The start of a new page-turning slow-burn romance trilogy from the best-selling author of After. Twenty-year old Karina is proud of the independent life she is trying to create for herself in Ft. Benning, Georgia. A dutiful officer's daughter, supportive sister to a troubled twin brother, and caring friend to her roommate, Elodie, she always puts the needs of others ahead of her own, and prides herself on being a fixer of broken things―whether it's the house she's just bought or the fragmented family she works hard to keep intact. Like anyone who has grown up around an army base, Karina also knows the background noise that follows men and women home from war. And when she meets Kael, a handsome soldier on the cusp of discharge, she's immediately intrigued by his brooding presence and enigmatic silence. As their uncertain and unexpected friendship starts to turn into something more, Karina tries to piece together Kael's story: he is emotionally closed off, recovering from wounds and other trauma in the aftermath of two tours in Afghanistan. In her practice as a physical therapist, Karina has a strong desire to help him heal, and though it challenges her many insecurities and anxieties, she has an equally strong desire to trust him. But that trust is fragile, like the preciousness of a soldier's life. It can be gone in an instant. Ultimately facing a crossroads, their relationship will be tested by the one thing that Karina cannot accept, forgive, or understand. Anna Todd's Brightest Stars trilogy continues with THE BURNING and THE INFINITE LIGHT OF DUST, coming soon.

Mia is 18 and lives with her bestfriend Samantha. She left her parents at the age of 16 when they kicked her out. The rules in her parents house were simple once you were old enough to shift you were old enough to move out. Mia has 3 siblings an older brother Blake (21) and twin sisters Camille & Catherine(16). Blake was kicked out at 15 when he shifted and has been living in a house he built working 2 Jobs ever since , the twins haven't shifted yet so they still live with Mom & Dad. Mia went from place to place until she met Samantha and became close friends , then roommates.