially when those who should look after him, obviously didn’t. 

Luckily for them, and for us readers, Ella and Roly decide to ‘reboot’ their lives together. I found it utterly sweet to see how these friends manage to help each other and slowly are getting closer to each other.
This is for me proof, that no matter how much you screwed up in the past, you can still take the right path and make something meaningful of your life. 

I loved how sometimes we have flashbacks, and we can see how Ella and Roly are meeting up again during several years. And it doesn’t show us only the best parts, but also the worst parts… And even if this is a fictional story, that made it more realistic. Because life isn’t always great and wonderful…  

When Ella’s secret is out, I didn’t find it a massive shock. But that’s because I thought the secret would be on a complete different level so I was a bit erassuered when it was something totally different. But I also understood Roly was. Because the secret made a lot of things clear, but it also jeopardizes the relationship between our beloved main characters.  

But this isn’t absolutely a depressing story! I had so many laughs while reading, and I absolutely loved Ella’s workplace and her bosses and colleagues. Roly’s mother and grandmother are absolute darlings who you wish could have in your life too.

I found this a wonderful read, about the setbacks of life, but also about the possibilities and second chances that life gives. And I found it a real important message that just because your life takes a different direction, it doesn’t mean it’s a ‘lesser’ life. Growing up, maturing and taking another path, makes you realize what truly matters to you, and sometimes it’s not the thing you always dreamed about.