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Published by SparkPress
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
Dying wasn’t on seventeen-year-old Xander Hemlock’s summer to-do-list. Finding ways to spend more time with his girlfriend, Lila, was the most critical thinking he planned on doing. But that was before he found himself trapped in a realm of only darkness with thirty days to convince Lila he’s not actually dead—well, not completely, anyway. As Xan tries to show Lila she isn't alone, she struggles to comprehend how her life has changed so completely. Six months ago her life was perfect: she was on her way to becoming a professional dancer, her parents were still married, and her boyfriend was alive. But now, with her anorexic tendencies stronger than ever, she must decide which is the lesser of two evils: letting go to be with a boy she doesn't love, or holding on to the unreasonable, yet overpowering, feeling that Xan is still within reach...and trying to show her something. Improbable and endearing, Within Reach is a story of two soulmates discovering that sometimes it takes more than one lifetime to get it right.
Product Details
- Publisher: SparkPress (May 17, 2016)
- Length: 248 pages
- ISBN13: 9781940716688
- Ages: 12 - 18
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Raves and Reviews
2016 Best Book Awards: YA Fiction, Finalist
2017 USA Best Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Young Adult 2018 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist in Young Adult (12 years to 16 years)
"In alternating chapters, the present-tense, frequently purple narrative of the vividly drawn Xan and Lila is urgent, keeping the intensity taught. An intense, at-times overwrought romance for genre fans.” ?Kirkus Reviews
“A powerful love story, Within Reach grips the reader from page one as two soul mates fight against all odds to rediscover each other and prove that death is only temporary.” —James Marsden, actor of The Notebook, Enchanted, and more
“Within Reach is an elegant and sometimes painful story of teenagers struggling with love, loss, and redemption. Jessica Stevens’s unique portrayal of misguided souls finding their way through darkness dances confidently off the page. The story’s ending lingers reflectively long after the music stops.” —Brady G. Stefani, author of The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman
“Ms. Stevens's first novel is so intriguing . . . a romantic fantasy between two separate worlds. Full of imagination, mystery, and possibility, it leaves you with a sense of danger, fear, and hope all at the same time—and keeps you thinking, 'what if . . . ‘” —Rene Steven, primary school librarian, Brookfield Academy
“Jessica Stevens has written a gem of a first novel. With relatable, believable characters, carefully crafted dialogue, and a compelling story, this novel is truly a work of art. All at once it is a ghost story, a mystery, and most of all, a love story—a love story spanning lifetimes. If this book is any indication, I’d say that Ms. Stevens has found her calling, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.” —Abigail Jensen Waugh, Librarian
"Don’t pick up Jessica’s debut novel unless you have cleared your schedule because you aren’t going to be able to put Within Reach down. It has something for everyone: a phantom boyfriend with something to prove, a beautifully broken ex-ballerina, and a sexy All-American with a dark secret.” —Emily Norris, blogger at www.godsknot.com
"Within Reach is an intoxicating, heart-pounding tale of love, loss, and two souls forever bound by their choices. Xan and Lila are the modern-day Romeo and Juliet—proving that nothing will keep true love apart.” —Kristen Hunt, author of Blonde Eskimo
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- Book Cover Image (jpg): Within Reach eBook 9781940716688
