Mini-Review : Days Like This by Danielle Ellison

Summary (from Goodreads) 

Title : Days Like This
Author : Danielle Ellison
Publication Date : June 2nd 2015
Publisher : Bookish Group Press
Goodreads - Amazon - Barnes & Noble

Sometimes the only thing standing between fear and hope is you.

Almost a year ago, nineteen-year-old Cassie Harlen had a lot to deal with. A stack of college acceptance letters waiting for answers, a proposal from the boy next door, and a mother whose most recent bipolar episode left Cassie hurt and confused. Tired of cleaning up the messes caused by her mother's disorder, of resenting her mother for not being there, and scared of being trapped by an inevitable future—which included marrying Graham Tucker—Cassie did the only thing she could think of to keep from ending up like her mother: she left.

Graham never knew why Cassie walked away. He woke up one morning and she was gone—along with the life that he’d created around her. After eleven months, Graham has a new plan for his future. One that doesn't involve Cassie Harlen.

When Cassie's mom nearly burns down her house, Cassie’s forced to return home. Back to a mother she’s tried to ignore and the guy she’s been unable to forget. Graham doesn't know how he's going to spend the whole summer living next door to the person who broke his heart without letting those old feelings push through to the surface.

Neither does Cassie.

Personal Thoughts

I was looking forward to reading Days Like This because of just how cute that cover was. I had the impression this was going to be a light-hearted NA read, but it turned out to be a very typical book with the running away from the past storyline. I struggled quite a bit with the main character, Cassie, of Days Like This at the beginning because some of her decisions had me scratching my head. I hated how she ran away from places without even bothering to inform her family and friends. Being close to my mom, I was also appalled by how she was able to abandon her mother, who suffers from bi-polar. I just didn't have a good impression of her. She did wind up growing throughout the book and I was grateful for that, but that first image was something I couldn't forget. I also wanted more out of the romance from Days Like This, particularly, I wanted to see more of them interacting in the past to get a good feel of their relationship. I also wasn't a fan of how they were involved with other people in the book and they would constantly think of each other while they were with them. It was strange and I hate emotional cheating more than anything in books. In the end, I failed to really see the strong emotional connection between Graham and Cassie. I do think Danielle Ellison has a lovely writing style and I would love to read more from her in the future, if they don't contain any pet peeves of mine. If the elements I talked about don't bother you in books, I would recommend Days Like This.

Rating 

Cover : 4/5
Plot : 3/5
Characters : 2/5
Writing : 3/5

**Overall Rating: 2.5/5**

Thank you to NetGalley and Patchwork Press for the e-ARC of Days Like This.