The Forever of Ella and Micha (The Secret, # 2)
By: Jessica Sorensen
Published: May 28th 2013 by Forever
336 pages
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary
Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)
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Goodreads description--Ella and Micha have survived tragedy and heartbreak. When they're together, anything seems possible. But now they are thousands of miles apart, and managing their long distance relationship will put their love to the test.
Ella is back at school, trying hard not worry so much about her future. But with her father in and out of rehab, she's having a hard time making it through the days. All she wants is Micha by her side, but she refuses to let her problems get in the way of his dreams.
Micha spends his days touring the country with his band, but deep down he knows something is missing. Being away from Ella is harder than he thought it would be. He wants her closer to him-needs her with him. But he won't ask her to leave college, just to be with him.
The few moments they do spend together are intense and passionate, but it only makes it more difficult when they have to part. They know they want to be together, but is wanting something enough to get them to their forever?
As much as I loved the cover of The Secret of Ella and Micha, I equally hate the cover of The Forever of Ella and Micha. IJS.
Being book 2 in a series, it's pretty much understood that things aren't going to be hunky-dory the entire book, and The Forever of Ella and Micha falls into that typical book 2 category for me pretty well.
While this is definitely a story about the relationship between Ella and Micha, The Forever of Ella and Micha largely deals with Ella's growth and healing over her past. She was a little girl who was forced to grow up way too soon. She was forced into the parental role for both her mother and father, and just didn't have the childhood that she should have had. Consequently a major theme throughout this book was "getting help." Ella and her brother, Peter, are both in therapy of some sort--Ella for overcoming her panic attacks and learning how to predict when her depressions are coming on in order pull herself out of the dark places. Peter is in anger management therapy. And their father is in rehab for his alcoholism. The overall vibe with all of this is that there is hope--but sometimes you need help.
In most of the books (if not all) that I've read where a character is in therapy or counseling, that character "knocks" it, makes light of it, doesn't feel like it's helping, or doesn't even give it a chance to work. Thus, I really enjoyed the fact that not only Ella, but her entire family, finds real help coping with their problems using counseling, therapy, and rehab. I'm of the opinion that pretty much everyone in life could benefit from a few good therapy sessions. Again, IJS!
I've got to give kudos to Ella for trying to get herself together before focusing on her relationship with Micha. I mean you can't really love someone else until you love yourself--and I'm not sure you can really love yourself until you understand yourself. Relationships just add more drama to your life more times than not, even good relationships. However, I feel like once you've reached the relationship level that Ella and Micha have reached, it's almost impossible to take that step and back away from the relationship. This was evident to me throughout the book as well because it never really seemed like there was a point where Ella and Micha actually weren't "together."
I enjoyed the little bits and pieces we see of Lila and Ethan's relationship developing, and I can't wait to get my hands on their story. I even wish (though I don't expect it) for Jessica Sorensen to go back in time within the story of Ella and Micha to where Lila and Ethan first meet and show that through their perspectives when she writes their story--specifically some of the events that took place within The Forever of Ella and Micha where Lila and Ethan find themselves alone. I'm highly curious and can't wait to see how their story plays out. But I could definitely see Jessica Sorensen bringing their relationship forward throughout this book. *squeals*
All in all, The Forever of Ella and Micha is a great follow up to The Secret of Ella and Micha. Enjoyed it so much! Any fan of new adult will be all over this series and this book. The Forever of Ella and Micha gets 4 stars. Have you read The Forever of Ella and Micha? What did you think? Let me know!
