I Could Live Here Forever

Leah Kempler is starting her Creative Writing MFA program at UW. It’s a big change from her life in Massachusetts, leaving the comforts of the familiar, her brothers and father behind. The epitome of a bookworm, Leah is shy and feels most comfortable when she is reading, writing and surrounded by books. People tend to make her nervous and feel unsure of herself. The cohort is a small group of 6. Intimately reading and critiquing each others work they become a tight knit  group, she quickly befriends the only other female Vivian. Leah expresses herself more comfortably through words. Many of her short stories reflect the painful loss of her mother who left the family when she was 13. Desperate to feel love and acceptance Leah quietly searches for her soul mate. One day she meets Charlie on a check out line at the grocery store. He is much too handsome, way out of her league. Leah is shocked when he initiates conversation and a date. Upon the slightest contact her heart is beating out of her chest, her palms sweating. She is mesmerized by this sweet beautiful man. As they slowly get to know each other Charlie admits he has been in recovery for the last few years and lives with his parents. He swears he will never use heroin again. As the two fall deeply in love Leah chooses to ignore the many telltale signs of the “recovery” rollercoaster which sadly include bouts of relapse along with more promises. Leah does not feel capable of truly helping Charlie but she is bound by this love she is convinced she has never felt before. This novel pulls the reader deeply into the minds and hearts of its characters. It has moments both tearful and beautiful as do most stories I’ve read that touch on addiction. I loved the unembellished writing and honestly could not put it down. I look forward to reading more from this author. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️