“Those who love us never truly leave us.”
Sometimes there are books that you need to read in certain moments of your life. Home Again, by Melissa Grace, is one of them.
I’m a firm believer in signs. This book spoke to me deeply. I started reading this book as my mother’s health declined rapidly and finished it after we finished celebrating her life. Home Again was exactly the book I needed in my hands at this time in my life.
Home Again is about the family you choose and features strong female friendships. Full of unexpected surprises, there were twists I just did not see coming. It is emotional, heartfelt, and raw. The characters are vulnerable and extremely relatable. I was so emotionally invested in every relationship.
Home Again is the follow-up to Home Is Where You Are, but can be read as a standalone. It is a beautiful story that follows Ella and Cash as they are trying to move on from the death of their spouses. Ella's husband died suddenly, leaving her as a single parent. Cash's wife died after battling cancer. Both are ready to move on and start dating, but they are afraid of ruining their friendship, along with their found family, if the relationship falls off the rails. When Ella's daughter goes to spend the summer in England, the pair decide to test the waters with each other.
This friends to lovers romance is beyond perfection. I laughed, I cried, and could not stop smiling while reading it. With their friends Liv and Jax getting married, both Cash and Ella are struggling with feeling like everyone else around them is moving on, while they are at a standstill. They are happy, but not truly happy, as they are still deeply grieving. This book helped me sort through some of my own grief and was a welcome escape during very tough days.
Ella is the most hilarious and over the top heroine ever and I want to be her best friend. I laughed at so many of her one-liners. Snarky and sarcastic, she loves big and is fiercely independent. While she is not a hopeless romantic, she does want to find someone to wake up to in the mornings. Ella is intense and protective. I love that she has no fear and will speak her mind.
Cash just gets Ella. He has an incredibly big heart and he loves big. Even with all Ella's flaws and all her baggage, Cash just gets her and accepts her. Not only does Cash accept Ella, he fights for her. He is so tender and sweet and caring. But despite his put together, tough exterior, Cash is still dealing with deep-seeded grief. I loved how his character way portrayed.
Together, Cash and Ella just make sense. She is the wild to his reserved. Their banter is hilarious and they understand each other better than anyone else could. They have shared history and this only adds to the deep connection that is evident from the first few chapters of the book. I was immediately invested in their relationship, because there is a high level of intimacy between the two, which is rare in books. Many times you get either the physical or emotional chemistry, but in Home Again, you get both. I love that they're in their 40s and they don't screw around or play games. They know what they want and they both go after it.
On top of Ella and Cash's relationship, you get to see the evolution of Ella's relationship with her best friend Liv. Ella is used to having Liv to count on and go to for everything, but after Liv's marriage and her being thrusted into foster parenting, their friendship takes a hit. This is such a relatable theme to real life and despite their strong friendship, the friendship goes through hard times. I love that this wasn't sugar-coated. Friendships change, people grow and sometimes this leads to hurt and people growing apart.
Some highlights of the book include:
• Spanx
• Bradley Cooper
• Goat yoga
Home Again is an absolute masterpiece. It is emotional, heartfelt and raw. This story mirrors real life and makes you think. I felt every emotional right alongside Ella and Cash. Home Again is full of unexpected surprises; there were twists I did not see coming. Hands down, one of the top 5 books I've read this year. 5 stars does not do this book justice. All the love for Home Again.
⚠️CW: Alzheimer’s, previous death of spouse, foster care
Home Again is out July 27. Thank you to Melissa for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
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