Ellis and Easton have been inseparable since childhood. But when a rash decision throws Ellis’s life—and her relationship with Easton— into chaos. She’s forced to move halfway across the country, far from everything she’s ever known.

Now Ellis hasn’t spoken to Easton in a year, and maybe it’s better that way; maybe eventually the Easton shaped hole in her heart will heal, but when Easton’s mother invites her home for a celebration, Ellis finds herself tangled up in the web of heartache, betrayal, and anger she left behind… and with the boy she never stopped loving.

Okay. Can I just fangirl for a moment? This book…. Like, wow. 

I met Kristin a couple years ago after I had begun following her Instagram where she was sharing about her journey writing. Some people don’t post before they sign with an agent or publisher right away and keep it on the down low and then SURPRISE! The writing they always talk about is actually a book and will be published in 1-2 years. But with Kristin, I always am waiting to see what she posts because she shares it all. The struggle of motivation to keep writing, the writing and rewriting and rewriting and editing, the joy of finally getting an agent after rejections, and the process just goes on from there. I was so excited to see her work would finally be published (mind you, I knew nothing about the book haha). So when the news got out I was eager for every bit of information that was released. And can I just say, after finishing the book, it was better than I could have imagined–and I promise that isn’t a biased opinion because…

Contemporary isn’t actually my first choice. Probably because I tend to gravitate towards fictional settings where there is a difference between fantasy and reality. But out of the contemporary plots I enjoy there are usually three categories: romance, scarred characters (like emotional, mental health that kind), or novels that bring up an issue that isn’t talked about, but should be. Some Mistakes Were Made fit all three. SMWM was full of bickering, humor, and sibling relationships that are real, honest, and not dramatized in unrealistic portrayals of family. I really appreciated how Kristin’s characters each brought something to the story, and together created a story full of both beauty and pain–raw imperfection. The novel gave a perspective into broken families, broken relationships, and broken hearts.

I loved how the book was organized, chapters alternating between past and present in a clear way. So while you begin the story knowing nothing about why there are invisible walls and painful memories, you feel the emotion from knowing what once was in the past, and continue reading to find out what really happened. Kristin captivates you in a tale woven of broken dreams and emotional baggage as the young characters find themselves. 

This is one of my favorite contemporary novels because it has everything I love: insecure characters, first love, beautifully organized plot, family life, emerging adults. What’s not to love?
Tucker’s humor, Easton’s mind reading, Ellis’ emotion, these elements of the characters drew me further into the story. Seeing Ellis struggle so much to figure out what love and family were to her is something many people can relate to. The people who did and did not support her brought up issues people don’t always think about such as the lack of communication of how people truly feel, and how dysfunctional families still continue on, whether that be in a healthy manner or not because they are just surviving. How it all came together was done beautifully, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t cry at the end.

Some Mistakes Were Made feels like putting on your moody playlist at 2am when you go for a drive through the night, windows down as the wind messes up your hair. It feels like stormy afternoons where raindrops race down glass panels and you curl up in blankets wishing for warmth. It feels like crisp mornings of purple-gray dawn full of new beginnings and unlimited potential.

 

Notes:

Highschool to College

First Love

Dysfunctional Family

Drugs/Addiction

 

 

 

Kristin’s Website: https://www.kristindwyerbooks.com/

Goodreads: Some Mistakes Were Made