Sophie and Carter

Sophie and Carter

By Chelsea Fine

Published by Acacia Publishing

From GoodReads ~

While other high school seniors are dreaming about their futures, Sophie and Carter are just trying to make it through each day. Carter is overwhelmed by issues at home as he struggles to support his mother. Meanwhile, next door neighbor Sophie is left to care for her three younger siblings in place of their absent and troubled mother. All that holds these two best friends together is each other, and knowing that each night they'll sit together on Sophie's front porch swing and escape from reality, if just for awhile. But as their relationship reaches a turning point and high school graduation nears, will their friendship become something more?

My Thoughts ~

I wish that I had a Carter growing up! 

“They’re not really homes. More like houses where we sleep.
Where we eat—if we’re lucky. Where we cry and fight.
Where we bleed and break. Where we cower and scream.
Where we give up. Where we sigh.
Where we barely survive.” ~ Carter 

Sophie's mom is a hooker.

Gone for first days, then weeks and now months.

Now Sophie raises her 2 brothers and sister alone.

Well, except for Carter.

“If you're referring to yourself as a 'grown-up', then you're still totally a kid. 'Grown ups' call themselves adults” ~ Sophie to Michael

Carter's dad, the man that he calls 

"The man who fathered me",

used to beat Carter and his mom.

Carter has a long scar from where his dad attacked him with a butcher knife.

Carter's mom has brain injury from the beatings.

Carter takes care of her alone.

Well, except for Sophie. 

“He's not the most popular guy in school. He's not the hottest guy to ever live. 

But to me, he's everything." ~ Sophie

Carter and Sophie are best friends, in secret.

No one at their high school knows it, but they meet, ever since they were thirteen,

on Sophie's front porch swing.

Every. Single. Night.

As the last few weeks of high school go past,

we get to watch Sophie and Carter realize that they are in love.

Carter says it first, after he sees Sophie have a touching moment with his mom.

Sophie, though she knows she loves him too, replies with "I know."

Later that night, after they have both gone to bed, Sophie has a plan.

She sneaks out of her bedroom window and makes her way to Carter's.

She climbs in his bed and tells him that she loves him, too.

Then, the sweetest part of the book IMO,

she kisses each of his scars.

"I never...." she says between kisses, "got to kiss your hurt away..." Another kiss.

"when we were little..." her lips move to my forehead. "and I always wanted to." ~ Sophie

I die!! How epically sweet was that?!? 

The next day is graduation.  

Neither have any family to watch.

After, Carter has a surprise for Sophie.

A picnic under the Big Oak where they used to meet. 

The next day, after a tragic accident the night before,

Sophie and Carter pack up The Littles and drive away from the pain.

"Yeah, we won't have much as we start this new life.

But we'll have us.

We'll have love.

We'll have family.....

Carter Jax has already made all my dreams come true.

And it's only the beginning." ~Sophie

 The only reason that this is not a FIVE STAR book,
is because I want a sequel!


 
 Buy Sophie and Carter on Amazon