'When your breath becomes faint
When your heart seems but quaint
You'll know that touch of blue lips
Upon bottle tips
They say love is so pure
Yet it isn't the cure
For a soul that's lost in your eyes'
You've heard it all before. The rebellious teenager who sings in a band and struggles with the woes of teen drama. They fight with their girlfriend and have a spat with their parents, and then it is all wrapped up by the end in a nice little bow.
This isn't that kind of story.
Clay Hudson is eighteen and is on the right course to go to the university his parents have chosen for him since he emerged from the womb. He has a girlfriend, Kaylee, and somewhere lost in that mix are his best friends: Fletcher who is ready to kick some ass with him, even if Clay is somewhat of a teacher's pet, and Chelsea, who is fighting her own battle, wanting to reclaim the friendship Clay's broken. Clay has pushed them from his life in favour of a night of wild highs and alcohol-fuelled adventures. The thing is, that life is a series of false thrills, and in the end, these adrenaline deceptions are distracting Clay from the things that truly matter in his life.
Since he was little, Clay has dreamt of entertaining a crowd, singing his soul's notes to an audience that would love the pure bliss and magic that comes from music. But school is ending soon, his friends are almost lost to him, and Clay realises his life is a fanciful nightmare.
With the weight of expectation crushing down on him, his dad's illness, and the feelings he harbours for Fletcher springing forth after a long period of burial, Clay has to cast aside the shackles of his superficial life and rediscover what inspires him in life, and who truly matters.
Sounds pretty usual, right? But then again, No one ever said finding balance, the pure note Clay seeks would ever be easy.
-Contains coarse language, some sexual content and scenes of an upsetting nature.
Having a best friend since childhood to do everything with and be inseparable from is the greatest feeling in the world. That is until one randomly cuts off the other and moves away, ending all contact and hope for an explanation.
Alex Pierce is a college student just trying to get through life as stress-free as possible. After just getting out of a two-year-long relationship, all he wants to do is move on from the past, something he struggles to do. Despite how desperate he is to be carefree, he is constantly juggling other obligations and responsibilities and he's just trying to keep his head above the water.
River Moore is your all-star athlete. After switching schools and accepting a starting position on the basketball team, he wants to continue his college athlete lifestyle and live his life to the fullest. After a traumatic experience a year prior, he likes to focus on the future. Spontaneous has always been his personality since he was young.
When Alex and River are reunited six years after their unbreakable friendship dies, Alex thinks he will finally get the answers to his long-awaited questions. Unfortunately for him, River did not have the same idea. River claims that he does not remember Alex at all. This creates a whirlwind of awkwardness between the childhood friends, and they are forced to realize just how much all of that time apart affected them.
•~•
{Spinoff from 'Effortless' but can be read as a standalone.}
{TW⚠️: This book contains depictions of mental health struggles, seizures, mature scenes, and strong language. Please do not read if this will affect you!}
{Any names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, or incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or used fictitiously.}