ARC Review: The Last Time We Were Us by Leah Konen

The Last Time We Were Us
Author: Leah Konen
Publication: Katherine Tegen Books (May 10, 2016)

Description: A passionate summer love story about a girl, her childhood best friend, and the small town lies that have kept them apart. Leah Konen’s The Last Time We Were Us is perfect for fans of Jenny Han, Sara Zarr, and Gayle Forman.

Liz Grant is about to have the summer of her life. She and her friend MacKenzie are finally getting invited to all the best parties, and, with any luck, Innis Taylor, the most gorgeous guy in Bonneville, will be her boyfriend before the Fourth of July.

Then Jason Sullivan comes back to town. A million years ago, he was her best friend, but that was before he ditched her for a different crowd . . . and before he attacked Innis’s older brother and got sent away to juvie. All of Bonneville still thinks he’s dangerous, but Liz finds it hard to believe what people say about her childhood friend. If word gets out she’s seeing him, she could lose everything.

But what if there’s more to that horrible night than she knows? And how many more people will get hurt when the truth finally comes out? Liz will have to decide if she can trust herself—and her heart—before it’s too late.

My Thoughts: Liz Grant is having a great summer. She is maybe being courted by the coolest boy in town - handsome and from the best family. Her mother, social climber that she is, is pushing Liz toward the relationship. Her new best friend MacKenzie is listing all the fun things they will be able to do as a foursome during their upcoming awesome senior year. Then Jason Sullivan comes back to town.

Liz and Jason were best friends since the time they were infants. They had a bit of a falling out in middle school when Jason was adopted by the in-crowd. And the friendship came to a screeching halt when Jason was sent away to juvie after being convicted on gross bodily harm when he pushed his friend Innis's older brother Skip into a fire which left Skip with massive facial burns.

Liz is torn between having the perfect life with Innis or rebuilding her friendship with Jason. The decision isn't clear cut because Jason isn't talking about the Skip incident and being with him will make Liz a social pariah.

I didn't initially like Liz. I thought she was too focused on appearance and being popular and in the right social crowd. I thought she looked at Innis as some sort of trophy and was too quick to gloss over the cracks in his supposed perfection. I also didn't think that MacKenzie was much of a friend. As the story went on, though, I began to have more sympathy for Liz.

Fans of angsty teen romance will enjoy this page-turner.

Favorite Quote:

And when I hang up the phone, I suddenly feel more clearheaded.

Because I may have countless yesterdays with Jason, but I have a whole world of tomorrows with Innis.

And there's no point in effing up tomorrow in the hope of getting a yesterday back.

It probably wasn't as good as I remembered it, anyway.

I got this ARC from Edelweiss. You can buy your copy here.