Megan • Reading Books Like a Boss (book blog)'s Reviews > Only The Good Die Young

"The bravest thing any of us can do isn't love. The bravest thing we can do is let other people love us."

Milcah is dying.  After being diagnosed with stage three breast cancer at eighteen years old, Milcah ran away from her foster home and her little brother to Nahor, just outside of Houston, Texas.  Most of her time is spent in the hospital going through treatment and fighting the disease.  When she's not in treatment, she lives in a sparsely furnished state-funded apartment.

For a long time, her only source of support is this sweet nurse named Holly, whom Milcah frequently prods and pokes to share details of her dating life.  I really loved Milcah and Holly's relationship.  My heart went out to Milcah early on because she was alone.  On the outside, she appears strong and doesn't let anyone see her cry or breakdown.  But on the inside, she's scared of what's to come, of dying.  Holly was there for her, even when Milcah didn't want her to be there.

Mentally, she has given up on living and has accepted her fate.  She's angry, bitter and generally unpleasant to be around. She snaps at her doctors and makes the breast cancer support group ladies leave her room.  She even dropped out of college after learning that she had months to live, thinking education is useless at this point.   There were times that I found Milcah to be a little too abrasive.  I can understand that cancer can put you in a bad emotional state, but I had a hard time liking her at times because of her attitude and the way she treated people.  I loved that Milcah is an crocheting addict, and I found that to be an endearing quality in her.  Throughout most of the book she can be seen knitting when she is stressed out. She uses it as an outlet for her stress since she keeps so much bottled up in side.

Milcah is sent home from the hospital after undergoing a double mastectomy and she's left to recover on her own.  Well, until she meets Callum Scott.  She is immediatley attracted to him.  He's hot and funny, but she refuses to allow anything to develop between them because of her illness.

"Nothing scares off someone of the opposite gender like telling them your body is infected with cancerous tumors and chances are, you're not going to see the other side of twenty."

Callum is a tattoo artist and part-time worker at a pizza place in Milcah's neighborhood.  Initially, when I read that he was a tattoo artist, I automatically assumed that he was going to be this bad boy.  But I was pleasantly surprised to find out that he was just an all-around good guy.  You know how I like my good guys.  Callum breathes life into Milcah's grey and dull existence. He is determined to show her that her life is worth living and to start fighting.

"If you really love someone, baby, you'll let them make their own decisions over what heartbreak they can handle."

I would recommend this book to readers who like a slow-burning romance.  Callum and Milcah are friends for the majority of the book.  Their relationship develops very organically, and it is very sweet. 

3 stars

*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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