Fixing Deiliah by Sarah Ockler

Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler
Publication date: December, 2010
Published by:  Little Brown Books for Young Readers
   
Goodreads Description: 
Things in Delilah Hannaford's life have a tendency to fall apart.
She used to be a good student, but she can't seem to keep it together anymore. Her "boyfriend" isn't much of a boyfriend. And her mother refuses to discuss the fight that divided their family eight years ago. Falling apart, it seems, is a Hannaford tradition.
Over a summer of new friendships, unexpected romance, and moments that test the complex bonds between mothers and daughters, Delilah must face her family's painful past. Can even her most shattered relationships be pieced together again?

My Review:-

Favourite Quote: "That thing in my chest lurches sideways and I take a deep breath, count to ten and bury it, way down deep."

If I had to use one word to describe this story it would be GORGEOUS.  From the writing to the characters to the plot, everything about this book is absolutely gorgeous.

Fixing Delilah is a story of a mother and a daughter who are lost from each other and a family that is hiding secrets.  It it a story about finding yourself and reconnecting with the ones you love.

I have been dying to read this as I love Twenty Boy Summer and I knew that I could count on another book full of alluring writing and I wasn't disappointed.  Again, I was stuck trying to pick just one quote as Ockler really has a way with words.   She has an eye for details, can captures emotions perfectly and has a way of making everything sound beautiful.   It is an emotional read but not quite to the same extent as Twenty Boy Summer which made me cry.
 
What drives this story is the characters.  Delilah is someone that I can understand.  She acts reckless and feels like she doesn't know who she is anymore.  She has a witty but always heartfelt voice.  She is character that grows and changes as the story goes on and it is wonderful to watch. 

There is also a distinctive and just as strong bunch of secondary characters that play an important part of the story especially Delilah's family.  And it was nice to read a story for a change that family was the main focus.

However the romance that is in the book is delicious.  Patrick is the boy next door, who can sing, plays guitar and works for his Dad's constructions business during the summer (which means a few swoon worthy shirtless scenes).   Patrick and Delilah had some really sweet and tender moments together (and some hot and steamy moments too) like this:

"He lifts my chin until our eyes meet and his lips brush over mine, soft at first, dandelion seeds blown against my mouth like a wish, and then....completely.  Hungry.  Suffocating and desperate and I don't want it to stop.  I've never been kissed liked this before - not by Finn or the celebrity crushes in my head.  Not even in my craziest dreams."

Overall, Fixing Delilah is another outstanding story from one of my favourite writers.

Overall Rating: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Romance: 5/5
Cover: 4/5

Recommend for fans of:  Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler, The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

For More Info: Sarah Ockler's website

For More Reviews: The Reading Housewifes of Indiana and The Tales of Compendium