For Matthew Rohan, every day is a struggle. Each task others complete without thinking is a challenge for him. Recently orphaned, he has to finish the last few months of high school and take care of his disabled sister on his own.

When Mayra comes into his life, his comfortable routines implode. Matthew can’t handle change, but Mayra is unrelenting in her quest to understand him, to show him acceptance and maybe even love. When she breaks through his shell, Matthew’s world will never be the same again.

An awkward boy with Asperger’s Syndrome, a persistent girl who pulls him out of his isolated existence, and a lottery ticket that will change their lives forever.

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My Review

I am a huge fan of first love stories and this one was a win ;)

I think Shay Savage captured the autism experience; panic attacks, needing order/routines, and so forth. The relationship between the two characters (Mayra and Matthew) is #relationshipgoals. They were perfect together. I LOVED how patient Mayra was with Matthew. After dealing with loss and trauma, his autism took over his life. Mayra gave him space when he needed it and knew how to help him when the occasion(s) arose. Their dynamic was *amazing*. Talk about soulmates. 

I will note there is a trigger scene (spoiler alert): on one of their first dates, they are attacked by three boys at school and Mayra is almost raped. If this is something you are not comfortable with, read with caution/skip that scene (the rest of the book is worth reading).

The scene is meant to demonstrate that Matthew will be there for her and will protect her. We also learn he has experience with martial arts and works out every day. (Since the book is told from his point of view, Matthew doesn't boast about his physical being due to his own insecurities. We learn about him in this scene due to how he reacts.) Matthew takes a good beating (getting hit a few times), but he keeps fighting until he is able to get to Mayra. Swoon. Plus, this contributes to Mayra's character development/future plot points. It is not a random inclusion, Savage had her reasons. Trust in Savage.

It was amazing to see two characters come together and truly be there for one another through events, emotional turmoil, and so much more. I highly recommend this book to romance lovers who particularly enjoy first love (high school) stories. 

What is your favorite first love romance?