Review: Playing in the Rain by Jane Harvey-Berrick

Edition: ebook
Pages: 182
Publish Date: July 1, 2014
Publisher: Haravey Berrick Publishing (Self)
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
Series: No
Goodreads Rating: 4.05 (585 ratings)

Why do I do this to myself? I was hoping for a book with a adorable love story to mend my broken heart from All The Bright Places but this just shattered my heart even more! 
Needless to say I loved it anyway.
This book is so short and sweet, following Ava, a recent graduate who moved across the country to prove to her overachieving family that she can make it on her own. After only a month at her new job, her boss "propositions" her, and because she says no to his offer he fires her on the spot.
If the day can't get any worse she's stuck in traffic, almost out of gas, and it's pouring rain out. But when an attractive stranger just walks up to her car and gives her a note that simply says "you're beautiful" life seems a little bit brighter.
The next day, with no job to go to, she decides to go to the park she saw the kind stranger at and finds him there yet again. There's an instant connection, just by a simple touch. 
While still strangers they compile a list of wishes - Jumping out of a plane, swimming with dolphins, etc - and after exchanging numbers they go to work on the list. As they check off more and more from the list, the attraction grows. A few kisses here, hand holding all the time, and all the smiles. Ava knows something's up, he's hot and cold, one minute he has her up against the wall breathless, and the next he's apologizing and distancing himself from her.
He has his secrets, and after their perfect day, the list is completed, the both profess their love for eachother, while there's sort of A Walk to Remember moment where he says "you weren't supposed to fall in love with me". This leaves her confused but ultimately the happiest she's ever been.
Until she goes to his house the next morning on his 19th birthday to find an ambulance and police cars. His mom and a note is left to explain that he had cancer, and after battling it for 5 years, told he wouldn't make it to 19, he chose to go out at his happiest. He may have taken his own life, but it was to spare her having to watch him die. He knew it was coming anyway, so after his perfect day he knew there was no topping it. 
This book broke my heart but I absolutely loved it. It could have been 5 stars if only one of these books would have a miraculous happy ending like in The Edge of Never by J.A Redmerski or Ruin by Rachel Van Dyken. I just love a happily ever after. 
Going to go read some Stephanie Perkins now to cheer me up.