Remember When
by T. Torrest
Publication Date: January 1, 2013
Synopsis: Years before Trip Wiley could be seen on movie screens all over the world, he could be seen sitting in the desk behind me in my high school English class.
This was back in 1990, and I cite the year only to avoid dumbfounding you when references to big hair or stretch pants are mentioned. Although, come to think of it, I am from New Jersey, which may serve as explanation enough. We were teenagers then, way back in a time before anyone could even dream he’d turn into the Hollywood commodity that he is today.
In case you live under a rock and don't know who Trip Wiley is, just know that these days, he’s the actor found at the top of every casting director’s wish list. He’s incredibly talented and insanely gorgeous, the combination of which has made him very rich, very famous and very desirable.
And not just to casting directors, either.
I can’t confirm any of the gossip from his early years out in Tinseltown, but based on what I knew of his life before he was famous, I can tell you that the idea of Girls-Throwing-Themselves-At-Trip is not a new concept.
I should know. I was one of them.
And my life hasn’t been the same since.
5 Stars!
Review: I was provided with an audio copy of this book to provide a review. First of all, this is an amazing book, and a very talented writer. We begin this book in the early 90's, which I was initially hesitant about because I really didn't have a lot of fun in the early 90's, as an awkward middle schooler - didn't really want to revisit. I just have to say, though, that this book so accurately captures not only the early 90's, but also just the thoughts of an emotional, irrational, uncertain, vibrant, young and in love female. From one early chapter to another, we go from Layla's tomboy days to her early crush, learning the dangers of Sun-in, Aquanet and flavored lip gloss, to her immediate reaction to Trip, as well as her sadness and emotions around her mother's abandonment. I was so drawn into the emotion, because I could so easily relate and remember having some of those same thoughts about boys, cars, jobs, etc. This author took thoughts from my teenage self!!
Layla spends the majority of her senior year of high school in love with Trip. All appearances seem to point to him putting her in the dreaded "friend-zone", however, which is completely heart breaking. Her best friend, Lisa, finally points this out to Layla, though, which causes Layla to pull a typical teenage move and turn a 180 on Trip - not even speaking to him. He seems truly hurt by this but retaliates by seeming to shove other girls in her face every chance that he can get. I had been so hopeful in many of their earlier interactions that he did have feelings for her, and I found myself so disappointed in him for how he would seem to toy with her. His hurt and very obvious goading made me think that his feelings for Layla did run deeper. I was puzzled...
Layla attends the spring play, which Trip stars in, and the two of them share a special moment afterwards. The ice begins to thaw between the two of them, and they begin to speak again. Layla is somewhat sad at the distance that she has put between them in the past months, so she is determined to make the best of her remaining time around Trip. Then, we come to the night of their graduation from high school. With a few careless words from Trip's father, several missing pieces begin to drop into place. The next few months are a blur of Layla and Trip finally becoming closer. They slowly blur the lines of friendship and romantic interest, and you honestly feel the clock ticking down for them. My heart felt like it was in knots so many times! The day finally comes for Layla to leave to head off to college, and she and Trip must say goodbye. He ends up gifting her with something from his heart, and it honestly brought tears to my eyes. It also left me with so many questions. I can't wait to see what happens next.
Also in the Series:
Synopsis: You know how sometimes, your high school crush grows up to be an insanely famous movie star? Okay, probably not. But I do. ~Layla WarrenBack in high school, Trip Wiley’s fanbase only encompassed the denizens of the nothing little suburb of Norman, New Jersey.
Ten years later, all that is about to change.
In the summer of 2000, Layla Warren is enjoying her career as a journalist in New York City (well, sort of), while Trip spends most of his time grabbing Hollywood by the balls. In the days before what will turn out to be his skyrocketing fame, they’ll find themselves confronted with some life-altering choices.
Remember When 2 is the second story in an NA romance trilogy. It will bring you back to that exuberant and riotous time of life in your twenties when you struggled to figure out your place in the world and the person you were meant to be…
…and the person you were meant to be with.
**Intended for ages 18+ due to some questionable language and sex.**
5 Stars AGAIN!!
Review: I have to get this out of the way - Oh, good LORD!
Ok, so, this second book is about nine years after the first one, and I was all over the place with this one - in the most deliciously frustrating, screaming at Layla every other chapter kind of way. This author is so clever, because I was on cloud nine through the prologue and first chapter, thinking I knew what was going on and that Layla and Trip had somehow made it! I don't know if that was just confusion on my part, as I was listening to the audio version and could have missed some cues, but I was quite surprised when Layla was talking about some big relationship moves, and, suddenly, she has a fiancé - that is NOT Trip.
Layla is a copy-editor for a pretty unremarkable, according to her, publication called Now Magazine. She and her fiancé, Devin, work together, and much of the beginning of the story is a brief picture into their relationship with one another. Many of the old gang make an appearance - Lisa and Pick, Layla's family, and even Cooper, Layla's old, comfortable flame from high school. Layla does not seem to be super excited about anything, though. Her previous over involvement in her friends' lives, her constant fretting and excitement about her own life - none of that seems to be present. Even Layla's relationship with Devin - she didn't even seem to know that he was heading towards asking her to marry him until he did it. Lisa calls her out on this several times, but Layla seems determined that she is moving forward the way that she is supposed to be moving.
Everything changes, however, when Trip does walk back into her life. From that moment forward, the old Layla is back. She is giddy and all over the place in her thoughts and emotions. For the first time, in this book, Layla seems to be making intentional decisions for her life, but, I have to admit, I felt like all of them were the wrong decisions. The energy and electricity is still 100% there between she and Trip, but she just keeps pushing forward to Devin and her somewhat dead-end job. The time comes, however, when she must choose - what she currently has now, or the life that she always wanted with Trip? It was at this point that I was definitely screaming at Layla. If she said even just half of her thoughts out loud to Trip, I feel like she could have gotten so much clarity from him - and at least she would have been being more true to herself. As usual, though, Layla is the ultimate poker player. All of her thoughts stay inside her head. The same could be said for Trip, however. But, then...then...the lunch box. Man, I couldn't believe that part. It was so amazing and finally tied each of their feelings together. And, yet...this is not the end of Trip and Layla's story, for they both continue to say everything that needs to be said inside their own heads and not to one another, so neither of them gets on the same page. This book, again, ends with Trip and Layla taking different directions in life. I hope the third book doesn't make me break my kindle! Can't wait!
Jessica
~Layla Warren
I’ve been in love with Trip Wiley since I was sixteen years old.
Yep. That Trip Wiley.
Academy award-winning actor, known philanthropist, People’s Sexiest Man Alive two years running…
Yeah.
It’s not like I’m some delusional stalker-fan. It just so happens that he was my high school sweetheart back in 1991.
In the years since, he’s simply been The One That Got Away.
We just can’t seem to get on the same page at the same time. Our timing may have sucked, but the feelings had already been confirmed. Years ago.
At least his were.
He doesn’t know that I had chosen to love him back. I need to fix that. And I need to do it now.
Remember When 3 is the third and final book in the Remember Trilogy.
It’s a story about taking chances and following your heart…
and knowing that sometimes, you just have to learn when to let go.
**Intended for ages 18+ due to some questionable language and graphic sex.**
5 Stars!
Review: This third, and final, installment in the Remember When Trilogy was just right. I was really wondering where it was going to go, based on some of the events in the second book. I was pretty worried about Trip because he seemed to be heading in the same direction as his father, in some regards, and he cut Layla off, and she seems to really be his only saving grace.
This book picks up almost five years after the second one. Trip contacts Layla due to a recent event in his life, and he basically tells her that she is the only thing that he knew could get him through this. They just easily fall back into being "them", but they finally act somewhat like adults and let each other know that they are ready to be with one another. And let me tell you - they have some wonderful moments together where they just click so well together.
Layla has basically just been existing for the past few years. She did begin writing, and she also watched from afar as Trip did the "Hollywood" thing and had some major ups and downs. Both are in a place, this time around, however, where they can give each other a chance. I was so glad for that to finally happen. I felt so bittersweet, however, knowing that they had both loved each other all these years, but they could either never get themselves together, or the timing wasn't right, etc. Layla finally realizes, however, that maybe neither of them was truly ever ready at those times, and they would have just destroyed each other if they had tried. It seems so very true to life that timing, maturity, life experience...all of that can really impact a relationship.
Trip and Layla make a go of it, however, and she goes back to California with him. There troubles are not over, however, as Layla has to figure out if she can, or if she even wants to, navigate the waters of LA and the pretty people. For as much as they say, Trip and Layla still struggle with not saying everything that needs to be said, so they continue to have some troubles. Now that they have the chance and the time to have their happily ever after...will they be able to make it work?
Such an awesome book and awesome series!
Ms. Torrest was a child of the eighties, but has since traded in her Rubik's cube for a laptop and her Catholic school uniform for a comfy pair of yoga pants. She likes pina coladas and getting caught in the rain. She's not much into health food, but she does enjoy talking about herself in the third person.
A lifelong Jersey girl, she currently resides there with her husband and two sons.
Your reviews captivated me into wanting to read this series. The only problem - is that really how it ended? Layla trying to figure out Tinseltown? All the build up of never getting together, then they finally connect and Layla is struggling. I NEED MORE!!!! I will be adding this to my To-Read list! Thanks for the post.
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