When You Come Back to Me

Emma Scott — 2020

At Santa Cruz Central High School, they called them the misfits, the outcasts, the weirdos. But most of us knew them as the Lost Boys...Holden Parish survived his parents' horrific attempts to make him "the perfect son." After a year's stint in a Swiss sanitarium to recover, he has vowed to never let anything--or anyone--trap him again. Brilliant but broken, he seeks refuge behind alcohol, meaningless sex, and uses his wicked sense of humor to keep people away. He only has to ride out one year in the coastal town of Santa Cruz with his aunt and uncle before he inherits his billions and can make his escape. Disappear.Falling in love is not in the plans.River Whitmore. Star quarterback of the Central High football team, Prom King, Mr. Popular, ladies' man. He leads the perfect life...except it's all a lie. His father has River's future in the NFL all planned out, while River's dream is to run the family business in the town that he loves. But his mother's illness is tearing the family apart and River is becoming the glue that holds them together. How can he break his father's heart when it's already shattering?River's carefully-crafted façade explodes when he meets Holden Parish. A guy who dresses in coats and scarves year-round, drinks expensive vodka, and spends his free time breaking into houses for the fun of it. They're complete opposites. River seeks a quiet life, away from the spotlight. Holden would rather have dental surgery than settle down.Holden's demons and River's responsibilities threaten to keep them apart, while their undeniable attraction crashes them together again and again, growing into something deep and real no matter how they resist.Until one terrible night changes everything.#MMromancePlease note, this book contains spoilers for The Girl in the Love Song

Reviews

rakshu@rakshureads

Dec 7, 2023

eh.. the angst was good but it didnt really do anything for me

Jasmine@lovelyximperfect

Jan 21, 2023

4.75-5 Stars You know I was going back and forth over whether this was a 4 or 5-star read and I definitely say it's more towards a 5 star I really loved this book! Holden & River's story gave me everything The girl in the love song didn't. My heart ached for them and their need to be together, but they both were self-sabotaging in their relationship at different times and would push the other away. River in the first book seemed like a more 1 dimensional character but getting his pov understanding struggles I take it back. He is selfless to a fault and feels the burden of holding his family together knowing his mom will die soon. Holden was his perfect match because he pushed his boundaries early on and got him to look at things differently. River was just going through the motions not willing to let himself live the life he actually wanted. Holden had gone through hell and back, and because of those scars that ran deep he didn't believe he was worth being loved and would push those relationships away the second he noticed people getting too close. His story broke my heart and seeing him so badly wanting to just give in and be able to love and be loved back in return, but how he thought he'd just bring people down with him was painful. I love every part of their story. I couldn't stop reading because I was dying to see which direction would go. I didn't care that they 100% would find a way to be together in the end it was just experiencing their journey the angst, the overcoming past traumas, and the longing. That's what made them and their story so compelling and why I felt so strongly about them. Emma Scott always writes a beautiful story, but it's when she creates characters like these that reach into your heart and never let you go that's when I'm reminded why her books are some of my most favourite.

cam@clayolivia

Aug 18, 2022

MIS BEBÉS HERMOSOS MERECEN TODO LO BUENO, LOS AMO TANTO ❤️💖😭

Kina Baxter@itbekina

Aug 14, 2022

Favour Amed@unique_favy1

Mar 27, 2024

Daisy Mbingu@msnerdia

Apr 19, 2022

Isa@isapop

Dec 26, 2021