Review of "The Way Back to You"

"It was her wish that if she lost her life, she might save others."

     In The Way Back to You, Michelle Andreani and Mindi Scott tell the story of two relative strangers brought together by the same loss. It has been six months since Ashlyn Montiel perished in a bicycle accident, leaving behind an enormous circle of friends and family but also donating her organs to save countless lives. While Cloudy understands this, it doesn't make coping with the loss of her best friend any easier. She can go a month without slipping up, then find herself turning to ask Ashlyn a question--except Ashyln isn't there. Worse off is Kyle, who lost more than his girlfriend when she died. In the months since her passing, he's grown listless and tired, losing interest in everything he once thought he loved. When Cloudy finds the list of Ashlyn's organ recipients, it seems only right that she and Kyle should take a trip to see them. Maybe it'll help them get over last year's terrible mistake and finally heal--or maybe it'll make everything worse.

     Claudia "Cloudy" Marlowe and Kyle Oci have one of the most beautiful relationship arcs in recent young adult fiction. Thanks to a mistake Cloudy made a year ago, the two people who loved Ashlyn most can barely stand to look at each other, but they're willing to try again for her sake. As they journey down the West Coast of the United States, these teens explore the depths of their grief, learn to help each other cope with their pain, and start to come to terms with the implications of Ashlyn's absence. Though this is ostensibly the story of a dead girl's friend and boyfriend working together to heal, beneath the surface it is also the tale of two people with so much shared baggage that fixing their relationship seems nearly impossible.

     As the plot is centered entirely around a grand road trip, the protagonists find themselves in a variety of richly detailed locales, each well-written and incredibly realistic. Whether it's a boardwalk, an empty theme park, or the back of a hippy van, there is always something new and exciting to experience. Of course, with that comes a great deal of trouble. Bad memories, rude friends, spiked sweets, and ghosts from the past all rear their ugly heads over the course of the novel, even as Kyle and Cloudy catch glimpses into the lives of the people Ashlyn saved through her donations. West Coast residents may recognize some of these places, adding fun Easter eggs for readers familiar with the region. Those who live elsewhere, though, will have no trouble picturing them.

     Cautious readers have little to fear going into this tale, with its generally clean language and its lack of violence. The themes are well-balanced, the characters tangible and relatable, the romance subtle and respectful of the context in which it occurs. During a weird interaction with some old friends, one of the characters accidentally consumes spiked food; this is not celebrated, and has a serious impact on the rest of the plot. Throughout the narrative, Kyle toys with the concept of reincarnation, even going so far as to befriend an animal who reminds him of Ashlyn. He also reminisces to the reader about his relationship with Ashlyn. Once, a protagonist is disturbed to find two classmates on a secret rendezvous at the local church.

     I would recommend this book to teenagers and young adults interested in a story about love, loss, grief, and moving on from tragedy. Michelle Andreani and Mindi Scott have a way with words, weaving together estranged classmates, the death of a friend, crushes, nosy family, and an adorable pet to form a road trip of epic proportions. With its strong themes and beautiful romance, this work takes a look at everything from the stages of grief to what it means to grow up. For great worldbuilding, positive messages, and a lovely cast, The Way Back to You deserves five stars.