Izzy and her wealthy family return to their private coastal retreat for the summer, just like every year. But this time, there's a new family joining them. Among the newcomers is Ethan, a 23-year-old, handsome and charming. He quickly catches the eye of Izzy's older sister, Dawn, and the two seem to hit it off right away. However, Ethan's behavior around Izzy starts to shift. There's an undeniable tension between them, as if his interest is suddenly directed at her instead.
Izzy tries to push away the feelings stirring inside her, reminding herself of the age gap and, more importantly, her sister's obvious connection to Ethan. Yet, there's something irresistibly magnetic about him that she can't ignore. When Dawn falls ill and is bedridden for a few days, Ethan seems to take the opportunity to get closer to Izzy. But can she really betray her sister like this? And isn't their age difference an issue she shouldn't overlook?
Everything about their attraction feels wrong, yet the tension is overwhelming. Will it lead to a disaster that changes Izzy's life forever?
Ella is falling apart trying to live a "perfect" high school life. Then she meets Ren, who can see past her scars. Suddenly perfection isn't her only option.
*****
Ella Volkov is a gifted music student, but she's depressed and starting to crack under the pressure of high school. Her overbearing father won't even let her choose what instrument she plays. Then she finds herself alone at a party with Ren, her best friend's crush. She'd always thought he was rude, but after that night he's all Ella can think about. Now she's trapped. If Ella dates Ren, it will ruin her friendship with Jenny. But if she stays true to Jenny, she's losing the one person who can see past her scars. It's up to Ella to decide if she will forge her own path, or stay in the "perfect" box designed for her...
Content and/or Trigger Warning: depression, anxiety, self-harm, violence, sexual assault.
[[word count: 50,000-100,000 words]]