Book Review: Return to Paradise (Leaving Paradise #2) by Simone Elkeles

Summary: 
Caleb Becker left Paradise eight months ago, taking with him the secret he promised to take to his grave. If the truth got out, it would ruin everything.

Maggie Armstrong tried to be strong after Caleb broke her heart and disappeared. Somehow, she managed to move on. She's determined to make a new life for herself.

But then Caleb and Maggie are forced together on a summer trip. They try ignoring their passion for each other, but buried feelings resurface. Caleb must face the truth about the night of Maggie's accident, or the secret that destroyed their relationship will forever stand between them.
 

Release Date: September 1, 2010
Age Group: Young Adult
Publisher:  Flux
Source: Library

Review:
I loved Leaving Paradise and started Return to Paradise the instant I finished Leaving Paradise.  The cliffhanger ending really left me no choice: I HAD to know if Caleb and Maggie ended up together.  And while I liked Return to Paradise and thought it was a very good conclusion to the story, I liked Leaving Paradise a lot better.


Maggie and Caleb go back-and-forth, back-and-forth in this book.  Will they end up together or won't they?  That is the question that takes a loooong time to be answered.  I got a little tired of the will they or won't they issue. This book lacked the intensity and emotional punches of book one.

What I did like about Return to Paradise was the character growth.  It was great to see both Maggie and Caleb grow and change for the better.  I loved that Caleb helped other people, especially other troubled young men.  I liked that both Caleb and Maggie mature emotionally and learn to let each other in.

I would definitely recommend Leaving Paradise and Return to Paradise to fans of contemporary YA.  I am really enjoying Simone Elkeles!




1 comment:

  1. This book, while I liked the conclusion too, I didn't really like the overall story and was rolling my eyes a lot while reading.

    Really, I think she is going to have a hard time topping the Perfect Chemistry books.

    ReplyDelete

Word verification stinks--- but spammers are worse. Thank you for your patience!