Heartbreak River by Tricia Mills

ISBN-13: 9781595142566
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Published: April 2009
256 pgs
Source: Personal Library

As the title indicate, this story centres on the romance between sixteen-year-old Alex and her childhood sweetheart, Sean, with a river setting in a town in Colorado.

Alex lost her father in a rafting accident a year ago and to this day she is still trying to come to terms with her past and still blaming herself for not being with him on that tragic day. She runs the family rafting business mostly on her own while she stay with her grandparents. Her mother, on the other hand is still deeply affected by her husband's death and is coping with the loss in another state.

Alex gets along well with her employees, after all the guys are about her age. One of them, Tommy, is interested in her but but Alex still has feelings for Sean. Thus when her grandfather hires Sean without her knowledge, Alex is taken aback but yet in a way she is hoping that their feelings for each other will be rekindled.

Alex is close with her cousin, Mala, who also helps her with the rafting business. They often share secrets but their personality is so different because Mala loves partying and flirting around with guys. Despite her extrovert personality, Mala actually has feelings for a geeky guy named Daniel who works with them though she always act nonchalantly whenever he is around because she does not think she is his type given his bookish attribute. Sometimes, love caught you at the most unexpected moment, doesn't it?

Alex, on the other hand is clueless when it comes to expressing her love to Sean because she is not sure if he still harbour the same attraction towards her. I have to admit there were times I was frustrated with Alex and wished she could just speak to Sean there and then and tell him her true feelings, but I suppose she is fearful that he might turn her down after the way she had hurt him in the past. Not only love can hit you in an unpredictable moment, but it can be complicated at times too, don't you think?

Anyways, the interactions between Alex and Sean are intense, as the same goes between Mala and Daniel. Without a doubt, there is certainly a level of chemistry between these couples but overall I find the story a little slow and dragging. However, I liked the scene where Alex is dealing her fear of the river and how she managed to overcome it in the end. I would recommend this novel to older teens since there is some sexual content and alcohol consumption.

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