Brilliant violinist Evie has what it takes to be a great musician. She has perfect pitch and once landed a full scholarship for music. So, how did she manage to become a college dropout working at a music store? Sadly, her troubled past and trust issues always seem to get in the way of her goals. When things get messy, Evie’s coping mechanism is to run away. The first time she ran away, she was only seventeen. How could she stay in a house with a family that lied to her about being adopted? 

Evie’s friend and co-worker, Finn, invites her to a Fourth of July party.  What should have been a laid-back, fun party quickly turns into something unexpected for Evie. First, she runs into the man who broke her heart in college. Seeing her old crush and remembering their past makes Evie uncomfortable at the party. Leaving the party comes to mind until Finn suggested they entertain the guests with music. Evie plays and Finn sings. Evie never heard Finn sing before and she likes the sound of it. A feeling of something a little more than friendship began to stir in Evie’s heart. How awkward will it be with the two of them working together? 

These two things seem rather small compared to the opportunity of meeting her little sister, Sam. All of this is just a little too much for her to handle. After all, Sam was the daughter her birth parents chose to keep. Besides, will meeting her change anything for the better? What if they hate each other?  That would be horrible. Will Evie run away again, or stay and meet her sister and possibly confess her feelings for Finn?

680 Miles Away is the kind of book you don’t want to put down. It’s enjoyable from beginning to end.  Tara J. Stone uses first person point of view (POV) for Evie and Sam. The flashbacks allow the reader a closer look into the emotions of the characters. Evie’s flawed character makes her relatable. Stone captures the drama and fear of rejection that many young adults go through, but she also resolves this in how she writes the other characters. Finn is a sensitive and protective suitor, ready to forgive and be of assistance to the girl of his dreams. Despite their parent’s failings, Sam turns out to be a wonderful friend.  One thing they all have in common is their Catholic faith. Both Evie and Sam frequent the Sacrament of Confession. Finn wants to use his musical talents to study sacred music.

Music is at the heart of 680 Miles Away. So much so that I wish the pages would come alive, so I can hear this brilliant violinist, Evie, play. Knowing that her readers may feel this way, Stone included an official playlist on Spotify. Listening to the songs from the list offers the reader a closer connection to the characters.

I highly recommend this captivating novel to all Catholic romantics out there. It’s chaste with just the right amount of drama. The characters are root-worthy and make you wish they were your friends.