By Your Side Book Review

By Your Side, by Kasie West

Rate: 4/5

Goodreads Summary:

When Autumn Collins finds herself accidentally locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn’t think things could get any worse. But that’s before she realizes that Dax Miller is locked in with her. Autumn doesn’t know much about Dax except that he’s trouble. Between the rumors about the fight he was in (and that brief stint in juvie that followed it) and his reputation as a loner, he’s not exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to rescue her.

Only he doesn’t come. No one does.

Instead it becomes clear that Autumn is going to have to spend the next couple of days living off vending-machine food and making conversation with a boy who clearly wants nothing to do with her. Except there is more to Dax than meets the eye. As he and Autumn first grudgingly, and then not so grudgingly, open up to each other, Autumn is struck by their surprising connection. But can their feelings for each other survive once the weekend is over and Autumn’s old life, and old love interest, threaten to pull her from Dax’s side? 

Thoughts and Opinions:

          A book about being stuck inside a library? Sign me up. In this Kasie West novel, the book is about a girl named Autumn. She was at the library with her friends finishing up a history paper they were assigned in class, getting ready to leave for a long weekend at the cabin with her friends, unfortunately for her, she drank too much soda, so she had to go to the washroom. She left all her things at the back of a friend's trunk and went to the washroom.. Only when she came out, the doors were locked. It was a long weekend at that, so the library wouldn't be opening till Tuesday morning. After a while, she realised that someone was with her as well, his name is Dax. Dax is a quiet person and an intriguing one at that. She tries to be nice and befriend him, but he likes to keep to himself. So what do you do when you're at the library for the whole weekend, stuck with a stranger?? Try and make befriend him of course. 

          Kasie West is my go to author when it comes to quick and cute stories. I thoroughly enjoyed her previous books, and this book did not disappoint. As a reader, I always love staying in the library and smelling that "paper" scent that comes with books, so I was really excited to read this book. As much as the book focused on the romance part, it also focused on mental health. I love seeing more books on things like this because everyone at some point have those moments where they are overwhelmed with anxiety and stress, and sometimes that's okay. It's okay to focus on your mental health and not just your physical health. There was a character growth throughout the book and I loved it because she was able to admit to herself that it's okay. It's okay not to be okay. And even though there was a love triangle, it didn't end up with one of the boys being a jerk and being a douche, so plus points for that. I also wasn't expecting more drama in the book, but I was wrong and I was happy that I was wrong because I did not expect one of the events in the book to happen. 

          Overall, this book was about friends and acceptance, yes there was romance in it but the MCs helped each other and they understood each other. And Dax totally made my book boyfriend list for sure. There were great minor characters as well who deserve props and I really enjoyed this book.