The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen Review

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From Goodreads: There are those who don’t get luck handed to them on a shiny platter, who end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, who don’t get saved.

Luck was not on Callie’s side the day of her twelfth birthday when everything was stolen from her. After it’s all over, she locks up her feelings and vows never to tell anyone what happened. Six years later her painful past consumes her life and most days it’s a struggle just to breathe.

For as long as Kayden can remember, suffering in silence was the only way to survive life. As long as he did what he was told, everything was okay. One night, after making a terrible mistake, it seems like his life might be over. Luck was on his side, though, when Callie coincidentally is in the right place at the right time and saves him.

Now he can’t stop thinking about the girl he saw at school, but never really knew. When he ends up at the same college as Callie, he does everything he can to try to get to know her. But Callie is reserved and closed off. The more he tries to be part of her life, the more he realizes Callie might need to be saved.

Rating: 4.5/5

Plot: 5/5

Characters: 4/5

Ending: 2.5/5

Beware: this book deals with multiple types of abuse and is highly emotional.

Callie and Kayden's families are friends, but they haven't had any interactions in years. Until Callie comes to Kayden's rescue one night, and months later when they happen upon each other at college, Kayden can't let her just walk away from him again. Callie has closed herself off for years and Kayden wanting to get to know her takes a lot of effort, on both parts. The story is told from both POVs, which I appreciated!

I went through an emotional rollercoaster reading this book.From the first page the reader knew an intense story was coming. I didn't expect Kayden to have as many problems as Callie did, but I didn't think it was overkill or too coincidental because I think men are always portrayed ass stronger than women and the boys are always saving the girls, but in this relationship, they helped each other. It was more realistic to me because I suffered from self-harm and a bad childhood and I know a lot of people, especially guys, who could relate to Kayden. I do think, however, he fact that he was so popular and a football star was a little planned but I think it had to be to show the contrast of them both; it also played well into the story.

I would not recommend this book for someone who cannot handle intensity and things you may not have experienced because I think, especially for Kayden, a lot of things are inferred. It's hard to explain all the events and crazy, wonderful, odd feelings in this book to an audience that has no insight.

Jessica Sorensen did a great job showing the personal issues of the characters, their interaction with others, and with each other. Amazing book; I was not expecting it.

**SPOILERS**

The one things I wish was a little different was the exploration of Callie's eating disorder. I thought it was a little odd how she and Kayden both had 2 major issues--him cutting and physical abuse, her bulimia and sexual abuse--and there was a lot focus on al of those issues except her bulimia. Maybe because I can relate to her, I just wanted more on it. It didn't create a loss or anything negative towards the story though.