Inside Out by Lia Riley is the third book in the Off the Map series and final book chronicling Talia and Bran's story. If you haven't read the other books in the series then I highly recommend stop read this and start those books, otherwise you're in for some serious spoilers.
Inside Out starts with Bran in Antarctica working to save the planet and Talia in Africa with the Peace Corp teaching English. They're still together, but unable to communicate often due to where they are. But when Talia gets sick we see them back together and working to figure out what they should do with their futures.
As with the other books in the series, Inside Out was a beautifully written story. Lia Riley writes in such a way that the words are poetic, but at the same time realistic and believably something someone would say or think. Watching both characters deal with the hardships of their lives was also a good story and great way to wrap up the series. This book is pretty evenly split between Bran and Talia's point of view, and it was great to get so much of Bran in this book.
If you've read the rest of this series I don't think you will be disappointed with Inside Out. I think it was my favorite book of the series. If you've read the other books what did you think of this one? Which was your favorite?
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More info and an excerpt (provided by the publisher) on the book and author below!
Excerpt:
Who was I when I first fell in love with Bran?
A person who had courage to stare down an unfeasible situation and say, Sure, I’m up for the challenge.
Who was I when Bran threw himself at me like a wounded animal, all claws, abandonment fear, spit, and fang?
A person who accepted that the moon has two sides, light and dark.
Who am I now?
I feel like a lost soul rocking in the corner, fresh out of ideas.
Bran pushes me through the long line until it’s our turn at the passport desk.
“How long do you plan to stay in the United States?” The customs official glances from Bran’s face to his passport photo and back again.
My stomach squirms like a writhing snake. We’ve avoided any discussion about future plans, focused instead on the short term. I had to accept the reality that I couldn’t return to the Peace Corps, even with the medical separation. I was too sick, too shattered. Our discussions about the logistics of leaving Africa were easier to concentrate on than the looming issue of what we were going to do with each other. I treated the topic like an abandoned lot, filled with weeds and rusting cars, a subject to walk past and pretend to ignore.
Now a stranger is forcing the issue.
“Until this one gets better.” Bran cocks his head in my direction.
The woman scoots forward, peers at me with a faint frown. “May I see proof of a return ticket, sir?”
Bran digs out the photocopy of his itinerary. When we bought the tickets, he had to borrow money from his dad. He hasn’t said much, but I know the fact must eat at him. Add another bitter drop to my guilt bucket—soon it’s going to overflow.
“You’re on a temporary tourist visa.” The customs agent flips the passport to a blank page and stamps with obvious relish. “You have three months, starting now.”
Here we go again.
Visa issues.
Ticking clocks.
People imagine international romance is excitement, hot accents, and adventure. They don’t want to hear about the bureaucratic drudgery that threatens to harden the arteries of even the most passionate hearts.
I thought I was going somewhere.
Nope.
I am an idiot Icarus who flew too close to the sun.
Bran leans forward, his lips hover an inch from my ear, his breath a hot caress on my cool skin. “You okay, Captain?”
“Fine.”
“What are you thinking, thinker?”
“I’m just sitting here, a sitter.”
We roll past an American flag overhanging a framed photo of the president. His smile seems smug, as if to say, You really thought you’d get away?
Yes, sir. I kind of did.
“We’re up next.” Bran hands a final customs form to yet another officer who waves us toward big silver doors that open and shut like gnashing teeth. On the other side is California. I can’t shake the disorienting sense we’re heading in the wrong direction.
“Ready?”
Nope.
Bran crossed an ocean for me. I have to find the way out of this black swamp, but I’m manacled to an island of self-doubt, and the tide is rising.
INSIDE OUT by Lia Riley (December 2, 2014; Forever E-Book; $3.99)
Lia Riley made New Adult readers fall in love with her breakout debut, Upside Down. Sideswiped, the second of her series, made readers clamor for more. Now, with INSIDE OUT, Lia Riley brings her
evocative Off the Map series to a stunning conclusion.
When Talia first
moved from California to Australia to study abroad, she never dreamed
she'd find the love of her life. Bran understands her like no one ever
has before. And despite the numerous challenges
they've faced, they've always managed to figure out how to stay
together. But this time they'll face their toughest hurdle yet. Is their
love strong enough to keep them together?
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About the author:
After studying at the
University of Montana-Missoula, Lia Riley scoured the world armed only
with a backpack, overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. When
not torturing heroes (because c'mon,
who doesn't love a good tortured hero?), Lia herds unruly chickens,
camps, beach combs, daydreams about as-of-yet unwritten books,
wades through a mile-high TBR pile and schemes yet another trip. She and
her family live mostly in Northern California.
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Slow Play by Monica Murphy is the third book in the Rules series. I'm pretty sure it's also the last book as there are no more characters to focus on, and I'm disappointed to see this series end.
