Review: The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden – Jessica Sorensen

For Kayden, suffering in silence was the only way to survive. If he was lucky, he could keep his head down, do as he was told, and make it through the day. But one night it seemed like his luck-and his life-might finally end . . . until an angel named Callie appeared just in time to rescue him.

Callie has never believed in luck. Not since her twelfth birthday when everything was taken from her. After the worst was over, she locked up her feelings and vowed never to tell anyone what happened. Now, six years later, she continues to struggle with the painful secret that threatens to consume her.

When fate lands Kayden and Callie at the same college, Kayden is determined to get to know the beautiful girl who changed his destiny. Quiet and reserved, Callie still fears letting anyone else into her world. But Kayden is certain that Callie has come back into his life for a reason. And the more he tries to be a part of her life, the more he realizes that, this time, it’s Callie who needs to be saved . . .

Series: The Coincidence #1
Release Date: March 19, 2013
Publisher: Forever
Source: NetGalley
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Reviewer’s Thoughts

My first thought when finishing the book was “Holy Shite!”  It was one of those books that grabbed you by the collar, shook you around and refused to let go.  It was gritty, heartbreaking, refreshing and infuriating (but only at the very, very end).  Jessica Sorensen created a story with a storyline that was completely sad but at the same time had hope sprinkled in with two characters you fall in love with and need to find a happy place…especially with each other.

Callie has spent years hiding herself in baggy clothes, black make-up and hair purposefully made to look horrible.  She was hiding from the secret she’s kept since her twelfth birthday and it made her an outcast her small town.  Not only with her classmates, but with the residents in general.  The only thing she could do was countdown to the time when she went away from college and could leave everything behind.  But a chance encounter with her high school’s star quarterback proves to her that despite appearances things aren’t always perfect for everyone.

From the moment I met Callie on the first page of the book, I felt a connection with her.  I felt her terror when her mother forced her out of the car to get her brother.  She surprised me when she intervened in a situation that terrified her.  And I was happy for her when she started to spread her wings.  She was a girl who, for whatever reason, had no one that she could confide in or that was willing to stand up for her.  Her parents, who seemingly wanted her to get over whatever had caused her drastic change, never seemed to actual question just what happened to her.  She went from a happy-go-lucky eleven year old to a twelve year that withdrew into herself and hide from everyone.  Sure, they took her to counselors to try and get to the bottom of things, but I have to think at some point something would stand out to make one of them realize something really bad happened and they needed to figure out what.  It was heartbreaking to think that this poor girl spent six years living the life of virtually the walking dead because no one took the time to actually stop and look at what was going on with her.

Kayden was in a similar situation.  On the outside he appeared the perfect golden boy from the perfect family.  But no one bothered to look at what was really happening and question things.  His best friend, Luke, having an idea of what was happening at Kayden’s home, wasn’t enough to raise the warning flags that things weren’t really all they seemed to be.  Where Callie withdrew into herself and tried to hide, Kayden took a different direction in dealing with the pain he was suffering.  He manifested his in a more physical manner, which was the only way he could deal with everything that was happening to him, but no one stopped to ask him why his body looked the way it did.  He always had an excuse, but at some point all these convenient excuses become just that, excuses, to which someone should have dug a little deeper.

For Callie and Kayden, their saving graces were leaving their small hometown and finding each other at college.  They learned to trust not only in other people, but in themselves.  It was a valuable lesson both of them needed to learn.  But that also lead to them realizing they were worth something to someone else.  They knew, without fail, that they would be there for each other.  And nothing proved that more than the last 40 pages of the book.  These also happen to be the most gut-wrenching, soul shredding pages that had me literally wanting to lay in a ball until the next book comes out.  They are that good!

Of course, the last few pages of the book also make for the most irritating portion of the story…the cliffhanger ending.  It’s hellish and another reason I wanted to roll into that ball I just wrote about.  I wanted to throw my iPad across the room, pick it back up only to kick it back to it’s landing spot.  I’m desperate to find out what happens next to Callie and Kayden, but I’ll have to wait somewhat patiently (along with everyone else) for the conclusion to their story (which should come in August).

As I continue on my New Adult reading kick, I’m going to go on a limb and say this is my absolute favorite.  Callie and Kayden are sweet, hot and heartbreaking and I can’t wait for August to come around.  Congratulations, Ms. Sorenson…I’m hooked.