Megan Jacobs always wished for a different heart. Her entire childhood was spent in and out of hospitals, sitting on the sidelines while her twin sister Crystal played all the sports, got all the guys, and had all the fun. But even a heart transplant three years ago wasn’t enough to propel Megan’s life forward. She’s still working as a library aide and living with her parents in her small Minnesota hometown, dreaming of the adventure she plans to take “once she’s well enough.” Meanwhile, her sister is a successful architect with a handsome husband and the perfect life—or so Megan thinks.

When her heart donor’s parents give Megan their teenage daughter’s journal—complete with an unfulfilled bucket list—Megan connects with the girl she meets between the pages and is inspired to venture out and check off each item. Caleb—a friend from her years in and out of the hospital—reenters her life and pushes her to find the courage to take the leap and begin her journey. She’s thrown for a loop when Crystal offers to join her for reasons of her own, but she welcomes the company and the opportunity to mend their tenuous relationship.

As Megan and Crystal check items off the bucket list, Megan fights the fears that have been instilled in her after a lifetime of illness. She must choose between safety and adventure and learn to embrace the heart she’s been given so that she can finally share it with the people she loves most.

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I liked the description of this book when I first read it – not really a romance, but the possibility of a romantic thread. I also liked the cover. I know, I know. You can’t judge a book by its cover, but I do decide to read books based on them. Plus, I’d never read anything by Lindsay Harrel, so I thought I’d give it a go.

My first reaction: the book description doesn’t do the book justice. That’s actually a trend I’ve noticed recently – back cover copy isn’t as accurate as it should be. The description makes it sound like this books is Megan’s story, but it’s not. It’s really Megan’s AND Crystal’s stories, and both stories find their roots in their Christian faith (if you weren’t expecting this book to have a faith element, you’ve officially been notified).

I’m not a fan of these inaccurate descriptions because I start reading expecting one thing and get something completely different. That, however, is not the author’s fault, and my review will not reflect that frustration.

My official reaction: this was a fun book. It didn’t quite grab my attention that way I’d hoped it would (I was able to put it down for a day or two, then come back to it), but I enjoyed reading it. It was also a new take on the twin relationship. So often I read books or watch movies where the twins are inseparable, but Harrel decided to ask “what if” and she put some space between them. It created an interesting dynamic.

This is very much a coming-of-age type story; it’s about two women finding themselves and finding each other (and there’s also a bit of romance). I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.

*I received a free copy of this book from Booklook Bloggers. The opinions are my own.