The Distance Between Lost and Found

Actual Rating: 3.5/5 - Again, fairly easy and predictable character development - Some loose ends here and there (not much change in their environment/circumstances) - Even though this book is not so much about the romance as it is about friendship and survival, it still made me swoon. - More thoughts soon

Find this review and more at kimberlyfaye reads . If I'm being totally honest, I was a little hesitant to read this book just because I'm not one who enjoys a lot of religion in her books. Don't get me wrong, I'm ok when a character has strong beliefs. I just don't like to feel like there's an agenda or like I'm being preached to. It's a fine line for me. Since this book is set during a youth group retreat, I was nervous. But, in the end, I had nothing to worry about. That's not to say there isn't religion in this book. There is. It's a centerpiece of the entire story. And I loved how it was woven into this book. I've read a couple survivalist stories as of late and while they're not something I want to read A LOT of, I've thoroughly enjoyed those I've read. I'm a big fan of contemporary stories and have enjoyed the addition of "something else" to the storylines. Something more than just relationship and family drama that tend to drive the plot in contemporary books. The Distance Between Lost and Found wasn't simply a survivalist story, however. It was the story of a girl struggling to find her place in the world... at the time she was the most lost. Literally and figuratively. I loved how seamlessly the two paired together. That's what made this book stand out most for me. I found it easy to relate to Hallelujah, despite the obvious differences between us. When the book begins, we know Hallie is keeping a secret. It's one that's affected her life in a number of ways and left her an outcast among her peers. The secret isn't revealed until quite awhile into the book and the bit of mystery surrounding it definitely added to the story. Hallie's character growth throughout this book was wonderful. She started out the book fairly weak and more than a little conflicted, but her time spent lost in the woods served to bring out another side of her. By the end, I found her more confident and physically and mentally stronger. So much more sure of herself. The secondary characters in this book were great, too. The ever-shifting dynamics between Hallie, Jonah and Rachel moved the story forward just as much as the things that happened to them while they were lost. I was unsure of Jonah in the beginning, but it didn't take long for me to be singing his praises and wanting him and Hallie to move past the drama of their pasts and find something together. They were just too perfect together. I really enjoyed this book. It started off a bit slow for me, but I was invested from the start. Once the action really started and the truth began pouring out, I couldn't put the book down. Literally. I read it in one sitting, unwilling to leave my sofa long enough to even eat lunch. I never had the false sense of security where I believed everything would work out for this trio. I was kept on my toes, desperately needing a resolution. Excellent book. I look forward to more from Kathryn Holmes in the future. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.

New addition to my favorite contemporary reads. I'm enjoying this sort of character based/friendship based sort of YA contemporary. I really enjoyed the story - the atmosphere of the woods is so gripping and the way the book was written made me feel like I really understood the characters and what they were going through.