Book Review

Reason to Breathe by Rebecca Donovan

 

"No one tried to get involved with me, and I kept to myself. This was the place where everything was supposed to be safe and easy. How could Evan Mathews unravel my constant universe in just one day?"

In the affluent town of Weslyn, Connecticut, where most people worry about what to be seen in and who to be seen with, Emma Thomas would rather not be seen at all. She’s more concerned with feigning perfection while pulling down her sleeves to conceal the bruises - not wanting anyone to know how far from perfect her life truly is. Without expecting it, she finds love. It challenges her to recognize her own worth - but at the risk of revealing the terrible secret she’s desperate to hide.

Reason to Breathe is an electrifying page turner from start to finish, a unique tale of life-changing love, unspeakable cruelty, and one girl’s fragile grasp of hope.

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Spoilers Ahead:

Heed my warning now, this book will rip your heart out. This book is filled with abuse, love, friendship, unspeakable action, and loyalty. Powerful and emotion evoking, it's a captivating read. 

I think the worst part was how Emma's Aunt's cruelty was directed solely at her. She was a great mother to her own two children but Emma was abused. In no case is abuse justifiable, but in Emma's Aunts case it's was random acts of cruelty for no other reason than she resented and hated her niece. 

I don't personally agree with Emma's rationalization for why she stayed but at the same time not being in her situation I can't pass judgment. I understand she wanted to keep her cousins lives as normal as possible but I don't believe living in an environment where your mother is abusing your cousin is a healthy place to grow up. In any case Emma's actions were brave and selfless. She forced herself to live a lonely life waiting until the day she can leave for college. Until she meets Evan. 

This book isn't all pain and sadness, it's not. Evan was a ray of sunshine in Emma's painful life and he fought to save her even when things got hard. They didn't fall instantly in love, Emma pushed Evan away with all her might but Evan kept working to bring down the walls Emma put up. Emma and Evan's relationship slowly builds from distant acquaintances, to friendship, to love, they struggle to get through a lot of tough situations and in the end they become closer. To be honest Evan is my dream guy, he doesn't care his parents have money he rather they didn't. He's a gorgeous, kind, endearing guy who clearly thinks the world of Emma, and is willing to do anything for her. Even when Emma did everything to keep him away he kept fighting. He truly understood what Emma needed without being told. He's an amazing guy.

As the story progressed a giant cliffhanger loomed over. The closer I got to the end, the dread and anticipation that built inside makes your heart bleed. At the end of the book I couldn't wait to start the second and see where Emma and Evans relationship would take them. I have finished all the books and I must say the second and third are just as emotional and powerful as the first. This trilogy is definitely a gripping page turner that you want to continue reading until you've come to the conclusion. Donovan's writing style is perfect; the descriptions and flow of the story suck you right in. This is story that makes you emotionally involved with the characters' lives and makes you need to know what happens next.


A.B.