An unforgettable journey of forgiveness and healing, Jay Crownover has truly outdone herself with Recovered. Cable and Affton’s story is steeped in tragedy, regret, and loss, yet there is something about their inimitable connection and undeniable chemistry that promises to mend even the most battered of hearts. Jay Crownover does not disappoint, delivering a journey that shatters before it soothes. Affton and Cable are as unlikely as they are meant for each other, and I completely lost myself in their painful honesty, easy banter, incendiary attraction, and deep understanding of one another’s pain. Cable is nothing you’d expect in a hero and yet somehow by the end of the book, I couldn’t see him as anything else. I was immediately enchanted by Cable’s charm, but it was his flaws that completely stole my heart. Haunted, angry, and desperately lost, Cable was challenged (and challenging in his own right) at every turn. As Affton shined her light on his darkness, a vulnerable, broken boy emerged with the inner strength to overcome his demons. I adored the way Jay Crownover so completely unraveled this character and the care with which she pieced him back together. Heart wrenching, gritty, and real, Cable’s personal transformation was wholly satisfying. There should be more heroines like Affton. This quiet, contemplative girl blew me away as she repeatedly proved to be the force of nature capable of knocking Cable off his feet. Affton had plenty of her own insecurities and fears, and it was these qualities that made her so easy to relate to and root for. Affton experienced the world with a genuine understanding of life’s capacity for pain and disappointment and yet she held out hope that tomorrow would be better. The walls Affton built crumbled in Cable’s presence, and I enjoyed every moment of this character’s unmasking. Jay Crownover opened Affton up slowly and purposefully, revealing a woman with the power to make a difference. Recovered wasn’t as dark as I had imagined. Jay Crownover effortlessly balanced the gritty, hard truth of addiction with plenty of tender, hopeful, sexy and unexpectedly sweet moments. The author’s personal connection to Affton and Cable’s journey was undeniable, made obvious by the overwhelming raw emotion and genuine vulnerability of this story. I didn’t just read this one; I devoured it. Affton’s cracked heart and kind soul made her the perfect match for Cable’s rough and damaged bad boy persona. Together, these characters made magic. Recovered is Jay Crownover at her absolute best and unquestionably one of my favorite books this year!