Hello Stranger by Jade West

This book was a special one and I'm not sure if I should recommend it because it's heartbreaking, soul-crushing, and terribly sad. From the very first page, you can almost feel how melancholy it is. Hello Stranger, in my opinion, is Jade West's best book to date. It was romantic, angsty, sensual, and sexy. I will never forget this book and its beloved characters, Logan, Chloe... and Jackie. This book deals with death so it's best to be prepared. If you want a good cry, this is the book for you. I had no idea and went into it blind... it crushed my heart. I loved and hated it but I don't regret reading this beautiful love story between two strangers who were essentially soulmates.

"She was a lifeline in my pain, a beautiful radiance in my stormy world, filled with grey."

Hello Stranger starts out with two strangers on a train. They don't notice each other at first but fate decides to intervene by dropping Chloe's bookmark, which Logan picks up. Logan doesn't think much of it but part of him hopes to see her again. They do meet up in the same train ride and he gives it back to her. The two eventually find mutual interest in books and realize their similar tastes in authors. It was really sweet to watch how shy Chloe was and how much she wanted to talk to Logan but he was so serious and solemn. And there is a reason why. At first, they don't talk much but their meetings on the train have become so much more. It turns out that they work at the same hospital and will be working together.

"All hellos ultimately have their goodbyes. And all goodbyes hurt so much harder if the love they are founded on is so damn strong. Still, all hellos with people you love are worth it. They are all worth their weight in gold."

Logan considers himself a pessimist while Chloe is an optimist. Both are complete opposites but they complete each other. Reading this book was really hard because I cared so much for Logan and Chloe. At the same time, we find out that Logan is taking care of his dying mother and is trying to complete her bucket list. Logan's life has been full of constant pain and sadness but he also has a secret. That secret will compel him to drive Chloe away. In the end, Hello Stranger is an unforgettable book about making the most of the time left with your loved ones before it's too late. It's about taking life one day at a time and looking at the world half full. This was a true gem and I highly recommend it to those of you who want a deeply moving love story.

Rating: ★★★★★