Amanda grew up in a trailer park where she was left to not only care for herself, but her younger siblings while her mom was always off with some new guy. This damaged childhood forced Amanda to grow up too quickly leaving the weight of the family on her shoulders. Amanda was struggling to make ends meet and things got even worse when she suddenly lost her job. Feeling trapped in the small town, angry with her circumstances, and nervous about how she’ll support the family you can feel the weight of it all come crumbling down. All she’s ever wanted is to get out of her broken home.On the same day that Amanda looses her job she meets two men who both change her life. One guy, Tom, is running for president and the other guy, Pax, she falls deeply in love with. Tom offers Amanda a position on his campaign trail. Not knowing much, but willing to work hard she accepts his offer and gets herself out of the trailer park. She struggles with the guilt of leaving her siblings, but knows this is the best way to help provide for them. Pax on the other hand comes from an extremely wealthy and privileged home. From the moment they met, they immediately hit it off. Strong and intense. As the story goes on Amanda and Pax’s relationship becomes more and more complicated. I found myself constantly angry with their situation and wondering whether or not they could actually make a life together. Again, I was left frustrated by all the back and forth between the characters and hoped they could decide whether to put each other first or let it go and focus on their own careers.Lindsay, Tom’s wife, became to be the mother figure that Amanda so badly needed. She became her friend, her biggest supporter, and eventually the one who changed Amanda’s outlook on life. The relationship that formed between these two was fun and sweet, but it had its ups and downs too. This was such an emotional roller coaster… when things were good they were good, but boy when things took a turn everything went South fast! Amanda discovers a secret Tom has been keeping, Pax becomes absent from her life, and Lindsay well you’ll have to read to find out, but I felt betrayed by them all! Everything began to fall apart and Amanda's life spiraled. I felt awful watching it and thought to myself not again as her adult life was almost as destroyed as her childhood. I found myself wondering if the pattern would ever be broken. I kept waiting for Amanda to stand up for herself. To realize she’s worthy of more. When she finally put and end to the lies and realized who she was, that was a turning point for her character.Eventually the pieces were put back together and while this book ended sadly it was beautiful and hopeful. I loved the writing and fell easily into it. What was even better was that it gripped me with all of its unexpected plot twists! I had a hard time putting this one down. It touched on second chances, loyalties, and about how you can choose your friends, but not your family. The mom made me so angry throughout the entire book and I just can’t wrap my head around the fact that she could just abandoned her kids, but what an eye opening it was. The transformations and backstories made me understand why she did what she did, but still… what a terrible upbringing! The only thing that held me back in some places was the timeline. I found myself shrugging it off when I couldn’t get it to line up the way I thought it was supposed to or it just wasn’t clear. Whether it was the way it was written, the transition to present day or just the way I read it, but I don’t think it faulted the story. Just wish it was a little more clearly understood. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from these two. 4 stars!