Review: The Not-Outcast by Tijan

The Not-Outcast by Tijan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via the author in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this!  This is the kind of book that you read in 1 day because can't put down and stay up late to finish.  If you are at all triggered by the mention of mental health issues, emotional abuse, or drug use I might skip this one.  I feel like the mental illness was handled respectfully and tastefully in this book.  There are probably alot of people out there just like Cheyenne who are treated just as badly if not worse because of where they came from or how they act because people don't get to know them or understand them.  Unfortunately, there are probably alot of people like Cheyenne who don't get help or have a support network like she does either.  I love that Tijan wrote a character that so amazing despite her circumstances.  I also love that she wrote a male lead who is humble despite his.  Cut while having come from a privileged background and having made it as a pro athlete hasn't let it go to his head.  He's still a decent guy.

I was a little worried that I wasn't going to like this book because the first couple of chapters were a little confusing, but that speaks to the way our main character Cheyenne processes the world.  As we get to know her, her background, what's she's been through, and how she operates things become clear and I really came to love her.  

Initially Cut and Cheyenne's relationship is very instalove/instalust driven.  They do eventually settle into an actual relationship, taking things slow and getting to know one another.  I did appreciate that as it was very important that Cut see all of Cheyenne's highs and lows.  She was conditioned at an early age that people would abandon her and run when she wasn't at her best, and she wasn't sure how to handle things when Cut was willing to stay and be supportive when she was having a rough time.  He wanted to learn about her and understand what she needed in a bad moment and how he could support her even if it meant leaving her alone until she was in a better state of mind.  He was also willing to give up his best friend who was not willing to understand that Cheyenne did not come from a good family situation, and that she was not her mother.  Instead of having empathy, Cheyenne's father, stepmother, and stepbrother all basically treated her like a criminal and threw her to the wolves to fend for herself as a teen and never looked back.  They never got to know her or treat her like a human.  

This has amazing side characters!  Cheyenne's two best friends Melanie and Sasha are supportive and hilarious.  The bring a bit of comic relief to the seriousness of dealing with the mental health issues.  Hunter is amazing as well.  The younger half brother to Cheyenne, their silly text and email conversations are light-hearted, and show how big Cheyenne's heart is.  I also love Cut's mom, Alice.  I really relate to her being the loudest mom at all the games.  I'm not violent with my cheering (my kids don't play hockey) but I'm still the loudest fan and mom in the gym!  

This is so great!  Fans of Tijan's in general are going to devour this book!  If you love her other sports romances you are not going to be disappointed and won't be able to put it down.  It is light on the hockey, and I would have liked to see a bit more of the game in the book just because I like hockey.  I do feel that would have taken away from the mental health aspects of the book and it wouldn't have been the same.  I think Tijan made the right choice to keep her focus on Cheyenne and not the hockey.    The romance is spot on and the steam factor is through the roof.  Cut and Cheyenne have amazing chemistry!  This book will take you on a rollercoaster ride through every emotion but it is worth every minute.  

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