Review: The Secret History of Us by Jessi Kirby

The Secret History of Us by Jessi Kirby

Published: August 1, 2017

Publisher: HarperTeen

Format: via Edelweiss

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis

When Olivia awakes in a hospital bed following a car accident that almost took her life, she can’t remember the details about how she got there. She figures the fog is just a symptom of being in a week-long coma, but as time goes on, she realizes she’s lost more than just the last several days of her life—she’s lost her memory of the last four years. Gone is any recollection of starting or graduating high school; the prom; or her steady boyfriend Matt. Trying to figure out who she is feels impossible when everyone keeps telling her who she was.

As Liv tries to block out what her family and friends say about who she used to be, the one person she hasn’t heard enough from is Walker, the guy who saved her the night her car was knocked off that bridge into the bay below. Walker is the hardened boy who’s been keeping his distance—and the only person Olivia inexplicably feels herself with. With her feelings growing for Walker, tensions rising with Matt, and secrets she can’t help but feel are being kept from her, Olivia must find her place in a life she doesn’t remember living.

My Thoughts

The Secret History of Us follows Olivia as she wakes up from a coma after a terrible car accident. She finds out she doesn’t remember the last four years of her life. When she finally goes home she not only has to try and get over her injuries she’s also trying to find out who exactly she is. Her family and friends including a boyfriend she doesn’t remember let alone has feelings for, try and tell her how she was before but nothing feels right until a boy named Walker enters the picture. Walker not only saved Olivia she feels that there is something more there, she just has to piece everything together to try and find out what exactly that is. She feels this connection to him that she can't explain but doesn’t want to rush into anything. Olivia must find a way to live in a world she doesn’t remember.

I really enjoyed this novel it’s to date my favorite Jessi Kirby read. I love the storyline and I loved how Olivia stood up for herself and didn’t just buy into everything people were telling her. She didn’t just fall back into the life or way they told her she lived and was. She knew she wanted to know what happened but also knew she couldn’t just do and be the person they wanted her to be, she needed to find a place that was comfortable for her in the now.

This is a wonderfully written novel about second chances and standing up for yourself. It’s all about finding your true self even if it meant letting go of who you were before. While there is a dash of romance this read wasn’t all about that, it was about loving and healing yourself and sometimes that has to happen before you can focus on anyone or anything else.