Black Box Paperback – March 10, 2014

Mikki Gladstone is a badly damaged girl. She is bipolar, suicidal and was hurt beyond repair at the age of 15. On her way to Logan Airport, and while finding out that her flight to Los Angeles – where she decided to finally put an end to her life – is cancelled, she meets Crush.Crush is almost as damaged as Mikki is, and still trying to cope with the unfortunate events of his past. If it weren’t for his sister, he wouldn’t be en route to L.A. himself, trying to score a record deal. Terminal B is where he meets Mikki, and for some reason, he instantly feels drawn to Mikki – almost as if it wasn’t the first time they met. They decide to spend the time until the next flight together, and it is not before long that they both realize that fate brought them together on the third occasion, under unexpected circumstance, and with the purpose of saving each other again.I think writing the review for this book was one of the most difficult reviews to write so far, since Black Box is definitely one of the most gripping, heart and gut-wrenching and emotionally packed reads I have come across.Black Box is a story that mixes past and present, and puts back the pieces of their previous – more or less fortunate encounters - together and how they brought them back together again, as if to save them, again.Some parts of this book do in some ways remind me of The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks, because the morale of this story is that even though some things happen in the most unfortunate of ways and moments, it might be a window of opportunity for something better to happen.“Fate can save you and it can kill you. Either way, fate binds us through an invisible web of circumstances. Change one undesirable fate and another desirable fate is canceled out.”Black Box deals with very serious issues such as rape, mental illness, and suicide (you will have guessed it – it is by no means a light read), and starts out with a very gloomy, desperate and hopeless situation. However, along the way you manage to catch a glimpse of that silver lining, that hope that leads you to believe that there might just be someone or something there who can help you overcome the hardships that you couldn’t face on your own. And in Mikki and Crush’s case, this might just be their love for each other.Black Box also evokes a very important psychological issue, which is the loss of control of your life. How can you feel like you are fully living and in control of your life when it was robbed from you, when you cannot do a thing without being afraid, when the meds you take keep you from really feeling and leave you numb, and more importantly, when you mental health custody is taken from you? Black Box is all about Crush doing his best to give Mikki back this control she lost so long ago.“My body and mind, anyone’s body and mind, belongs to whoever feels like owning it, whether it’s a bunch of ducking perverted a..holes or a board of a..holes in white coats. I will never have full control over my body and mind as longs as my parents have the power to commit me and the state has the power to drug me.”I felt an incredible connection to both characters and even though it was painful to find out what happens/happened to them both, this book just kept you wanting to read on because you want there to be a happy ending for the two of them.As far as the writing goes, I was more than impressed. Cassia Leo definitely hold a place in my personal pantheon of New Adult writers, right next to Colleen Hoover, Trudy Stiles, and Samantha Young. Black Box is told in a wonderfully-well executed dual-POV, with a more than perfect writing, moving metaphors and very-well researched subjects, however difficult they may be.There are perhaps just two caveats I would highlight out of this book – or let’s just call them question marks, since they are not as important enough as to have me rate Black Box any less: the first thing I would put a question mark on is Mikki and Crush’s obvious insta-love: they recognised each other instantly (well, almost) even after their dark and short encounter 3 years ago, and suddenly, they develop very strong feelings for each. But then again I guess they have so many things in common – stories which are so similar to each other – that there is just some sort of connection between the two of them.And the second question mark revolves around the Black Box itself – which you will find out plays a very important part in the story, literally and metaphorically. The opening of this black box was unfortunately not as spectacular as I would have liked it to be. The author could have gone more into detail when it comes to the significance of what Mikki and Crush found inside that box.But anyways, these are minor caveats and they didn’t make me enjoy this book any less, so much that it gets its well-deserved place on my all-time-favourite shelf. All I can say is that this was my first novel by Cassia Leo and I am definitely looking forward to reading more from this author. If you enjoyed reading Dear Emily by Trudy Stiles, you will most definitely be drawn to this book too, and if you do not know what I am talking about, still make sure to check it out!

Black Box is probably one of the most emotionally crippling, heart wrenching, beautiful, very humorous and hopeful books there could possibly be. We meet Mikki a girl suffering from mental illness and very "damaged" the poor girl has had so much happen to her in her life and she feels it's time to end her life. She decides to take a trip to LA where she feels that is place to do it. On her way she meets Crush. A handsome stranger on his way to LA to get his music heard. Fate brings these two together in more ways then one. You will find that out throughout the book. There is a storm out and they are stuck for days. Crush offers Mikki something she cannot refuse and the two start to get close and embark on a whirlwind of a story together. I cannot give much away from this book, but let me tell you it was amazing and very emotional, many tears were shed. You will need a BIG box of kleenex for this one. These characters are very dear to my heart being one of Cassia's beta readers we get to read this chapter to chapter, day by day, we talk about the story, characters, etc as a group and I very very emotional and protective of Mikki and Crush. I hope everyone loves this story as much as I do. Sometimes fate intervenes and changes everything. Cassia is a perfect example of knowing her characters and what they need. In the Shattered Hearts series she knew what was best for Claire and she knows whats best for Mikki and I commend her on her amazing writing, stories, characters. Cassia puts her all into these books and I think this is the best of her work yet. I do not even know how she does it? This was the perfect combination of an emotionally captivating story. It hooks you in from the start and it will never let you go, it will forever be in your heart and I am honored to have it in mine. Amazing story, well done Olive. Well done. Enjoy everyone!"You might want to go and check your phone. I think you just got a text message from a really hot guy. ""There's a little blackness inside all of us.""Don't worry, son, not all stories have happy endings; but that doesn't mean they're not worth the read.""What are you, some f***-ing superhero for freaks?""You make a good case. I will not be filing an appeal at this time.""This black box is yours to keep, to stash your troubles away. Just lock it up and call my name, and I'll be there... always.""They took way too much from you already, sis. I won't let them take this.""Because I want you with me. I...I think you're supposed to stay with me.""It means that I... F***. I think I've loved you for longer than I care to admit and i'm just starting to understand why. And I want you to stay.""I'd never force you to do anything you don't want to do. You believe me, don't you?""I hope it will change everything.""It would be my honor to keep you warm.""Weird?Like you may start discussing your toe jam at any moment or weird you're uncomfortable with this conversation?""I want to kiss you, but I want to do it when you're least expecting it. is that okay?"" I feel like I've known you all my life," "I don't want that feeling to go away. I want to know you all my life.""I knew that fate would never stop bringing us together. No other girl could ever- will ever compare to the only girl who's meant for me. Do you understand that?""If I ever say something stupid like that again, feel free to punch me. Right in the face, or the ear, anywhere.""I hate that you saved me. But, most of all, I hate that you love me because now I love you and I don't know how to make it stop.""I love that you hate me, too. Both of those emotions require a lot of energy. Don't make me go all Harvard on you and tell you the scientific difference between loving and hating someone.""I love you with all my circuits...""I'll always look out for you, "" Kiss me or I'll make you pack my suitcase.""Inside and out. Don't you ever forget it.""It's just weird enough to make me fall just a little more in love with you.""I think the thought of never having met you is worse than what happened to me that night.""This is called 'Black Box', for the girl who holds the key to mine.""We can do that as long as you want .But I'll need occasional breaks to go to the bathroom and reapply my lipstick. Is that cool?""Do not be afraid; our fate cannot be taken from us; it is a gift.""I need you to teach me how to breathe when you're gone.""The pain is just a subtle reminder of how alive I felt with you."" Ooh, so generous. You're like Brad Pitt. You're hot and you love poor people.""At least if we go down, we go down together.""A billion times better than pizza."

Black box is real and raw, it looks at a painful and heart-breaking journey of two people who have been brought together by fate, on more than one occasion.Both Mikki and Crush have experienced harsh tragedies in their lives, along with these events there paths cross, which in turn changes the way in which there lives play out in extraordinary ways.You can almost feel the connection between Crush and Mikki, they seem to have this invisible thread that holds them and pulls them together when ever the other needs support. Even with the dark events and trouble this pair have been through they were always meant to be. They are the others saviour, they are the others life line.This book shows that even though fate may play a part in our lives, we have the power to choose to follow a different path and to choose our own destiny.Black box is such a powerful read, your left feeling that even when life throws people some real bitch of situations and circumstances, you can with the right support overcome it, especially when you may not necessarily be equipped to deal with it aloneHow love may just be strong enough to go up against fate.Black box is ultimately a book about the power of love. This book grabbed me and held on until the very last page.The ending was so very fitting, I usually like to know that the characters have reached there HEA at the end of a book, but the way Cassia has finished Black box it kind of left to you to give them that in your mind. The story is finished but your still thinking about Mikki and Crush, it just beautiful.Highly recommend this book, 5 amazing bright stars.

Having read a few of Cassia Leo's books, and seeing a lot of people recommending this book on Facebook and Goodreads, I decided to buy it. I've loved everything I've read by Cassia Leo so far, and this book was no exception. In fact, this was one of my favourite books of the year so far.I was immediately drawn into this book. The story was told through alternating POV, between Mikki and Crush. As I started to learn more about their pasts, I started to realise that their pasts were linked, and I couldn't wait to find out exactly how. It only took me a few days to read this as it was impossible to put down for more than a few hours.From the start of the story we're told that Mikki has had some problems in her past, and an 'accident' was often referred to. I was really curious about what could have caused Mikki so much upset that she wanted to take her own life. When I did discover what had happened to Mikki, it was truly horrifying and I immediately felt for her and admired her strength for carrying on for so long.I loved Crush's character. He was so gentle and understanding with Mikki, never pushing her or expecting more than she was willing to give. He really helped her to open up and start to see that she can still enjoy her life despite the horrors of her past.This story was incredibly emotional, and had me coming back for more time and time again. This was a lovely standalone from Cassia Leo, and I'll definitely be reading some more of her books.

What a heart breaking powerful story.We get to meet them in the prologue just as they are about to be part of a major disaster! oh my!We get to join their union at the airport, where they learn their flight to LA has been cancelled! Crush is going to record a song, although he is not interested in the fame or making money, he has a deep rooted live for music.Mikki has bipolar, but is off to do something drastic, she leaves notes for her family.They soon become friends, but they soon learn they have history, they soon start confiding in each other, we get to learn about how they first met, such horrid circumstances, but fate helps them overcome some of the bad feelings they have been harbouring. Both have sad back stories, but through their journey they both start to have hope. The black box is a good book, given to Crush by his grandfather, but Mikki inherited it the night they met, at the time we found out why they met, oh I just wanted to get inside the book and give her a great big hug, She really did suffer, and can totally understand why she's was like she was, Crush really was her knight is shining armour.They spend a few days together whilst waiting for their rescheduled. Mikki's parents catch up with them, hell bent on getting her back home, then they realise the significance of Mikki and Crush's 3rd union. He really helps her to re-evaluate her initial reason to go to LA, whilst having her heart slowly put back together.We then get on the plane, and its here that we re-live the prologue, oh my my heart was pumping hard at this point! Hoping that they get out of this in one piece! thankfully they find each other again! phew!The final chapter had me for a bit I had to read it twice! Hoping we get another installment! need to see how they continue on in life!

I couldn't concentrate on anything else while reading Black Box and it is defiantly a story that I will remember for a long time.I love Cassia Leo' style of writing and from the very first page you get this feeling of trepidation it's like the unknown you are certainly kept on your toes trying to guess what has taken place already, but of course nothing could have prepared you it was absolutely brutal.Even though the whole story was practically centred around Terminal B, and the Hotel was incredible, Mikki and Crush's journey from start to finish was so compelling and told beautifully despite the very sad and sensitive issues.As I said this story was so cleverly written because when I got to I think Chapter 44 when they are on the plane you realise that was what Mikki was talking about when the book opened up at the beginning and I found myself going back to Chapter 1 to check the date and everything, I started thinking the worst, I actually had to put it down for a few hours because it was making me feel so sad.Anyway I got there in the end and so did Mikki and Crush, a superb epilogue and just like all of Cassia Leo' s other books/Series you know that you will never be disappointed you just need to prepare yourself for one hell of a read..!!

I devoured this book! I couldn't put it down.Despite the difficult topics of rape and also mental illness, I truly didn't find this book an 'uncomfortable' read. The characters were engaging and easy to relate too.The book kept me guessing by hiding a snippet until the end so that as I was nearing that point, still with some confusion about a particular missing conversation, I was almost ready to stop and re-read to check I'd not missed a bit! Then it was there, it all came together and made perfect sense. For me that only piece erring between suspense and sheer frustration was the thing that stopped me making this a five star read.It won't be everyone's cup of tea, without a doubt, but for me it was a read I loved.It makes you question your whole thoughts on fate, luck, and coincidence.As for the whole fate thing, and whether this particular set of circumstances could ever actually occur, the jury is out BUT it didn't matter a damn bit to my sheer enjoyment and the addictiveness of the read!