FLUTTER by OLIVIA EVANS

‘When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways – either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits, or by using the challenge to find our inner strength.’ – Dalai Lama

And wasn’t this the story that encompassed the human strength! We were glued….completely consumed by Flutter from the moment we started reading, and it was a feeling that didn’t subside one little bit until we finished. What a unique, well delivered, gripping, suspenseful and emotional read, told in a very clever, astute, yet almost simplistic manner. We were utterly hooked!

“Remember me. Remember us.”

This is our second read by Olivia Evans, after reading her debut some years back and wow! Has this author grown! This story could have taken so many convoluted twists, it could have easily lost the reader, but that wasn’t the case at all. No, just the opposite. We were completely engrossed in this authors words, the growth of her characters from teens to adulthood, with past/present switches carried out in a seamless flow. In short, we absolutely devoured every word of Flutter!

“I don’t want to feel helpless,” Dylan answered. “I know what helpless feels like I don’t ever want to feel like that again.”

This is one of those books that’s quite difficult to review. The synopsis carries enough information about the story and adding to it could provide potential spoilers. It’s a case of needing to go in blind; discover the twists, the deception, the suspense and the final outcome all by yourselves. Just allow the story guide you in real time, with the characters and you will be rewarded.  Trust us on this.

There are so many layers to Dylan and Presley’s story which is told in present day, and past flashbacks to their eighteen year old selves, where we learn these two had been childhood friends. Their past was all hope, love and happiness….until….. it wasn’t. As we switch to present day, six years later we found ourselves desperately wanting to know how their lives had turned so horribly to end up at this juncture. Our need to champion Dylan as he uncovers the past, and frantically hoping he can rectify the present held us captive! It was heartbreaking, sad, beautiful and hopeful.

‘I don’t want to be sad anymore,’ she whispered.’

As much as Dylan and Presley were the catalyst for the story, and it was their beautiful broken story that held our hearts, it was the introduction of a fascinating, broken and heartbreaking character which added another depth to Flutter. This character felt as sinister as he did hopeless, sweet and vulnerable. What exactly was his story and who….was telling the truth? Are we being intentionally vague here? You bet we are because you need to dive in read this book and you’ll soon find yourself snared into the web of its thrilling and emotional prose.

‘This was the peace she desired. The love she desperately craved.’

This book encompasses quite a few themes, in fact it delivered so much of what we love in one story, yet it never lost its way. Yes, it’s a love story – at its core is a story of absolute love and commitment – a heart that never gave up hope, a heart that never wavered in its love, but it’s also a suspenseful, thrilling and addictive story showing two sides of human nature. For every heart that is strong and pure, there is a heart that’s selfish, cold and calculating and we meet both in this story.

“I need you to need me. I need to feel like I can give you something other than sadness.”

We were so invested in these characters, and we couldn’t rest until we saw their story reach its conclusion. We had shared so much with them, we’d lived their journey and for us, we felt we needed an epilogue. You know, just a little more…………or maybe we were enjoying it so much, we’re just being greedy.