Tea Time and Books: Shelly Crane's Wide Awake review: Believe in the hope of self reliance

A girl.
A coma.
A life she can't remember.
When Emma Walker wakes up in the hospital with no knowledge of how she got there, she learns that she's been in a coma for six months. Strangers show up and claim to be her parents, but she can't remember them. She can't remember anyone. Not her friends, not even her boyfriend. Even though she can't remember, everyone wants her to just pick up where she left off, but what she learns about the 'old her' makes her start to wish she'd never woken up. Her boyfriend breaks up with the new girl he's dating to be with her, her parents want her to start planning for college, her friends want their leader back, and her physical therapist with the hazel eyes keeps his distance to save his position at the hospital.
Will she ever feel like she recognizes the girl in the mirror?

My review:

When Shelly Crane asked me to review her book Wide Awake, I had to literally pick myself up off the floor before I fan girl screamed YES!!!!
Wide Awake brings us into Emma's "Emmie" labyrinth that is her life. After a tragic car accident, Emma awakens from a six month coma as a result she is suffering from amnesia. She doesn't remember her family, friends, boyfriend and most frightening, herself. Emma's parents & boyfriend try desperately to force Emmie to "come back to them" the more Emma learns about herself the more she shrinks away from the prospect of remembering who she was before the accident. Emma begins to realize Emmie was conceited, selfish & self absorbed traits Emma has no intention of continuing. Emma feels imprisoned between the Emmie her parents expect her to be & the Emma she wants to be.
Of course Shelly has a warm comforting ray of hope, in the form of the extremely sexy Mason (sigh). Mason is Emma's OT. While Emma was in the comma Mason would come & work Emma's muscles every day to keep her strong. Once Emma woke up, Mason became her life raft. Mason alone accepted Emma's new personality & encouraged her to forge a new path & create a new future for herself. Can Emma break free from her past to create the new Emma she wants to become??

What I thought of Wide Awake:

I absolutely loved this book. I went through a roller coster of emotions from elated to embarrassment to frustration to utter joy. I really connected with Emma & found myself cheering her on as she created her new life & her bond with Mason grew. This is a feel good love story that will have you believing in the hope of self reliance. 5 out of 5 cowgirl hats for Wide Awake!!