Full Measures by Rebecca Yarros — A Tender, Heartbreaking Story of Love, Loss, and the Strength to Begin Again

Some books don’t just tell a story.

They wrap around you like a memory—aching and warm and raw.

That’s what Full Measures by Rebecca Yarros did to me.

I didn’t expect to be so undone by this book. I picked it up for the romance—but what I found was a story that beautifully honours the silent strength of those left behind when life cracks wide open. This isn’t just a love story—it’s a life story. One about what it means to keep going when your world has stopped.

💔 When the World Shatters

The novel opens with heartbreak. Ember Howard, a 20-year-old college student, answers her family’s front door—and her life changes forever.

Her father, a decorated soldier, has been killed in Afghanistan.

In that moment, everything shifts. Her mother collapses into grief, her younger siblings look to her for comfort, and Ember—grieving, lost, and far too young for any of this—steps into the role of caretaker. Of protector. Of strength.

And just when she feels like she can’t hold one more piece of her broken life, she crosses paths with Josh Walker, her childhood crush turned hockey star, who quietly becomes the only place she feels safe.

But, of course, love isn’t simple. Josh is holding secrets of his own. And Ember? She’s not sure she can trust anyone—especially not with what’s left of her heart.

🌿 The Mood and Themes That Stay With You

The emotional tone of Full Measures is heavy—but not hopeless. Rebecca Yarros writes about grief with such raw, tender honesty that you can feel it. But she also brings in warmth, romance, and moments of unexpected joy that remind you how beautiful it is just to be human—even when it hurts.

🌧️ Grief and Healing

Yarros doesn’t sugarcoat the trauma of losing a parent. Ember’s pain is sharp, disorienting, and deeply real. But what moved me most was her quiet resilience—the way she keeps going, even when she’s falling apart inside.

💞 Love as Strength

Josh Walker isn’t your typical romantic lead. Yes, he’s swoon-worthy. But more than that, he’s steady. He’s patient. He shows up when it counts—and not just for Ember, but for her entire family. Their love isn’t just about romance; it’s about rebuilding.

🏠 Family and Responsibility

Ember’s transition from college student to surrogate parent is heartbreaking and honest. Her relationship with her siblings, especially her younger brother Gus, is one of the most moving parts of the novel.

🔁 Second Chances and Self-Forgiveness

This is a book for anyone who’s ever carried guilt or been afraid to hope again. Both Ember and Josh are learning how to forgive themselves for things they couldn’t control. Their journey is quietly powerful.

🧠 How It Made Me Feel

Reading Full Measures felt like standing in the rain and finally letting it wash over you. I cried more than once. But I also smiled. A lot. I fell for these characters not because they were perfect, but because they were real. Flawed. Brave. Trying.

I saw myself in Ember’s grief. In her stubbornness. In her fierce love for her family. And I admired the quiet bravery it takes to open your heart again after it’s been shattered.

This book didn’t just give me a romance—it gave me perspective. And for that, I’m grateful.

📚 Who Should Read Full Measures?

This novel is for anyone who:

• Has loved and lost.
• Knows what it’s like to be strong when you don’t want to be.
• Believes that love can grow in the most broken places.
• Enjoys emotionally rich, character-driven stories with depth and heart.

If you’ve been moved by books like Dear John by Nicholas Sparks or Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, you’ll find something achingly familiar here. But Full Measures stands in its own right—especially in how it honours the reality of military families.

🕯️ Final Thoughts

Full Measures by Rebecca Yarros is not just a New Adult romance. It’s a tribute to resilience. To family. To show up for the people you love, even when you feel like falling apart.

It’s about how grief can feel like drowning—and how love can be the hand that pulls you back to the surface.

This story reminded me that we’re allowed to be broken. We’re allowed not to be okay. But we’re also allowed to love again. To hope again. To build something new—something even stronger than what we lost.

If this sounds like your kind of story, trust me—this book will find a way into your heart, and it won’t leave quietly.

👉 📚 ByOneClick – One Click, Endless Stories.