Review: Finding Fate (Tied by Fate Book 1) by Keelan Storm

Seemingly innocent teenage pursuits turn into some very serious adult issues in Finding Fate, an emotional tale of young adult angst by Keelan Storm.

Life has more or less returned to normal since the death of Isabel “Izzy” Dearly’s father. Izzy has her beloved dance and babysitting to keep her occupied, and her friends to hang out with. She’s also enjoying the attentions of the handsome new guy, Wesley, who’s a lifeguard in their coastal Texas tourist town along with her twin sister, Annie, and her good friend, Tucker Patterson.

Although Wesley and Tucker are both hot, Wesley’s kind and attentive and nothing like her serial-dating friend who gets hit on by every girl he comes across. Strangely enough, Annie and her boyfriend, Jet, don’t like Wesley and have made no secret of the fact, but when Tucker impulsively declares his feelings for Izzy, she becomes furious at him, wanting to know if the other two had put him up to it in the hopes she’d lay off her relationship with Wesley.

Izzy finally gets to see Wesley’s true colors one night when he takes her home. There’s no one at home and Wesley uses the opportunity to make his move on her. A shocked Izzy does her best to fight off his advances but is powerless to stop him when Wesley becomes violent. Luckily, she’s saved by Tucker, who hears her scream and kicks him out of her house. Izzy realizes she’s been wrong about Tucker after all and the two become girlfriend and boyfriend, but their happiness is short-lived as some very adult issues soon begin to strain their relationship…

In this first book in the Tied by Fate series, Keelan Storm combines a fast-paced narrative and believable dialogue with two highly likable protagonists. As far as couples go, Izzy and Tucker are the golden couple with the promising future – she in dance and he in basketball. The author contrasts the beauty and innocence of Izzy and Tucker’s relationship with the very adult choices the two of them must make, both personally and as a couple. The issue of violence, and the lingering fear created by it, add a layer of complexity to this young adult story.

The great cast of supporting characters also give Finding Fate emotional depth, due in part to the different dynamic between Izzy’s sister, Annie and her boyfriend, Jet. The two have been in a relationship for much longer than Izzy and Tucker and yet Izzy and Tucker’s actions have an impact on their relationship as well, and not necessarily in a good way. Rather than harboring resentment toward Izzy and Tucker, both are true in their support of the other couple. Annie is also fiercely protective of her twin, which leads to a few exciting confrontations that make us all yearn for a spunky sister like her. All told, this is the kind of cast of characters that you’ll relish knowing while you’re reading, and miss when they’re gone.

Packed with drama, emotional spontaneity, and some beautifully heartfelt moments, Finding Fate is an exceptional start to what promises to be a stellar young adult series.