Ruby's been fending for herself in a yellow house while her mother disappeared, but when she can't hold on any longer, she moves in with her estranged sister Cora and finds herself thrust into a world of luxury, private school, and a future that actually looks bright. The catch? She's terrified to let anyone in, convinced that this dream life will inevitably fall apart just like everything else in her past. Enter Nate, the mysterious boy next door who seems to understand that sometimes the hardest part of letting people help you is learning to trust again. Sarah Dessen crafts a tender, complex story about broken trust and the unexpected ways that second chances find you—if you're brave enough to open the lock.

Reading soundtrack

Listen while you read

Spotify

yearningtenderhopefulvulnerableintimate

Soft indie pop and acoustic folk for guarded hearts learning to trust. Gentle melodies with underlying warmth—think boyband ballads, lo-fi indie, and tender singer-songwriter moments. The feeling of walls slowly crumbling, of safety found in unexpected places, and quiet moments that mean everything.