Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally + Giveaway

Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally
Release Date: July 15, 2014
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 306
Series: Hundred Oaks #5
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

Annie hates running. No matter how far she jogs, she can’t escape the guilt that if she hadn’t broken up with Kyle, he might still be alive. So to honor his memory, she starts preparing for the marathon he intended to race.

But the training is even more grueling than Annie could have imagined. Despite her coaching, she’s at war with her body, her mind—and her heart. With every mile that athletic Jeremiah cheers her on, she grows more conflicted. She wants to run into his arms…and sprint in the opposite direction. For Annie, opening up to love again may be even more of a challenge than crossing the finish line.

My Thoughts:
Miranda’s books always fill me with so much emotion. I’m kind of over the saying “all the feels”, but that really is what Miranda’s books do to me. Her books have such a conversational tone to them, and I always find it so easy to connect with the main character. Annie is no exception to this, and I was quickly swept away in her story. I found it believable and relatable, and I quickly devoured this book.

There are many books which have characters who start to run, or already do so, as a “way to clear their head”, almost so much that it’s become a trope. Thankfully Annie’s story is completely different, and the way running is presented makes it central to the story instead of a throwaway fact. Annie is training to run a marathon in her boyfriend’s honour, as he was training to complete one before he died. I loved how Annie doesn’t start off as a runner, or sporty in any way. It’s simply her passion and determination to do this for Kyle that gets her through the rigorous training. I loved how it presented running as something that’s difficult, but that can be done by anyone willing to put in the effort.

As in all of Miranda’s books, the romance in Breath, Annie, Breathe is a great one. Jeremiah and Annie start off in a whirlwind because of their chemistry (really, there's a scene that kind of comes out of nowhere), but I was glad to see things slow down. Their relationship becomes a friendship and a slow burn of something more while Annie figures things out. There were many beautiful scenes of Annie going through the grieving process over Kyle, and I found it very realistic that she wondered whether she would be willing to open up in that way again. She didn't want to risk getting hurt and losing the person she loves again, especially since Jeremiah is a thrill seeker and adrenaline addict. Jere was such a lovely character, being patient with Annie and believing that waiting is worth it. I like that he was flawed and irritatingly clueless in some circumstances, yet he's a good guy, a sweet guy. He's still growing up, and seeing Annie become a big part of this was very sweet. I liked the two of them together, and I especially loved seeing Jere's family see them together. One of Miranda's past main characters, Matt, is Jeremiah's older brother, and his going from warning Annie about Jere to liking the two of them together is a sweet process.

I always inhale Miranda’s books. They’re smart and interesting and swoony. Miranda brings something to contemporary YA that I don't see in a lot of other books. Her books are about so many things, but they always involve some issue of class and what it's like to work hard for what you have. This is just one aspect of the book, but it's hugely important, and it's something that I find missing in most books. I love that Miranda's books are so down to earth and truthful about about romance, about what it’s like in high school and looking toward the future. I highly recommend Breathe, Annie, Breathe and all of Miranda's books to fans of contemporary YA.

The Cover:
I like it, although I wish it fit with the other covers in the companion series.

Rating:
[5/5]

Purchase Links:
Kobo | Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Chapters-Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

About Miranda:
Growing up in Tennessee, Miranda Kenneally dreamed of becoming an Atlanta Brave, a country singer (cliché!), or a UN interpreter. Instead she writes, and works for the State Department in Washington, D.C., where George W. Bush once used her shoulder as an armrest. Miranda loves Twitter, Star Trek and her husband.

Where to find Miranda:
Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

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