Within Reach

by Jessica Stevens

Overview

Dying wasn’t on seventeen-year-old Xander Hemlock’s summer to-do-list. Finding ways to spend more time with his girlfriend, Lila, was the most critical thinking he planned on doing. But that was before he found himself trapped in a realm of only darkness with thirty days to convince Lila he’s not actually dead—well, not completely, anyway. As Xan tries to show Lila she isn't alone, she struggles to comprehend how her life has changed so completely. Six months ago her life was perfect: she was on her way to becoming a professional dancer, her parents were still married, and her boyfriend was alive. But now, with her anorexic tendencies stronger than ever, she must decide which is the lesser of two evils: letting go to be with a boy she doesn't love, or holding on to the unreasonable, yet overpowering, feeling that Xan is still within reach...and trying to show her something. Improbable and endearing, Within Reach is a story of two soulmates discovering that sometimes it takes more than one lifetime to get it right.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781940716688
Publisher:	SparkPress
Publication date:	05/17/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	248
File size:	4 MB
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Jessica Stevens grew up knowing without a doubt that she would become a professional ballet dancer. When life told her otherwise, she went to college like the rest of the world and earned a degree in psychology. Shortly after, while raising her two boys, she found herself glued to her computer, writing, all hours of the night while everyone else slept. Today she lives in suburbs of Milwaukee, where she spends as much time as possible on lakes and rivers.

Editorial Reviews

2016 Best Book Awards: YA Fiction, Finalist
2017 USA Best Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Young Adult 2018 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist in Young Adult (12 years to 16 years)

"In alternating chapters, the present-tense, frequently purple narrative of the vividly drawn Xan and Lila is urgent, keeping the intensity taught. An intense, at-times overwrought romance for genre fans.” ―Kirkus Reviews
“A powerful love story, Within Reach grips the reader from page one as two soul mates fight against all odds to rediscover each other and prove that death is only temporary.” —James Marsden, actor of The Notebook, Enchanted, and more
“Within Reach is an elegant and sometimes painful story of teenagers struggling with love, loss, and redemption. Jessica Stevens’s unique portrayal of misguided souls finding their way through darkness dances confidently off the page. The story’s ending lingers reflectively long after the music stops.” —Brady G. Stefani, author of The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman
“Ms. Stevens's first novel is so intriguing . . . a romantic fantasy between two separate worlds. Full of imagination, mystery, and possibility, it leaves you with a sense of danger, fear, and hope all at the same time—and keeps you thinking, 'what if . . . ‘” —Rene Steven, primary school librarian, Brookfield Academy
“Jessica Stevens has written a gem of a first novel. With relatable, believable characters, carefully crafted dialogue, and a compelling story, this novel is truly a work of art. All at once it is a ghost story, a mystery, and most of all, a love story—a love story spanning lifetimes. If this book is any indication, I’d say that Ms. Stevens has found her calling, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.” —Abigail Jensen Waugh, Librarian
"Don’t pick up Jessica’s debut novel unless you have cleared your schedule because you aren’t going to be able to put Within Reach down. It has something for everyone: a phantom boyfriend with something to prove, a beautifully broken ex-ballerina, and a sexy All-American with a dark secret.” —Emily Norris, blogger at www.godsknot.com
"Within Reach is an intoxicating, heart-pounding tale of love, loss, and two souls forever bound by their choices. Xan and Lila are the modern-day Romeo and Juliet—proving that nothing will keep true love apart.” —Kristen Hunt, author of Blonde Eskimo

From the Publisher

04/01/2016
Gr 9 Up—Seventeen-year-old Xander Hemlock is dead—or is he? He has 30 days to prove to his girlfriend, Lila, that he is not, but it seems impossible, as he is trapped in another realm with a mentor named Wes. Meanwhile, he must endure witnessing Jason, Lila's childhood best friend, comfort her and take advantage of her vulnerable state of mind. Lila has a hard time accepting Xan's death and feels his presence. She goes to great lengths—meeting with clergy and a medium—to make a connection with him. Xan's situation is explained in depth, which helps readers believe that what Lila is experiencing is possible. Told in alternating perspectives between Lila and Xan, this narrative will help readers understand Xan's desperation to prove that he is alive and Lila's grief. Readers who enjoy a good love story will latch onto this one, as will those who like paranormal as well as a bit of mystery. VERDICT An unexpected ending may leave teens questioning what they understand about existence and starting to look for a true soulmate. An additional purchase for true romance fans.—Karen Alexander, Lake Fenton High School, Linden, MI

School Library Journal

2016-03-02
True soul mates can't be separated, even by death. Xan is dead at 17, but he can still see and hear his beloved as her life plays out before him like some kind of after-death cinema. Lila, however, can't see him. Lost in the depths of despair, she stops eating and finds scant comfort with her longtime friend Jason. Lila can't see what Xan does, that Jason is far more sinister than he appears. Xan helplessly watches as his nemesis moves in on Lila. With the help of a supernatural guide, Xan learns that he and Lila have known each other much longer than just this lifetime and they have been given one final chance to prove that they are worthy of eternity together. Xan must find a way to make Lila sense his presence so that she will understand he is still with her. However, the rules shift frustratingly, and there are other dark forces at work trying to steal their divine glow and keep them apart. The drama gets befuddled as aspects of Christianity, Buddhism, and the occult combine to create a rather higgledy-piggledy cosmic view. In alternating chapters, the present-tense, frequently purple narrative of the vividly drawn Xan and Lila is urgent, keeping the intensity taught. All the principals are white. An intense, at-times overwrought romance for genre fans. (Paranormal romance. 13-17)

Kirkus Reviews