⭐ Light Me Up by Katie Karambelas- Quick Overview
- Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
- Themes: Grief, friendship, family, childhood sweethearts, falling in love, self-discovery, anxiety
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Recommended for fans of: Jenny Han, Morgan Matson, K. L. Walther
“The way I feel when I’m around you terrifies me.”
Summary of Light Me Up
In the midst of grieving her mom’s passing, Addy is forced to leave behind her life, her “forever” (a.k.a. Nate, her childhood sweetheart), and her friends to move to a small town in another state and start over. Making new friends isn’t too difficult, but developing feelings for Asher—the bad boy everyone has warned her about—while still holding on to Nate just might be.
💭 My Thoughts on Light Me Up by Katie Karambelas
This story had me hooked from the very first line in the blur to the last page. Katie Karambelas tackles tough topics—teenage drinking, mental illness, attempted abuse, arson, and grief—with care and respect, weaving them seamlessly into the characters’ growth. It’s emotional, thought-provoking, and impossible to put down. And full of quotes that can either melt your heart or tear it apart:
“What if I don’t remember her? What if we leave and I can’t recall all the details that make her her?”
Despite being set in a small town, this story isn’t about the setting—it’s all about plot and character development. Chapter after chapter, we come to know Addy more deeply as she navigates grief, anxiety, and the fear of existing in a world where her mom is no longer there. We watch her try to be a good daughter and a supportive big sister while making new friends (Kat and Tucker) and holding tightly to Nate despite the confusing feelings Asher stirs in her.
Moreover, in her therapy sessions, Addy is challenged to become who she is meant to be, to try new experiences and to let go of limiting beliefs. As the summer unfolds, she struggles to release the past—everything that once felt safe and familiar, and what she believed was forever—and embrace the uncertainty instead. Because:
“Your life is a series of moments, Addy. The plan isn’t ruined. There can’t be a true plan because we don’t know what will happen next. All we can do is do the best with what we have.”
Without a doubt, one of the things I enjoyed most about this novel was Addy’s new best friend, Kat. From the moment they meet, the two form a strong bond that is seriously challenged throughout the book (as most friendships are in real life), but ultimately survives it all.
Another thing I truly enjoyed was how Addy connects with her dad’s family—her grandmother and his siblings. Moving to this small town ultimately rewards her with the most unexpected surprise: a version of her mom she never knew. It’s here that, far from losing her mom for good, Addy ends up finding her again amidst her grief.
💕Falling for the Bad Boy… That Might Just Be Worth It
Contrary to her better judgment, and despite Kat’s strong warnings about falling for Asher—a bad boy with a real reputation—Addy can’t help but feel the chemistry between them every time they meet.
As much as she tries to fight it and focus on Nate instead (solid Nate, endgame Nate), Asher is just as drawn to her as she is to him.
But the night he climbs into her room and shares his secrets, Addy realizes he’s hurting just as deeply as she is. And more than that, he seems to understand her in a way no one else can:
“Losing a parent makes you tough. You lose half of yourself.”
As the days go by and they spend more time together—at work and later in the evenings with the rest of the senior crew—Asher and Addy begin to recognize their feelings for each other. Feelings Addy tries to fight, ignore, and push away, while Asher distracts himself by hooking up with other girls. Feelings Addy never experienced with Nate. Strange, new emotions that terrify them both. Feelings that aren’t going anywhere…
And with Kat’s theory that there are two kinds of boys in the world, Addy can’t help but wonder:
“Is he truly the boy who started the fire or is he the one who will run in and save me?”
Far from the cliché bad-boy stereotype, Asher is a complex character—flawed, yet full of tenderness, potential, and capable of redemption. Throughout the book, he faces emotions he cannot fully comprehend, but it’s the way he rises to challenges, protects and supports Addy, and takes responsibility for his sometimes enormous mistakes that makes us root for him every step of the way.
❤️ What I Loved the Most
- Kat and Addy’s friendship
- The characters’ development
- The pacing of the story
- Asher’s complexity and the way he challenges everything Addy thought she wanted
- Olivia’s thought-provoking questions
- Addy’s newfound friends and family
💔 What Didn’t Work for Me
Honestly? I can’t think of anything. I will admit there were moments when I wanted to strangle certain characters (I’m looking at you, Kat… and you too, Asher), but the way everything unfolds in the end is flawless and only strengthens the bonds between the characters.
✨ Favorite Quotes
- “If we leave, we’re leaving every place my mom touched, every memory we made with her. The reminders wouldn’t be staring me in the face every day. It would mean truly moving on with my life… without her.”
- “What if I don’t remember her? What if we leave and I can’t recall all the details that make her her?”
- “Losing a parent makes you tough. You lose half of yourself.”
- “Life is about the experiences you have with people. Nothing else matters.”
- “You can’t be ready to share your life with someone until you truly know who you are.”
- “I’m on a high now and I don’t want to come back down.”
- “Is he truly the boy who started the fire or is he the one who will run in and save me?”
- “Your life is a series of moments, Addy. The plan isn’t ruined. There can’t be a true plan because we don’t know what will happen next. All we can do is do the best with what we have.”
- “The way I feel when I’m around you terrifies me.”
🌍 Vibes / Tropes
- Childhood Sweetheart vs. New Love
- New Girl / Fresh Start
- Falling for the bad boy
- Life-Changing Summer
- Small town
📚 Books Similar to Light Me Up
- Since you’ve been gone by Morgan Matson (finding yourself through new experiences)
- The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han (growing up, love triangle, self-discovery)
- Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry (bad boy, emotional trauma, slow burn)
🎯 Final Verdict on Light Me Up
Light Me Up is a fantastic story about self-discovery, navigating grief, coping with anxiety, forming lasting friendships, letting go of the past (like Addy and Nate), feeling all the emotions for the bad boy, and—simply—growing up. It’s sweet, sad, tough, thought-provoking, nostalgic, knee-melting, and at times… absolutely infuriating!
💬 Reader Question
Have you read Light Me Up or any other books by Katie Karambelas? What did you think? Would you recommend it?
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About Me
📍Dumbo - New York
I'm Zøe!
I write heartfelt, character-driven fiction featuring resilient teenage heroines navigating personal challenges and striving to become their best selves. Beyond my novels, I love storytelling in all its forms. On this blog, I share narrative-rich travel pieces, offering glimpses into my favorite places, hidden corners, and unforgettable encounters around the globe.
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