RATING 3.75 out of 5 stars
Aaron Ledbetter’s future had been planned out for him since before he was born. Each year, the Ledbetter family vacation on Tybee Island gave Aaron a chance to briefly free himself from his family’s expectations. When he meets Jonas “Lucky” Luckett, a caricature artist in town with the traveling carnival, he must choose between the life that’s been mapped out for him, and the chance at true love.
Set Me Free is Kitty Stephens‘ debut novel, in my opinion a very well done young adult story. Two things conquered me, the characters and the writing.
Lucky is eighteen years old, his highschool teacher found him a summer job to a carnival off the coast of Georgia. He is nervous, knowing this is a great chance for his future in an art college but it can’t wait to start enjoying a summer doing what he can do best.
Aaron is looking forward his three months on the Tybee Island to live without his parents’ expectations to go to Harward, take over their company and marry his bestfriend, Lyn. He wants nothing of that.
Aaron and Lucky come from two very different words, being together is hard, for Aaron, deeply in the closet with no intention of coming out due to parents that have planned his life without asking for their son’s dreams. And for Lucky too, out and proud, with no money and only his talent and a supporting (except for distracting boyfriend) mum. It was a pleasure to see their relationship bloom, Aaron let go of his fears and open up to Lucky. At the same time it was painful too, especially when Aaron and Lyn kept things from each other, afraid of the implications their actions and with who they fall in love, could have on their lives.
I found the writing very good, the reading flew easily and I get to the end without even realizing it. I particularly loved the descriptions, I really felt myself in the carnival, on the beach, at Lucky’s booth waiting for him to draw me in. The author did an amazing work, she sucked me into the MCs’ lives and it was impossible to let them go.
At the end what I got was a story about freedom, summer loves and finally achieve your wishes. It is sweet, emotional and lovely. I feel I can recommend it. I can say I’m curious to read more by Kitty Stephens.
The cover design by CB Messer is what caught my attention first. It’s so cute and sweet, I simply couldn’t resist. And it perfectly portraits the story of Aaron and Jonas.
Sales Links: Interlude Press | ARe | Amazon
Book Details:
Kindle Edition,192 pages
Published June 6th 2016 by Duet, an imprint of Interlude Press
ASIN B01GPD1EZU
Edition Language English
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Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 