What is love?

At 18, Tessa Kingsman navigates the complex landscape of high school like any other teenager, but beneath her outward facade lies a shattered soul. Scarred by a traumatic event at the tender age of five, Tessa has grown into a shell of her former self - withdrawn, cynical, and emotionally distant. Trust is a luxury she cannot afford, and her walls are impenetrable to all but a select few - her loyal crew, bound together by their shared love of music and their coveted status atop the social hierarchy.

Hidden beneath her carefully constructed facade lies a secret known only to her closest confidants. While her family remains oblivious to her past, they too harbor hidden truths, each member grappling with their own struggles and secrets, which cast shadows over their seemingly ordinary lives.

Enter Andrew Watson, the new arrival in Tessa's neighborhood, whose unwavering determination and gentle demeanor threaten to unravel the carefully crafted walls around Tessa's heart. As Andrew seeks to uncover the true essence of Tessa beneath her hardened exterior, he unwittingly becomes the catalyst for a journey of self-discovery, forcing Tessa to confront the emotions she has long buried.

Narrated through Tessa's eyes, this is a tale of resilience, redemption, and the transformative power of love in the face of adversity.
Join them on their journey!

This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author's imagination and have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

Genres: Young Adult, Mature, Teen Fiction, Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Coming-of-Age, Drama.

Started in 2017. Finished in 2018.
Rewritten in 2024.