Never Let You Go by Emma Carlson Berne

Megan never meant to hurt her best friend, Anna. She made a mistake, and she’s spent all year trying to regain Anna’s trust. So when Anna invites her to spend the summer on her uncle’s farm, Megan is excited…and relieved. The past is finally behind them.
On the farm, Anna quickly falls for Jordan, a rugged summer-hand. Megan and Jordan have their own spark, but Megan’s betrayed Anna once before and she’s not about to do it again.
Still, the more time that Megan and Jordan spend together, the harder it is to deny their chemistry. But Anna doesn’t like to be ignored—and she doesn’t forgive and forget. What started out as the perfect summer is about to take a very dark turn....
Paperback, First Edition, 240 pages  Goodreads
Published December 4th 2012 by Simon Pulse ISBN  1442440171 (ISBN13: 9781442440173)

This was a story that I had a love/hate relationship with. I found myself constantly going back to the story because of the growing suspense. But I also kept putting it down because of this unhealthy relationship that Megan had with Anna. 

Anna is emotionally unstable. Even after several squabbles with Anna, Megan desires and seems willing to do anything to keep Anna as a friend. It's explained that Megan doesn't really fit in and Anna has always stood up for her, so Megan feels responsible to keep her happy at all times in appreciation for not making her a complete outcast her whole life. 

Anna has a lot of issues she does not deal with in a healthy way. The reader is introduced to the characters knowing there is a lot of background history in their lives. The story continues to gradually add suspense leading us to believe bad things are going to happen on this farm during their summer jobs. And it does go wrong, horribly wrong. 

I did enjoy that the author took it there in the end. Really played up to a horror story in the end and I even got emotional during a tragic scene and like Megan, it broke my heart. 

The romance is a slowly building one. There is an instant attraction between Jordan and Megan, but it grows with the story and not something I would call insta-love. The main focus of this story is the friendship between Anna and Megan, completely focused on emotional highs and lows that come along with young love and heartbreak. Only taken to the next level. Jealousy runs wild and Anna is somebody you don't want to be left alone with at night. 

4 Stars 

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