Want something to read that’s fun and easy to breeze through? "Come Back to Me" by Mila Gray is for you then. The story is about a Marine – Kit Ryan – who comes home from leave only to fall for his best friend’s sister Jessa Kingsley. What starts off as a secret romance during a four-week leave before his deployment in the summer turns into more as Kit and Jessa both come to realize their feelings go beyond a summer fling. With Jessa’s brother Riley also in the Marines and her dad a retired Veteran, she’s no stranger to the danger that lies waiting for Kit and Riley. But Jessa and Kit decide that fighting their feelings for each other is useless – whatever happens, they have each other.
The first half of the book reads like decently written fanfiction. The dialogue at times felt stilted, but the narrative spoke more realistically. Jessa turns eighteen at the start of the book, but she’s naïve, impulsive, and easily influenced by Kit. However, given how strict her father was with her growing up, that’s not a surprise. She’s not exactly rebelling, but the way she threw caution to the wind just to feel “grown up” was a bit heavy handed to me. Although Kit was never overbearingly pushy, it never sat right with me how he came off in way like he wanted to guide her towards being more like him. Add on their age difference, and the fact that Jessa was just finishing up high school, it wasn’t exactly the picture-perfect scenario. It felt like their romance was based more off of a physical connection than an emotional one. However, I’ll give props to Kit for being supportive of Jessa’s dreams and maturing towards the end of the book. The last third of the book was really where it shined, which is the only reason it didn’t get a lower rating. Addressing topics of grief, trauma, and PTSD stemming from war and loss, Gray tackled these issues flawlessly through the dialogue and experiences of the characters. We were able to see the difference between Jessa’s dad’s PTSD and Kit’s. The mental health aspect of this story wasn’t romanticized or minimalized. There was no magical fix that made it all better – which I appreciated for showing the reality of how things can be for those that struggle with PTSD. While I don’t condone Jessa’s dad’s behavior, it illuminated a starching reality for many people. I also enjoyed the mysterious hint toward the backstory of both Kit and Jessa’s parents that was woven throughout the book. The ending wrapped up neatly and the progression of the characters felt natural and well-rounded. It’s easy to see how each character changed from start to finish.
Overall, it’s a good read for those who want something that won’t take very long to get through. I wouldn’t recommend it for those looking for a deep romance or complex plot. Younger fans of Nicholas Sparks will most likely enjoy it.
Kaitlin S