Review: The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder

Title: The Day Before
Author: Lisa Schroeder
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: June 28th 2011
Source: ARC e-galley from Simon and Schuster


Description from Goodreads: 


Sometimes there's no turning back.


Amber's life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of her family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.


Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell that he's also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.


The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she's drawn to him. And the more she's troubled by his darkness. Because Cade's not just living in the now--he's living each moment like it's his last.

My Thoughts:

Amber was switched at birth.  Now that her biological parents know about the mix-up, they are awarded shared custody with each set of parents getting  the 15 year old for six months at a time.  It is the day before she leaves to meet her birth parents.  She decides that she wants to spend her last day in Oregon at the beach alone.

While she is looking at the jellyfish in an aquarium, she meets a boy, Cade.  He suspects who she is from all the news reports in the media, but they agree not to ask each other their problems cause Cade has something that is bothering him on his mind too.

They spend the day at the beach building sandcastles, talking about their interests and lives, going to dinner and falling for each other.  Now that she's met Cade, she doesn't want to leave to go to Texas to meet her biological parents.   When it comes down to leaving, will she be able to leave her family, friends and Cade or will she run away?

This was an easy read for me.  It was written in verse, as all of Lisa Schroeder's books are that I've read.  It took me less than two hours to read the whole book.  Once I started, I was drawn into the characters' lives and didn't want to stop until I concluded their story.

I can't imagine being switched at birth.  Amber's life is turned upside down when her biological parents start fighting for shared custody.  Through their letters to Amber, we see that they really are loving and caring people whom are devoted to make Amber happy when she comes to stay with them.  Sure, it might be a little scary at first, leaving everyone behind in Oregon, but Amber needs to see where they're coming from and at least give them a chance.  It's not their fault there was a mix-up at the hospital.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story.  The romance between Amber and Cade was really sweet.  They both had something happening the next day and were able to bond over what was going on in their lives as well as comfort and understand each other.   I was in suspense wondering what Cade's big secret was the whole time I was reading.  So if you like moonlit campfires on the beach, family drama, kissing, and suspense that keeps you guessing the entire time- then look no further because this is the book that you're looking for.  It's a fast and purely enjoyable read with a storyline that pulls you in and won't let you go and even days after you are finished, you will still be thinking about it.

5 Stars