Book Review: Come Back to Me by Mila Gray

Pages: 352 

Genre: New Adult

Pub. Date: December 8, 2015

Source: Publisher for review
Other Books By Author: The Sound

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "In this heart-wrenching tale of love and loss, a young Marine and his best friend’s sister plunge into a forbidden love affair while he’s home on leave. When a Marine Chaplain knocks on her door, Jessa’s heart breaks—someone she loves is dead. Killed in action, but is it Riley or Kit? Her brother or her boyfriend… Three months earlier, Marine Kit Ryan finds himself back home on leave and dangerously drawn to his best friend Riley’s sister, Jessa—the one girl he can’t have. Exhausted from fighting his feelings, Kit finally gives in, and Jessa isn’t strong enough to resist diving headfirst into a passionate relationship. But what was just supposed to be a summer romance develops into something far greater than either of them expected. Jessa’s finally found the man of her dreams and Kit’s finally discovered there’s someone he’d sacrifice everything for. When it’s time for Kit to redeploy, neither one is ready to say goodbye. Jessa vows to wait for him and Kit promises to come home to her. No matter what. But as Jessa stands waiting for the Marine Chaplain to break her heart, she can’t help but feel that Kit has broken his promise… Riley or Kit? Kit or Riley? Her brother or her boyfriend? Who’s coming home to her?"

Come Back to Me starts off in an ominous way.  A Marine Chaplain knocks on Jessa's door and subsequently, her family is on eggshells.  You see, Jessa's brother, Riley, is deployed in Afghanistan and so is Jessa's secret-boyfriend, Kit.  Readers won't find out who has been killed, because Gray then takes readers to a flashback when Riley and Kit were on leave.  Jessa has always been Riley's little sister, but secretly, Kit has had feelings for Jessa, vice versa.  There are problems with this though. Riley and Jessa's overbearing and big-wig in the military father hates Kit and also, Riley wouldn't be happy with his best friend dating his little sister as Kit has been known to be a player.  But Jessa and Kit can't deny their attraction to one another and a summer romance ensues...one that is in secret from the people that matter most to them.  Mila Gray's new adult novel, Come Back to Me, is the perfect romance if you are looking for something Nicholas Sparks-esque.  There's a forbidden romance, childhood friendships, overbearing parents and of course, the dangers of being overseas in the military.  

Jessa hasn't really come into her own in Come Back to Me, thanks to her super controlling father. He definitely suffers from PTSD and hasn't received help for it.  He takes it out on his family and controls Jessa's social life to the point where it's absurd. I mean she had to take her brother to the prom.  Seriously?  Anyway, once she starts a relationship with Kit, this all changes. He challenges her and takes her out of her comfort zone; so in turn, she grows more as a person.  

Speaking of Kit and Jessa's relationship...wow! There are definitely some steamy parts in Come Back to Me. Since this is a New Adult novel, I sort of expected this, but it wasn't cheesy or overdone.  Gray did a great job balancing the romance with the other parts of the novel.

The tension in Come Back to Me is thick, because while reading the book, you are wondering the entire time who has died in Afghanistan?  Gray doesn't reveal the truth until the end of the book, so it definitely left me questioning and worrying.

Ususally, I struggle with New Adult novels, because sometimes there can be too much sexy-times in it and not a lot of plot, but that wasn't the case here. Come Back to Me is definitely one of my favorite new adult novels and I look forward to reading more of Mila Gray (Sarah Alderson) in the future.  So, if you are looking for a Nicholas Sparks type of romance that will tug on your heartstrings, definitely give this one a try this holiday season.