Review: Pull (The Seaside #2) by Rachel van Dyken

Recovering addict (and rock-star) Demetri Daniels is stuck in Seaside Oregon. After nearly killing himself in a car accident the year before, Demetri has found himself in rehab - determined to stay out of the spotlight for a while.

Feeling lost and alone without his brother Alec or his ex-girlfriend turned friend Natalee, Demetri desperately tries to rebuild his shattered reputation, all while also trying to stay away from drugs, alcohol, and women. 

Speaking of women - Alyssa is everything Demetri has used up in the past. A beautiful and smart girl who can not only put up with his personality, but his rock-star ways as well. There is one thing about Alyssa however that sets her apart from the other women he's dated - she, like him has a damaged heart. 

Can these two lost souls manage to make something together? Or, once all secrets are revealed lose each other forever?

My Rating: 4 Stars out of 5

This book (and its prequel Tear) came highly recommended by a close friend of mine. So when I got the chance to read and review them both in exchange for my honest opinion, I jumped on the chance.

Pull, was (thankfully and in my opinion), so much better than Tear.  The author seemed to spend more time on her characters this time around, expanding upon Demetri Daniels from the first book, while creating a sad and compelling new character in Alyssa. She takes you through their lives, their pain, their grief and finally their start to healing.

You can’t help but feel sorry for Alyssa, who has fallen into a deep depression after the sudden death of her boyfriend Brady. She can’t let go of him, and even though she’s been in therapy, she still doesn't feel like she can open up about the whole truth. When she meets Demetri, he makes her laugh. He opens her up to the feelings she’s long since let go of, and he puts a smile on her face again. When though he becomes her group leader, he helps her farther explore her feelings, and ends up exposing himself to a secret no one else knows. A secret involving Alyssa’s ex Brady.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the relationship between Demetri and Alyssa build. At first it was a tentative friendship, two damaged souls leaning on each other for support while still managing to keep their secrets safe. As their relationship continues, and the feelings grow deeper, the find that they can confide in each other and most importantly, even though they have their secrets, they can still be loved.

I am now eagerly waiting to get my hands on a copy of The third installment in the Seaside series, Shatter.

     You may purchase a copy of  Pull (Seaside #2) from Amazon, by clicking HERE