Life is what happens when we’re busy making plans. In Erase the Empty Sky by Hannah Stone, Annabelle is excited about spending the summer with her boyfriend, Trent. They've known each other since they were kids, and she imagines them together forever. Then he dies in a car accident. She's heartbroken and doesn't know how she's supposed to go on without him. She tries to get through her sister's wedding, but it becomes too much, and she leaves. She eventually finds herself on the ledge of a bridge. Vance, a quiet classmate, sees her and tries to help. He's had a difficult childhood and, for most of his life, has felt unwanted. It stems from being practically abandoned by his mother, Nat. He lives with Murphy, who owns the local café where Annabelle works. Although she and Vance barely know each other, their circumstances keep putting them in the same place at the same time. The more time they spend together, the more they begin to understand each other. However, he is keeping something from her about Trent. Vance wants to tell her, but he's worried about losing her friendship. Will their relationship survive if the truth comes out?

The colorful cover of Erase the Empty Sky by Hannah Stone caught my attention right away. This book took me through just about every emotion imaginable. I felt sad, angry, happy, and sometimes I was downright annoyed with the characters! Annabelle and Vance were complicated people, and that's part of what made them interesting. They had their flaws, and neither always made the best decisions, which I think teens and young adults will relate to. I really appreciated getting both of their perspectives. There were times when one of them frustrated me, but then I'd read their side of things and understand a little better. Stone has a way with descriptions, too. I could almost see Vance sitting on the roof looking up at the stars or picture the river running through town. I thought the pacing was just right for this story. I never got bored or felt that anything was dragging. I also liked that some of the dialogue made me stop and reflect. For example, "Half-built bridges don't go anywhere." Those words reminded me that relationships can't work if only one person is making an effort. Anyone who enjoys young adult novels with complex characters, emotional moments, and a little romance will appreciate this one.

Hannah Stone's Erase The Empty Sky is set in West Aldrin, Washington, and teenager Annabelle Davis is facing graduation when her boyfriend, Trent Walker, dies in a car accident. With the future she imagined suddenly uncertain, Annabelle finds herself drawn into an unexpected friendship with Vance Powell, a quiet classmate she has barely noticed before. Vance has spent years living above Murphy’s Café after his mother left, and the prospect of leaving town makes him question where he belongs. As Annabelle begins to trust him, their friendship develops into something neither anticipated. Yet Vance is keeping a secret connected to Trent, whose death has left Annabelle searching for answers. The closer Annabelle draws to Vance, the more difficult it is for him to decide whether revealing what he knows will cost him their relationship.

In Erase The Empty Sky, Hannah Stone delivers an affecting young adult romance, and I felt every bit of Annabelle’s uncertainty about loving again after her boyfriend Trent dies. I love the author’s ear for the awkward tenderness between Annabelle and Vance, especially when they share doughnut holes at Murphy’s Café and toast to being “as close as it gets.” That little moment made me want the best for both teenagers, particularly Vance, who has grown used to expecting the home he has found to disappear. The author makes Vance’s silence about Trent ache as Annabelle begins to trust him. When Annabelle puts her feelings onto stones beside the river, I wanted to sit with her. The alternating viewpoints made me feel how much each teenager longs to be understood, and the unhurried pacing suits their uncertain bond. There is a twist in there and another character who definitely amped up my reader anxiety, but it serves as another deep push toward the conclusion. Well written and immersive, readers who enjoyed the likes of Nelson’s The Sky Is Everywhere will adore this.