Aisha Y., Glen Burnie High School
Alex Light’s Meet Me in the Middle is a romance that follows main characters Eden and Truman. It has the sprinkles of the “forbidden love” trope while simultaneously having the “best friend’s older brother” trope. The best friend of main character Eden, Katie, ends up in a coma that leaves her hospitalized. This brings “elusive artist” Truman and protagonist Eden together.
The main reason the novel really resonated with me is the fact that it has a very powerful and relatable portrayal of coping and navigating the grief of someone who is not dead. Both Eden and Truman hold onto the hope that Katie will wake up— but they also have to grapple with the reality that there is a possibility that she will never wake up. This part of the book is very simple, but it's something that genuinely stuck with me after I finished reading the book. Grief plays a very, very large role in this book. It’s integral to the plot. It affects the way that the characters think, act, and live their lives. This part of the book, the way grief is such a constant, powerful, looming aspect in the book, feels so, so real. Though it’s a romance, the book is relatable in aspects other than that.
Besides the reality of the book, it tends to keep you on your toes— always guessing. Overall, the book is great, I definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys romance.
Click here to check out Meet Me in the Middle by Alex Light