REVIEW: We Are Us by Tara Leigh

In We Are Us by Tara Leigh, Poppy Whitman can look back and pinpoint the moment when her lonely, meager life started getting better: when she met a likewise lonely, beaten down boy in the woods and formed a bond that would alter both of their lives forever. But Poppy can also see where it all went wrong: with a misunderstanding that led her down a path that would be filled with so many ups and downs, rights and wrongs, that she wouldn’t be able to recognize herself anymore. That’s where Poppy is today. At the precipice of either being brave and facing down her current predicament–or letting it consume her as she’s done in the past. Either way, her life is about to change completely, yet again.

He cups my face in his hands, the intensity of his gaze searing my soul. “I am hers and she is mine and–”
“–We are us.” My voice joins his, our hushed whispers leaving our lips like a prayer.

We Are Us was a powerful story full of dark moments, no-win decisions, betrayal, tragedy, and, sadly, abuse in various forms. But author Tara Leigh was able to somehow weave in a thread of hope as well as created a fated love that defied all odds.

‘The past ten years have taught me that not all risks are rewarded and reckless decisions always come with consequences. Harsh, corrosive consequences.’

I feel like I should lead off with a trigger warning, but to do so would give away almost the entire storyline. Let’s just say that there are a half-dozen or more parts of Poppy’s journey that could be difficult for readers. Because there are some deep, dark, even horrific moments. I’m talking down to the depths of despair type moments. And Poppy made some choices that I have a feeling readers will not necessarily agree with. I myself didn’t agree with some of it to a certain extent. But then again, I suppose it’s easier to think about how you would handle a situation when you’re not in the middle of it, rather than decisions made by someone who is actually in the midst of the crisis. And that’s something I tried to keep in mind when finding myself getting too judgy of Poppy.

There’s so much I want to discuss but…can’t. We Are Us basically boiled down to a second chance romance with a bit of a feel of women’s fiction mixed in where we watched Poppy change and grow (sometimes *not* for the better) over the course of more than a decade. I really enjoyed how author Tara Leigh set the story up by beginning at present day, with Poppy in a shocking situation, and then going back to about age thirteen, moving forward incrementally from there. It really built a picture of a unique relationship Poppy formed that turned into an all-encompassing love that changed everything.

I do have to say that while it all did work out in the end–so don’t worry that it doesn’t have a happy ending, as it does!!–the character I felt most regret for was Poppy’s first love. He was a stellar guy who went through so much in his life, overcoming it all to be a hero not just for her but for many others. My heart went out to him several times. In my humble opinion, he didn’t deserve to be treated the way he was. I know Poppy had her reasons but that was my one true sticking point in it all. As far as for the possibly controversial choices I mentioned above that Poppy made, I would encourage readers to *not* skip the author’s letter to us at the end as it was touching and will make much of Poppy’s journey mean so much more–as well as give it some real life context.

You know the author did their job well when, as a reader, you are still thinking about a story days (or more) after you’ve finished a book. We Are Us was definitely that for me. It was a meandering path for our heroine–and an emotional roller coaster for readers–but I think it was filled with important lessons. And it certainly showed the true strength that love can have in our lives.

Book Info:

Publication: Published February 27th 2020 | Hachette Book Group |

I fell in love with a beautiful, broken boy.
His whispered words of love were the sweetest of lies.
He gave me his heart and destroyed mine.
I am his.

I fell in love with the beautiful man who broke me.
His boldly spoken vow was the cruelest of cages.
He gave me his name and destroyed my soul.
He is mine.

The boy I once loved is now a man.
The man I once loved is now gone.
We are us.

I have been called many things.
Victim. Survivor. Daughter. Sister. Wife.
Now I am called something else.
Murderer.

Believe it or not, this is our love story.