Book Review: Lifeline

Title: Lifeline

Author: Abbey Lee Nash

Format: Kindle Edition

Published: 2018

 

Thank you to Hidden Gems for the free copy of Lifeline in exchange for my honest book review!

What a solid read. This book takes us on the journey of a popular high school jock, Eli, who thinks he is untouchable.  He’s the lacrosse captain with the hot girlfriend and thinks he can use drugs whenever he chooses and can stop whenever…then he overdoses and loses everything.  This story takes us on his journey in rehab.

At first, he annoys the crap out of me because he’s being an idiot and not taking anything seriously.  As his time in rehab grows, so does he and I think it really shows how in denial you can be that you have a problem.  This would be an amazing read for any teenager to see it through a teen’s perspective on drug use.

I felt that this book was realistic and did not try and sugar coat anything.  Eli was essentially forced to go to rehab or be faced with crazy charges against him.  As his story plays out over 28 days, I can only imagine how hard it would truly be, especially for someone who does not think they have a problem.  We also learn how Eli’s past led him to where he is today and what he needs to do in order to achieve a better life.

I am sure that there are many teens out there where this is their life and maybe reading this book could help someone.  Even if you aren’t a teenager this book is still enjoyable.  It was very satisfying and I enjoyed how the story played out (even if it bugged the crap outta me in the beginning, however, it gave time for the character to grow).  I felt this book was real and honestly, wouldn’t be bad as required book for young minds to read.  You won’t regret picking this up to read!

I am giving this book 4 stars.  I enjoyed journey Eli went on and enjoyed the friends he made while in rehab.  There were some very tough times, especially when they left the facility, and the fact that those are brought to light shows extensive knowledge on the subject matter at hand.  Abbey Lee Nash did a remarkable job with her penmanship showing how addiction is a disease, life long struggle, and how it ultimately affects everyone around you.  Very powerful.  Tune in next week for my review of a Kindle Single, The Victim’s Club, by Jeffery Deaver.

Book Review: Stray: Memoir of a Runaway

Title: Stray: Memoir of a Runaway

Author: Tanya Marquardt

Format: Amazon First Reads Kindle Edition

Published: 2018

This was my pick for the month of August with Amazon First Reads.  Stray comes out officially on September 1, 2018.

Raw.  Powerful.  Emotional.  Heart wrenching.  These are all the feelings I felt reading Stray.  In this memoir Tanya Marquardt takes us on her journey when she was a teenager finishing up high school.  She decided to run away from home when she was 16 because the police in Canada could not do anything about it.

Her childhood left me so sad.  Marquardt has overcome a lot in her life.  She survived through abuse, a rough relationship with her divorced parents, and poverty only to relive it by writing about it.  This book reads a lot like a general non-fiction novel and I had to remind myself that this was in fact a true story.  My heart kept breaking with every turn of the page.

The ending is anti-climactic but again, it is a memoir.  I would have liked more closure at the end of the book, but, that is my opinion.  Overall this book was a powerful, insightful read.  I really commend Marquardt for staying focused on her education throughout her rough spot in her life.  Any more details about this book and it would be giving it all away.

I am giving this book 3 stars.  This book was well written and kept my interest.  It saddened me to think that there are children, innocent children, out there that live this life.  The ending just lacked and I would have appreciated to know the outcome of her transition from high school to college.  Obviously, she became successful as she wrote a book but the book just ends with her at an interview for college.  I felt like I went on this journey with her for a better life and she left me hanging.  It was a bit of a letdown after such a tremendous, powerful read.  Tune in next Thursday for my review of my advance reader copy of Sadie by Courtney Summers!