The average person makes 35,000 decisions every single day. That’s about 34,999 too many for Paige Collins, who lives in debilitating fear of making the wrong choice. The simple act of picking an art elective is enough to send her into a spiral of what-ifs. What if she’s destined to be a famous ceramicist but wastes her talent in drama club? What if there’s a carbon monoxide leak in the ceramics studio and everyone drops dead? (Grim, but possible!) That’s why when Paige is presented with two last-minute options for Christmas vacation, she’s paralyzed by indecision. Should she go with her best friend (and longtime crush) Fitz to his family’s romantic mountain cabin? Or should she accompany her mom to New York, a city Paige has spent her whole life dreaming about? Just when it seems like Paige will crack from the pressure of choosing, fate steps in — in the form of a slippery grocery store floor — and Paige’s life splits into two very different parallel paths. One path leads to New York where Paige falls for the city . . . and the charms of her unexpected tour guide. The other leads to the mountains where Paige might finally get her chance with Fitz . . . until her anxiety threatens to ruin everything. However, before Paige gets her happy ending in either destiny, she’ll have to face the truth about her struggle with anxiety — and learn that you don’t have to be “perfect” to deserve true love. (taken from goodreads.com)
*Before I jump in to my review, I want to thank the author and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been swayed in any direction due to this fact.*
There is nothing more in the world that Paige Collins hates than making choices. Each and every choice she has to make sends her into a spiral, feeling like she’s going to explode. There is nothing in the world that Paige Collins wants to do more than get out of Gilbert, Arizona and see the world. When she’s given the choice to either go to New York with her mom or go to a romantic cabin getaway with Fitz, her best friend and possibly maybe something more, well Paige just doesn’t know what to do. Told in two different time lines, Paige gets to experience both.
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!! I do want a give a trigger warning for anxiety as Paige does experience intense anxiety throughout the novel.
Okay, let’s talk about the characters we meet in this story! First we have Paige, Paige is passionate and smart and loves everything fiercely. She makes lists for everything and bakes when she gets overwhelmed. She’s a good friend and daughter. Then we have her two best friends, Fitz and Clover. Both of them love Paige and want whats best for her, even when Paige doesn’t know what that is. And her mom, Matilda, cares about Paige and wants her to live her life in a way that makes her happy no matter what she has to sacrifice for her.
When Paige goes to New York, she meets Columbia University student Harrison and his dad Tyson. Her and her mom are staying with his family in Manhattan. I love Manhattan in the winter and getting to read it through the eyes of someone who has never experienced snow and Manhattan before. Both Paige and Harrison are hurting in different ways, the friendship that develops between the two of them is sweet and raw. I would love a book about Harrison.
When Paige is in Williams, Arizona with Fitz and his family, she gets to know his sisters who are much older than him. Each one is unique and has a different personality, she also gets to know his brother in law and spend times with his nieces and nephews. There is snow, Fitz, new friends and old flames. Fitz is sweet, kind, loving and a talented baseball player. Fitz loves love, he has always loved grand gestures and Paige has always dreamed of being on the receiving end of one of Fitz’s grand gestures. Fitz is the one who grounds Paige during her moments of panic, helping her get through the tough moments.
I could relate to Fitz, Harrison and Paige in so many different ways. Fitz is a hopeless romantic and I love love and romcoms more than anything. That warm fuzzy feeling is one of my favorite ways to feel. Harrison is dealing with different change and heartbreak, something I have dealt with. And then we have Paige. Paige who has dreams, passions and deserves the world. But due to the anxiety she experiences, she can’t get herself to truly enjoy the life she deserves and I understand that. I have lived that way for awhile too and getting the help you need to be able to live your best life isn’t something we should be ashamed or scared of.
I absolutely loved this book more than anything. This is by far one of the best books I have read in a very long time.