Book Review: Leo by Jay McLean

                                        "I read somewhere that the human body replaces itself every seven years. The thought stuck with me for months afterward, until I became so intrigued by the notion that I finally looked it up. turns out,  it's bullsh*t. Like a lot of things in life." 

Ok, so I just read Leo by Jay McLean and I am speechless. I have no idea how to put into words the emotions I am feeling right now. It's a pretty big book, and it took me about 3-4 days to read. I loved every second of it! 

There are so many important themes and messages in this book that a lot of people may miss. It discusses the stigma of mental health, and how that can affect someone's actions. Sooooo, let's dive right in. 

Summary:

                                    One single summer changed them forever, and one moment of devastating silence         destroyed it all. 

Growing up with six siblings, Leo Preston has always struggled to find his voice.

While his brothers are loud, greedy, and somewhat obnoxious, Leo is forever the quiet one.

The thinker. 

The listener. 

He watches his life pass by as an outsider in his own world, absent and alone. 

Lost.

Until he finds her. 

For Leo, Mia Kovács is like a prize, a gift wrapped in passion and devotion.

And she’s his—his very own secret he doesn’t have to share. 

Together, they can overcome anything…

heartache and destruction, guilt and regret. 

Mia gives Leo everything he didn’t know he needed, 

including her fragile heart. 

The only thing she doesn’t give him... 

are secrets of her own.

Characters

Mia: During this whole book, I just wanted to give her a huge hug. So many things happen to Mia, which is why she acts a certain way. She has such a great personality that not a lot of people notice. 

Mia is not the most outgoing, social character in this book. Instead, she is the shy one that captures the reader's attention. Mia portrays such a realistic protagonist that it is super easy to connect and relate too.

Leo: I LOVE him. He seems to be the most unproblematic character I know of. Leo always has really good intentions, just not the best execution to them. For example, he tries to compliment Mia, and that just ends up in disaster. Poor Leo! 

Leo is an amazing protagonist, because he has so much depth and personality to him. As the novel continues, we learn more fascinating facts about Leo that just adds to the story. 

 

The character arc of both protagonists is fantastic. Both characters continue to grow as the story progresses. 

There are tons of secondary characters which is the BEST. They play phenomenal and pivotal moments in the book. They don't take the spotlight of Mia and Logan, but they definitely add to the drama. 

I want to give a huge shoutout to my BAE --Hunter! He is my new favorite person ever! Seriously, go read this book just for him. 

Plot: 

Ooh Boy! This book is extremely long. It spans a decade, so there is a lot to cover in this story. 

To put it simply, I love it! Everything just comes together in this book! But, there are a few things that are just hands down amazing. 

1.) Jay McLean writes stories about imperfect people. The protagonists all have at least one flaw. I admire how McLean dives into this flaw and basically examines it. 

For example, in Lucas, Lucas has many flaws, but the one that comes to mind first is atelophobia. His fear of not being good enough hinders him in most aspects of his life. It brings a mountain load of stress and anxiety, that is not needed. McLean uses this flaw and extends on it. She is able to show that flaws don't define people. 

In this book, mental health is a big subject and reoccurring theme. I love that she shows how mental health is not a weakness, just a part of life. 

2.) This is an emotional book. No joke. There are so many plot pieces and scenes that are just so creative. We get to see the Preston Family in a different light. 

The thing I love most, is how realistic this book is. Insecurities is discussed a lot, and I can guarantee you that 99.9% of people are all insecure about something, whether it's their body or personality. That should not define you! 

Rating: 

FIVE STARS!!! This book deserves five stars and so much. It's not just a love story, but a story about growth and life. The characters learn how to grow on their own, and how to be comfortable in their own skin. You can relate and connect with all the characters. 

There was not one bland moment in this book. Almost every scene gives an important message or theme! 

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a good, heartfelt story. 

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.