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A review by profromance
5,331 Miles by Willow Aster
4.0
l began reading Willow Aster’s newest book, 5,331 Miles, when she decided to publish it in a monthly newsletter. From the very first chapter, I was hooked by Jaxson and Mirabelle’s story. Every month, I patiently awaited the next chapter…and it was slow. Very slow. I couldn’t wait for more, anxiously wondering if Jaxson and “Bells” could, at the very least, find their friendship again, more hopefully, their “happily-ever-after.”
This story is an angst-filled story about two life-long friends, trying to find love in each other. Jaxson and Mirabelle have known each other since birth. As far as the reader knows, Mirabelle has loved Jaxson for most of her life. When they are young, they make a list of things they’ll do when they are older together. Based on the list and a kiss goodbye (his family moves away from England to the U.S.), Mirabelle believes that Jaxson might feel the same about her as she does about him. Unfortunately, time away changes their friendship. Eventually, Mirabelle and her mother move to the U.S. too, but Jaxson is different, more interested in fitting in with the popular kids. While he tries to stay loyal to Mirabelle, he makes many choices that put more distance in their friendship. All along the way, Mirabelle endures it, feeling her heart sliced open over and over again by Jaxson. By the time he goes off to college, their friendship has ended, and Mirabelle tries to move on with her scarred heart.
A few years later, Jaxson has returned, and he is adamant about winning Mirabelle back. He returns to the list they made as children and tries to engage Mirabelle in completing the list. Unfortunately, everything is different. Can Jaxson and Mirabelle find their friendship again? Will Mirabelle ever be able to trust Jaxson again with her heart? Those are the big questions of this story.
Throughout this story, my heart hurt. Pounding and firmly lodged in my throat, I felt every bit of Mirabelle’s hurt. She simply wants to be loved and cherished by the one she has loved most of her life. There are so many moments when Jaxson is a stand-up guy. He shows her at various times that he cares, but, in the next moment, he makes decisions that cause her heart to break. He takes her for granted through most of the book, and the reader feels the devastation of this.
This is an emotionally gripping story about needing to be seen and accepted and loved. It seeks to remind us that hearts are fragile and should be cherished carefully by the ones who love us. It takes Jaxson much of the story to understand this. And this realization is the undercurrent of the angst in this story.
5,331 Miles is a beautiful romance that reminds us that the people we love should be adored and respected. Thankfully, as we see with Jaxson and Mirabelle, it is never too late to make that choice.
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This story is an angst-filled story about two life-long friends, trying to find love in each other. Jaxson and Mirabelle have known each other since birth. As far as the reader knows, Mirabelle has loved Jaxson for most of her life. When they are young, they make a list of things they’ll do when they are older together. Based on the list and a kiss goodbye (his family moves away from England to the U.S.), Mirabelle believes that Jaxson might feel the same about her as she does about him. Unfortunately, time away changes their friendship. Eventually, Mirabelle and her mother move to the U.S. too, but Jaxson is different, more interested in fitting in with the popular kids. While he tries to stay loyal to Mirabelle, he makes many choices that put more distance in their friendship. All along the way, Mirabelle endures it, feeling her heart sliced open over and over again by Jaxson. By the time he goes off to college, their friendship has ended, and Mirabelle tries to move on with her scarred heart.
A few years later, Jaxson has returned, and he is adamant about winning Mirabelle back. He returns to the list they made as children and tries to engage Mirabelle in completing the list. Unfortunately, everything is different. Can Jaxson and Mirabelle find their friendship again? Will Mirabelle ever be able to trust Jaxson again with her heart? Those are the big questions of this story.
Throughout this story, my heart hurt. Pounding and firmly lodged in my throat, I felt every bit of Mirabelle’s hurt. She simply wants to be loved and cherished by the one she has loved most of her life. There are so many moments when Jaxson is a stand-up guy. He shows her at various times that he cares, but, in the next moment, he makes decisions that cause her heart to break. He takes her for granted through most of the book, and the reader feels the devastation of this.
This is an emotionally gripping story about needing to be seen and accepted and loved. It seeks to remind us that hearts are fragile and should be cherished carefully by the ones who love us. It takes Jaxson much of the story to understand this. And this realization is the undercurrent of the angst in this story.
5,331 Miles is a beautiful romance that reminds us that the people we love should be adored and respected. Thankfully, as we see with Jaxson and Mirabelle, it is never too late to make that choice.
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️