You Were Mine by Abbi Glines Series: Rosemary Beach #9
Also in this series: Rush Too Far
on December 2nd 2014
Pages: 256
Goodreads
Gossip is the ultimate currency in Rosemary Beach, but Bethy and Tripp have managed to keep one big secret to themselves.Eight years ago, Tripp Newark was dating a rich girl he didn’t like and was on his way to Yale—and a future he didn’t want. The only way he could escape his predictable life would be to give up the money and power that came with his family’s name. And that’s exactly what he planned to do. At the end of the summer, he was going to ride off on his Harley and never look back. That was before he met Beth Lowry.It was only supposed to be a summer fling. She was a sixteen-year-old trailer-park girl who served drinks to his friends at Kerrington Country Club. They didn’t run in the same social circles. No one even knew they were friends, let alone lovers. Yet, for one summer, Bethy became his entire world.But he couldn’t give up on his plan. He needed to leave Rosemary Beach, but he vowed he would come back for her. Problem was, by the time he came back—years later than promised—it was too late. His cousin, Jace, had already claimed the woman he loved…
Note: You Were Mine is a part of Abbi Glines’ Rosemary Beach series. It works perfectly as a stand alone novel however there are some fairly big spoilers with regards to the lives of characters in the previous books.
Bethy was Tripp’s. For one perfect summer eight years ago they were together and they were happy. But then everything fell apart. Now Tripp is back in Rosemary Beach and he wants Bethy back. Bethy is still grieving after he boyfriend died and blames Tripp for ruining everything. Hurting and angry, it seems like Bethy is never going to forgive Tripp but he is willing to do whatever it takes to make Bethy, his one and only true love, his again.
In the past year I’ve read more than a few Abbi Glines novels and You Were Mine is without a doubt my favourite. Telling the story of Bethy and Tripp, this book is a breathtaking story about heartbreak and redemption. We have gotten to know both Bethy and Tripp from other stories in the Rosemary Beach series and it was nice to get to see their past as well as their present. There’s a lot of change and growth for both characters and getting to see both sides was a great way to show their story.
In previous books by Abbi Glines, we’ve gotten to see the bad boy tamed by the innocent girl. I loved this book for being something a little different. This isn’t just another story with a player who treats women somewhat poorly until he finds “the one”. Tripp is different from the other guys I’ve read about in this series and it was a refreshing change. Bethy is the perfect person for him and I truly enjoyed how the author crafted their story. Their pasts haven’t been forgotten but rather highlight and play a great role in showing how Bethy and Tripp have become the people they are today.
Bethy and Tripp’s story works tremendously well showing both points of view both in the present day and from the summer they were together eight years ago. It is such a tremendous way to show the reader the events and emotions for both parties. The chemistry between Bethy and Tripp is evident from the first pages despite their somewhat hostile relationship. Their romance hasn’t been an easy one and there are hurt feelings on both side. I loved that Abbi Glines makes Tripp really work for Bethy but I also appreciated how Bethy handled the situation. The hurt from how their previous relationship ended is realistic and palpable. Their relationship – both the past and present – is beautifully written and fits the characters perfectly. I loved getting to see how characters from the other books in the series are now they have had their happily ever after and it was interesting getting to see the dynamics between the group of friends.
You Were Mine is a beautiful story and a perfect addition for the Rosemary Beach series. There’s heartbreak, sizzling romance, fantastic friendships and a great story about a boy and a girl falling in love. This book is the perfect summer read and a must for fans of other books in the series.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster Australia for the review copy.
