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In Harmony
"In Harmony...gives a voice to the voiceless..."
The root of all madness is an unbearable truth…
At seventeen, Willow Holloway’s life was torn apart. The happy, driven girl is gone, and she is left wracked by post-traumatic stress her body remembers even if she does not. When her father suddenly uproots the family from their posh penthouse in New York City to the tiny town of Harmony, Indiana, Willow becomes more untethered and lost under the weight of her secret. On a whim, she auditions for a part in the community theater’s production of Hamlet and unexpectedly wins the role of Ophelia—the girl who is undone by madness, and her love of Hamlet…
Isaac Pearce is from the ‘wrong side of the tracks.’ The town bad boy. Girls pine for his attention and guys are in awe of him. That he’s an acting prodigy only adds to his charisma. Isaac utterly disappears into his characters; the stage is the only place he feels safe from his own traumatic home life. He wants nothing more than to escape to Broadway or Hollywood and leave Harmony behind for good.
No one can play Hamlet but Isaac, and when the director pairs him with Willow in acting class, they clash again and again—neither willing to open their hearts to anyone. But clashing leads to breaking, breaking leads to the spilling of terrible secrets, and soon Isaac and Willow find Shakespeare’s words mirroring their lives. When they are cruelly torn apart, neither know how this play will end—with madness and heartache? Or healing, love, and the discovery of who they are truly meant to be.
In Harmony is a standalone YOUNG ADULT/NEW ADULT love story, and is intended for readers 18 and up. PLEASE NOTE, this book contains sensitive material such as physical abuse, and the aftermath of sexual assault (off the page). Reader discretion is advised.
The root of all madness is an unbearable truth…
At seventeen, Willow Holloway’s life was torn apart. The happy, driven girl is gone, and she is left wracked by post-traumatic stress her body remembers even if she does not. When her father suddenly uproots the family from their posh penthouse in New York City to the tiny town of Harmony, Indiana, Willow becomes more untethered and lost under the weight of her secret. On a whim, she auditions for a part in the community theater’s production of Hamlet and unexpectedly wins the role of Ophelia—the girl who is undone by madness, and her love of Hamlet…
Isaac Pearce is from the ‘wrong side of the tracks.’ The town bad boy. Girls pine for his attention and guys are in awe of him. That he’s an acting prodigy only adds to his charisma. Isaac utterly disappears into his characters; the stage is the only place he feels safe from his own traumatic home life. He wants nothing more than to escape to Broadway or Hollywood and leave Harmony behind for good.
No one can play Hamlet but Isaac, and when the director pairs him with Willow in acting class, they clash again and again—neither willing to open their hearts to anyone. But clashing leads to breaking, breaking leads to the spilling of terrible secrets, and soon Isaac and Willow find Shakespeare’s words mirroring their lives. When they are cruelly torn apart, neither know how this play will end—with madness and heartache? Or healing, love, and the discovery of who they are truly meant to be.
In Harmony is a standalone YOUNG ADULT/NEW ADULT love story, and is intended for readers 18 and up. PLEASE NOTE, this book contains sensitive material such as physical abuse, and the aftermath of sexual assault (off the page). Reader discretion is advised.
380 pages, Paperback
First published February 13, 2018
About the author
Emma Scott
34 books8,056 followersEmma Scott is a USA Today and Wall St. Journal bestselling author whose books have been translated in seven languages and featured in Buzzfeed, Huffington Post, New York Daily News and USA Today’s Happy Ever After. Her first MM romance, Someday, Someday won the Utopia Con Award for LGBTQ Book of the Year. Emma writes emotional, character-driven romances in which art and love intertwine to heal, and in which love always wins. If you enjoy emotionally-charged stories that rip your heart out and put it back together again, with diverse characters and heroes who treat their heroines like gold, you will enjoy her novels.
RECENT RELEASES all available now and FREE with KU
The Muse an MM romance
Between Hello & Goodbye
The Sinner, a paranormal angels and demons romance
The Lost Boys, a three-book series of interconnected standalones
The Girl in the Love Song
When You Come Back to Me
The Last Piece of His Heart
Someday, Someday M/M romance (Winner! LGBTQ Book of the Year, Utopia Con)
A Five-Minute Life
UPCOMING RELEASES:
The Muse 2022
You can follow me on all the places...
emmascottwrites.com
Super-cute NON SPAMMY newsletter: http://bit.ly/2nTGLf6
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2fqUULx
author page: https://www.facebook.com/EmmaScottwri...
Reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/90674...
Email: emmascottpromo@gmail.com
RECENT RELEASES all available now and FREE with KU
The Muse an MM romance
Between Hello & Goodbye
The Sinner, a paranormal angels and demons romance
The Lost Boys, a three-book series of interconnected standalones
The Girl in the Love Song
When You Come Back to Me
The Last Piece of His Heart
Someday, Someday M/M romance (Winner! LGBTQ Book of the Year, Utopia Con)
A Five-Minute Life
UPCOMING RELEASES:
The Muse 2022
You can follow me on all the places...
emmascottwrites.com
Super-cute NON SPAMMY newsletter: http://bit.ly/2nTGLf6
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2fqUULx
author page: https://www.facebook.com/EmmaScottwri...
Reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/90674...
Email: emmascottpromo@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,197 reviews
February 12, 2018
"You have a flame too, don’t you?"
I was warned.
Before I knew about this book, I knew about this author.
Everytime an Emma Scott review popped up on my feed, it all but screamed flawlessness and power and everything beautiful about reading Romance. So going into this, I knew I was in for a hell of a ride.
In Harmony will jump kick you in the heart and leave you feeling bittersweet. A poignant and touching story about young love, finding your light when you've all but drowned in the dark, and speaking out even if it's using someone else's voice.
I was warned, but no warning is enough to prepare you for the soul-stirring way this book will shake you and warm your heart.
____________
The Story
I want to start by addressing the fact that this book deals with sensitive topics. Be it off page or on page, I would say going in this will in fact leave you with a heavy heart because our world is not always pretty, and the people in it can cause a lot to be angry about.
However, the way that it is handled is something of a miracle, because each feeling, sensation, thought and interconnectedness of the topics are dealt with perfectly. It's perfect because it's flawed, and because each character has their own fault and victory, the reader is left with a story that's real.
I loved the integration of the theater and Hamlet. I thought it worked so well with the characters and the story line. It acts as a catalyst to the events in the story and I love reading Romance that has more substance to it then just two characters meeting and falling in love.
The parallelism between the play and the characters lives worked. At times, I nearly fell off my chair because of the little easter eggs we got. You could see how cleverly the author linked different aspects of the original play to the story but stayed true to the actual characters themselves.
The Writing
This. Woman. Can. Write.
Let me just put into words how much I love the writing in this book.
I read the prologue of the book and I had to put the damn kindle down because I was so shell-shocked.
This could be analyzed in a high school literature class because the amount of magic behind each and every single word holds meaning. The prologue even now, is my favourite chapter of the whole book.
The myriad of emotions that I went through cannot be put to words. My hands shook, my heart broke, my legs wouldn't work, my smile was bright and big and sad. I loved how we were taken through both points of view with the main characters. It opened out so many more emotions to the story and we got to see how each thing affected both Isaac and Willow.
There were times where I got chills all up and down my body with the atmosphere that the story brought on. I have so many notes on my kindle of just 'wow'. Not even kidding.
The Romance
This was definitely a slow burn in every right. It had to be.
Everytime Willow and Isaac ached, I ached. Everytime they fell a little more in love, so did I. Everytime they let themselves open up, I was right there in the heart of the story feeling every single thing with them.
Their love was beautiful and unique and portrayed in the best way I think it could have been.
A major concern going into this story was magic dick syndrome. After reading the trigger warnings and getting and idea on what this story would be about, I prayed that all the problems and issues that happened in both Willow's life would be solved because of this. It wasn't at all magic dick syndrome. At times it felt like magic person syndrome, but it carries out like soul mate love.
The Characters
Straight off the bat, I loved Willow. She was not your regular victim, she had her own set of bold attributes and I loved how her personality shone through the pages. Once we are introduced to each side character as well in the theater production as well as the group of friends in Willows high school. I loved them allllll!!!
Isaac was narrated in the most perfect way. I felt like his character was brought alive with the words that followed his chapters. It felt true to his personality and my heart swelled everytime we got a Willow and Isaac moment because both of them are meant for the books. for the plays. for the everything.
One thing I did find to get tedious was how predictable and cliche the character tropes and groups were getting. Especially because we got a high school background and the link to mean girls. I saw the Plastics and the Jocks and everything else. It was so stereotypical that I hated that it dragged that last star down for me.
The trope of the good rich girl and the bad poor boy has been done so many times before, I really hoped it would take a different route even though it stuck to it. For example, we got the jock that was spotlighted, his name was Justin. At the start, I thought that the author was actually showing a nicer side to his character type and not sticking to the stereotype. However, he ended being an asshole. Surprise.
Also the whole friendly welcome committee being Angie was a cliche that made me frustrated, but after about the halfway point... it grew on me. I loved Angie's little quirks and her t-shirts. She was so perfectly herself with her band of bandits, it really shined through the story.
Special recognition to Benny and Marty because both of them stole my heart and ate it. I loved the banter and the brother and father figure they both played in Isaacs life. It put such a big smile on my face.
Overall, it was a lovely novel and I sure as shit am going to check out her other stories later on. She has a way of drawing me in with her words and I loved nearly every single minute of being inside the heads of Isaac and Willow.
I was warned.
Before I knew about this book, I knew about this author.
Everytime an Emma Scott review popped up on my feed, it all but screamed flawlessness and power and everything beautiful about reading Romance. So going into this, I knew I was in for a hell of a ride.
In Harmony will jump kick you in the heart and leave you feeling bittersweet. A poignant and touching story about young love, finding your light when you've all but drowned in the dark, and speaking out even if it's using someone else's voice.
I was warned, but no warning is enough to prepare you for the soul-stirring way this book will shake you and warm your heart.
____________
The Story
I want to start by addressing the fact that this book deals with sensitive topics. Be it off page or on page, I would say going in this will in fact leave you with a heavy heart because our world is not always pretty, and the people in it can cause a lot to be angry about.
However, the way that it is handled is something of a miracle, because each feeling, sensation, thought and interconnectedness of the topics are dealt with perfectly. It's perfect because it's flawed, and because each character has their own fault and victory, the reader is left with a story that's real.
"Untouchable. The word sang to me like a lullaby. Everything safe was in those four syllables. Everything I wanted to be but wasn’t."
I loved the integration of the theater and Hamlet. I thought it worked so well with the characters and the story line. It acts as a catalyst to the events in the story and I love reading Romance that has more substance to it then just two characters meeting and falling in love.
The parallelism between the play and the characters lives worked. At times, I nearly fell off my chair because of the little easter eggs we got. You could see how cleverly the author linked different aspects of the original play to the story but stayed true to the actual characters themselves.
“To discover that she may have been one light among many, but she had her own fire."
The Writing
This. Woman. Can. Write.
Let me just put into words how much I love the writing in this book.
I read the prologue of the book and I had to put the damn kindle down because I was so shell-shocked.
This could be analyzed in a high school literature class because the amount of magic behind each and every single word holds meaning. The prologue even now, is my favourite chapter of the whole book.
"Grandma’s stories always had an ‘until.’ The problem that messed everything up but showed the characters what they needed or wanted most."
The myriad of emotions that I went through cannot be put to words. My hands shook, my heart broke, my legs wouldn't work, my smile was bright and big and sad. I loved how we were taken through both points of view with the main characters. It opened out so many more emotions to the story and we got to see how each thing affected both Isaac and Willow.
"I drew a protective bubble around The love was there first with arrows stabbing out to keep the X’s away…"
There were times where I got chills all up and down my body with the atmosphere that the story brought on. I have so many notes on my kindle of just 'wow'. Not even kidding.
"Rose screamed on the outside the way I screamed on the inside.
On and on, all day long, every day, screaming from somewhere way down deep.
Screaming like vomiting. Screaming until the sound exploded my bones. Mustering the courage to look into the mirror and being shocked I was still in one piece.
I’d read books about people going fucking crazy."
The Romance
"Doubt thou the stars are fire,
Doubt that the sun doth move,
Doubt truth to be a liar,
But never doubt I love."
This was definitely a slow burn in every right. It had to be.
Everytime Willow and Isaac ached, I ached. Everytime they fell a little more in love, so did I. Everytime they let themselves open up, I was right there in the heart of the story feeling every single thing with them.
“Act Two, Scene Two. A2, S2.” I pulled her close. “Remember?”
Her lips parted, and her cheeks turned pink. “Of course I do. The letter. Never doubt…”
“Never doubt, Willow.” I kissed her again. In that moment, it seemed so easy.
So perfect, I could almost forget the words were written for a tragedy.
Their love was beautiful and unique and portrayed in the best way I think it could have been.
A major concern going into this story was magic dick syndrome. After reading the trigger warnings and getting and idea on what this story would be about, I prayed that all the problems and issues that happened in both Willow's life would be solved because of this. It wasn't at all magic dick syndrome. At times it felt like magic person syndrome, but it carries out like soul mate love.
“You’re the girl I want, Willow.” I said it as me, as Isaac Pearce. Not a line in a play written by someone else. Me.
“You’re it. You’re the girl. I don’t want anyone else.”
The Characters
Straight off the bat, I loved Willow. She was not your regular victim, she had her own set of bold attributes and I loved how her personality shone through the pages. Once we are introduced to each side character as well in the theater production as well as the group of friends in Willows high school. I loved them allllll!!!
“It’s never too late. Those two words are the greatest, most powerful killer of hope mankind has ever invented for itself.”
Isaac was narrated in the most perfect way. I felt like his character was brought alive with the words that followed his chapters. It felt true to his personality and my heart swelled everytime we got a Willow and Isaac moment because both of them are meant for the books. for the plays. for the everything.
"And just before sleep took me, I remembered the gold of Willow Holloway’s hair as she stood under the theater marquee, staring up at it as if it held the secrets to the universe."
One thing I did find to get tedious was how predictable and cliche the character tropes and groups were getting. Especially because we got a high school background and the link to mean girls. I saw the Plastics and the Jocks and everything else. It was so stereotypical that I hated that it dragged that last star down for me.
The trope of the good rich girl and the bad poor boy has been done so many times before, I really hoped it would take a different route even though it stuck to it. For example, we got the jock that was spotlighted, his name was Justin. At the start, I thought that the author was actually showing a nicer side to his character type and not sticking to the stereotype. However, he ended being an asshole. Surprise.
Also the whole friendly welcome committee being Angie was a cliche that made me frustrated, but after about the halfway point... it grew on me. I loved Angie's little quirks and her t-shirts. She was so perfectly herself with her band of bandits, it really shined through the story.
Special recognition to Benny and Marty because both of them stole my heart and ate it. I loved the banter and the brother and father figure they both played in Isaacs life. It put such a big smile on my face.
“Now that we are this far along, what do you think of Hamlet?”
“He talks too much.”
Marty sat back in his chair, lips pursed, thinking. “Can you expand on that?”
“He talks too fucking much.”
Overall, it was a lovely novel and I sure as shit am going to check out her other stories later on. She has a way of drawing me in with her words and I loved nearly every single minute of being inside the heads of Isaac and Willow.
“You can’t lose me, Isaac,” I said in a broken whisper. “You’re my until. The one that makes everything better.”
Read
April 29, 2020https://amzn.to/2Zhue52
Excerpt:
“He doesn’t speak,” she said.
I blinked. “What do you mean, he doesn’t speak? He’s mute?”
She rolled her eyes. “I mean, he can speak. He just doesn’t much. Unless he’s on stage. When he’s on stage, acting…”
Her words trailed away and I followed her gaze to where Isaac Pierce leaned against the wall smoking a cigarette. He looked like James Dean in his black leather jacket. A badass who smoked in plain sight, as if he didn’t care if a teacher caught him.
“He looks…” Hot. A bad boy. The kind who chews girls up and spits them out; a different girl every night... “Tough,” I finished.
Angie nodded. “He is. Has to be. His father beats the hell out of him. Always has, though now Isaac’s big enough to fight back. It’s a bad situation.”
My gaze jumped back to Isaac, to see if the signs of the abuse were written all over him, or if his worst scars were like mine: on the inside.
“You should come to the play this Friday,” Angie said. “Watch Isaac act.”
“He’s good?” I asked.
She snorted. “Good? It’s a transformative experience. I’m not a big fan of plays myself, but watching Isaac Pierce on stage…” She gave me a sly look. “Make sure you bring a spare pair of panties is all I’m saying.”
The bell rang and she trotted off to class. I moved slowly, my gaze lingering on Isaac. He looked up, caught me watching him. For a second, his eyes met mine, and I was awe-struck by the dangerous beauty of this guy—a scruff of beard, angular cheekbones, thick brows…He was a sleek dagger; the kind of guy who cut you with a look if you didn’t know how to handle him.
Isaac tilted his chin at me, ground his cigarette out, flicked the butt away, and sauntered into class. He spoke to no one, and no one spoke to him. But, like me, they stared. Everyone stared.
Mesmerized.
Excerpt:
“He doesn’t speak,” she said.
I blinked. “What do you mean, he doesn’t speak? He’s mute?”
She rolled her eyes. “I mean, he can speak. He just doesn’t much. Unless he’s on stage. When he’s on stage, acting…”
Her words trailed away and I followed her gaze to where Isaac Pierce leaned against the wall smoking a cigarette. He looked like James Dean in his black leather jacket. A badass who smoked in plain sight, as if he didn’t care if a teacher caught him.
“He looks…” Hot. A bad boy. The kind who chews girls up and spits them out; a different girl every night... “Tough,” I finished.
Angie nodded. “He is. Has to be. His father beats the hell out of him. Always has, though now Isaac’s big enough to fight back. It’s a bad situation.”
My gaze jumped back to Isaac, to see if the signs of the abuse were written all over him, or if his worst scars were like mine: on the inside.
“You should come to the play this Friday,” Angie said. “Watch Isaac act.”
“He’s good?” I asked.
She snorted. “Good? It’s a transformative experience. I’m not a big fan of plays myself, but watching Isaac Pierce on stage…” She gave me a sly look. “Make sure you bring a spare pair of panties is all I’m saying.”
The bell rang and she trotted off to class. I moved slowly, my gaze lingering on Isaac. He looked up, caught me watching him. For a second, his eyes met mine, and I was awe-struck by the dangerous beauty of this guy—a scruff of beard, angular cheekbones, thick brows…He was a sleek dagger; the kind of guy who cut you with a look if you didn’t know how to handle him.
Isaac tilted his chin at me, ground his cigarette out, flicked the butt away, and sauntered into class. He spoke to no one, and no one spoke to him. But, like me, they stared. Everyone stared.
Mesmerized.
February 15, 2018
5+ stars!!!
Exceptional. This was Emma’s best book to date- and that’s really saying something, because all of her stories are spectacular. I truly loved every single second of this book.
In Harmony starts with Willow. Willow is a 17 year old girl who has just moved from NYC to small town Harmony, Indiana. Willow used to be a fun, popular, ordinary teen. Then something happened that changed her. She’s not the girl she once was. She keeps to herself, school doesn’t matter much anymore, neither does making fiends. Then she meets Angie. Angie is one of the best characters in the book. She takes Willow under her wing, and is her friend, even though Willow isn’t super open to it at first. Willow also meets Isaac her first day… and there is something about that guy.
Angie and Willow go to a show and there Willow sees Isaac again. This time, she sees the real Isaac. Isaac is the most talented person Willow has ever met. And there is something about him that draws her to him from the start. Isaac has had a rough life. He’s been dealt a crap hand, and has a bad reputation because of it. Willow doesn’t trust people, and neither does Isaac. Both are very weary of each other, but as they connect things start to change.
Isaac and Willow’s connection was powerful, but as powerful as it was, them being together was forbidden. The only time they could truly ‘be’ is when they were on stage or running their lines together. Yet still, they managed to fall hard for each other.
One thing that made this book so special for me particularly, is that it was set on the stage. I’m a huge theater nerd (2003 and 2004 President of Thespian Troupe #5035 here!) and I met my husband on the stage. It’s where we first became friends, and later fell in love. Theater books are already so special to me, but the way Emma wrote this, it was brilliant. The parallels of Willow’s character and the piece she preformed, as well as some of the Hamlet story came together so seamlessly.
Isaac is such an incredible character. He had the best heart, and I adored him. He always did what he felt was the right thing, even if it wasn’t something that would benefit him. Willow is such a strong heroine. She’s been through a lot and I admired her. I’m so glad she could find someone to open up to and heal with. These two were a great pair.
With every book I read of Emma Scott’s, it’s solidified why she is one of my top favorite authors. She is one of the very few that I truly feel writes books ‘just for me’. I love to feel when I read, to fall in love with not only the story, but the characters (main and secondary) as well as the writing style. Scott hits the mark every single time. Seriously, there is not one book I’ve read of hers that I haven’t loved. So when I say this is her best book yet, it really means something!
In Harmony is one of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever read. It’s emotional, it will break your heart (but also heal it), and you will fall in love with these characters and their story. It’s impossible not to. It touched me. I loved the friendship, the fire between these characters, and the love and trust that developed between them. Exceptional, spectacular, brilliant, the list could go on and on! This is by far the best book I’ve read this year, and I have no doubt it will make it to the very top of my favorites list of 2018. In short, this is one book you NEED to READ!
Exceptional. This was Emma’s best book to date- and that’s really saying something, because all of her stories are spectacular. I truly loved every single second of this book.
In Harmony starts with Willow. Willow is a 17 year old girl who has just moved from NYC to small town Harmony, Indiana. Willow used to be a fun, popular, ordinary teen. Then something happened that changed her. She’s not the girl she once was. She keeps to herself, school doesn’t matter much anymore, neither does making fiends. Then she meets Angie. Angie is one of the best characters in the book. She takes Willow under her wing, and is her friend, even though Willow isn’t super open to it at first. Willow also meets Isaac her first day… and there is something about that guy.
Angie and Willow go to a show and there Willow sees Isaac again. This time, she sees the real Isaac. Isaac is the most talented person Willow has ever met. And there is something about him that draws her to him from the start. Isaac has had a rough life. He’s been dealt a crap hand, and has a bad reputation because of it. Willow doesn’t trust people, and neither does Isaac. Both are very weary of each other, but as they connect things start to change.
“When I’m with you, I don’t feel the need to be somewhere else or to be someone else. I can be in my own skin without it hurting so fucking badly. That’s a gift, Willow. One I can never repay you for.��
Isaac and Willow’s connection was powerful, but as powerful as it was, them being together was forbidden. The only time they could truly ‘be’ is when they were on stage or running their lines together. Yet still, they managed to fall hard for each other.
Onstage, we were going to destroy each other. But offstage, our story won’t be a tragedy.
One thing that made this book so special for me particularly, is that it was set on the stage. I’m a huge theater nerd (2003 and 2004 President of Thespian Troupe #5035 here!) and I met my husband on the stage. It’s where we first became friends, and later fell in love. Theater books are already so special to me, but the way Emma wrote this, it was brilliant. The parallels of Willow’s character and the piece she preformed, as well as some of the Hamlet story came together so seamlessly.
Isaac is such an incredible character. He had the best heart, and I adored him. He always did what he felt was the right thing, even if it wasn’t something that would benefit him. Willow is such a strong heroine. She’s been through a lot and I admired her. I’m so glad she could find someone to open up to and heal with. These two were a great pair.
With every book I read of Emma Scott’s, it’s solidified why she is one of my top favorite authors. She is one of the very few that I truly feel writes books ‘just for me’. I love to feel when I read, to fall in love with not only the story, but the characters (main and secondary) as well as the writing style. Scott hits the mark every single time. Seriously, there is not one book I’ve read of hers that I haven’t loved. So when I say this is her best book yet, it really means something!
In Harmony is one of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever read. It’s emotional, it will break your heart (but also heal it), and you will fall in love with these characters and their story. It’s impossible not to. It touched me. I loved the friendship, the fire between these characters, and the love and trust that developed between them. Exceptional, spectacular, brilliant, the list could go on and on! This is by far the best book I’ve read this year, and I have no doubt it will make it to the very top of my favorites list of 2018. In short, this is one book you NEED to READ!
’Act Two, Scene Two.’
March 13, 2018
GAH! ... I Did Not Want This Book To End!!
Dear Ms. Scott,
Your writing slays me, Every! Single! Time! I am slowly awakening from a hypnotic state of starry-eyed wonder, in which I would rather bask in for a while longer.
Once again, Emma delivered a riveting, emotionally charged storyline with the most fascinating, well developed characters. I cheered for them, I cried for them, I cherished them.
I double dog dare anyone not to fall in love with Willow and in lust with Isaac. It is impossible! Impossible, I tell you ;)
The build up to their HEA had me tied in knots. Few authors can grab you from page one and have you holding your breath to the very end. Willow and Isaac’s love story is an all-consuming, bewitching experience.
For those of you who have always loved an Emma Scott read, you will once again be transported to romance heaven and be blown away. For those who have never dipped your toes into what this incredibly talented author has to offer, I urge you, along with hundreds and hundreds of others who rated “In Harmony” with 5 stars, to dive in and drown in all it’s awesomeness.
I consider myself a proud member of the Emma Scott Fan Club, as I have read and loved every single book she has written. I invite you to join the club. Membership is a bit like a “Lay’s Chip” slogan with a slight twist ..... betcha can’t ‘read’ just one!
Dear Ms. Scott,
Your writing slays me, Every! Single! Time! I am slowly awakening from a hypnotic state of starry-eyed wonder, in which I would rather bask in for a while longer.
Once again, Emma delivered a riveting, emotionally charged storyline with the most fascinating, well developed characters. I cheered for them, I cried for them, I cherished them.
I double dog dare anyone not to fall in love with Willow and in lust with Isaac. It is impossible! Impossible, I tell you ;)
The build up to their HEA had me tied in knots. Few authors can grab you from page one and have you holding your breath to the very end. Willow and Isaac’s love story is an all-consuming, bewitching experience.
For those of you who have always loved an Emma Scott read, you will once again be transported to romance heaven and be blown away. For those who have never dipped your toes into what this incredibly talented author has to offer, I urge you, along with hundreds and hundreds of others who rated “In Harmony” with 5 stars, to dive in and drown in all it’s awesomeness.
I consider myself a proud member of the Emma Scott Fan Club, as I have read and loved every single book she has written. I invite you to join the club. Membership is a bit like a “Lay’s Chip” slogan with a slight twist ..... betcha can’t ‘read’ just one!
April 24, 2018
***3 STARS***
When I rate and review a book one of things I look at is how long it took me to finish the book. I started this book on a Sunday and finished it on a Thursday. That's a super long time to read a book in my life. I can read 4-5 books a week, even when I'm working. That's one of the reasons this was a 3 STAR read for me.
The book was actually good just a wee bit boring for me. I've read plenty of slow burn books but this one took the cake for me. The storyline, the characters, the imagery was pretty, pretty good, but the that spark missing for me.
I loved Willow, our heroine. She was just a sweetheart. I also loved Isaac, our hero. His history and story made me want to jump in the book and give him loads and loads of kisses and cuddles. They were super cute together. They just weren't exciting. They were just. . .there. I kept wishing something would happen. Nothing really happened for me until I was close to the end of the book and by then, I was over it.
There were a number of important social topics that were tackled and done beautifully. I've always loved that about Emma Scott's writing. She focuses on character development through life as well as romance.
I love Emma Scott and whatever she writes, I will read - no matter what.
When I rate and review a book one of things I look at is how long it took me to finish the book. I started this book on a Sunday and finished it on a Thursday. That's a super long time to read a book in my life. I can read 4-5 books a week, even when I'm working. That's one of the reasons this was a 3 STAR read for me.
The book was actually good just a wee bit boring for me. I've read plenty of slow burn books but this one took the cake for me. The storyline, the characters, the imagery was pretty, pretty good, but the that spark missing for me.
I loved Willow, our heroine. She was just a sweetheart. I also loved Isaac, our hero. His history and story made me want to jump in the book and give him loads and loads of kisses and cuddles. They were super cute together. They just weren't exciting. They were just. . .there. I kept wishing something would happen. Nothing really happened for me until I was close to the end of the book and by then, I was over it.
There were a number of important social topics that were tackled and done beautifully. I've always loved that about Emma Scott's writing. She focuses on character development through life as well as romance.
I love Emma Scott and whatever she writes, I will read - no matter what.
February 15, 2018
*****FIVE STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
I wanted to wake her up from this nightmare. Grab her and take her far away. Get in my truck and start driving. Shift into a parallel gear, put it in overdrive and take us out of this world, into some magical fucking place called This Never Happened.
Emma Scott has once again written another captivating story that left me breathless and undoubtedly proves what a truly gifted author she is. It’s the reason why so many of us drop whatever we’re doing to get to her latest books. The characters in this story are beautiful and haunting in the despair that engulfs them in their day to day lives. My heart ached for Willow and Isaac. I found it hard to put this book down because I was dying for them to reach that ”until” that would lead them out of the darkness and into the light.
Willow Holloway has recently moved from New York City to Harmony, Indiana, with her parents. For most High School seniors, it would be the end of the world to be uprooted right during the middle of the school year, but Willow sees this as her opportunity for a fresh start. There are skeletons from her past that she desperately wants to escape from. Willow was once the popular girl in school. She was a cheerleader, had many friends, and went to parties but then life dealt her a harsh blow. The once vibrant and outgoing girl, became a loner and the light inside her dimmed considerably. Willow keeps her pain hidden and it’s not until she goes to a play at the local theater that she sees a way to help release what she has kept bottled up for over a year.
Isaac Pearce was born and raised in Harmony. There was a time he led a normal happy life, but tragedy struck him at the tender age of eight and his life turned to emptiness and despair. He’s got a reputation for being the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks, but that’s what happens when people with small minds are quick to make judgments without knowing all the facts. The one thing Isaac has is his acting and he is BRILLIANT at it. He gets the lead in every play because his talent is awe-inspiring. Willow was intrigued by him when they first met in English class but seeing him up on stage had her mesmerized. These two instantly saw a kindred spirit in each other. It was easy for Willow to figure out that Isaac used acting to escape the horrors of his life and it inspired her to follow in his footsteps.
When they both earn the leading roles in ”Hamlet” the walls that both Isaac and Willow put up to keep anyone from getting too close, come falling down. Isaac finds a sense of peace when he is with Willow. For the first time, he’s comfortable in his own skin and not ashamed to be himself. Willow seeks out any opportunity to be with Isaac. She feels safe whenever Isaac is with her and she’s even starting to develop other feelings that Willow thought she would never be capable of again.
Isaac and Willow have found happiness in each other but it’s also bittersweet. While Willow has found a home in Harmony, Isaac is determined to leave. He needs to break free of the shackles that have bound him to that town. He has planned for a long time to become a successful actor in Hollywood so that he can make enough money to help the people he loves most and now he’s found the one person who makes him want to give up his dreams and stay in a town he’s hated almost his entire life.
When Hollywood comes to Harmony and offers Isaac his dream, will he take it and leave Willow behind? Can Willow let Isaac give up his dreams to be with her?
Here are my overall ratings:
Hero: 5
Heroine: 5
Plot: 5
Angst: 4.5
Steam: 4.5
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5
IN HARMONY is currently available! This is a MUST READ!!
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2GcgVJp
Amazon Universal: http://amzn.to/2swIfQx
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
I wanted to wake her up from this nightmare. Grab her and take her far away. Get in my truck and start driving. Shift into a parallel gear, put it in overdrive and take us out of this world, into some magical fucking place called This Never Happened.
Emma Scott has once again written another captivating story that left me breathless and undoubtedly proves what a truly gifted author she is. It’s the reason why so many of us drop whatever we’re doing to get to her latest books. The characters in this story are beautiful and haunting in the despair that engulfs them in their day to day lives. My heart ached for Willow and Isaac. I found it hard to put this book down because I was dying for them to reach that ”until” that would lead them out of the darkness and into the light.
Willow Holloway has recently moved from New York City to Harmony, Indiana, with her parents. For most High School seniors, it would be the end of the world to be uprooted right during the middle of the school year, but Willow sees this as her opportunity for a fresh start. There are skeletons from her past that she desperately wants to escape from. Willow was once the popular girl in school. She was a cheerleader, had many friends, and went to parties but then life dealt her a harsh blow. The once vibrant and outgoing girl, became a loner and the light inside her dimmed considerably. Willow keeps her pain hidden and it’s not until she goes to a play at the local theater that she sees a way to help release what she has kept bottled up for over a year.
Isaac Pearce was born and raised in Harmony. There was a time he led a normal happy life, but tragedy struck him at the tender age of eight and his life turned to emptiness and despair. He’s got a reputation for being the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks, but that’s what happens when people with small minds are quick to make judgments without knowing all the facts. The one thing Isaac has is his acting and he is BRILLIANT at it. He gets the lead in every play because his talent is awe-inspiring. Willow was intrigued by him when they first met in English class but seeing him up on stage had her mesmerized. These two instantly saw a kindred spirit in each other. It was easy for Willow to figure out that Isaac used acting to escape the horrors of his life and it inspired her to follow in his footsteps.
When they both earn the leading roles in ”Hamlet” the walls that both Isaac and Willow put up to keep anyone from getting too close, come falling down. Isaac finds a sense of peace when he is with Willow. For the first time, he’s comfortable in his own skin and not ashamed to be himself. Willow seeks out any opportunity to be with Isaac. She feels safe whenever Isaac is with her and she’s even starting to develop other feelings that Willow thought she would never be capable of again.
Isaac and Willow have found happiness in each other but it’s also bittersweet. While Willow has found a home in Harmony, Isaac is determined to leave. He needs to break free of the shackles that have bound him to that town. He has planned for a long time to become a successful actor in Hollywood so that he can make enough money to help the people he loves most and now he’s found the one person who makes him want to give up his dreams and stay in a town he’s hated almost his entire life.
When Hollywood comes to Harmony and offers Isaac his dream, will he take it and leave Willow behind? Can Willow let Isaac give up his dreams to be with her?
Here are my overall ratings:
Hero: 5
Heroine: 5
Plot: 5
Angst: 4.5
Steam: 4.5
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5
IN HARMONY is currently available! This is a MUST READ!!
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2GcgVJp
Amazon Universal: http://amzn.to/2swIfQx
February 16, 2018
4-ish Stars
"But the love was there first.”
I loved the writing, the connection to the stage, and I simply adored the characters.
However, the last 10 percent was disappointing a 2 stars ending.
Regardless, of that ending I did very much enjoy the story.
"You're the girl I want."
"But the love was there first.”
I loved the writing, the connection to the stage, and I simply adored the characters.
However, the last 10 percent was disappointing a 2 stars ending.
Regardless, of that ending I did very much enjoy the story.
"You're the girl I want."
February 14, 2018
I could sit here and spend hours on trying to figure out the perfect words to justify, at least TRY and justify how exceptional this book is, but it will do nothing, won't even come close to putting into words how good this book is until you take the time and read it to experience it yourself.
However, I will say this
Emma Scott is hands down one of my favorites. I'm not one of those crazy, stalker people but dang you Emma Scott. I'm married and you make me want to have a new book boyfriend every time I read one of your new books. Seriously....
Not only do I book drool over these men she creates, I fall in love with all her characters. She creates these characters that completely stand out in this crazy intense book world we live in. Emma Scott captures your heart, she makes you smile, she makes you laugh, and she always makes me cry. In this book, I did it all, and yes, I am yet again obsessed over another new book boyfriend.
Isaac Pierce was amazing to read about from start to finish. So strong and so captivating. From his lack of words in the beginning to his overwhelming words at the end, my heart hurt for him and yet it was over bursting with love for him.
And then Ms. Scott gives us Willow Holloway. A brave soul, a character that gains strength by falling for a man that gives her the courage to be the person she was always meant to be. Strong, kind, beautiful.
Together these two were magical and I can't encourage you enough to read this book.
"You're my until. The one that makes everything better"
In Harmony was gut wrenching, yet inspiring in the strength these characters carry in this story. It's a deeply touching book about two young broken people who are seeking escape from their harsh and sad reality's. Ms. Scott you own my soul when I read your books💗 Another must read!!!!
.
However, I will say this
Emma Scott is hands down one of my favorites. I'm not one of those crazy, stalker people but dang you Emma Scott. I'm married and you make me want to have a new book boyfriend every time I read one of your new books. Seriously....
Not only do I book drool over these men she creates, I fall in love with all her characters. She creates these characters that completely stand out in this crazy intense book world we live in. Emma Scott captures your heart, she makes you smile, she makes you laugh, and she always makes me cry. In this book, I did it all, and yes, I am yet again obsessed over another new book boyfriend.
Isaac Pierce was amazing to read about from start to finish. So strong and so captivating. From his lack of words in the beginning to his overwhelming words at the end, my heart hurt for him and yet it was over bursting with love for him.
And then Ms. Scott gives us Willow Holloway. A brave soul, a character that gains strength by falling for a man that gives her the courage to be the person she was always meant to be. Strong, kind, beautiful.
Together these two were magical and I can't encourage you enough to read this book.
"You're my until. The one that makes everything better"
In Harmony was gut wrenching, yet inspiring in the strength these characters carry in this story. It's a deeply touching book about two young broken people who are seeking escape from their harsh and sad reality's. Ms. Scott you own my soul when I read your books💗 Another must read!!!!
.
February 11, 2018
MY REVIEW can also be found on my blog:
KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
IN HARMONY: Is a full-length standalone NEW ADULT romance novel by Emma Scott, reader discretion is advised. ‘Spoken in Dual Perspectives’ In this we meet Seventeen year old Willow Holloway & Nineteen year old Isaac Pearce.
Someday, Willow, you might find yourself cast into darkness. I hope that day never comes. If it does, it will be scary at first. But you will see your own brilliance. Your own strength. And you will shine.
Once upon a time: At seventeen Willow was like any other happy go lucky teenager, a high achiever, a popular senior student, until she wasn’t. One night changed her life forever and tore it apart. From this moment on she was never the same. That was when her light was diminished. X-marked the spot.
Due to her father getting a promotion they will be uprooting from New York and making a small tourist township steeped in history called Harmony in Indiana their new home.
Straight away you find yourself hooked, reeled in from those first few pages, and without a doubt you know the author is setting you on a path of emotional turmoil.
Arriving to school on her first day of Highschool went smoother than Willow could’ve hoped for, stealing a seat from the hot guy in class Isaac the acting prodigy and being befriended by a girl who never knew how to give up, she makes such an impact on Willow, she's the best friend everyone wished they had. Kind, compassionate, allowing her a strong shoulder to lean on when it was time to talk.
Oh how your heart breaks for nineteen year old Isaac, the school’s heart throb, the misunderstood bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks being raised by a drunk of a father. His painful past runs deep.
It's not until Willow partakes in the local play where the true magic starts to happen. Slowly Willows wick starts to shine brightly again acting alongside Isaac a boy her father has forbidden her to see.
Willow was here for the same reason I was: to find some relief. To tell her story. For the first time in a long time I felt nervous about a performance, only it wasn't my own.
Sometimes you come across a book that's beyond special, beyond anything you could've hoped for, beyond any expectations you could've had. I went into this blind, I just knew that I really wanted to read it, I've only read one other by this author so I didn't place any expectations on the book, but as soon as I started reading this I was eating up every word the author wrote, every chapter that was printed, every feel this author could give me, she gave me. I loved the flow of the story, the slow burn between the two characters moved along perfectly, the two characters apart were perfectly imperfect, both fighting demons of their own, but together they were perfect, they could not have been paired up any better.
I could rave and rave about this book but really the best way to sum up my review is to just urge you to one click it come release day. It's unique, definitely a riveting poetic read that I know you will love as much as I did.
Want to read
February 13, 2018LIVE! | AMZ US | AMZ UK |
THIS SOUNDS EPIC!
Stand-alone.
LIVE! | AMZ US | AMZ UK |
Blurb:
The root of all madness is an unbearable truth…
At seventeen, Willow Holloway’s life was torn apart. The happy, driven girl is gone, and she is left wracked by post-traumatic stress her body remembers even if she does not. When her father suddenly uproots the family from their posh penthouse in New York City to the tiny town of Harmony, Indiana, Willow becomes more untethered and lost under the weight of her secret. On a whim, she auditions for a part in the community theater’s production of Hamlet and unexpectedly wins the role of Ophelia—the girl who is undone by madness, and her love of Hamlet…
Isaac Pierce is from the ‘wrong side of the tracks.’ The town bad boy. Girls pine for his attention and guys are in awe of him. That he’s an acting prodigy only adds to his charisma. Isaac utterly disappears into his characters; the stage is the only place he feels safe from his own traumatic home life. He wants nothing more than to escape to Broadway or Hollywood, and leave Harmony behind for good.
No one can play Hamlet but Isaac, and when the director pairs him with Willow in acting class, they clash again and again—neither willing to open their hearts to anyone. But clashing leads to breaking, breaking leads to the spilling of terrible secrets, and soon Isaac and Willow find Shakespeare’s words mirroring their lives. When they are cruelly torn apart, neither know how this play will end—with madness and heartache? Or healing, love, and the discovery of who they are truly meant to be.
THIS SOUNDS EPIC!
Stand-alone.
LIVE! | AMZ US | AMZ UK |
Blurb:
The root of all madness is an unbearable truth…
At seventeen, Willow Holloway’s life was torn apart. The happy, driven girl is gone, and she is left wracked by post-traumatic stress her body remembers even if she does not. When her father suddenly uproots the family from their posh penthouse in New York City to the tiny town of Harmony, Indiana, Willow becomes more untethered and lost under the weight of her secret. On a whim, she auditions for a part in the community theater’s production of Hamlet and unexpectedly wins the role of Ophelia—the girl who is undone by madness, and her love of Hamlet…
Isaac Pierce is from the ‘wrong side of the tracks.’ The town bad boy. Girls pine for his attention and guys are in awe of him. That he’s an acting prodigy only adds to his charisma. Isaac utterly disappears into his characters; the stage is the only place he feels safe from his own traumatic home life. He wants nothing more than to escape to Broadway or Hollywood, and leave Harmony behind for good.
No one can play Hamlet but Isaac, and when the director pairs him with Willow in acting class, they clash again and again—neither willing to open their hearts to anyone. But clashing leads to breaking, breaking leads to the spilling of terrible secrets, and soon Isaac and Willow find Shakespeare’s words mirroring their lives. When they are cruelly torn apart, neither know how this play will end—with madness and heartache? Or healing, love, and the discovery of who they are truly meant to be.
December 18, 2019
Oh my heart. 💙💚💛 I just finished a second read-through, and I'm a damn mess as per usual at the end of an Emma Scott book. This writer—this magician of words—took one of Shakespeare's most famous plays, acted it out on black and white pages, and made it resonate with me in a way no live performance or Hollywood adaptation ever has. Isaac and Willow are just as riveting onstage as off. The way their tragic (but hopeful) love story mirrors their small-town production of Hamlet is nothing short of genius. They bring it to life in such a personal way, my stomach twisted from both fear and anticipation every time they stepped onstage (or onpage, for that matter).
“I have to go.”
I pulled her close to me, inhaling her, feeling her body one last time. “I would’ve done anything for you.”
“I know,” she said, her tears wet on my neck. “I’m sorry.”
Then she was running toward the stage. Bursting like a comet under the lights and falling into her father’s arms.
“O my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted!”
As her lament poured out onstage, my old armor of silence locked around me. Never again. I’d never show myself like this again.
The cast of characters is, without a doubt, my favorite from any book I've read in a really long time—especially Bonnie (who reminded me of a laidback Patty Chase) and her daughter, BFF Angie (who *cough* needs her own starring role). "This above all: to thine own self be true." Well, thine own self has one hell of a book hangover and shall go forth and drinketh a glass of wine.
“I have to go.”
I pulled her close to me, inhaling her, feeling her body one last time. “I would’ve done anything for you.”
“I know,” she said, her tears wet on my neck. “I’m sorry.”
Then she was running toward the stage. Bursting like a comet under the lights and falling into her father’s arms.
“O my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted!”
As her lament poured out onstage, my old armor of silence locked around me. Never again. I’d never show myself like this again.
The cast of characters is, without a doubt, my favorite from any book I've read in a really long time—especially Bonnie (who reminded me of a laidback Patty Chase) and her daughter, BFF Angie (who *cough* needs her own starring role). "This above all: to thine own self be true." Well, thine own self has one hell of a book hangover and shall go forth and drinketh a glass of wine.
February 15, 2018
3.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: The first 80ish%? LOVED! I loved how their story went along with their rolls in the play. I loved how they connected and found a safe place in each other to share their secrets. I loved the innocence and true love type feel of their relationship (not being all about the sex because it wouldn't have worked if it was). I loved how they were able to be their true selves with each other and loved each other more for that.
Sadly, what I didn't love was the last 20ish%. It felt way too rushed and jammed packed with stuff going on to where there wasn't enough time to fully process what all went on. It was as if the author had a page limit. She was going great in the pacing and then realized she was close to it, then said "oh crud! I have to fit all this stuff into not so many pages!" Why not just make it longer?! I really don't think it would've harmed the book in any way if it was longer, especially if the pacing remained good! Some of the stuff also felt a little too far fetched and convenient for speeding things up . I'm completely bummed, because like I said before -- I adored this story before the fast-forward button was pushed. I won't even address that epilogue!! Disappointing.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Willow and Isaac's story. They meet when Willow is the new girl and sits in Isaac's seat in English class. They have a few more run-ins, but really meet for the first time when Willow decides to audition for the role of Ophelia in the production where Isaac is Hamlet. They both are damaged from their pasts and are drawn to one another because of it and the strong attraction they feel. There are some secrets revealed, some sweet moments, and some sad moments...and they get a HEA ending.
POV: This alternated between Willow and Isaac's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good for the first 80ish%, but then I felt too rushed for the remainder of the book. Otherwise, I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop the stronger feelings.
H rating: 4 stars. Isaac. I liked him. He was hard on the outside but sweet on the inside.
h rating: 4.5 stars. Willow. I liked her a lot. She was broken from her past, but not so much she didn't fight to get better.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Low. They have some tension and chemistry, but there are only a few scenes and they are at the very end. Definitely a "slow burn" type romance relating to the physical aspects of their relationship.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had what I felt like a rushed ending (or last 20ish%). I would reluctantly call this a HEA, but I definitely wanted more for them . I didn't really have unanswered questions, but I felt like there was a lot jammed packed in a little bit of book.
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers
Overall Opinion: The first 80ish%? LOVED! I loved how their story went along with their rolls in the play. I loved how they connected and found a safe place in each other to share their secrets. I loved the innocence and true love type feel of their relationship (not being all about the sex because it wouldn't have worked if it was). I loved how they were able to be their true selves with each other and loved each other more for that.
Sadly, what I didn't love was the last 20ish%. It felt way too rushed and jammed packed with stuff going on to where there wasn't enough time to fully process what all went on. It was as if the author had a page limit. She was going great in the pacing and then realized she was close to it, then said "oh crud! I have to fit all this stuff into not so many pages!" Why not just make it longer?! I really don't think it would've harmed the book in any way if it was longer, especially if the pacing remained good! Some of the stuff also felt a little too far fetched and convenient for speeding things up . I'm completely bummed, because like I said before -- I adored this story before the fast-forward button was pushed. I won't even address that epilogue!! Disappointing.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Willow and Isaac's story. They meet when Willow is the new girl and sits in Isaac's seat in English class. They have a few more run-ins, but really meet for the first time when Willow decides to audition for the role of Ophelia in the production where Isaac is Hamlet. They both are damaged from their pasts and are drawn to one another because of it and the strong attraction they feel. There are some secrets revealed, some sweet moments, and some sad moments...and they get a HEA ending.
POV: This alternated between Willow and Isaac's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good for the first 80ish%, but then I felt too rushed for the remainder of the book. Otherwise, I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop the stronger feelings.
H rating: 4 stars. Isaac. I liked him. He was hard on the outside but sweet on the inside.
h rating: 4.5 stars. Willow. I liked her a lot. She was broken from her past, but not so much she didn't fight to get better.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Low. They have some tension and chemistry, but there are only a few scenes and they are at the very end. Definitely a "slow burn" type romance relating to the physical aspects of their relationship.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had what I felt like a rushed ending (or last 20ish%). I would reluctantly call this a HEA, but I definitely wanted more for them . I didn't really have unanswered questions, but I felt like there was a lot jammed packed in a little bit of book.
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers
February 14, 2018
“The root of all madness is an unbearable truth…”
This book is everything to me and more. In Harmony is the reason I love to read, a story that touches you so deep to your core, and something so profound and earth shattering brilliant. You wait with baited breath to read the next word, the next sentence, the next paragraph and the next chapter. This is a story that you will love so much you have to keep reading it, but at the same time, one that you hope will never end and last forever. Emma Scott has really outdone herself with this poignant, raw and relatable story about a seventeen year old girl who has moved from the light into the darkness, where she uses X’s to mark her anguish, and a nineteen year old man who uses other people’s words to tell his story.
Willow Halloway was like many teenage girls; good grades, popular, boys and when your parents are out of town, parties. That is until one party changes Willow’s life forever; she becomes withdrawn and a shadow of the person she once was. The ramifications of this party invade her every thought, she is never going to be the same after that one fateful night.
Willow’s father announces one night at dinner, the family was moving from New York to the sleepy town of Harmony, Indiana, due to his work. This move is a blessing in disguise for Willow, a long sought after escape from the dark and lonely world she now finds herself in.
“My gaze jumped back to Isaac, trying to see if the signs of the abuse were written all over him, or if his worst scars, like mine, were hidden on the inside.”
Isaac Pearce is no stranger to heartache and struggle. He’s a poor, misunderstood bad boy, living in a trailer with his abusive alcoholic father. He is simply trying to survive until the day he can finally leave this hell hole of an existence in Harmony.
Isaac never feels more at home then he does centre stage, whether it be playing Oedipus, in Sophocles Greek tragedy, or Hamlet, King of Denmark, in William Shakespeare’s masterpiece of the same name. He was a true talent, a genius on stage and when Isaac spoke, he demanded the attention of the audience and people listened and took note. The townsfolk of Harmony were in awe of this prodigy, and when he was on stage, he was no longer the poor abused kid living in a trailer, the subject of town gossip. Instead, he was a superstar who commanded the stage and the attention of the audience, captivating them with every beautiful word he spoke.
“I recognized the heaviness in her eyes because I had it too. Loss and pain pressed down on her. She pushed through it with small smiles and a tough façade that wilted the second she turned away.”
In Harmony was such a powerful, raw, heartbreakingly beautiful story of two lost souls coming together through their hurt and pain. It demonstrated the powerful impact that just one person could have over another, to allow the healing the process to begin. Willow and Isaac were written in the stars and it was such a joy and privilege to be on this epic journey along with them.
In Harmony is a definite must read to anyone who loves their beautifully written slow burn romances, by an author who has the ability to bring books to life in such a way that you feel every emotion right along-side these characters. It was a true masterpiece, positively unforgettable.
September 15, 2019
Here's the summary of the book:
"He's so handsome"
"She's so pretty"
"He's too poor"
"She's too rich"
"Our parents would never agree"
And then you know what happens...
"He's so handsome"
"She's so pretty"
"He's too poor"
"She's too rich"
"Our parents would never agree"
And then you know what happens...
October 22, 2021
“Willow Tree: Its limbs the long hair of a sad girl, reaching for the ground. ‘Sturdy as an oak,’ they say. A willow is stronger. It bends to the storm. Harsh winds whip it, its leaves are torn and carried away. It bends but doesn’t break. It may weep but it will never fall.”
🌥 beautiful damaged girl meets broken bad boy, soulmates at first sight, they 'see into' each other but can't be together bc he's from the other side of the tracks *dun dun* or some shit like that
🌧 i don't know where in this book my feelings went from 'this is eye-rollingly cliche' to 'this is an offense to literature and i'd burn it if i could' but.... we out here
🌩 if i read this years ago (on wattpad, where it belongs) i might've loved it but as of now i've read a hundred variations of it done much better
⛈ just bc a book deals w heavy issues doesn't automatically make it gripping, you need to actually give the characters depth and chemistry or else it's just corny. and i know she's beloved, but i've had this issue w several emma scott books so i'm coming to the conclusion that she's not for me
April 16, 2024
"You shook me to the bone in a way I've never felt before and I couldn't take my eyes off you."
...Ladies & gentlemen, we have an another wonderful book from Emma! :)
My mind really don't get it how everytime Ms.Scott amazes me with her beautiful stories... <3 This was my 7th book of hers and everytime I end up falling in love with her wonderful fictional characters. I really loved this one, too. :)
Ps. She's one of my favorite authors and since Full Tilt (My 1st book of hers), she never disappointed me. So I highly recommend her books to you. <3
*ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review. ❤❤❤
And please don't forget to buy your copy!!! <3
https://www.amazon.com/Harmony-Emma-S...
Ps. Teaser was taken from Emma's GR review. :)
...Ladies & gentlemen, we have an another wonderful book from Emma! :)
My mind really don't get it how everytime Ms.Scott amazes me with her beautiful stories... <3 This was my 7th book of hers and everytime I end up falling in love with her wonderful fictional characters. I really loved this one, too. :)
Ps. She's one of my favorite authors and since Full Tilt (My 1st book of hers), she never disappointed me. So I highly recommend her books to you. <3
*ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review. ❤❤❤
And please don't forget to buy your copy!!! <3
https://www.amazon.com/Harmony-Emma-S...
Ps. Teaser was taken from Emma's GR review. :)
July 24, 2021
I went through a million and a half emotions while reading this book: sadness, happiness, anger, etc,. This was so beautifully written. I felt every emotion that the author was trying to show on page. I was angry for the heroine. I was sad for the hero. But, I was happy that they found each other.
Summary
Willow (h) is a 17 year old girl that goes through an extremely traumatic event. She's having trouble coping with that happened to her which is causing her to spiral downwards. Her parents are extremely neglectful towards her, in that her dad is married to his job and her mom only cares about how they must present themselves to society.
Isaac (H) is a 19 year old boy from the 'wrong side of the tracks'. He hasn't had an easy day in his life. His mom passed away when he was really young which caused his dad to become an abusive alcoholic. He's poor and lives in a trailer on a junk yard where him and his dad struggle to get by. The one thing that helps him get by is acting which is does at the theater in town.
Willow and Isaac meet when Willow's dad is relocated to Harmony. They don't really begin interacting with each other until Willow lands the part of Ophelia in Hamlet and Isaac is chosen to play Hamlet. Although they feel a connection, their relationship is forbidden in every way. The entire town, but especially Willow's parents, are prejudice against Issac and try to do everything they can to keep them apart by using manipulation and threats. For that reason, they must hide their relationship...all while trying to battle with their own demons.
My thoughts
I absolutely loved Willow and Isaac. Their characters and their backstories are sooo well done. When I say you feel every emotion they're feeling, I mean it. Watching Willow finally take control of her life by the end of the book made me so happy. She finally realized her worth and that her story mattered, just like Isaac told her it did.
Oh my god, Isaac is just a fucking sweetheart. He cares so much for people even when they don't deserve it. Despite everything his dad has done to him, like physically and emotionally abusing him, he still cares. His love and protectiveness of Willow is also beautiful. Thank you Emma Scott for ch. 41, it was needed 😌
There were also so many side character's I loved, but also so many I hated!! Props to ES for making me truly hate a character.
To Xavier, Justin and Willow's parents...
Summary
Willow (h) is a 17 year old girl that goes through an extremely traumatic event. She's having trouble coping with that happened to her which is causing her to spiral downwards. Her parents are extremely neglectful towards her, in that her dad is married to his job and her mom only cares about how they must present themselves to society.
Isaac (H) is a 19 year old boy from the 'wrong side of the tracks'. He hasn't had an easy day in his life. His mom passed away when he was really young which caused his dad to become an abusive alcoholic. He's poor and lives in a trailer on a junk yard where him and his dad struggle to get by. The one thing that helps him get by is acting which is does at the theater in town.
Willow and Isaac meet when Willow's dad is relocated to Harmony. They don't really begin interacting with each other until Willow lands the part of Ophelia in Hamlet and Isaac is chosen to play Hamlet. Although they feel a connection, their relationship is forbidden in every way. The entire town, but especially Willow's parents, are prejudice against Issac and try to do everything they can to keep them apart by using manipulation and threats. For that reason, they must hide their relationship...all while trying to battle with their own demons.
My thoughts
I absolutely loved Willow and Isaac. Their characters and their backstories are sooo well done. When I say you feel every emotion they're feeling, I mean it. Watching Willow finally take control of her life by the end of the book made me so happy. She finally realized her worth and that her story mattered, just like Isaac told her it did.
"The fear I saw in your eyes...I drew it out, but I didn't put it there to begin with," he asked. "Did I?"
"No," I whispered.
"Who did?"
I swallowed hard. "It doesn't matter."
"Matters to me," he said, his voice gruff. "It fucking matters to me, Willow."
Oh my god, Isaac is just a fucking sweetheart. He cares so much for people even when they don't deserve it. Despite everything his dad has done to him, like physically and emotionally abusing him, he still cares. His love and protectiveness of Willow is also beautiful. Thank you Emma Scott for ch. 41, it was needed 😌
There were also so many side character's I loved, but also so many I hated!! Props to ES for making me truly hate a character.
To Xavier, Justin and Willow's parents...
February 16, 2018
4.5 - "Never doubt..." Stars!
Emma Scott once again takes her readers on an emotional rollercoaster, this one literally rips your heart out, throws it against the wall, stamps on it, but then lovingly gathers up the gore and tenderly and carefully sews it back together again.
You can tell from the prologue that this isn’t a story that’s going to have much in the way of unicorns and glitter, Willow Holloway is not dealing with the usual teenage angst about hair, boys and what colour to paint her nails, so when her parents inform her they have to up-sticks for her father’s job and move from New York, to a town called Harmony, she looks forward with hope of leaving her demons, and the shadows that they leave her perpetually submerged in behind.
Loss and pain pressed down on her… She pushed through it with small smiles and a tough façade that wilted the second she turned away.
Told from dual POV, the author really gets into the heads of Willow, as well as Issac Pearce. The bad-boy of Harmony, more so because he lives in a trailer and his dad is the town drunk that anything he has particularly done. But being the tall, strong, silent, handsome, type always calls a few new rumours to add to the list whenever he is around.
His quiet observations about his life were a thousand times more potent and raw than anything I’d seen him do onstage…
The one thing he is known for that is the truth though is his outstanding acting ability. Something which he literally puts his heart and soul into whilst on the stage, it is essentially catharsis for him in that it is the one productive way he can release all the emotions that war inside him, something he has in common with Willow…
This is a story that you can kind of guess the directions it will take from the themes the author uses and the character traits she portrays. Willow being 17 and Issac 19 when their story starts plays a huge part in its telling, because she in her parents eyes is still a minor. Parents that in general are more concerned with keeping up appearances than seeing how Issac’s presence in their daughter’s life is having a positive effect.
Missing him never got easier…
The climax of the story takes us three years on, and I have to say this part was what really grabbed me by the eyeballs, I devoured the last quarter of the book because I just couldn’t wait to see how everything played out. There are dark and sometimes upsetting themes in this story, the author shows responsibility for highlighting that at the beginning of the book, take note of them if this is something that may have an adverse effect on you because although the sun is shining on Willow and Isaac by the end of the book, there is an awful lot of winter to get through before it breaks through the clouds.
"I’ve waited my entire life for you… I can wait a little longer."
ARC generously provided by the author, and it was as it always is, my absolute pleasure to provide the above honest review.
Emma Scott once again takes her readers on an emotional rollercoaster, this one literally rips your heart out, throws it against the wall, stamps on it, but then lovingly gathers up the gore and tenderly and carefully sews it back together again.
You can tell from the prologue that this isn’t a story that’s going to have much in the way of unicorns and glitter, Willow Holloway is not dealing with the usual teenage angst about hair, boys and what colour to paint her nails, so when her parents inform her they have to up-sticks for her father’s job and move from New York, to a town called Harmony, she looks forward with hope of leaving her demons, and the shadows that they leave her perpetually submerged in behind.
Loss and pain pressed down on her… She pushed through it with small smiles and a tough façade that wilted the second she turned away.
Told from dual POV, the author really gets into the heads of Willow, as well as Issac Pearce. The bad-boy of Harmony, more so because he lives in a trailer and his dad is the town drunk that anything he has particularly done. But being the tall, strong, silent, handsome, type always calls a few new rumours to add to the list whenever he is around.
His quiet observations about his life were a thousand times more potent and raw than anything I’d seen him do onstage…
The one thing he is known for that is the truth though is his outstanding acting ability. Something which he literally puts his heart and soul into whilst on the stage, it is essentially catharsis for him in that it is the one productive way he can release all the emotions that war inside him, something he has in common with Willow…
This is a story that you can kind of guess the directions it will take from the themes the author uses and the character traits she portrays. Willow being 17 and Issac 19 when their story starts plays a huge part in its telling, because she in her parents eyes is still a minor. Parents that in general are more concerned with keeping up appearances than seeing how Issac’s presence in their daughter’s life is having a positive effect.
Missing him never got easier…
The climax of the story takes us three years on, and I have to say this part was what really grabbed me by the eyeballs, I devoured the last quarter of the book because I just couldn’t wait to see how everything played out. There are dark and sometimes upsetting themes in this story, the author shows responsibility for highlighting that at the beginning of the book, take note of them if this is something that may have an adverse effect on you because although the sun is shining on Willow and Isaac by the end of the book, there is an awful lot of winter to get through before it breaks through the clouds.
"I’ve waited my entire life for you… I can wait a little longer."
ARC generously provided by the author, and it was as it always is, my absolute pleasure to provide the above honest review.
February 13, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person - Dual
Rating:
Willow Holloway's life was uprooted when her family moved from New York city to a small Midwestern town of Harmony. Once a normal, happy girl, she became a recluse even before the move after enduring a traumatic event. She took the new location as a blank slate to rebuild her life, but new place came with new challenges.
Isaac Pearce was a stoic young man. But as an actor, his spirit came alive every time he stepped on the stage. It was his much needed escape from a hard life and his one way out of the town for good. However, the new girl might change the plan he had carefully mapped out.
Isaac is the kind of character I can't help but drawn to. For someone so young he had to grow up fast. It made me angry but also respected him with how he handled difficult situations.
Willow was only a husk of her former self. For months she carried the burden of her past and it was slowly burying her alive. I like seeing her transformation especially that it happened at a reasonable and realistic pace.
What I love the most about this story is how acting played a big part in telling the story and how it became a coping mechanism for the characters. I'm not a fan of Shakespeare (at all) but I didn't feel suffocated by the words that I didn't understand (at all lol!). In fact I'm glad this book actually thought me something about the plays.
Two of my favorite elements in books are hurt and grit. This book had the hurt, but I'd personally prefer more grit considering it had a lot of potential to go to that direction.
In Harmony is a story of a couple’s healing each other's pain. It would appeal to readers looking for contemporary romance with a dash of emotional element.
Note 1: I love Angie. I can see a lot if myself in her lol!
Note 2: The background text in the teasers is script from Hamlet
🔸 🌹 🔸 . . . (F)BR With Loyda . . . 🔸 🌹 🔸
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person - Dual
Rating:
Willow Holloway's life was uprooted when her family moved from New York city to a small Midwestern town of Harmony. Once a normal, happy girl, she became a recluse even before the move after enduring a traumatic event. She took the new location as a blank slate to rebuild her life, but new place came with new challenges.
Isaac Pearce was a stoic young man. But as an actor, his spirit came alive every time he stepped on the stage. It was his much needed escape from a hard life and his one way out of the town for good. However, the new girl might change the plan he had carefully mapped out.
I was finally on the verge of getting out for good and I meet the one thing that could bring me back. The universe had a sick sense of humor.
Isaac is the kind of character I can't help but drawn to. For someone so young he had to grow up fast. It made me angry but also respected him with how he handled difficult situations.
You can’t look down on anyone when your own self-worth is ground into the dirt, shattered into pieces, and then pissed on.
Willow was only a husk of her former self. For months she carried the burden of her past and it was slowly burying her alive. I like seeing her transformation especially that it happened at a reasonable and realistic pace.
I recognized the heaviness in her eyes because I had it too. Loss and pain pressed down on her. She pushed through it with small smiles and a tough facade that wilted the second she turned away.
What I love the most about this story is how acting played a big part in telling the story and how it became a coping mechanism for the characters. I'm not a fan of Shakespeare (at all) but I didn't feel suffocated by the words that I didn't understand (at all lol!). In fact I'm glad this book actually thought me something about the plays.
Looking at Isaac Pearce was like window-shopping: sighing over something you desperately wanted but couldn’t afford. And yet…the impossibility of my being with him—or any guy—made it easier to be bold.
Two of my favorite elements in books are hurt and grit. This book had the hurt, but I'd personally prefer more grit considering it had a lot of potential to go to that direction.
In Harmony is a story of a couple’s healing each other's pain. It would appeal to readers looking for contemporary romance with a dash of emotional element.
Note 1: I love Angie. I can see a lot if myself in her lol!
Note 2: The background text in the teasers is script from Hamlet
🔸 🌹 🔸 . . . (F)BR With Loyda . . . 🔸 🌹 🔸
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
February 14, 2018
5 “It’s Never Too Late” Stars
Compelling, Daunting, Heartbreaking, Moving.....undeniably a book that will leave your heart raw yet heel it at the same time. A story that exposes how life can change on a dime. From being happy and carefree to being held hostage within your own self. To feeling that the light you carry for the world to see is extinguished in one night leaving you completely in the dark. Until........
This story is a testament to what beautiful and wonderfully inspirational writing should be. Writing that feels extraordinarily real. Not rushed or pushed thought the motions, but perfectly executed. Page by page, the emotions are revealed and exposed for the readers to absorb. While the plot is heartbreaking, walking the walk with Willow and Issac, is inspiring and hopeful. A story that I couldn’t put down.
Willow and Isaac are two extraordinary kids. Yes I say kids because they are 17 and 19. Two kids that have had their lights extinguished. But together, they begin to see that there is hope and that their lights can and will relight. They are young but resilient, they are traumatically altered but surviving, and most importantly, they are two souls that have found each other in their sea of despair.
The cast of secondary characters is brilliant. From loving to disliking them, they all were perfectly cast in Willow and Isaac’s life. Each personality added different nuisances to the story and from the first page to the last page of the Epilogue, my love for all the characters grew and grew.
This book will take its toll on you but it will also be one that brings you full circle. That there is always hope and that it’s never too late. A beautiful story that I recommend to all. A story that is very relevant to our society and a must read.
*advanced copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review*
Compelling, Daunting, Heartbreaking, Moving.....undeniably a book that will leave your heart raw yet heel it at the same time. A story that exposes how life can change on a dime. From being happy and carefree to being held hostage within your own self. To feeling that the light you carry for the world to see is extinguished in one night leaving you completely in the dark. Until........
This story is a testament to what beautiful and wonderfully inspirational writing should be. Writing that feels extraordinarily real. Not rushed or pushed thought the motions, but perfectly executed. Page by page, the emotions are revealed and exposed for the readers to absorb. While the plot is heartbreaking, walking the walk with Willow and Issac, is inspiring and hopeful. A story that I couldn’t put down.
Willow and Isaac are two extraordinary kids. Yes I say kids because they are 17 and 19. Two kids that have had their lights extinguished. But together, they begin to see that there is hope and that their lights can and will relight. They are young but resilient, they are traumatically altered but surviving, and most importantly, they are two souls that have found each other in their sea of despair.
The cast of secondary characters is brilliant. From loving to disliking them, they all were perfectly cast in Willow and Isaac’s life. Each personality added different nuisances to the story and from the first page to the last page of the Epilogue, my love for all the characters grew and grew.
This book will take its toll on you but it will also be one that brings you full circle. That there is always hope and that it’s never too late. A beautiful story that I recommend to all. A story that is very relevant to our society and a must read.
*advanced copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review*
August 14, 2020
Jahreshighlight !
Rezension folgt
*Rezensionsexemplar
Rezension folgt
*Rezensionsexemplar
February 12, 2018
“Your talent is on a different level. It’s like you cast a spell, tricking us into believing we’re somewhere else. That’s a gift. Sometimes people need a break from their own lives. You give that to them.”
This is what Willow says to Isaac after she’s watched him perform on stage for the first time.
This is exactly what Emma Scott makes me feel when I read her words. Her stories. She transports me to another world. Makes me experience every emotion. It’s real and vivid. It’s ugly and it’s beautiful. Her prose and construction of In Harmony is flawless and meticulously executed.
Isaac and Willow have both lost their voices from different outside forces. Not only has Willow’s voice been repressed, her light has been snuffed out because of a sexual assault. Their journey back to rediscovering themselves, reclaiming their voices and power are executed masterfully with the incorporation Shakespeare’s Hamlet. On stage they both find their voices. Together they find solace and trust in one another. They become a unity.
Emma Scott captures something real, authentic and current with In Harmony. Every voice matters. Find the strength to stand up and voice it. Willow’s journey is raw, poignant and emotional. It has to be given the seriousness of the topic. It’s not to be taken lightly and In Harmony is a roller coaster of emotions. It’s a long road towards the light. Willow and Isaac face a lot of resistance and hate but they never give up on one another and themselves.
Thankfully they have a wonderful support system from some pretty amazing people. These secondary characters become as important as Willow and Isaac. Willow’s bestie , Angie and The Fords - Marty and Brenda. They play an integral part to them fighting back and becoming more. A new and stronger version of Willow and Isaac. Two lights that can fight against the wind.
It’s no secret that Emma Scott has cemented herself as a favorite author of mine years ago. In Harmony is her proving that to me once again. The message of this book is powerful and unequivocal. She achieves it with an original storyline and the end result left me feeling hopeful and confident. Not just about today but about the future.
I’m going to end my review with this quote from In Harmony. “I want to thank you for taking me somewhere else for a couple hours. I needed it.” Willow couldn’t have said it any better.
5 BadAssDirtyNeverDoubtStars
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC
This is what Willow says to Isaac after she’s watched him perform on stage for the first time.
This is exactly what Emma Scott makes me feel when I read her words. Her stories. She transports me to another world. Makes me experience every emotion. It’s real and vivid. It’s ugly and it’s beautiful. Her prose and construction of In Harmony is flawless and meticulously executed.
Isaac and Willow have both lost their voices from different outside forces. Not only has Willow’s voice been repressed, her light has been snuffed out because of a sexual assault. Their journey back to rediscovering themselves, reclaiming their voices and power are executed masterfully with the incorporation Shakespeare’s Hamlet. On stage they both find their voices. Together they find solace and trust in one another. They become a unity.
Emma Scott captures something real, authentic and current with In Harmony. Every voice matters. Find the strength to stand up and voice it. Willow’s journey is raw, poignant and emotional. It has to be given the seriousness of the topic. It’s not to be taken lightly and In Harmony is a roller coaster of emotions. It’s a long road towards the light. Willow and Isaac face a lot of resistance and hate but they never give up on one another and themselves.
Thankfully they have a wonderful support system from some pretty amazing people. These secondary characters become as important as Willow and Isaac. Willow’s bestie , Angie and The Fords - Marty and Brenda. They play an integral part to them fighting back and becoming more. A new and stronger version of Willow and Isaac. Two lights that can fight against the wind.
It’s no secret that Emma Scott has cemented herself as a favorite author of mine years ago. In Harmony is her proving that to me once again. The message of this book is powerful and unequivocal. She achieves it with an original storyline and the end result left me feeling hopeful and confident. Not just about today but about the future.
I’m going to end my review with this quote from In Harmony. “I want to thank you for taking me somewhere else for a couple hours. I needed it.” Willow couldn’t have said it any better.
5 BadAssDirtyNeverDoubtStars
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC
February 13, 2021
Absolutes Highlight! Dieses Buch ist ganz weit vorne bei meinen liebsten New Adult Büchern!
Emma Scott zeigt mit diesem Buch erneut ihr Können und wie unglaublich gut sie Geschichten erzählen kann. Ich kann kaum glauben, dass ich dies sage, aber ich denke es ist mit Abstand mein liebstes Buch von ihr. Absolut tiefgründig und emotional! Never Daubt hat mich tief berührt! Tatsächlich hatte ich zuvor nie viel Interesse amTheater und Shakespeare. Aber wie Emma Scott die Thematik in dieses Buch hat einfließen lassen ist einfach magisch. Die Darstellung der Protagonisten Willow und Isaac ist der Autorin wirklich gut gelungen. Ich habe von Anfang an mit den Beiden mitgefiebert und habe mich mit ihnen verbunden gefühlt. Vor allem aber die schwierigen Themen, die Emma Scott in Willows Geschichte verarbeitet, sind so wichtig. Ich bin ihr so dankbar für diese Geschichte. Die Welt braucht definitiv mehr davon! Mir fehlen die Worte. Das Buch ist für mich ein absolutes Highlight!
Triggerwarnung: Vergewaltigung
Emma Scott zeigt mit diesem Buch erneut ihr Können und wie unglaublich gut sie Geschichten erzählen kann. Ich kann kaum glauben, dass ich dies sage, aber ich denke es ist mit Abstand mein liebstes Buch von ihr. Absolut tiefgründig und emotional! Never Daubt hat mich tief berührt! Tatsächlich hatte ich zuvor nie viel Interesse amTheater und Shakespeare. Aber wie Emma Scott die Thematik in dieses Buch hat einfließen lassen ist einfach magisch. Die Darstellung der Protagonisten Willow und Isaac ist der Autorin wirklich gut gelungen. Ich habe von Anfang an mit den Beiden mitgefiebert und habe mich mit ihnen verbunden gefühlt. Vor allem aber die schwierigen Themen, die Emma Scott in Willows Geschichte verarbeitet, sind so wichtig. Ich bin ihr so dankbar für diese Geschichte. Die Welt braucht definitiv mehr davon! Mir fehlen die Worte. Das Buch ist für mich ein absolutes Highlight!
Triggerwarnung: Vergewaltigung
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2018
I received an advanced copy of this book but I swear it did not influence my opinion. Honest as always ♥
5 stars
How do I begin this review?
Maybe I can tell you about my wish for once in my busy mom's life to have a whole empy day just to read? It was painful to set the book aside each time I had to do a chore or listen to my drama queen of a daughter else get a "Mom! You never listen to me!".
Or I can begin by telling you how I had watery eyes on the treadmill at my fitness club just in front of the big mirrors and I was sniffling like mad because :"Why doesn't that damn fitness gear have one pocket for a tiny tissues?!!!!" Well with all the tears that I shed at some point I would have needed a backpack to carry said tissues.
Maybe I can share with you my secret wish to wear a white slip, long blonde braid and expose my emotions playing Ophelia on stage? Because it seemed so cathartic and liberating for Willow and Isaac. Maybe I could vent my frustration and fear when you discover years after that you avoided one of the worst drama with your teenage son...
I could also tell you that I'll buy exclusive rights to all Angie's sassy and crazy T Shirt quotes because I know I will make big money selling them on pajamas, T Shirts, tote bags... Just watch me becoming the next billionaire because dang Emma! Angie was a fabulous friend and she had the best sarcastic humor!
Or simply I could just tell you that Emma Scott has swept me off my feet once more just to catapult me in her deeply moving and dramatic story.
As all this does not give you many pointers about the characters or the story let's flesh it out briefly.
Hamlet is a tragedy. What happened to Willow was tragic and she is slowly dying inside.
She was snuffed by her dad, Justin and "X". It's terrible to be trapped inside your mind. To have no control on your fate. To know that something terrible happened and yet don't remember. I was owling in desperation.
Isaac had his own tragedy and is trapped by poverty. He is closed off. It's his way to cope when hurt. Build a wall and retreat in the safety of loneliness. A distant and tragic James Dean. The town's renowned bad boy who's not bad at all but just had a very bad stack of cards.
They both were magnificent on stage. This is a tribute to art. How it can heal you. How it gives you a voice when you can't find your own.Use others words and tell the story. Tell YOUR story. The one that is killing you slowly.
This a tragic, moving, beautiful love story.
The cast was perfect lead roles and side charaters. Willow was beat, hurt but filled with quiet dignity. Isaac was supportive, protective and intense. The villain was a true villain lurking in Willow's mind and making his grand entrance on scene by the end to have the drama unfold.
Special mention to Angie the best friend anyone could wish for.
I did not know how to begin but I want to end this review explaining that my "First Lines Friday" meme was featuring the prologue. I loved the Little Light's story and I wish you all to never forget to shine even when you are alone in the dark. Find your inner light and let it shine proudly.
Have you read some of Emma Scott's books?
Thanks for reading!
Sophie
Find me on:
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5 stars
How do I begin this review?
Maybe I can tell you about my wish for once in my busy mom's life to have a whole empy day just to read? It was painful to set the book aside each time I had to do a chore or listen to my drama queen of a daughter else get a "Mom! You never listen to me!".
Or I can begin by telling you how I had watery eyes on the treadmill at my fitness club just in front of the big mirrors and I was sniffling like mad because :"Why doesn't that damn fitness gear have one pocket for a tiny tissues?!!!!" Well with all the tears that I shed at some point I would have needed a backpack to carry said tissues.
Maybe I can share with you my secret wish to wear a white slip, long blonde braid and expose my emotions playing Ophelia on stage? Because it seemed so cathartic and liberating for Willow and Isaac. Maybe I could vent my frustration and fear when you discover years after that you avoided one of the worst drama with your teenage son...
I could also tell you that I'll buy exclusive rights to all Angie's sassy and crazy T Shirt quotes because I know I will make big money selling them on pajamas, T Shirts, tote bags... Just watch me becoming the next billionaire because dang Emma! Angie was a fabulous friend and she had the best sarcastic humor!
Or simply I could just tell you that Emma Scott has swept me off my feet once more just to catapult me in her deeply moving and dramatic story.
As all this does not give you many pointers about the characters or the story let's flesh it out briefly.
Hamlet is a tragedy. What happened to Willow was tragic and she is slowly dying inside.
She was snuffed by her dad, Justin and "X". It's terrible to be trapped inside your mind. To have no control on your fate. To know that something terrible happened and yet don't remember. I was owling in desperation.
Isaac had his own tragedy and is trapped by poverty. He is closed off. It's his way to cope when hurt. Build a wall and retreat in the safety of loneliness. A distant and tragic James Dean. The town's renowned bad boy who's not bad at all but just had a very bad stack of cards.
They both were magnificent on stage. This is a tribute to art. How it can heal you. How it gives you a voice when you can't find your own.Use others words and tell the story. Tell YOUR story. The one that is killing you slowly.
This a tragic, moving, beautiful love story.
The cast was perfect lead roles and side charaters. Willow was beat, hurt but filled with quiet dignity. Isaac was supportive, protective and intense. The villain was a true villain lurking in Willow's mind and making his grand entrance on scene by the end to have the drama unfold.
Special mention to Angie the best friend anyone could wish for.
I did not know how to begin but I want to end this review explaining that my "First Lines Friday" meme was featuring the prologue. I loved the Little Light's story and I wish you all to never forget to shine even when you are alone in the dark. Find your inner light and let it shine proudly.
Have you read some of Emma Scott's books?
Thanks for reading!
Sophie
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August 15, 2021
My first Emma Scott book and it did not disappoint. I know her books are insanely popular but i always thought they are overrated(idk why i have this problem with tv shows too lol) but i'm glad i picked this up bc i really like it and the writting was really good(i shed some tears not gonna lie).
*More detailed rtc bc exams.😩
*More detailed rtc bc exams.😩
February 28, 2021
Gott, es war wunderwunderschön 🥺
Dieses Buch hat mich wirklich berühren können und hat meinem Herz ein paar Wunden zugefügt und ich weiß gar nicht, was ich noch sagen soll, weil es mir die Sprache verschlagen hat.
Liebe Liebe Liebe 🤍
Dieses Buch hat mich wirklich berühren können und hat meinem Herz ein paar Wunden zugefügt und ich weiß gar nicht, was ich noch sagen soll, weil es mir die Sprache verschlagen hat.
Liebe Liebe Liebe 🤍
Shelved as 'lost-interest'
April 20, 2020Lost interest due to learning it has a very slow pace and that there is a 3-year separation. Also, their intimacy comes at the very end and it is not passionate enough, as many reviewers say.
March 7, 2018
4.5 stars
Emma Scott knows her business and she never disappoints. With her brilliant writing style and outstanding characters you are sucked into the story immediately. I had feeling like I am IN THE BOOK, standing on the sidewalk and observing main characters walking past me on the street.
Not really reading the blurb, I noticed story is settled in Harmony, Indiana. As huge USA fan (and everything related with it) I googled it and found out there really is town named New Harmony in Indiana. In the book is special author's note about story location and she indeed had this charming little town in her mind when writing story. She even included town's romantic hedge maze into the story where Willow and Isaac secretly met.
I loved Willow and Isaac's chemistry and their dinamic. The only part I didn't like, which took 0,5 stars off, was last part - it was too dramatic and the ending too sweet. Willow's tragedy felt very real and too sweet ending transformed it into nonrealistic storytale.
Emma Scott knows her business and she never disappoints. With her brilliant writing style and outstanding characters you are sucked into the story immediately. I had feeling like I am IN THE BOOK, standing on the sidewalk and observing main characters walking past me on the street.
Not really reading the blurb, I noticed story is settled in Harmony, Indiana. As huge USA fan (and everything related with it) I googled it and found out there really is town named New Harmony in Indiana. In the book is special author's note about story location and she indeed had this charming little town in her mind when writing story. She even included town's romantic hedge maze into the story where Willow and Isaac secretly met.
I loved Willow and Isaac's chemistry and their dinamic. The only part I didn't like, which took 0,5 stars off, was last part - it was too dramatic and the ending too sweet. Willow's tragedy felt very real and too sweet ending transformed it into nonrealistic storytale.
February 11, 2018
4.5★★★★Stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person - Dual
"The love was there first."
Willow Holloway was forced to leave New York to move to a small town in Indiana due to her father's job. She was neither happy or sad for the move specially after a traumatizing event that summer that left her broken and shattered. Willow had blocked all friendships already and didn't care to make new ones in the new town of Harmony Indiana.
"You can't look down on anyone when your own self-worth is ground into the dirt, shattered into pieces, and then pissed of."
Isaac Pearce at nineteen years old was forced to fend to his own when tragedy happened; he lost his mother at a very young age and in the processed he lost his father to alcohol as well. The only good thing going on for him was the dream to escape from Harmony, IN and land an acting job so he can forever leave the crappy life he was forced into. But when the new student came to his school he couldn't shake her out of his mind.
"You shook me to the bone in a way I've never felt before and I couldn't take my eyes off you."
I loved this story so much. Something about broken characters just gets to me. We had Willow desperately trying to deal with her dark past and no one to confide with and we have Isaac dealing with a hard life after the death of his mother. Life was hard for these two and they found "acting" the only way for them to express all the sad and darkness inside of them. Getting lost in another's character gave them freedom and I would have love to see them act because it was so awesome how the author describe this story.
"Can't you feel what it does to the people who watch you act? It's like a gift of transportation. An escape for us too."
I really enjoyed some characters more than others; her new friend Angie that she meets in Harmony was amazing along with Angie's mother Bonnie. I was not a fan of her parents and their believes that people without money are below them so I really struggled liking them and understood how hard her secret was to confide on them because of what they believe. This book was really a total page turner, I found myself laughing so much because of Angie she totally made the book so much enjoyable. I loved the chemistry and struggles between Willow and Isaac. I found myself a bit conflicted closer to the end; not sure why but I felt after how Isaac and Willow were forced to be away from each other I wanted a bigger scene when they reunite and what we got was just not as satisfying to me. However; that didn't stopped me from enjoying the story.
Overall; readers who enjoy a good emotional book and are not afraid to read hard topics like rape and abuse will find this book appealing. In Harmony is a story about learning to heal and love after bad events and is also about love and family.
★This was a F(BR) with War★
Book Info:
Expected Publication Date: February 13, 2018.
Pre-order: | AMZ US | AMZ UK |
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
February 20, 2018
FIVE STARS ******
In Harmony is captivating and heart breaking from beginning to end. A tale that will leave an ever lasting impression in your heart, and will give hope, and perhaps even a voice to those who have lost theirs.
Emma Scott writes from the heart, which is why her stories are designed to reach deep within our souls. Her characters are always so beautiful and memorable to me. This book is definitely a must read.
image upload
Willow used to be the happy, popular girl that had it all. All the guys wanted to be with her and all the girls wanted to be her. Her life in New York City was all fun and fabulous. On her last year of high school, her future seemed very bright, until one horrible night made her light completely vanish. Broken and lost, Willow can’t sleep in her own bed anymore or even look at herself in the mirror.
Since Willow feels like a dead body walking amongst the living, when her parents tell her that they have to move to a new town in the middle of her senior year, she simply can’t find it in herself to care.
They move to the town of Harmony. A beautiful place with lots of beautiful and big, green trees, fresh air and with lots of charm.
On her first day of school, Willow meets the town’s bad boy. A gorgeous guy who intimidates everyone around him, except Willow. She can’t stop looking at his unique and beautiful eyes, without feeling and intense feeling of...hope.
Isaac Pearce is counting down the days until he leaves Harmony behind. A town that has given him nothing but pain, and terrible memories. Isaac’s finds respite from all the ugly in his life inside the local theater. On the stage, with bright lights shining on him, Isaac can finally escape his own life and be whoever he could be.
Isaac and Willow feel drawn to one another since the very first time they meet. A feeling of familiarity, then a fierce friendship, and last, a powerful love that will save them both from their dark, and lonely, sleepless nights.
The beauty of this story was that it is packed with so much hope. Harmony was the place Isaac was trying to loose, and Willow trying to find. Both these characters where inside a maze, and inside of all that chaos they found each other, and ultimately the courage to finally leave all the sorrow behind and move on together into a better future.
In Harmony is captivating and heart breaking from beginning to end. A tale that will leave an ever lasting impression in your heart, and will give hope, and perhaps even a voice to those who have lost theirs.
Emma Scott writes from the heart, which is why her stories are designed to reach deep within our souls. Her characters are always so beautiful and memorable to me. This book is definitely a must read.
image upload
Willow used to be the happy, popular girl that had it all. All the guys wanted to be with her and all the girls wanted to be her. Her life in New York City was all fun and fabulous. On her last year of high school, her future seemed very bright, until one horrible night made her light completely vanish. Broken and lost, Willow can’t sleep in her own bed anymore or even look at herself in the mirror.
Since Willow feels like a dead body walking amongst the living, when her parents tell her that they have to move to a new town in the middle of her senior year, she simply can’t find it in herself to care.
They move to the town of Harmony. A beautiful place with lots of beautiful and big, green trees, fresh air and with lots of charm.
On her first day of school, Willow meets the town’s bad boy. A gorgeous guy who intimidates everyone around him, except Willow. She can’t stop looking at his unique and beautiful eyes, without feeling and intense feeling of...hope.
Isaac Pearce is counting down the days until he leaves Harmony behind. A town that has given him nothing but pain, and terrible memories. Isaac’s finds respite from all the ugly in his life inside the local theater. On the stage, with bright lights shining on him, Isaac can finally escape his own life and be whoever he could be.
Isaac and Willow feel drawn to one another since the very first time they meet. A feeling of familiarity, then a fierce friendship, and last, a powerful love that will save them both from their dark, and lonely, sleepless nights.
The beauty of this story was that it is packed with so much hope. Harmony was the place Isaac was trying to loose, and Willow trying to find. Both these characters where inside a maze, and inside of all that chaos they found each other, and ultimately the courage to finally leave all the sorrow behind and move on together into a better future.
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