Before starting this book I'd only actually read half of the synopsis because I was being a bit on the slow side and hadn't realised that the other half had been faded out. As such, I went into the book expecting a rather different story to the one I ended up with. At the end of the day, though, it turned out that this didn't matter as I soon found myself completely absorbed by the book. 
 It's the story of two young people who have been left very damaged by events in their lives and how they find the courage to overcome their ghosts. 
 Overall, I found the book to be an addictive, compelling read but it had one HUGE problem. Apparently the main character, Jacqueline, is some form of musical prodigy with her chosen instrument - the standing bass. She keeps telling us that she spends all her time practising or tutoring younger players. "Telling" being the key word here. We only ever see her practising the bass once, never see her tutoring - this doesn't substantiate Jacqueline's claims that her music takes up most of her time. In fact, the reader sees more of her working for her other classes. 
 At first this didn't matter to me at all, but as I got further into the book it started to bug me. Honestly, this is what's keeping the book from getting a full five stars from me. There are a couple of things that the author could have done slightly different to have loosened me up a bit on this stance. For example, when Lucas gets Jacqueline to listen to a new band he's discovered the day after her jazz recital, rather than making it an unnamed band playing an unclarified genre of music it could have been a recording of Jacqueline's group playing. That would have played an actual role in the story. As it was, that scene didn't seem to play much of a role at all beyond telling the reader a couple of things and showing that Lucas has an iPod. 
 Lucas himself is possibly just a bit too much for him to really be realistic: engineering major, economics tutor, gifted artist, barrister at Starbucks, campus patrol, volunteer at safety lessons for women, great chef, technician... I know where the author was coming from with him but I couldn't help but feel that she'd endowed him with too many facets to him. 
 That's the extent of my gripe against the book, though, and in the long run it's not all that much to worry about. The story is about a lot more than just the budding romance between Jacqueline and Lucas; it's a story of discovering your own self-worth when faced with those who would strip it from you. Jacqueline made for a strong, intelligent character who stood by her beliefs but who also showed weakness and lapse of judgement in a situation that no one even really wants to contemplate: (attempted) rape and its consequences. 
 The story starts with a bang that ensures that the reader's attention is completely hooked. I found myself counting down the hours at work until I could get my nose back in the book, I was so invested in the events of Jacqueline's life; it's been a while since last it was this intense a desire! 
 I really had no idea what I was letting myself in for when I bought this book but I'm ever so glad that I did. It may well be firmly out of my reading comfort zone but that didn't have the slightest negative effect on my enjoyment of the book and may indeed have actually led me to enjoy it all the more!