Skye Daniels: Where you should've been

 Promise me - The College years (Book 2)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/246749054-where-you-should-ve-been

From what everyone else can see Theo has it all he's a handsome football star who is the life of every party he's always charming and he can get any girl he wants... except for the one he's always wanted in fact he may never have what he truly wants because he's been at least half, if not all the way in love with his best friend's girl since they were teenagers.  Even though Theo has a loving family he always has concerns of feeling like he doesn't fully belong since being adopted and lost his adoptive parents at a young age (his aunt and uncle took him in and they are true family goals).

Amy's whole world falls apart when she's still in high school her parents split after her dad's infidelity and while she has her mom it unfortunately isn't for long enough when she becomes ill and passes away she has lost her dad since he rarely to never even visits and now losing her mom she holds on to what she has in the moment her friend group and her on again off again boyfriend Liam.

Amy and Theo a few years into college live in a large house with their friend group... Amy continues her toxic relationship with Liam while wondering what is going on with Theo... seriously what is up with him he's hot and cold with her and their relationship is strained at best, she can't do this much longer she feels like it will tear their friend group apart but maybe this time when Liam decides it's time for a "Break" she needs this to be permanent she can't keep going around in a circle with him and they are not end game.

Newly single Liam uses his time like he always does with other women... this time Amy decides that she can play that game too and what better way to let loose and have a little fun than with campus ladies man Theo.  

After an innocent enough comment leads to campus gossip Amy is in need of Theo to be her "boyfriend" so she doesn't look like she is hopping from player to player on the football team and Theo is happy to play the part.

Theo and Amy knows they are playing with fire... this could mess up both of their relationships with Liam and their friend group... but both proceed anyways Theo knows he needs this chance to prove that he's the right guy for her even if his heart gets crushed in the process, while for Amy it just starts out as some fun but older feelings she's kept hidden resurface.

When Amy begins to deal with old family secrets and family drama she begins to realize that the one who has always been there for her and still is has been Theo... but can they truly have a happily ever after together when being together could potentially destroy their friend group as they know it?

*college romance *Sports romance (Football) *Indie Author  *childhood friends *Frienemies --> more

*spice *fake dating *found family *ex-boyfriends best friend *slow burn *long term pining 

*Grief and healing  *Family drama *State Challenge --> Texas 

 *second in series but could potentially be read as a stand alone

Thoughts:

From book 1 I loved Theo you could tell that even while he was playing up his party boy persona there was more beneath the surface he was playing up his life of the party image to hide his insecurities about feelings of long term grief and knowing that the girl he fell in love with years ago is in a loop of going back to her ex, he can't keep doing this either every time they break up she runs to him for support only to ditch him when they get back together.

Amy on the other hand is struggling with the pressure of always doing what everyone else wants she wants to feel truly loved and isn't sure she will ever get that from Liam... in fact she is tired of all the campus gossip... it's truly painful to hear all of Liam's conquests with the girls on campus when they are "off" and it's time that she makes some changes while she doesn't want to be alone she has been feeling plenty alone lately and doesn't want to keep hurting everyone around her while she's floundering to keep together a relationship that clearly is no longer working.

I read the first book earlier this month and was waiting for the next one in the series to find out what happened for Theo and Amy and it did not disappoint.  While I wasn't a huge Amy fan in the first book the second book clears the air and you see things from her side and why she was feeling so alone it didn't take long before I was rooting for our girl to go after what would make her happy and stand up to the men in her life who were making her feel less than. 

I loved Theo finally stepping up and going for what he wanted he had waited so long for her to recognize that what they had could be amazing if she would just let down her walls and see how they could be together.  This book is about loss and healing, learning self care even if that means cutting people out of your life that are not good for your mental health, moving forward to the unknown after big secrets are revealed and finding true love... it's there right in front of you if you are just willing to take those steps.  

I adored this book and can't wait for the next in the series!