Review ~ Poughkeepsie

 

Poughkeepsie
by Debra Anastasia

5- Moms Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes and Dessert. It doesn’t get any better!

 

 

 

Synopsis:  (From Good Reads)

He counts her smiles every day and night at the train station. And morning and evening, the beautiful commuter acknowledges him—just like she does everyone else on the platform. But Blake Hartt is not like the others . . . he’s homeless. Memories of a broken childhood have robbed him of peace and twisted delusions into his soul. He stays secluded from the sun, sure the world would run from him in the harsh light of day.

Each day, Livia McHugh smiles politely and acknowledges her fellow commuters as she waits for the train to the city. She dismisses this kindness as nothing special, just like her. She’s the same as a million other girls—certainly no one to be cherished. But special or not, she smiles every day, never imagining that someone would rely on the simple gesture as if it were air to breathe.

When the moment comes that Livia must do more than smile, without hesitation she steps into the fray to defend the homeless man. And she's surprised to discover an inexplicable connection with her new friend. After danger subsides, their smiles become conversation. Their words usher in a friendship, which awakens something in each of them. But it’s not long before their bond must prove its strength. Entanglements from the past challenge both their love and their lives.

Blake’s heart beats for Livia’s, even if her hands have to keep its rhythm. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love never fails. Love never fails, right?

What Did I Think?  

I accepted this one for review because the synopsis sounded so different from anything else I have read lately and there were a lot of good reviews for this one on Goodreads. Accepting this novel might have been the best book decision I have made all year! I was completely entranced with this story from the first page. I liked Livia immediately and I was intrigued with her easy defense of this homeless man. I believe that we all probably think we would stand up for someone if we were put in that situation but when it comes right down to it, I am just not sure that that is true. She could really have put herself in danger; and it was all for a man she did not know who was homeless. I admit that when her relationship with Blake begins to form it made me feel uncomfortable. I don't live in an area with many homeless (at least not that are visible) and I have to admit that the thought of dating a homeless man scares me a little bit.

The more we get to know Blake though, the easier it is to understand why she likes him. Blake is great but what I love the most about this story is the three brothers and their relationship. Their history is so sad and it has bonded them together in an unbreakable way. I really loved Livia’s sister Kyle and Beckets bodyguard Mouse. Most of all I love Blake’s brother, Beckett. He has no filter and just says whatever comes to mind and his mind is usually in the gutter! This might be a good time to mention that this is NOT a young adult novel. I do want to urge you to check it out anyway! I know that I read and review a lot of YA on this site but stories like Poughkeepsie are the reason that I will not go exclusively YA, I would be missing out!

I could write a novel about how much I loved this novel but I don’t want to give anything away.  The characters are great and well thought out.  We get back story on each character at some point that helps us understand their motivations and I loved that.  The backstory never felt extraneous or boring, it was actually like finding something extra but essential in an already full story.  Though the book was long, I never felt that I was reading filler or unnecessary words.  I actually was sad for the book to come to an end because I wanted to live in their world a little bit longer. I hope that this beautiful story finds the audience that it deserves.

BOTTOM LINE: One of my Favorite books of the year so far, I LOVED it! 

Buy it Now: (Clicking the cover below takes you to Amazon)

Source: Accepted review request from author.