Now and Then by Brenda Rothert

Now and Then by Brenda Rothert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Emma has been in her sister's shadow her whole life. Having always felt like she was in second place, Emma is finally in a place in her life that she is happy with – she has a job that she loves, good friends, and great family. What more could she ask for? After a chance run in with her high school crush, Emma's feelings of awkwardness and longing all come rushing back. Until Cole makes it clear that he no longer sees her as the young girl she used to be.

I really like Emma. I can completely relate to her, having two older sisters of my own who were seemingly perfect. Like Emma and Layla, I never felt I could live up to them and their accomplishments. Emma eventually learned she had to find her own place in the world, and once she did she blossomed into a strong, independent woman. Her fear of Layla not supporting her decisions was hard to watch, especially because of how close they were now that they were grown up. Like them, my sisters and I are closer now that we are older, and I like to think they would supportive of me and would want to see me happy, no matter what. To come right out and say it, Layla was a bitch. Sure she had her moments, but I hated her and the way she treated Emma.

Told in the present with bits of the past thrown in, Now and Then is a sweet, sexy story. The flashbacks were a great addition to the story, as they showed the way the characters' past experiences molded them into who they are in the present. Throw in some angst and hair pulling catfights, and it was a great story. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


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