Review: Outside

Outside by Michelle Mankin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Outside is book 1 in the Rock Stars, Surf and Second Chances series and each book is to be a standalone that is forthcoming and I am hoping it will give us some answers on a few topics that clued us in on events, but never really gave us those answers we were seeking. The topics of Patch/Karen, Mona’s parents and Ash from a Linc/Mona aspect. Tried searching to see if this was maybe a crossover standalone or mentioned events that will be further explored in the upcoming books. Guess we shall see where these topics go or if they remain as an underlying plot.
You feel the emotions of the characters while reading this book and your heart breaks a few times in the past and present. Lincoln AKA Linc a surfer/Rockstar chose the Rockstar life and let the surfer potential backslide as well as his relationship with Simone AKA Mona. They, well really Mona was good at steering clear of Linc when he came to town (briefly, but when he did). Now he’s back for a final tour with the Dirt Dogs in OB and props Mona on recording a song. Can he get her to agree to the deal or is the damage from the past too far gone for her to agree to this?
Wow, 15 years is a long time spent apart so this story is told in three parts (present, past and present). Linc lived the Rockstar life whereas, Mona basically put the brakes on life to a point. I’ll leave it at that so you can decide if you agree after you read the book. Trust me, you may love the surfer side of Linc, but you will want to smack the board with the Rockstar side of Linc. Mona you will love, but the insecurities that surround her you can agree with her to a point on the life she chose, but on another level it’s like she missed out on her success. Do I think she was too easy on Linc? Hell yeah, he should have groveled and then groveled some more after all that time wasted.
You will see young love that is immature (past) and why it didn’t work between these two and then we get the present and not only where they are now in life, but if they can get a go at a second chance now that they are ready and more mature. The book being told in dual is what allows you to feel these characters even more. The book will hold you from beginning to end to see if after 15 years they finally get a chance or if they let go due to so much time that past between the two.


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