The journey of love

Synopsis

Life is full of highs and lows, but it’s who helps us through that counts.

Stumbling across her teenage diaries in her childhood home, Charlie is instantly transported to the 1990s.

Charlie relives all the emotions and feelings as memories come flooding back, from first kiss to first love and everything in between.

Back in the present and Charlie discovers that even in the darkest of times, light and laughter can ALWAYS be found.

A heartfelt journey through life, from teenage angst to the trials and tribulations of adulthood. Family love, friendship and romance weave throughout but who will love you, always, forever?

My review

While being back in her childhood home, looking after her ill mother, Charlie suddenly finds her old diaries again.
Those diaries bring her immediately back into the 90’s, and Charlie finds herself on a memory journey, rediscovering young Charlie having her first kiss, falling in love for the first time, and all the struggles while growing into adulthood.
But also thanks to those diaries, Charlie realizes that no matter how difficult things may get in life, there can always be found a silver lining.
A silver lining that perhaps will be the start of something new…

As I was born in 1986, I truly lived the ’90 as a young girl. As a teenager I followed every possible hype, and even if I was not one to follow fashion, I still had those Buffalo boots (were they a hype everywhere or was it just in Belgium?) and had my first crush in those years.
So reading this book was for me, like many of my peers, a real throwback down to memory lane! 

Despite the title of this book, I didn’t know what to expect. Was it a romance about second chances at love? Or was it a story about having found that One Love? From its blurb I couldn’t truly get any actual hint, so I was very curious to know what it was about. 

And it took me while to get completely into this story, but once I got in, I couldn’t get out. Of course, Charlie’s diaries taking her back to a time I know so well (and not so long ago! 😊) made it easy to feel connected with Charlie.
But not only that, also Charlie’s journey to get at where she is right now, was so recognizable.  

I hope it doesn’t sound very condescending, but Charlie had a normal life. She grew up with all the issues every child, teenager and young adult had. She tried to find her own path, with trial and error, with falling in love and also with having doubts about everything and everyone.
It did ring a bell with me, and I am sure it will do also with you! 

But this wasn’t only a trip down memory lane, as we also see all – grown – up Charlie facing present hardships.
And somehow it was amazing to see the evolution Charlie made from a young girl to this adult woman, who can still stand strong, despite every curveball life throws her. 

I have to admit, it drove me a little bit crazy not knowing the endgame of her love life immediately. But that it also the charm of the book, because no matter how much you plan or dream, you can only hope for the best but can neve know how life will turn out the be and if that person you loved once so dearly will still be standing by your side so many years later.
And that mystery has been put to words so well by this author! 

While reading, you can clearly see how personal this book is for the author. She took some inspiration from her own experiences, and you can see that personal touch while reading.
And that extra touch made this book not only remember me myself growing up, but made me realize what a wonderful tale this was about where not only life can take you, but also love…