Just Remember to Breathe by Charles Sheehan-Miles

Book Description:

Alex Thompson’s life is following the script. A pre-law student at Columbia University, she’s focused on her grades, her life and her future. The last thing she needs is to reconnect with the boy who broke her heart.

Dylan Paris comes home from Afghanistan severely injured and knows that the one thing he cannot do is drag Alex into the mess he’s made of his life.

When Dylan and Alex are assigned to the same work study program and are forced to work side by side, they have to make new ground rules to keep from killing each other.

Only problem is, they keep breaking the rules.

The first rule is to never, ever talk about how they fell in love.

Christina's BookReview

RECAP

Alexandra Thompson is trying to recover from her breakup with the love of her life. Every day for 6 months it has been a constant struggle but she is finally able to move on. Until fate intervenes and places her in the same work study as HIM. The guy that has the power to break her resolve with just a smile. The guy that she hates to love.

Dylan Paris has had the worse 6 months of his life. After being heartbroken and losing his best friend to the war Dylan isn't the same. He just wants to break the cycle of pain and do something right in his life. But when he has to confront his decisions Dylan isn't prepared for what's to come.

Will these two ever come to terms with themselves? Or will the mistakes of the past finally break them apart?

My Take

I have been hearing wonderful things about this book for the past few months and couldn't wait to read it. I'm so sad it took me this long! 

This is the first contemporary romance I've read that involved a military protag and I must say it was wonderful! Through Dylan's POV (yes another male POV!:-D) You see into the world of a soldier who has been in war, and having a family of military men I can say that the author did a wonderful job portraying the brutal truth of the aftermath. Dylan's trials and tribulations after his tour was truly tough to read about and made me quickly adore him because of what he had to go through. This book tells the hard truth of the post war affect and although hard to read it was incredible to see the "behind the scenes". Throughout the book I was rooting for Dylan to overcome his PTSD and my heart broke through every painful moment. He was pretty messed up and had a lot of baggage but having someone as headstrong as Alex truly helped him.

Alex was a little too clingy to me at the beginning. The way she was hooked on Dylan was pretty sad at first. But when Dylan is back it opens up the background story to their relationship and it makes you like Alex because of her persistence to help him. She didn't let her wealth or her family get in the way of what she wanted and showed us a kind side of her. Just like Dylan, Alex has her tough times and I admired her for her strength, although at first I didn't see it. She put up with Dylan's sickness which made you like her even more.

The secondary characters also deserve recognition because they added to this dynamic duel's story. The way every one of them quickly accepted Dylan was heartwarming. From Alex's family to her best friend. As well as Dylan's best friend Sherman. He was an amazing friend and I don't think Dylan could have made it without him there to help him and Alex through the tough parts.  I would definitely be stoked if he had his own story as well.

I enjoyed reading this book and I can't wait to hear what my readers thought about it. Pick it up! You will enjoy it. Charles is a mastermind! Not only did he hit the nail on the head with the affects of the aftermath of war but also with both POVs.