It should not come as a surprise to any of you that I got
my inspiration for this post from Twitter. Go figure:) It all started with a
tweet from the incredibly talented yet equally terrifying Jasinda Wilder. Her
tweet was simple enough. It read as follows: @JasindaWilder: I’m wondering if any of you might like a new
book from me this week? With 1 of your favorite characters in it, a book I
wrote just for you. Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…instant panic. You picked up on the
fact that I called her ‘talented,’ yes? Did you pick up on the ‘terrifying’
part as well? If you have read Falling
Into You then you know exactly what I’m talking about. If not, buckle up
kiddos.
Let’s start from the very beginning, shall we? I should
start by copping to the fact that I’m a certifiable book wimp. There was a time
in my life (not so long ago) that I would beg Kat and Ava to read a book before
me to make sure I could handle it. I have several criteria that I need in a
book. I won’t give you the list in its entirety but I NEED a happily ever after
(preferably in the form of a big, fat epilogue—think Reckless), and I prefer not to be emotionally traumatized when
reading. Like I said: Book Wimp.
SO Falling Into You was
released and it was all everyone was
talking about. I was intrigued so I went to my go-tos…had they been on the same
continent and in the same room when I asked them, I’m pretty sure they would
have shared a look that said, “She has lost her mind. No fucking way can she
handle this book.” I think they said as much—in a very nice way and Kat may
have even encouraged me with a “Okaaaaaay…” (more of a “Holy fuck. I can’t wait
for her meltdown after reading this.”). I was feeling brave. I could do this. I
could put my big girl pants on and make Kat and Ava proud. I could do this! How
bad could it be?
All was right with my world. And then IT happened. If you
have read Falling Into You, you know
what “it” is. That event in and of itself brought the ugly cry. I remember
sobbing so hard that I could barely catch my breath. This may sound dramatic
but it is true. So. Much. Pain. After I put my Kindle aside to compose myself…I
remember thinking: “Well, okay. It’s okay. I got through it. I can do this.
Look at me!” And then she did it again! Well, not “it” but she brought the
pain. SO. MUCH. PAIN.
Now do you understand why I referred to her as the
incredibly talented yet equally terrifying Jasinda Wilder? She draws you in by
writing these characters you fall in love with and then she crushes you bit by
bit to the point that there isn’t enough Advil in your medicine cabinet to dull
the pain and that you can’t leave your house for at least 24 hours until your
face returns to its pre- Falling Into You
status. You finish Falling Into You and
your head and face hurt from the crying but more than anything—more than
anything: your heart hurts. It genuinely hurts. That is the power of Jasinda
Wilder.
Now can you see why that seemingly innocent tweet terrified
me? If a reader could have PTSD from reading a book, I have it from reading Falling Into You. I am so glad that I
read this book but I have not been able to pick up this book again and I love
to read books again and again. I just haven’t been able to do it again with Falling Into You. You thought I was
kidding about being a book wimp, didn’t you? Nope. Here’s another example of my
wimpiness: I have Falling
Into Us on my Kindle and I have NOT been able to open it. I know what kind
of pain awaits me in that book and I don’t know if I can take it. I know my
limits and I think that the pain from Falling
Into You is my hard limit.
Do I one-click every book that Jasinda Wilder writes? Yes!
I one-click because she is beyond talented and one day…maybe one day I will
grow into my big girl pants and be able to go where she takes me without
needing to take anti-anxiety meds. But like I said, I’m a book wimp!!! I own
said wimpiness. So Jasinda writes a book titled, Wounded…is she insane? The title alone is enough to have me running
for the hills. Of course I one-clicked before running to the hills but still…running.
She scares me. Again: book wimp!!!
So
there ya go. That’s a quick glimpse into the crazy that is my brain. I still have
not fully recovered from what she did to me in Falling Into You. I realize that not everyone needs rainbows and
sunshine and to those people: This book is for you! If you have not read Colton and Nell’s story, I highly suggest that you one-click the
terrifying perfection that is Falling
Into You:
So to answer Jasinda’s tweet regarding wanting another book
from her? I resolutely say YES!!!!! I say yes because I know you guys are WAY
braver than me and I say yes because the profound impact she has had on my
reading soul is a testament to her brilliance as a writer. The fact that I have
a visceral reaction at the mere mention of her books speaks to her talent…as
terrifying as it may be. You know the pictures you see of the children who are
screaming and crying because they are terrified of Santa Clause but they also
love him dearly because he brings the goods? Jasinda…you are my Santa and I am
that snot nosed kid flailing on your lap. I love you…I hate you…I love you…Aghhhhhh!!!!
I’m ready for Christmas morning. Bring the new book, Jasinda. Just bring it.!!!
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