"Come Away With Me" by Karma Brown

I can admit that Come Away With Me has been in my TBR pile for some time now. I had heard fantastic things, and my blogging friend Melissa Amster had also recommended it to me. Our reading tastes are freakishly similar, so I knew that I couldn't go wrong. However, it wasn't until Come Away With Me appeared again and again on many bloggers "Best of 2015" lists that I knew that I had to pick this one up right away, and am I ever glad that I did!

Come Away With Me is the story of Teagan and Gabe Lawson, who are on the brink of having it all until one night and one patch of black ice changes their lives forever. Reeling from the loss of the baby that they wanted so much, Teagan falls into a deep depression. Unable to sleep, function or work, Teagan becomes a shadow of her former self. When taking a handful of pills lands Teagan unresponsive in the hospital, Gabe and her family decide that it is time for her to begin trying to heal. Gabe suggests that they take an unforgettable trip across the globe to fulfill several items on their "life experiences" wish list. Although Teagan is wary, she agrees to go, since a small part of her wishes to live her life again.

What follows is Teagan's journey to forgiveness and to healing, with the realization that these things will only come when you are least expecting them.

Even though someone out there in blogger land spoiled a key plot point for me *cue fist shaking*, I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. In fact I celebrated a little since Karma Brown's writing and plot reminded me a little of the books that I've read by Taylor Jenkins Reid, who just happens to be one of my favourite authors. It's fantastic to know that there is another author out there who touches me in the same way, and now I have even more books to look forward to reading!

Even though Come Away With Me is Karma Brown's debut, you would never be able to tell. The writing is sharp and the plot spot-on. I was hooked from the first word until the last. Brown's characters are sympathetic and her plot is whip-smart. She described the places that her characters visit in a way that brought me along with them. At times it felt like a travelogue and a book about overcoming grief all rolled into one, and that's a very good thing. Come Away With Me is being described as a fictional version of Eat, Pray, Love, but I'm here to assure you that even if you didn't love that book (it was just okay for me), you will still love this one, so don't let that comparison scare you away!

Come Away With Me is the first book that I've read in 2016 that I read for my personal pleasure only. Most of the books that I read, I read wearing my blogger hat. I'm analyzing and taking notes while I read and thinking about what I'm going to write about them. That's definitely not a bad thing, but with this book, I just read it, and I thoroughly enjoyed that. If you haven't had a chance to pick this book up yet, I highly recommend that you do so. I know that you won't regret one moment that you spend reading this book! Karma Brown, I can't wait to read what you come up with next!