DiDi's 's review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews 
 6/20/14 - UPDATE 
 Almost a year later, I find myself still thinking about this book, that is how much it impacted me. That being said, I came back and re-read my review, NO I could never re-read the book, it still has me crying, I feel like in the midst of the heavy emotions I was feeling and anger about what happens in the book. I have realized is that for a book to impact me this much, I needed to adjust my rating. I am changing my rating from Three Stars to Four Stars. I am not changing anything I said in my review because my feelings are still the same I am just changing the star rating. 
 I am so torn about this book, how do you rate a book that you couldn't put down, fell in love with the characters but hated, hated, hated what happened. Something so horrible that you are devastated and can't get it off your mind, so horrible, that while the HEA was bittersweet you wanted it to end differently???? 
 MAJOR SPOILER REVIEW 
 I really enjoyed, CUTTERS VS. JOCKS, the pre-quel to BINDING ARBITRATION. I was totally into the roller coaster of emotions in BINDING ARBITRATION, until the author wrote what she did involving Cass. Yes Aidan was somewhat of a jerk throughout the book, but Libby held her own with him. I enjoyed her sarcasm and wit. The secondary cast of characters were engaging for the most part, there were a couple I wish wouldn't have been in the book. There was a sub plot with Evita that could have been left out, if left out the story would have flowed just fine, it would have been a romance about first loves, redemption, forgiveness and the power of everlasting love, and most likely would have gotten 5 stars. For me it seemed like Ms. Marx was trying to throw too much in one book - first love, secret baby, millionaire athlete, major Alphahole, suspense, illness, murder, devastation and a little paranormal. I did have some issues with the flow of the book, several times I had to go back and read some parts more than once to keep characters straight. 
 (view spoiler)[ 
 At the point where Cass dies I stopped reading, I don't want to read about burying a child, that takes me too much out of my escape from reality and into the real world. Even though I was devastated by the loss of such a precocious, loving little boy, I had to go to the last chapter just to see how Ms. Marx was going to pull off a HEA for Libby and Aidan. She manages it but I still was totally disappointed in the direction the book took. 
 I read to escape reality. I read romance for the hearts, flowers and HEAs. I do enjoy roller coaster ride, angst ridden romances with HEAs. Second chance romance and secret baby plots happen to be one of my guilty pleasures. Romances where miscarriages happen, the hero/heroine lose a child, but not during the book, are ok with me too. What is NOT ok for ME is when the author kills the hero/heroines 6 yr old child off half way through the book and not by the reason alluded to in the blurb . I still wouldn't like it if the child died from the disease in the blurb, but I would deal with it. To Ms. Marx's credit, she created characters I fell in love with, maybe too much in love with and therein lies the problem. I cried like Cass was a real little boy. I cried and cried, I woke up this morning pissed off about what happened to Cass. I wasn't going to write a review for this book, but I woke up with it on my mind and just felt I had to express my opinion. (hide spoiler)] 
 Would I read Ms. Marx again? Most likely, she does have a lot of talent, but this book just wasn't for me and I know I am in the minority, there are a ton of awesome reviews for BINDING ARBITRATION on Goodreads. While a good read, it touched my heart and at the same time it tore my soul out and has me still crying while writing this review. This book will stick with me for a while it has ripped a piece out of my heart and soul.