Review: Heavenly (Heavenly #1)

Title: Heavenly
Author: Jennifer Laurens  
Publisher: Grove Creek
Pages: 296 
Challenge: YA Series


My Rating:

I met someone who changed everything. Matthias. My autistic sister's guardian angel. Honest. Inspiring. Funny. Hot. And immortal. That was the problem. What could I do? I did what any other girl would do-I fell in love with him. Zoe's sister darts in front of cars. Her brother's a pothead. Her parents are so overwhelmed; they don't see Zoe lost in her broken life. Zoe escapes the only way she knows how: partying. Matthias, a guardian sent from Heaven, watches over Zoe's autistic sister. After Zoe is convinced he's legit, angel and lost girl come together in a love that changes destiny. But Heaven on Earth can't last forever. -summary from goodreads.com

One word: REAL! Let me start of by saying that this book is so much more than a girl and her guardian angel.

In this story we follow 17 year old Zoe, who has turned to drinking and partying as an escape from her reality. Zoe's younger sister, Abria, has autism, her parents are walking on a very thin line with all struggles that come with having a disabled child and her brother’s stress has led him to turn to drugs as his own personal means of escape. Enter Matthias, Abrias’s guardian angel. Zoe and Abria are the only ones that can see him. The lovely thing about Matthias is that he see’s Zoe for who she truly is; a girl who’s lost her way. I loved Mathias! He's loving, caring and never judges. He slowly makes Zoe realize that she is worth more than a lousy one-night hook ups. All the scenes with him in it were very calm and comforting to read. The love Zoe feels for him is unique, she doesn’t wear her feelings on her sleeve and its cute to read how she approaches Matthias with her love and how he responds to her.

Having an autistic child herself, Mrs. Laurens was able to fully capture the struggles and frustrations that autistic families go though. Her characterization was freaking amazing! You can’t help but feel for and hurt with the characters in the story. My hearts was synchronized perfectly with theirs; I applauded their achievements and frowned upon their bad decisions. You can definitely feel the frustration and emotion coming of the pages when Abria’s around, but at the same time- you can feel the love and bond that Zoe’s family has for one another- behind all the stress and problems. They would do anything for Abria, she’s what holds them together. She’s their weakness but also their greatest strength. BEAUTIFULLY written, Mrs. Laurens. Bravo!