December 26, 2014

Book Review: Within These Walls by J.L. Berg



I recently just finished the Ready series by J.L. Berg and when I saw this on sale for only $0.99 I jumped on it and started to immediately read it.  I was afraid that it would be more angsty than I like but after reading J.L. Berg’s other books I was hoping that it would be the same as the others in the angst department and I was not wrong.

Within These Walls is such a sweet story about a twenty-two year old Lailah who was born with a heart defect and has spent most of her life in the hospital dreaming about having a normal life and Jude who has lost everything.  They come together to find love and heal each other.

Jude was left emotionally broken after losing his fiancée in a tragic car accident while on vacation.  Instead of going home, he stayed in California and began to work in the hospital that she died in.  The guilt and memories of the woman he loved were so strong that he couldn’t let go.  Changing his appearance from his high society life, Jude covered himself in tattoos, and grew his hair out to keep his true identity a secret from everyone in his new life.

Seeing Lailah, sitting in her hospital bed eating pudding with her fingers and laughing changed something inside of him.  Bringing him back to life. For the first time in over three years, he was finally feeling something other than empty and numb.

Jude starts sneaking in pudding packs into Lailah’s room while she’s asleep and that is how their relationship began.

Two broken hearts— we would destroy each other before we even had a chance to begin.

I was left crying in the end but it was a good cry.  This story is so sweet and I loved watching Lailah and Jude first become friends, fall in love, and heal each other’s hearts.  If you are looking for a sweet love story, you should definitely try this one.

Rating: 5 Stars

Buy on Amazon.