Jessica Sorensen's novel is emotional yet humouristic

Jessica Sorensen's novel, The Secret of Ella and Micha, is a love story, but not a fairy tale. Characters are revealed in an ambiguous yet incredibly emotional way and are rendered in the finest detail. The story revolves around Ella Daniels, a troubled 18-year old who battles dark secrets from her past by suddenly leaving her claustrophobic hometown. Micha, Ella's childhood best friend and soulmate, is a charming musician who veils his own struggles with a rough, tattooed and pierced exterior. Looks can be deceiving though: the truth is rather less intimidating and Micha is both soft and sad. The Secret of Ella and Micha emerges as a book about self-acceptance rather than self-discovery because when Ella finally returns home she must learn to accept reality. As such, Sorensen's novel is a tad disappointing. Although the story was told by Ella and Micha, their inner core still feels absent. On the other hand, readers who enjoy the unravelling of dark secrets and love stories and are partial to a large helping of sadness and a smattering of sarcasm will find the pages of this novel easy on the finger tips.