Close to You: An Epic & Emotional Coming-of-Age Romance (Through the Years Book 1)

Milow cannot speak. Her father took her voice before she could use it, leaving her trapped in silence and haunted by memories of trauma. Each day is a quiet battle to survive her past. When placed in a new foster home, she expects nothing—just another place where she doesn't belong. Then she meets Ashby, her new foster brother, who has endured his own suffering. Without words or judgment, he understands her in a way no one else has. Growing up together, their bond deepens into something unbreakable. Ashby becomes her protector and the one constant in her life. They spend years leaning on each other, but as they mature, their closeness shifts into something more complicated and intense. The world grows crueler. The bullying Milow has faced her whole life intensifies, while pressure on Ashby mounts as school and swimming demand more from him. Milow must decide how much of herself she can risk in a world that has never treated her gently. Ashby must choose what he is willing to sacrifice for his goals. Yet they share one certainty: no matter what it costs, they will always choose each other. This coming-of-age novel addresses heavy topics and is not intended for sensitive readers.