To say I was more than a little excited to have won a copy of What I Thought Was True from Huntley Fitzpatrick would be a major understatement…considering I never win anything…and it was Huntley Fitzpatrick’s next book! So when I got the email stating I won a copy I immediately began watching the mail so that once I had it in my hands, I would be able to crack it open (gently) and start reading the lovely words that Fitzpatrick writes. Once I did, I was unable to put it down and the best way for me to sum up this story is to say that Fitzpatrick brings this story to life by creating real characters and you may know this, but this story shows that things won’t always turn out as planned and people aren't always as you expected.

Gwen Castle comes from a blue collar family that isn't necessarily typical. She lives on an island and is absolutely looking forward to the day when she can leave but in the meantime, she works for her dad at the family restaurant and helps out at home with her special needs brother whenever possible. Gwen’s parents are divorced but they still get along, her cousin and her grandfather both live with Gwen and her mom which keeps things interesting.

Since the island is a beach community, Gwen decides to get a different job for the summer so that she can make some money and hopefully avoid the one person she dreads running into, Cassidy Somers. When Cassidy decides to “slum it” as a yard boy for the island community, Gwen realizes just how impossible that will be.

Cass is swoony and charming – I am just going to put it out there. He has dimples and isn't afraid to say what needs to be said and gives Gwen’s little brother, Emory, swimming lessons. I can’t share everything but here are some glimpses…

“Does this ability to map things mean you never get lost?”
“I get lost,” he said firmly. “Like now, I can’t tell what you’re thinking. About me.”

And this part...

Cass Somers was the virtuoso of kissing, the master, compelling and accepting in equal measure. Like before, he didn't rush immediately into deep kissing just a soft firm pressure, then sliding to kiss my cheek, slipping back, hovering, waiting for me to fall into him.

And I did.



Like Gwen, Cass has things going on in his life that clearly have an impact on him. He was kicked out of school and refused to throw his best friend, Spencer, under the bus even though his parents wanted him to just so he could go back to school. He is currently the black sheep of his family because of what happened and although he isn't happy about it, he isn't jumping to do anything that will change the circumstances.

From the beginning, it is clear something happened between Gwen and Cass since she considers him her “biggest mistake” but you don’t find out what it really is until about 55% in…I only know this because of my status update. Through a lot of miscommunication and other assumptions, both of them come to realize that things aren't always what you think (see how that fits :) ).

This book explores first love – the ups and downs and figuring out what life is really about. Fitzpatrick does this not only through the main characters but also a number of secondary characters which include Gwen’s cousin Nic, her best friend Vivien, and even Mrs. Ellington.

If you are looking for a great story that shows the complexity of real life and gives you some great characters, this should be the next book you pick up. I applaud Huntley Fitzpatrick for creating another great story that will pull you in and not allow you to put the book down until you get to the very end.

Thank you to Huntley Fitzpatrick for the early copy!