This Expanse of Eventually by: Ryan Jones

This Expanse of Eventually
Author: Ryan Jones
Published: November 2023
Publisher: Ryan Jones
Format: ARC E-Book
Pages: 227
Rating: 4.5/5
Summary:

When you think about it, there’s not a definite measure of time for eventually.

When Lainie’s twin brother Leslie dies, her world implodes and grief drowns her. She wonders what she’ll do without her brother, but when she’s able to still see him and is able to talk to him, her anxiety and grief subside. Leslie is stuck on Earth as a ghost because both twins need to learn to overcome their grief.

When Greyson, a childhood friend, rekindles a friendship with Lainie, she realizes she doesn’t need to steep in grief alone, that there are still moments and people worth living for.

But will it be too late for Leslie to move on?

A struggle of grief, loss, and moving forward, This Expanse of Eventually teaches you that it may not be easy to overcome grief, that the pain may be there for a long while, but in the end you are strong enough to conquer it.

Review:

First, I'd like to thank Ryan Jones for sending me an ARC copy in exchange for a review. I feel like this is probably the perfect type of book to give someone who is still grieving the loss of someone. To showcase that there's not definite timeline to get over something, or that it goes away completely.

From the beginning to the end, I was drawn to this story and Lainie. As someone who dealt with a loss of a family member at the end of my high school as well, it's a type of pain that's hard to describe. There's so many different moments that you go through, including feeling numb which Lainie has as well.

I think that this is definitely a deep story and should be read at a time where you do feel like you're more stable from dealing with death, but one that is so important in order to heal. Lainie went through such growth from beginning to end, navigating her ways to move on without completely forgetting her brother, which can be a hard thing to do.

While I know this wasn't revolved around romance, you do see her start to open up towards Greyson, talk to him about things she's not comfortable discussing with her parents right away, as well as finally have someone to lean on. Someone who understands her grief, but also is there for her and is checking in on her when she actually needs it most. I think their love blossoms perfectly in line with Lainie learning that she can still grieve but move on with her life at the same time.

I could connect to the ways Lainie felt to some degree, although I couldn't imagine the added stress of her parents on top of it. That whole aspect also shows how her parents were dealing with the death of their son in different ways as well, which she grew and learned about more. I also really liked that they talked about counselling, and how it's not a bad thing to do and can in fact really help you let go of whatever is holding you back.

Overall, This Expanse of Eventually was a powerful, emotional, and deep story that sticks with you. It held so many different levels of grief, but in a way that also made you think about yourself while reading a fictional story. It was a page-turner, and I seriously could not put it down!

That's all for my review, I hope you enjoyed it and if you're someone who is struggling with the death of a loved one, I would suggest picking this up (when you're in a mindset to do so) because it just may be what you're looking for.

So until the next time, keep reading!

Your Graduated Bookworm!! :)