Review: You Belong with Me by Tari Faris

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About:

Realtor Hannah Thornton has many talents. Unfortunately, selling houses in the town where her family name is practically poison isn't one of them. When a business tycoon determines to raze historic homes in the small town of Heritage, Michigan, and replace them with a strip mall, Hannah resolves to stop him. She sets about helping Heritage win a restoration grant that will put the town back on the map--and hopefully finally repay the financial debt Hannah's mother caused the town. But at first no one supports her efforts--not even her best friend, Luke.

Luke Johnson may have grown up in Heritage, but as a foster kid he never truly felt as if he belonged. Now he has a chance to score a job as assistant fire chief and earn his place in the town. But when the interview process and Hannah's restoration project start unearthing things from his past, Luke must decide if belonging is worth the pain of being honest about who he is--and who he was.

My Thoughts:

If only people would sit down and just talk to each other. Why is that so hard to do? I despaired the love life of these characters when no one would be forthcoming and sharing their deepest desires and secrets.

Hannah and Luke, and Hannah's brother Thomas and her best friend Janie were our main characters in a town that was slowly dying. Hannah is a real estate agent who is trying to preserve her town from big shopping malls and she has the guts and heart to do it. Yet it did seem that no one shared her vision. 

There is a lot of past family drama that plays important roles in each of these characters lives. I have to say that I was very surprised at some of the secrets that were coming to light with one character's family. So not only are they living with present day challenges, but past mistakes are seeping into their lives as well.

We have two romances here. Both were at times hard to watch and I wanted to shake all of them. Especially when some of the their life changing decisions just seemed so wrong. The author certainly makes them work for their happy ending I will tell you that.

I enjoyed this novel from author Faris and I am glad there is more to come. I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.