Mini Review: So Close by Emma McLaughlin & Emma Kraus

So Close by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus

Published: June 7, 2016

Published: Sparkpress

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis

Amanda Beth Luker has spent her whole life desperately looking for someone who can show her the way out of her trailer park Florida town. And then, finally, help arrives in the form of Tom Davis, a successful lawyer with political aspirations who grew up just a few towns over from Amanda. But it's his wife, Lindsay, who really captures Amanda's imagination. Strong, smart, and determined, she gives Amanda something she's never had: a role model. Meanwhile, Amanda is introduced to the wealthy, charismatic, and deeply troubled Pax Westerbrook. He clearly desires Amanda, but if she gives in will that move her closer to the life she's always dreamed of or make it impossible?

Amanda rides Davis's political success all the way to Washington, where he becomes Senator and will later be tapped for president and even makes a bid for the White House. But when Amanda starts to suspect, and later confirms, his moral indiscretions, her loyalty is tested. Will a girl from a trailer park even be believed if she goes public with damning information? Will she be willing to risk losing everything she's gained?

My Thoughts

So Close is the relatable tale of Amanda who hails from a small town and leaves for the chance of bigger and better things in life. Amanda meets the successful Tom Davis and in doing so lives the life she has always wanted for herself. She soon finds herself thrown into the political world and is soon introduced the mysterious Pax who has fallen for Amanda from the start. While she finds herself attracted she doesn’t want to mess up her new life and surely doesn’t want to go back to the trailer park so she doesn’t want to go there with him. She is enjoying this life but little does she know that privilege will ultimately come at a price. She soon finds out some info on Tom Davis but doesn’t want to lose this life that has basically fallen into her lap. She is torn by doing what’s right or keeping the life she has always wanted and has finally gotten.

So Close is the story of doing just about anything to achieve your goals and wanting a better life. And while we think we would do anything to achieve that sometimes we are put to the test and are pressured to decide what is more important to us, do we live life right or do we sacrifice our morals for the life of luxury. I love how Amanda is so relatable we all can know how it feels to want more in life. Even if you never lived in a small town we all know that desire to want a bigger life than the one we have. This is one read that can give you hope and one that shows us despite everything we can decide how our lives play out. We can be given opportunities it’s what we do with them that makes us who we are.