Review: Loyalty and Lies

Loyalty and Lies by L.A. Cotton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I connected greatly with Ana. She's flawed and imperfect. She's suffering from depression and it's something that she has to constantly battle and work through. While many people don't understand that mental tug of war, L.A. Cotton writes true to the perspective. As clips of Ana's past come to light, you fall more into the story and bond with her. I wish there was more filler in between the month gap her or there which would have set this book over the top in my mind. I just wanted a little more of them building a connection. I'm looking forward to continuing her story in the next book!

***

Ana has been managing to just exist for the last 16 months. Everyone is left in her life is telling her it's time to move on, so in attempts to create a new start, she moves across the country to attend Chastity Falls Academy. She's along way from home and is hoping to burry the pain of her past where no one knows her. But while Chastity Falls is a seemingly peaceful small town, it has a simmering rivalry ready to burst and secrets every which way you turn. Unlike everyone else, she's not interested in the town drama, ignoring the constant gossip just trying to get through each day without retreating back into her depression.

"how did you move on when you never had closure? Never got to say the things that you wanted to say. How did you move on from the guilt of knowing it was all your fault?"

Her new roommate, Elena is doing everything she can to make their college experience a memorable one. As much as she tries, Ana knows she can't keep her dark past a secret from Elena's knowing eyes for long.
Connecting with people hasn't been possible since the accident, but Elena makes her want to try. So does Jackson. From the moment her eyes met his, something sparked. But while any other college girl would be excited, Ana feels guilty... how could she possibly move on when her heart was broken and unrepairable.
There's something about Jackson that's comforting. She keeps everyone else at arm's length, until Jackson. Although she keeps her secrets locked down, he seems to be the one person she can see herself telling everything to. She's starting to feel again when she didn't think it would ever be possible. He was bringing her back to life; not just existing, but living. But loyalty lines are being drawn and Ana finds herself in a sticky situation.

“Open your eyes, Ana. I want you looking at me while I make you feel.” My lips formed an O. He hadn’t said what he would be making me feel, just that he would. He knew. He could read me like a book."

Hailee Steinfeld - Hell Nos and Headphones
Tove Lo - Habits (Stay High)
Skrillex and Diplo - "Where Are Ü Now" with Justin Bieber
Carley Pearce - Every Little Thing
5 Seconds Of Summer - Amnesia
Taylor Swift - Breathe
Sara Evans - A Little Bit Stronger
Dan + Shay - Lipstick
Ella Mae Bowen - Holding Out For a Hero
Haley James Scott - when the stars go blue
Sia - Breathe
Maren Morris - I Could Use A Love Song
Hey Violet - Break My Heart
Astrid - Paper Thin, Hurts So Good, I Don't Wanna Know, Running Out (Acoustic)
Kane Brown - What Ifs
Machine Gun Kelly, Camila Cabello - Bad Things
Julia Michaels - Issues
Brett Young - In Case You Didn't Know
Ed Sheehan - Perfect (Feat Beyonce)
Nial Horan - Too Much To Ask, Slow Hands, Flicker
David Guetta - Dangerous
Capital Kings - Believer
Nick Jonas - Close
Fifth Harmony - Down, He Like That
Max - Lights Down Low
Imagine Dragons - Demons, Radioactive
James Arthur - Can I Be Him
Olivia O-Brien - Complicated (Cover)
Justin Bieber - Purpose
Nathan Skyes, Ariana Grande - Over and Over Again
Alessia Cara - Here, River Of Tears, Stay (Acoustic), Scars To Your Beautiful
Time Flies - Once In A While
Marron 5 - Don't Wanna Know
Alex and Sierra - Little Do You Know
Olivia Holt - Pheonix
Lady Gaga - The Cure
Selena Gomez, Marshmallow - Wolves
Lana Del Rey - Young and Beautiful
Camila Cabello - Never Be the Same
Haim - Want You Back, Little Of Your Love (Bloodpop Remix)
Zara Larsson - I Can't Fall In Love Without You, Only You
Sam Smith - Too Good At Goodbyes
Demi Lovato - Tell Me You Love Me
DNCE - Truthfully
Taylor Swift - Last Kiss

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