Review: Sometimes It Happens by Lauren Barnholdt

Sometimes It Happens by Lauren Barnholdt

July 12, 2011

Simon Pulse

From Goodreads:
On the last day of her junior year, Hannah's boyfriend Sebastian dumped her. Facing a summer of loneliness, Hannah turns to her best friend Ava for comfort. Ava does what BFFs do: she stays by Hannah's side...until it's time for Ava to head up to Maine for the summer. Also left behind is Ava's boyfriend, Noah, who's such a great guy he gets Hannah a job at the diner he waits tables at. Slowly, Hannah comes out of her funk thanks to Noah's good conversation and their fun times at the diner. But things get complicated when their friendship turns into attraction--and one night, into a passionate kiss.

The novel opens on the first day of senior year; the day Hannah is going to see Ava, Sebastian, and Noah all in one place. Over the course of the day secrets and betrayals are revealed, and alliances are broken and reformed. In the end, everyone is paired up once again, but not the way you might think...

My Review:
I have to say, I have a weakness for books that deal with the scandalous topic of falling in love with your best friends boyfriend. I don't know why I like these stories so much, but I can't help it! I love seeing how an author can deal with the topic in such a way where I sympathize with the friend who falls in love with the unattainable boyfriend. It is soo bad but it makes for such an enthralling and dramatic read! Sometimes It Happens far exceeded my expectations. I felt for Hannah, and I couldn't help but fall for Noah right alongside her.

Hannah doesn't realize what she is in for when she catches her boyfriend Sebastian cheating on her on her last day of junior year, and her best friend Ava tells her she is leaving for the whole summer the next day.  Hannah doesn't know how she is going to be able to cope with the blow her boyfriend dealt her without her best friend! Well, that all changes when Ava enlists her own boyfriend Noah to make sure Hannah survives without her! It all starts out seemingly innocent in a Laundromat, and ends with a whole lot of hurt feelings and broken hearts.

Even though Hannah does the unthinkable with Noah, she didn't mean for anything to happen at all. I really felt for both of them. I enjoyed watching as their feelings grew for each other, but I also cringed when thinking about the consequences. I love how Barnholdt goes back and forth between what happened during the summer, and what comes out of that summer on the first day of senior year. I got to experience what Hannah was feeling during both times, and I felt horrible for her. It was never supposed to happen, but the title says it all--sometimes it happens.

Noah is such a sweet guy. I fell in love with him just as Hannah did. I can't hate them for what they did to Ava, especially because I was not a fan of Ava at all. She is rude, manipulative, selfish, and doesn't really care about anyone else. Maybe if she would have been a better person I would have had more sympathy for her, but it would have been hard. Cheating is awful and I am not in any way okay with it, but I could see why it did happen.

I have to say, my favorite character in it all is Lacey. She is so hilarious! She is a hypochondriac and really added much needed humor to situations. It doesn't hurt that she is a wonderful friend to Hannah, and is there for her in tough situations.

Sometimes It Happens is a remarkable story of forbidden love that I couldn't put down! You must pick this one up as soon as it releases!

My Rating: