Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for How the Light Gets In by Katy Upperman, hosted by Xpresso Book Tours! This book pulls all the heart strings and was so absolutely lovely. Let’s get into it, shall we?

About the Book

Title: How the Light Gets In

Author: Katy Upperman

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Swoon Reads

Publication Date: August 6, 2019 – TODAY!! Happy book birthday!!

Find It: GoodReads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Google Play

Blurb: Katy Upperman’s How the Light Gets In is a haunting YA novel about a teen coping with the loss of her sibling.

Since her sister’s tragic death, seventeen-year-old Callie Ryan has basically given up. Her grades have plummeted, she’s quit her swim team, and she barely recognizes the people her parents once were.

When she returns to her aunt’s run-down coastal Victorian one year after Chloe’s death, Callie resigns herself to a summer of guilt and home renovations. She doesn’t expect to be charmed by the tiny coastal town or by Tucker Morgan, a local boy brimming with sunshine.

But even as her days begin to brighten, Callie’s nights are crowded with chilling dreams, unanswered questions, and eerie phenomenon that have her convinced she’s being haunted. Will Callie be able to figure out what her sister is trying to communicate before it’s too late?

Review: This book was so hauntingly tragic and beautiful. It fully encapsulates the feelings of loss and pain that come from losing a loved one, coupled with the guilt of wishing that last day had been different. Callie is a character that is hard to love, both within the book and as a reader. She’s sullen, withdrawn, and mean at times, although you know that it’s because she is hurting so much. Everything about the emotions felt so raw and real. I think that’s what drew me into this story, even though it’s not the usual type of thing that I read. You want to see if Callie can find healing. Katy Upperman makes you see past Callie’s behavior and want to see her come back to herself.

Now let’s talk about Tucker. Everyone should have someone like Tucker in their lives. He is battling his own demons, but he is also genuine and sincere. And really cute. I loved how he was always there for Callie, even at the beginning of their relationship when she was pushing him away. He gave her her space, let her set the tone, and was always there when she needed him. And he bought her a kitten! How can you not love a guy who buys you a kitten! Their relationship felt very natural and organic. I was so glad that they were able to find happiness with each other.

Also, everyone needs an eccentric Aunt Lucy who is fixing up a B&B. She was awesome and I adored her.

There is a paranormal element to this story, that of Callie’s sister, Chloe, appearing as a ghost. Chloe needs closure and Callie has to help her find it, even if it means losing her sister all over again. It was heartbreaking, but at the same time, helped both sisters heal and move on.

GoodReads rating: 5 stars. A beautiful read.

About the Author

Katy Upperman is a wife, mama, author, reader, baker, and wanderer. She writes novels for teens and teens at heart. She’s a Washington State University alum (go Cougs!), a country music fanatic, and a makeup stockpiler. She loves the ocean, pedicures, sunshine, Instagram, Dirty Dancing and The Princess Bride, Jelly Bellies, true crime documentaries, and Friday Night Lights.

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Giveaway Time!

This tour features a giveaway. Enter to win a print copy of How the Light Gets In via this Rafflecopter giveaway. Open only to the U.S. and you must enter by August 15th. Good luck!

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Categories: Blog Tours, Books I've Read

Tags: blog tour, book review, books, how the light gets in, katy upperman, xpresso book tours