I have a habit I’m sure others can understand: sometimes I download a book, start to read it, and for whatever reason . . . I’m not feeling it. Maybe I’m not in the right mood. Maybe I’ve just finished a book that really slayed me, leaving me unable to be open to a new love.

Who knows?

But it happens. And apparently it happened earlier this summer, when I downloaded a book called Remember When. I know I started the book, but for some reason, I didn’t get very far. I’m thinking maybe Sarina or Kristen or Elle had a release about that time and I jumped into that.

Anyway, this week as I trolled the ‘Zon for something new to read, I found a book that intrigued me. It’s called Down The Shore, and of course that pulled me in, since I’m a Jersey girl myself and know exactly what that phrase means. True, this love story was about North Jersey, which any respectable Jersey girl knows is a totally different beast than South. But still. It was also about rock n’ roll and the early ’90s and cover bands, so I decided to give it a shot.

I LOVED this book. The main character pulled me in, her love interest was sweet and hot and wonderful, and the juxtaposition of the friendships was also very cool. Great storyline, wonderful, familiar setting . . . all in all, a wonderful read that I was happy to recommend to my friends.

About halfway into the book, I realized that its author T. Torrest was also the author of the Remember When books. And since I already had that first one downloaded, I decided to give it another shot.

I’m so glad I did. And I’m pretty sure T. Torrest is trying to kill me.

Just this morning, I finished the second book. The third one is downloaded and ready to go, but today I’m on the road, heading home from a family trip north. So no reading today . . . and then I’m under deadline . . . but still. Odds are I’ll be losing sleep to finish this trilogy.

And no pressure to the author, but this book better bring my two characters together . . . I’m dying here!

This trilogy follows Layla Warren and Trip Wilmington from his first day at her NJ high school during their senior year. The first book is all about the ups and downs of that senior year, how their friendship evolves and then crashes and burns when Layla’s certain Trip can never feel the same way she does. They manage to get it back together, but be warned: this book doesn’t end with a HEA. Not even a HFN. But that’s okay, because there’s book 2 . . .

. . . in which our leads have aged ten years. Are they together? Will they be together? Yes and it’s unclear. Because book 2 ALSO ends on a down note.

But I have faith. And I’m sure the author won’t let me down. Right?

I’ll be sure to let you know.

Find all of T. Torrest’s books here.