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Theo Rothschild wasn't a bad boy, but he wasn't quite good either. And shy Lily Beachem was content admiring the hottest guy at Welles Academy from the comfort of her quiet corner. Until Lily's best friend, Theo's sister, decided two lonely souls should be together.

And maybe she was right.

Theo and Lily felt something that night they sat awake and talked for hours under the cover of the woods and a blanket of stars. But when tragedy struck their small, elite East Coast boarding school, robbing
them of friendships and any hope of a normal life, being alone became the only thing that made sense.

But sometimes the deepest bonds are forged through pain, and for Theo and Lily, holding on to the threads of their connection might do more than ease their broken hearts. It may finally make them whole.

** TW: This book discusses off-the-page abuse and self harm and may be triggering for some.

308 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 7, 2022

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About the author

Ginger Scott

58 books3,417 followers
Ginger Scott is a USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Amazon-bestselling author from Peoria, Arizona. She was also nominated for both the Goodreads Choice and Rita Awards. She is the author of several young and new adult romances, including bestsellers The Moon and Back, The Varsity Series, The Hard Count, This Is Falling and Wild Reckless.

A sucker for a good romance, Ginger's other passion is sports, and she often blends the two in her stories. She has been writing and editing for newspapers, magazines and blogs for a hella long time. She has told the stories of Olympians, politicians, actors, scientists, cowboys, criminals and towns. For more on her and her work, visit her website at http://www.littlemisswrite.com.

When she's not writing, the odds are high that she's somewhere near a baseball diamond, either watching her son field pop flies like Bryce Harper or cheering on her favorite baseball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ginger lives in Arizona and is married to her college sweetheart whom she met at ASU (fork 'em, Devils).

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5 stars
283 (33%)
4 stars
302 (35%)
3 stars
176 (20%)
2 stars
68 (8%)
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11 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
Profile Image for Christy.
4,105 reviews34.6k followers
July 16, 2022
3.5 stars

I always enjoy Ginger Scott's books and when I saw she had a new series with a boarding school I was here for it. This one fell a little flat for me. It wasn't bad by any means, but the first half was slow for me and didn't pull me in. I liked the last half much better and I'm definitely curious about the next two books in this series!
Profile Image for Chelé-----4 The Love of Books .
768 reviews58 followers
July 7, 2022
4.5!


I haven't finished a book in less than 24 hours in awhile but Ginger has such a lovely way of expressing the honesty in her characters, the feelings are always palpable and broken down to its most rawest form.


Lily and Theo's story is honestly so heartbreaking, a strong connection on the cups of blossoming into so much more shaken to its core by the loss of someone who means everything to them both.

Theo's character really touched me, although at times he is prickly and ornery, he's also very hurt and sometimes he doesn't know how to express it in a constructive way. I loved how his friends tested, teased but also held him accountable in a way that was very much from their heart.

Lily ripped me to shreds with the way she wore her heart practically on the outside of her body, every interaction seemed to take so much of her energy because she was thoroughly grieving and there is something so devastating yet relatable about watching someone try to work their way through the wreckage of their trauma.

Loner is a beautiful story of loss and grief. A heartwarming story of strength, love and healing, I was moved by the display of humanity and I also swooned over the heart fluttering scenes of watching true love unfold in the most chaotic of circumstances. Ginger hit it out of the park with this one!



*TW* underage drinking, self harm, gaslighting, mention of possible emotional and physical abuse, death
Profile Image for Sentranced Jem.
1,134 reviews602 followers
July 13, 2022
Trust Ginger Scott to give us another gut wrenching book.
Sometimes you don’t want to say anything else except “Just read it. You won’t regret it.”

I truly couldn’t put Loner down. Seriously, when has Ginger Scott ever given us a bad book? Loner is emotional, plus who doesn’t want to read abut finding love after a tragic loss.
Profile Image for AJ.
3,025 reviews1,011 followers
July 7, 2022
4.5 stars

The start of a new series from Ginger Scott, this is an emotional and dramatic, very mature YA romance set in an exclusive secondary school, and tackling issues such as grief, loss, abuse (off the page) and trauma. Introducing a great group of characters, and with a love story that completely stole my heart, this is such a beautiful read, and I loved it!

Theo and Lily both attend prestigious Welles Academy. Lily has crushed on Theo from afar for years, but it wasn’t until recently that they actually spent time together – one glorious night where they were pushed together at the insistence of Theo’s twin sister/Lily’s best friend, Anika. They talked for hours, and felt a connection that hinted at the possibility of so much more. But the night ended in tragedy, cutting off everything that was brewing between them.

Now, their summer break is over and they’re back for their final year of school - both grieving, a little bit lost, traumatised by all they’ve been through, and with no idea how to behave around each other. Lily has the added complication of guilt over all that happened, and Theo, in particular, has a lot of anger which he is directing at her. It’s a complex situation simmering with all kinds of emotion, and my heart ached so much for both of them.

If I were a better person, I’d leave her to go through this alone. But I’m not. I’m not reveling in her self-hatred. I do, however, appreciate it. Suddenly, I feel a lot less alone.

Every interaction between Lily and Theo is full of chemistry. From the bad to the good, I could feel it all. And underpinning all of it is the attraction that they so clearly have towards each other. It’s buried beneath all of the other crap they are dealing with, and doesn’t always show in positive ways, but it’s definitely there, and builds a wonderful sense of anticipation. And as their friends and their school activities lead to them spending more time together, all of that anger and grief starts to shift as their connection from before the tragedy allows them the comfort and familiarity to be vulnerable with each other, and they start to realise just how much the mean to each other.

Something in each of us completes the other. When I’m with him, even when we’re fighting, I am whole.

She makes me hurt, but she also makes me feel alive.

They start to talk, they open up to each other, and before too long, everything between them is changing.

“I don’t know what to do about the way I feel.” …
“But you feel…something,” I croak.
He nods and his eyes close as his forehead falls forward to rest on mine.

This is such a beautiful love story! It’s honest, it’s raw, it’s passionate (seriously!), and it’s breathtakingly emotional. Lily and Theo feel so much for each other, and they are there for each other in ways that only they can be. They both have difficult and deeply sensitive family situations to navigate, they’re both still coming to terms with their loss, and Lily, in particular, is working hard to get her life back to where it was before the trauma. They have a lot to work through, and together they give each other strength to do exactly that, and I loved watching every step of it.

Being with her makes it all right to not be alright.

They have ups and downs, but their journeys are real and so emotively written. I feel like I got right to the heart of these two characters, and watching them fight their way forward and heal together was really special. There were scenes that had my heart pounding, and I reveled in every little moment of joy that they found together.

Theo and Lily have a great group of friends around them. There are some really interesting dynamics between them, and I enjoyed their interactions and the support that they offered to each other. I’m hoping that we’ll get to know them in future books of the series.

This book is a standalone story with a beautiful finish that left me happy and satisfied. I felt so much while reading, which I love, and I adored these characters and their heartfelt and emotional journey.

4.5 stars.

An Advanced Review copy was generously provided by the author for an honest review.


Profile Image for CeCe.
3,514 reviews109 followers
July 16, 2022
I am not sure if it is the writing, plot, or characters, but the entire book felt hollow.
In some areas I feel that the author was reaching, grabbing at anything to make the story amazing.

This story is nothing you have not read or heard a 100 times before.
The heroine was in the car when the hero’s sister and she got into a car accident. Hero’s sister died and the hero (surprise, surprise) blames the heroine for not saving his sister. The hero knew his sister was not an angel, but he has to blame someone which is the heroine.

I loved the premise, but it felt as if there were many pockets of fillers. I guess it was to prolong the story.

Dual POV. Not a fan. Maybe it would have been better if the switch in POVs was not so frequent.

I was unable to finish. The secondary characters were a bust as well.
Profile Image for Gladys.
12.1k reviews138 followers
July 5, 2022
Theo and Lily's book is a true heart wringer. This powerful story goes right for your heart, seizes hold and squeezes out every last bit of emotion it can. Balanced on the razor-sharp edge between beautiful and poignant, you best expect an avalanche of feels because trust me, a blizzard of them is headed your way. An incredible book and a stunning start to this new series. This is my frank, freely posted review.
Profile Image for Nicole*bookaholic*.
570 reviews28 followers
July 11, 2022
I need more! This was so good. Such a good story about friendship. Such a good story about forgiveness and love.
Profile Image for Carmen Rae.
1,540 reviews180 followers
July 25, 2022
Oh damn was this book heartbreaking in all the very best of ways. And yes I know that sounds weird but every time I cried I had a smile on my face. Because even though these characters went through the very worst time of their lives they came out stronger and far from broken. Even if it took them some time to realise it.

Lily and Theo started off kind of at odds. Each of them, stuck in their own grief and guilt and not sure how they should feel or act. And I seriously loved watching them work it out and begin to heal. Even if they still have a lot of things outside of their control they are on the track of a beautiful future.

The secondary characters were just as awesome and I'm hoping that we will get their stories and maybe catch up with lily and Theo in the near future. Because every single one of these characters is someone I need to see get their very own happily ever after.
Profile Image for Paula  Phillips.
5,143 reviews323 followers
August 12, 2023
I have been looking forward to reading this book as I do love Ginger Scott as an author, not only is she a great author - she is an awesome person. The other reason I wanted to read this book was that the release date was my birthday :P. In this first book, we meet three girls who are moving into their dorm rooms- Brooklyn, Morgan, and Lily. There were supposed to be four of them but tragedy struck over summer and one of them died. Lily a champion swimmer tried to save them all, but couldn't. Starting the new year, she sees Theo - he is the twin brother of the girl who died and the guy on who Lily has always had a crush. This year, things are awkward between them as he has now lost his sister and he blames Lily as she saved the others and herself but not his sister Annika - his other half. As the book goes on though, we read as both Lily and Theo are conflicted as they really do care about each other but are so wrapped up in their guilt for Annika's death. When Lily and Theo end up not only in the same internship but in the same friendship group, can they work out their differences and realize that behind their facades they do care about each and both are grieving. Loner was a good NA Angsty novel about how grief affects different people and just because someone doesn't look like they are grieving, they may just be better at hiding it. Loner was a good first book in the Boys of Welles series, I will however let you know that it is a slower-paced novel and slow burn as Ginger Scott is known for her slow-burn romances, but still very enjoyable and just takes a little longer to read.
Profile Image for EpicRomanceReviews.
745 reviews137 followers
July 18, 2022
❤~🌟~❤ 4.5 HEART-WRECKING STARS! ❤~🌟~❤

“She makes me hurt, but she also makes me feel alive.”

LONER, an angsty, heartbreakingly beautiful, coming-of-age romance, is not only the launch book in a riveting new mature YA series but it marks my first book by the incredibly gifted Ginger Scott!

PREMISE:
This first standalone installment centers around Theo Rothschild and Lily Beachem who both attend the prestigious Welles Academy boarding school. Lily, a shy, sensitive wallflower, has had a hopeless crush on Theo for the past five years but the handsome and popular football player seemed far out of reach. Until one night when all her schoolgirl wishes finally came true. After being thrown together by Theo’s twin sister, Anika, who also happens to be Lily’s bff, their paths collided at an end of year school party and a magical connection was forged between them.

But Lily’s dreams turned into her very worst nightmare when tragedy struck, changing the trajectory of both their lives, and when she and Theo return to school after summer break everything has changed. They have both retreated into their achingly lonesome, pain-laced worlds to lick their wounds. But despite the agony and heartache, grief, anger and recrimination that has torn them asunder, the soul-deep feelings that were stirred between them that fateful night still rage on. Can these two wounded spirits come together to mend the shattered fragments of their hearts and find renewed hope for tomorrow?

MY MUSINGS:
LONER wrecked me in the most MARVELOUS fashion! It’s the kind of story that gives me giddy butterflies yet also brings on rivulets of tears. And my oh my, the feels in this book were OFF THE CHARTS!

I get why Ginger Scott has such a huge following because she truly has an innate gift for capturing the heart-crushing angst, wistful yearning, painful awkwardness, and wrenching emotions that are essential in a good coming of age saga. But this book was more than good…it was GLORIOUS!

At its core, LONER is a story about friendship and love, grief and loss, fate and destiny, and healing the scars of the past in order to beckon a promising future. The characters of Theo and Lily are all kinds of complicated and broken and BEAUTIFULLY FLAWED! Their innocence was irrevocably lost on the best—and worst-- night of their lives, and to say their dreams have been shattered is putting it mildly. They are both wallowing in so much pain, and at times it felt as if their loss was too vast for them to EVER pick up the pieces. But through it all, I felt their shared pain tethering them together in miraculous ways.

As far as YA book boyfriends go, Theo set my heart ALL AFLUTTER! He is a very nuanced character who emanates so much genuine authenticity that truly sets him in a league of his own! Sure, he can be hotheaded and hostile, cold and aloof, and definitely has his immature, a-hole moments. But this boyishly sexy smart aleck is reeling emotionally from his devastating loss, so I got where he was coming from. And he is also incredibly chivalrous and charismatic, not to mention FIERCELY protective, which also redeemed him in my eyes! And...sigh...there is something so utterly magnetic and completely mesmerizing about this cocky yet charming young man that he made my toes curl! I really loved everything about him…even his thorns that could make you bleed if you got too close! And justified or not, a lot of his anger is directed at the one girl he “hates” yet can’t quite stay away from! But Lily knows all about hurt and pain. In fact, she gravitates toward it as times in order to bring her numbed heart back to life again. And to try to find a sense of normalcy again.

My heart positively ached for this quiet, socially awkward, anxiety-ridden ingenue who does not fit into the Welles academy mold. Yet while Lily’s been hailed a hero in the wake of the horrific tragedy that rocked their small East Coast town, this sweet, selfless, woefully insecure teen feels like a colossal failure and is crippled by so much guilt after what transpired.

As a result, Theo and Lily’s interactions are raw and visceral, achingly tender and utterly ELECTRIFYING in its intensity! Initially they try so hard to steer clear of each other but since they both attend Welles Academy and end up interning at the same premiere sports magazine they are constantly propelled in me another’s orbits. Yet though they can’t help needling one another, their shared tragedy bonds them together in ways no one else understands. And despite the toxic anger swirling around them, they prove instrumental to one another’s path to healing.. But the road to wellness is arduous!. However, that’s the unique beauty of this romance. It’s messy and guttural and gut-wrenching…and it OWNED me completely.

“Being with her makes it all right to not be all right.”

And, of course, over time their animosity, bitterness, guilt and grief morphs into something MORE. As such, I RELISHED the scenes where they lower their guards, strip themselves emotionally bare and allow their vulnerabilities to ooze out—all the good, the bad…and the ugly!

Sob! These two beautifully broken teens have been through so much in their young lives. But because they are the only ones in the world who get each other’s pain, as the story evolves, they find the courage to confront their demons head on. Which enables them to open their hearts to beautiful new possibilities, champion each other in times of tumult and ultimately discover the meaning of TRUE BRAVERY. And holy moly did this tortured duo smolder in their scenes together! For even when they seemed worlds apart, the sizzling attraction churning beneath the surface was undeniable. And when at long last they finally surrender to their pent-up desire…it’s COMBUSTIBLE!

I also enjoyed the wondrous Welles Academy world that serves as a backdrop for the story and was fully immersed in the lives of the all the students that inhabited this elite boarding school. Theo and Lily’s dorm mates and close chums infused the story with plethora of juicy drama, heart and humor! I not only loved the close-knit friendships--and rivalries--that were forged within its walls, but also dug how Ms. Scott planted the seeds for future storylines!

However, as stated in the book blurb, there ARE possible triggers in this story, including themes of abuse, trauma and self-harm. But the author handled these important subjects with grace, realism and the utmost sensitivity and I feel her gentle exploration into these timely topics added richness and depth to the plot.

BOTTOM LINE:
LONER is a powerfully poignant tale about love and survival, conquering your worst fears, and holding onto hope in the aftermath of a life-altering loss. The tumultuous emotional odyssey that Theo and Lily embarked on tugged at my heartstrings, broke me into bits, then healed me heart and soul! I couldn’t be more thrilled with how this love story played out and the climax was so gloriously triumphant I cried happy jubilant tears. LONER is an incredible start to THE BOYS OF WELLES series, and I cannot wait for REBEL!
Profile Image for Stephanie.
1,442 reviews112 followers
September 16, 2022
I was in the mood for something angsty and this delivered for awhile. Once the couple got together officially, though, things went downhill for me, even though I did like them. I thought the plot just got kind of unrealistic and super corny. There's also some super serious topics that are just touched upon. I think if you're going to bring up those things, you need to do something responsible them - especially in a YA book.
Profile Image for Dawn.
823 reviews
July 6, 2022
It is hard for Lily to go back to school after her best friend, Anika, died. Making it harder is the fact that Lily is rooming with Anika's two best friends and Anika's brother, Theo, is also at school. Lily has always been a bit of a loner but Anika had brought her out of that. Now, with Anika's death plaguing her, Lily wants to retreat to her old ways. However, she keeps running into Theo, who is none too happy with her. Lily wants to avoid him but she also has had a crush on him for years.
Opinion
Switching back and forth between Lily and Theo's points of view, the reader has insight into their feelings over Anika's death. Though most of the story focuses on Lily's point of view, the insight into what Theo was thinking enhances it. The reader gets to experience a flood of emotions through both character's points of view.
The plot of the story is fabulous. There is just enough angst to keep the flow going (especially in the side story lines.) There could be another story written just about the side lines to fill a few more books.
This is the first book in the series. No announcement has been made about when the next books are coming out but if they are anything like this one, the whole series will be a big hit.
I am new to Ginger Scott books but after browsing her Goodreads profile, I see that I am missing out. I plan to jump into more of her other series. I found this book consuming and hope that is indicitive of all of her books.
Many thanks to Wordsmith Publicity for providing me with an ARC of this book.
Profile Image for Nicki - The Overflowing Bookcase .
4,036 reviews159 followers
July 6, 2022
This will be the one book you will not be able to put down - and you will need Kleenex or a glass of wine when it is all over. Ginger Scott brings her readers a wonderful but heart wrenching story of finding love after loss. Theo and Lily had made a connection at a school party, but it was destroyed when tragedy struck, leaving them both alone and filled with guilt. But when they both return to school will the guilt turn to hatred? Or can they both overcome the loss and sense of helplessness? So emotional I think I cried three times. The reader can feel the despair they both feel but only want them to come together to fill each other's void. Things happen for a reason and in the end you are left to pick up the pieces.
28 reviews1 follower
July 3, 2022
This is another stellar, must-read Ginger Scott novel!! I loved Theo and Lily and how they navigated through some tough times together. The characters were genuine and relatable. The storytelling was beautiful and captivating. I enjoyed every word and highly recommend this book.
1,277 reviews45 followers
August 21, 2023
Lily has had a crush on Theo forever, then her BFF who was also Theo’s twin sister decided the two of them should meet. Lily couldn’t believe the connection they had how well they got along, until the night ended in tragedy. Now Theo acts like he hates her.
Theo doesn’t know how he feels about Lily, he knows he’s cruel at times, but she’s alive and his sister isn’t so he decides being nasty to her is better than feeling his pain.
When Lily starts helping another student study, Theo can’t help how he feels, and he doesn’t like it.
When others start to see his feelings for Lily it takes a someone to make him realise what he has and tells him to go get the girl.
The story shows how some deal with grief, how a people can help others to overcome fear from that grief.
Profile Image for Annika.
461 reviews115 followers
February 1, 2023
description

I was so excited to get into this book. One of my all-time favorites, How We Deal with Gravity, was written by Ginger Scott, so I'm a bit bummed that this one didn't exactly turn out to be a winner for me.

One of my biggest issues was Scott's writing in this book, which came as a surprise considering that so far, I never had an issue with it. The complete opposite, actually. It was way too repetitive and descriptive when it came to the characters' facial expressions. I don't know how many times I read about them 'pulling their lips into a straight line', 'lifting the corners of their lips into a crooked smile' or 'pushing their tongue between their teeth and biting down on the tip in a cheeky grin'. And that's them talking about themselves, not even describing the other person's expression. Way too detailed, way too much, and so damn annoying. Just thinking about it gets me all riled up again. Did the editor(s), and all the other readers for that matter, really not see anything wrong with that?
Also, although that's my own fault for picking up a book with that theme, I just can't stand the enemies-to-lovers trope. I can't seem to get over the bullying (though admittedly, it is rather mild in this one), no matter how contrite the bully may become later on.
Lastly, the sex scene(s) felt a little... yucky. These guys are barely 18, they're angsty high schoolers, and they talk dirty like a bunch of 80's porn stars - okay, maybe not that bad but it just felt wrong reading about Theo telling Lily to beg him to f*** her. Yikes.

What I did love though, and what saved this book from a lower rating, were the last maybe 30%. There was so much character growth going on, pretty much on everyone's part, even the secondary characters'. Speaking of which, most of them were quite amazing, too, and I would definitely read their books if it weren't for Scott's sudden weird-ass descriptive writing.
And the last scene, the one about Lily's swimming competition... man, I'm still sniffling like a baby because it was so freaking touching. One of the most powerful scenes I've come across in a long, long time.
And while I had a hard time warming up towards Theo and Lily in the beginning, I really did end up loving and rooting for them and their relationship. Which is a feat in itself.
Profile Image for PP's Bookshelf.
2,356 reviews365 followers
July 6, 2022
Ginger Scott delivered hard hitting, raw, all consuming and beautifully angsty emotions in Loner. This new adult enemies to lovers sports romance shredded my heart and also healed it. I could barely hold my tears. Lily and Theo went on an emotional rollercoaster and I am here for it.

Lily became part of a group of girls who are far from her status because of Anika. Then they have an accident and Lily could save everyone except Anika. She is back to Welles Academy for her sixth form with a broken messy heart. She can no longer do swimming. Her studies are ok. And Theo Rothschild, Anika's brother and her long time crush, hate her. But their internship put them in the same company and their paths keep on crossing. Theo cannot decide how to deal with his own trauma and feelings for Lily.


It was very different from what you read in usual new adult romance. The focus is on emotions and feels. And the Author is a master at exposing the deepest part of emotional hell. Lily is a bit shy, awkward, quirky and she feels everything intensely. She wants to stay away from limelight because her life has pushed her to be in the shadows..because it is safe. But that accident has put her into focus of many people's attention. She is struggling with her guilt, pain and loneliness. The trauma paralyzes her and she cannot even carry on her passion of swimming. She is so talented and caring and good. And Theo saw it too. His sister's loss tore his heart into pieces. He is angry. Upset. Bitter. Frustrated. And Lily has become a target of his twisted feels. All his disdain towards Lily is actually masking his true emotions. He is actually fascinated with her. Her beauty and her soul. I loved how the author avoided the unnecessary drama and useless bullying and rather concentrated on working through the characters' emotional baggage. The trauma is a bonding experience for Lily and Theo. They opened their hearts and finally helped each other to seal their bleeding hearts. The writing was absolutely captivating. My heart was aching and breaking and it was overwhelming to say the least. The emotional pain was excruciating but the healing and redemption was so beautiful. I shed so many kinds of tears. I cried for their grief and loss and helplessness. I cried when they found peace and happiness. Loner by Ginger Scott left a profound effect on me.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
Profile Image for FS Meurinne.
Author 2 books122 followers
July 15, 2022
I loved Lily and Theo's story, it was a turmoil of emotions, heartbreaking yet with so much passion and brilliant characters. It's a powerful story, where friendship and forgiveness have an impact, you will be immersed in this world, I can just say it's the best way to start a new series, and I can't wait for the next one.





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Profile Image for Caroline F.
2,216 reviews43 followers
July 10, 2022
This story was intense and painful, with the most smoldering of slow burns.

"All the awful things that have happened haven't removed that pull we have."

Lily Beachem and Theo Rothschild forged a connection on the same night that shattered them. Just as Lily became hopeful that her five-year crush was turning into something, she finds herself on the other end of Theo's enmity. Both are grieving and both are dealing with the fallout of events. However, the surprising thing is that the tragedy that divides them will be the one thing that will draw them together and make them whole.

"When I'm with him, even when we're fighting, I am whole."

I just loved this story! It was full of agony and sadness, but the little flicker of love and life that fanned into full blown passion made for an addictive read. Lily is a loner and prefers to go unnoticed. She flies so much under the radar that she ends up hiding her brilliant light under a bushel - hiding her talents and intelligence. Theo was such a broken boy and I hurt so badly for him. The two of them had a lot in common - with painful family dynamics - and I felt such joy when they pushed forward through all the obstacles and forged a connection that brought them so much happiness. Their chemistry was tangible, and I loved the raw honesty between them. This was an amazing, heartbreaking, and life-affirming read.

Blog: https://readingwillingable.blogspot.c...

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/review/R2J5TOI...
Profile Image for Pam.
1,525 reviews15 followers
July 7, 2022
4.5 Heart Wrenching Stars
I don't read many YA/NA books these days but I know that Ginger Scott will always draw me into her story and hold me until the very end. And that she did, while pulling every possible emotion from my heart in the process. Her characters connection and pull, the loss and greif, learning and acceptance to move forward are weaved into a careful dance that if executed correctly just might put your heart together with love in the end.

Theo is struggling unable to decide if he is hurting or angery from the loss of his sister. The lonely existance that can come with private school and the distance from family was always that much better with Annika around but now he needs to navigate without her. He gave Lily a chance at Annika's wishes and then the tragedy that is their life happened. How does he move past the feelings of the loss. Could Lily help him find a positive in moving forward.

Lily was always happy to be the quiet one who was watching from the sidelines. Her attraction to Theo was always there but she would never have acted on it. Now she finds herself stuck somewhere smashed between his anger and loss. Trying to navigate her own feelings of greif and moving forward. Trying to succeed in this life she has to live and make Annika proud. Maybe if her and Theo can lean on one another to help in the process.

Ginger has hit it out of the park with this Series starter and I can't wait to see what else will come our way.

*** Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review. ***
Profile Image for Jazmine Figueroa.
225 reviews3 followers
July 6, 2022
I went into this having absolutely no idea what the story would turn into and I am so glad the blurb didn’t give the plot away because I enjoyed the story that much more not being able to guess what came next. The beginning of the book really threw me because it was so unexpected but I think it really impacted the relationship these characters have in the saddest but also most beautiful way.

Theo and Lily were just two really beautiful characters dealing with so much and they struggled a ton throughout the first half of their story and it broke my heart because you could see how badly the two of them needed each other. But I also think those struggles were integral to their individual growth as well, I think they had to handle their pain however they could before they’d ever be able to make a relationship work. But once they’re together gosh it is just magic. These two were so so special and I loved loved their support for one another regardless of the circumstances.

I think this was an incredible story of love, grief and second chances and can’t say enough good things about this book. It took me through a rollercoaster of emotions but wouldn’t take a single thing back.

Huge thank you to Ginger Scott & Wordsmith Publicity for the ARC.
Profile Image for Jules.
1,443 reviews88 followers
December 31, 2023
Loner from author Ginger Scott is a new series starter. The Welles Boys series features boarders at an upscale boarding school. The price tag is high, the students are damaged, and their lives are complicated.

The angst is high from the first page. The characters’ history bleeds out of this story, but it is a slow drip to the reveal. We readers get to experience the daily angst and drama that follows a major event in the students’ lives, and it is later in the story that we get the full story.

The story is told in dual narration by Lily and Theo. They are sympathetic, and living through their daily turmoil, is heart wrenching. I vacillated between wanting to hug them and slapping some sense into them.

As I’ve come to expect, author Ginger Scott has beautifully and realistically portrayed the imperfect “golden years” of adolescence. We usually romanticize that time in our lives, but the author shines a spotlight on the dark shadows of the those years of emotional turmoil and growth.

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. For more reading recommendations, visit Book Junkie Reviews at www.abookjunkiereviews.wordpress.com
Profile Image for Hopelessly Addicted To Books .
3,472 reviews143 followers
July 8, 2022
Loner is a beautifully written powerful story that I could not put down once I started. I love when a book surprises you, you go in expecting one thing and then you start to read and it is something completely different. Theo and Lily are bound by memories of happiness but also of tragedy. We see two young people dealing with all these emotions, they are basically alone and struggling. I liked the way the relationship developed from a combative emotionally driven one where they would snipe and bait each other to one of acceptance understanding and forgiveness. Theo and Lily have similar experiences that bond them together. Lily is one of the quiet ones who could be easily overlooked but she has a steely strength that slowly emerges. Theo was someone I wanted to wrap my arms around and protect, his actions at the start come from a place of pain but we get to see him grow and by the end I adored him. This is a book I would recommend in a heartbeat. I am not sure who is next in the series however the secondary characters are interesting and I will be anxiously waiting on the next release.
Profile Image for Kari Hansen.
10.2k reviews87 followers
July 10, 2022
Lily has been hiding her feelings for her best friend Anika’s brother Theo as she doesn’t believe anything could ever come of it until Anika brings them together. But what should have been the happiest night of her life turned into the most devastating night of her life and not only is she struggling with guilt and regrets, but she has never felt more alone.

Theo is devastated by the events of that night and trying to forge a path forward is even more difficult than he imagined. Right or wrong he holds Lily responsible however as much as he tries to distance himself from her that is easier said than done.

Lily and Theo take us on a heartbreaking and inspiring journey as they try to deal with a trauma that has changed life as they know it. Although this trauma originally separates them there is no denying that they are much stronger together than apart.
Profile Image for Arceli.
1,093 reviews
July 21, 2022
This book is a really nice read. Theo and Lily are wonderful characters. I enjoyed the fact that they bonded over hard events in life but were strong separately. Together, they were awesome. The other thing I liked was the integration of sports. Theo is clearly into swimming and you can see it. His life is all about the water and yeah it is very wet (see what I did there). Lily is awesome. Even though she is a nerd, she isn't some meek heroine. She is strong willed. The academy setting was something I didn't expect to like so much. It was extremely realistic that people had close bonds with others. Another thing is the romance. The romance was perfect. The connection between the characters is strong and awesome. Plus, this book has all the steam.

In summary, go check out this book. I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Peggy Hogan.
930 reviews16 followers
July 7, 2022
Gahhh, I loved this book! There is no one better than Ginger Scott at writing these high school/college new adult, coming of age, heartfelt, all the feels, slow burn romances, and she knocked this one out of the ballpark!

Theo and Lily were destined to be together from the start. They're both from troubled families, and they have a lot in common, including Theo's twin sister, Anika, who is also Lily's best friend. After a tragic car accident, Theo wrongfully blames Lily for it, but it also brings them closer, and they form a special bond. This story was so well-written, and was just so believable. I honestly loved everything about it, and I highly recommend it with more than five stars!
1,620 reviews1 follower
July 7, 2022
UNEXPECTED & Incredibly HEARTFELT
This story sneaks up on you and gives you the unexpected and an incredibly heartfelt story that had me giving 100% of my attention with needing to turns the pages and hesitating as the twists get more shocking and gutwrenching filled with disbelief not wanting to accept the words I'm reading but my need for a HEA kept me going and what a relief it was to reach the end. A Dark and heartfelt story worth reading.
Profile Image for christyheartsbooks.
1,126 reviews29 followers
July 12, 2022
I was very intrigued by the blurb on this one so immediately scooped it up but it didn’t live up to my expectations. Now maybe that’s because I was reading it on day two and three of Covid and feeling like absolute shit. Or maybe not. It just felt like everything was underdeveloped and underwhelming. I wanted to love Theo and Lily, I just feel like I didn’t get to know them all that well. As I said though maybe that’s just me.
Profile Image for Mary Mccormack.
1,212 reviews
September 24, 2022
Honest review

Happy, heart breaking, emotional, and healing. Incredible journey that I couldn’t put down. Draws you in and holds your heart strings.
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