Never Tear Us Apart by Monica Murphy (Never Tear Us Apart #1)
Released: January 5, 2016
New Adult
Bantam

Reviewed by Mandi

This book and I did not get along. From the blurb and skimming review on Goodreads, it looked dark and angsty – and I love some dark and angsty. I didn’t find that however. Maybe I’m just bitter and old? I found the blossoming romance between our hero and heroine kind of hokey. Their thought process about each other was so over the top, I rolled my eyes the entire book. The darkness never came – yes it deals with a dark subject matter (kidnap and rape) but the darkness is skimmed over for the most part.

Let me also note – I recently read Hold Me Close by Megan Hart, which has a very similar story line. I loved that book – there were times the bad guy was about to come down the stairs where he held the hero and heroine captive and my stomach would flip-flop because I was so nervous. I couldn’t help compare these books as I read, and I feel like Hart’s book knocked it out of the park, while this one felt like it was written for a much younger audience, compared to my 37-year-old self.

Told in both the past and present, Katie was kidnapped by a serial killer/rapist when she was twelve. Raped, held for a few days, the rapist’s son, Will, finds Katie tied up in a shed and helps her escape and run to the police. Will had no idea his father was this horrible person, although not everyone believes him. Katie’s parents obviously want her to have nothing to do with him, but eventually they start to correspond with letters. They become very close over this time period, but eventually Will – who changes his name to Ethan to create distance from his father – let’s her go.

But Ethan has never forgotten Katie, who he feels is his one true love. Fast forward – Katie is now living on her own and does a prime-time interview on television to finally stop the rumors that have started over the years. She tells her entire story so the truth is out there. Ethan sees this and he has this overwhelming need to find her. Using the internet, he somehow tracks down where she lives, sits outside her house and stalks her a bit – eventually following her into an amusement park (the same one she was kidnapped from). He sees someone trying to steal her purse, and intervenes.

They talk – they have coffee – they exchange numbers. Ethan can’t believe he finally found Katie – Katie has no idea Ethan is Will aka the boy who saved her all those years ago. Ethan decides he can’t tell her yet who he is.

Obviously, Katie has had trouble trusting men since her ordeal – but she feels safe with Ethan. They start texting and eventually have dinner and then things turn romantic. Still, Ethan has yet to tell Kate who he is.

I was fine with him not telling her at first (I guess) but once he starts a relationship with her, he needed to come clean. Why not tell her? She was always fond of him. I don’t understand this. What’s worse – he sleeps with her without telling her who he is. That’s not right Mr. Ethan. Oh – and I love his reasoning:

I scrub a hand over my face as I pull into my driveway. Fuck. I don’t know how to feel anymore. She deserves the truth. I know that. But I don’t want to ruin what tonight can bring. I need her. I want her. I tell her who I really am, I blow her mind with the truth, and I’m putting everything at risk.

Everything.

And I can’t do that. Not tonight. I need one night with her. Just one.

Selfish much, Ethan??? Remember Katie – the girl who was raped by your father? She MIGHT have a thing or two to think about or say before having sex with you. Gross.

I was also not a fan of the over the top – omg lust – they have with one another. It felt so immature.

…her eyes that beautiful dark blue I’ve never seen on anyone else. The color of twilight, right before the sunlight fades forever into the night. Navy-blue velvet that twinkles with little white stars, just a hint of purple smudging the edges, accompanied by the faintest streak of pinkish orange. So faint you think you almost imagined it.

That’s the color of her eyes. Like a fucking poem or something. Having her here like this clearly renders me a lovesick poet.

I can’t stop staring at her. The sun shines upon her hair, turning the thick strands varying shades of gold and cream and she’s looking at me what feels like every few seconds – God, does she like me?

You might think that is romantic, but this is how the entire book sounded. It was too much!! Also note, this is a two book story – so the ending of this book does not have the HEA quite yet.

Grade: D

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