I really wanted to like this book. It started out great but then it quickly began to feel rushed. One minute Kyler and Haley are saying neither one of them wants a real relationship and the next they are suddenly so ridiculously in love.... and then Haley seems to lose her mind and start freaking out at Kyler. The pacing felt way off and, because of that, I couldn't really get into the story or the characters the way I should have been able to. I think the story does have potential, but only if parts of it are either completely changed or fleshed out more. This was one of the best reads I've had in a long time. Usually, I read YA books, so the Upside of Letting Go was a bit of a change for me. I'd seen her book on a friend's Facebook page, and I had to see who this Nacole Stayton was and what all the hype was. Boy, there was a reason there was hype. I don't know how she did it, but Nacole Stayton expertly created a tragic story, woven with small moments of light that make everthing a little bit more bearable. So many horrible things have happened to this poor girl. But leave it to a delectably gorgeous man with a broken past to help her overcome the trials of her past and finally learn to smooth out her crumpled heart and change from a rebellious broken girl to a confident, secure, happy adult.All of that dramatic stuff aside I have to say I really enjoyed the lighthearted moments of this book as well. The setting was phenomenal. Nacole did such an awesome job describing it! I felt like I was sucked into a country music video. It was a delightful read and I highly recommend it! Just be aware there are a few graphic scenes so, I don't really recommend it for teens.
