Julian by Gia DeLuca Review!

"Things are sweeter when they're lost. I know-- because once I wanted something and got it. It was the only thing I ever wanted badly... and when I got it, it turned to dust in my hand."- F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Beautiful and Damned, quoted in Julian by Gia DeLuca.

I was graciously given an ARC of Julian by the author for a honest review. Thank you for sharing, Mrs. DeLuca- I am happy to give you my thoughts! 

SPOILER ALERT! I'm sorry, but I CANNOT write a review to this book without the spoiler. So, you've been warned!

This book. It gets you! You know it's coming. You know it's going to hurt. It's like a car accident, you just can't look away... 

Ok, so at the beginning we're introduced to Evie, an unemployed nurse with less than $10 to her name. Luckily, living in the small town of Halverford, Kansas, her Mother knows through the grapevine at church that the Garner-Willoughbys were looking for a new private nurse. A new private nurse for the youngest Garner-Willoubhy, Julian. He's 24 and diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. He's isolated, cranky, depressed, and alone. His parents only act as if they're concerned about him, which is why he doesn't recognize the genuine care he receives from Evie.

She begins to help Julian come out of his living coma, and he falls a little bit more in love every day. He tells her and shows her how amazing she is and how she deserves so much more than she's settled for in the past. Evie helps to strengthen Julian, physically as well as mentally and emotionally. He starts eating, getting out of the house, and living his life for the first time. She has given him something to live for.

So, naturally Evie comes to her senses and realizes that Julian is speaking the truth. He sees nothing but love when he looks at her, nothing but happiness and a hope for a future, for the first time in his life. They are finally on the same page, finally falling in love, finally looking and planning for their future, and then...

It happens. Evie's devastated. We're devastated as readers. But, it's also kinda beautiful. Evie was exactly what Julian needed, all the way until the end. He was so sheltered all of his life, never even leaving the house except to go to the hospital. He wanted to explore. He wanted to travel. More than anything, he wanted to fall in love and he did, with her. Julian showed Evie that she deserved so much more than what she'd settled for in the past. She deserved to be adored, admired, and protected. Julian gave her that as much as he could, and when he couldn't anymore... he had someone else in mind who could fill his shoes long after he was gone...

Check back for our review on Book 2, Jude, in the Beautiful Mine Series :)