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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
This book hovered around 2 stars at best during most of my reading; however, it kept me reading all day because I HAD to know how it ended and I now HAVE to move onto book #2. I feel like that fact alone boosts it to a 3.
It hovered at 2 for me because the writing wasn't great and the story was just, eh. But then it wasn't. And then it was. And then it wasn't. You get the picture. It was like every now and then things would flow and make sense and I'd enjoy it, but then, it would all fall back down and start getting sketchy and wonky again - things would just happen and I'd be left wondering, "What?" because there was no lead up or real transition. At times I just stopped and had to try and figure out if I had skipped a page ahead on accident!
One of the overarching themes in the book - the relationship between Emma and her aunt - just doesn't add up. I get that sometimes people are just psycho because they're psycho, but so much about the history and the past were left unsaid that it feels like there should be more and we're just not being let in by the author. I'm used to first books in a series seeming lacking at first so I'm hoping the next two books add some detail and depth.
I can honestly say if the book hadn't ended with such a cliffhanger, I probably wouldn't move on. Here's hoping the other two books work a little better for me.
It hovered at 2 for me because the writing wasn't great and the story was just, eh. But then it wasn't. And then it was. And then it wasn't. You get the picture. It was like every now and then things would flow and make sense and I'd enjoy it, but then, it would all fall back down and start getting sketchy and wonky again - things would just happen and I'd be left wondering, "What?" because there was no lead up or real transition. At times I just stopped and had to try and figure out if I had skipped a page ahead on accident!
One of the overarching themes in the book - the relationship between Emma and her aunt - just doesn't add up. I get that sometimes people are just psycho because they're psycho, but so much about the history and the past were left unsaid that it feels like there should be more and we're just not being let in by the author. I'm used to first books in a series seeming lacking at first so I'm hoping the next two books add some detail and depth.
I can honestly say if the book hadn't ended with such a cliffhanger, I probably wouldn't move on. Here's hoping the other two books work a little better for me.
Obsessed
I couldn't stop reading to charge my kindle! It tugged at my emotions and there was an urge to see what would happen next.
I couldn't stop reading to charge my kindle! It tugged at my emotions and there was an urge to see what would happen next.
Loved, loved, loved it!!! Im listening to the audio books for this series and Kate Rudd did an amazing job. She is drawing so much emotion for this characters which really brings them to life.
I actually kept on debating about reading this series but I'm so GLAD I did. I went in blind reading it and I can't believe I was 2nd guessing on reading it. It blew me out of this world and Im highly recommending it to my book friends.
EVAN is an ultimate book boyfriend and I can't wait to see where this story goes. At least I don't have to wait to read the next one after that cliffhanger ending.
I actually kept on debating about reading this series but I'm so GLAD I did. I went in blind reading it and I can't believe I was 2nd guessing on reading it. It blew me out of this world and Im highly recommending it to my book friends.
EVAN is an ultimate book boyfriend and I can't wait to see where this story goes. At least I don't have to wait to read the next one after that cliffhanger ending.
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This review was originally published at Fluttering Butterflies
I've found it difficult to review Reason to Breathe by Rebecca Donovan as I had somewhat mixed feelings about it and it has been hard to balance out what was came across more strongly, the good or the bad.
I was quite curious to read Reason to Breathe. I don't often come across books that deal with family violence and it is something that I feel very emotional about. It invokes strong reactions in me and I can see that my own personal feelings about the topic will always colour my opinion of books that cover this topic. Reason to Breathe is the story of Emma, a girl who in appearances seems perfectly fine - she's hard-working, smart, and athletic - if somewhat distant and aloof to all of her classmates aside from a single friend. But inside, Emma is far from okay ... she's living with her aunt and uncle and their two small children and she has to deal with the physical and emotional abuse of her aunt. Because of this, Emma holds everyone at a distance. She views herself through her aunt's evil eye and she's counting down the days until she can escape to college and to freedom. That is, until one day, a new student takes a sudden interest in Emma. He's really curious to know more about her and Emma can't resist his good looks, his charm or his persistent ways.
Let me start with what I didn't like. I feel as though Emma's main reason for not reporting the abuse that she suffers isn't adequate. I didn't believe it to be enough because the reason Emma remains quiet about the physical abuse is because it will ruin the lives of her two young cousins. If her aunt is charged with child abuse, Emma reckons that her cousins will be put into care and they will suffer needlessly. But the only way in which I could believe the safety of the cousins to be a fair reason to counterbalance Emma's torture is if we ever saw Emma's aunt to be a decent human being. I never saw this, so I couldn't believe that this aunt is magically a wonderful, caring parent AS WELL AS being this evil incarnate woman who abuses Emma so cruelly. There isn't any sort of depth or complexity to Emma's aunt's character. All I ever saw of her was her mean side in which there seemed to be no reason to cut Emma, to burn her, to leave her in an inhumane living conditions. And because of this, while I felt sorry for Emma for what she goes through, the abuse also didn't ring true for me as a reader as much as it could have done.
I couldn't decide whether or not I really liked Emma as a main character. She's a bit too eager to play the martyr for the sake of her cousins and I found myself rolling my eyes at the huge difference in the way in which she sees herself and the way in which the male population at her school apparently sees her and for that I didn't always connect to her. I get why she doesn't play nice with other people her own age and I did like seeing her break out of her shell a bit. I'm glad that she had at least one close friend for whom she had no secrets and didn't have to hide herself away from, even if that friendship gets tested quite a bit throughout the novel. Every girl needs a best friend.
And I did mostly like her relationship with the new boy, Evan. I like how upfront and honest Evan is with Emma. I like that there's no playing of games with Evan. He's curious about Emma, he's very open with his intentions to date Emma and he pursues her doggedly even though she treats him pretty bad. He seems content to be friends for ages even though he clearly wants more, but he can see that Emma isn't ready for anything more, on a phsyical as well as emotional level, and I like that. And I like that they talk and really seem to connect as friends. They're both artists, her a painter and him a photographer and I found both of those hobbies to be interesting to read.
And while I felt myself not fully believing the hateful and violent aspect of Emma's homelife and while I found her character to be slightly frustrating at times, there is still something about this book that I just couldn't quite put my finger on. Reason to Breathe is well over 500 pages long but it still only took me just over a day to read it. Once I started this book, I had to finish it and find out just how Emma's story ends up and that level of addiction to this novel surprised me. But I will have to wait a bit longer, as Reason to Breathe is but the first in a trilogy about Emma and I will have to wait until March before I can continue reading...
I've found it difficult to review Reason to Breathe by Rebecca Donovan as I had somewhat mixed feelings about it and it has been hard to balance out what was came across more strongly, the good or the bad.
I was quite curious to read Reason to Breathe. I don't often come across books that deal with family violence and it is something that I feel very emotional about. It invokes strong reactions in me and I can see that my own personal feelings about the topic will always colour my opinion of books that cover this topic. Reason to Breathe is the story of Emma, a girl who in appearances seems perfectly fine - she's hard-working, smart, and athletic - if somewhat distant and aloof to all of her classmates aside from a single friend. But inside, Emma is far from okay ... she's living with her aunt and uncle and their two small children and she has to deal with the physical and emotional abuse of her aunt. Because of this, Emma holds everyone at a distance. She views herself through her aunt's evil eye and she's counting down the days until she can escape to college and to freedom. That is, until one day, a new student takes a sudden interest in Emma. He's really curious to know more about her and Emma can't resist his good looks, his charm or his persistent ways.
Let me start with what I didn't like. I feel as though Emma's main reason for not reporting the abuse that she suffers isn't adequate. I didn't believe it to be enough because the reason Emma remains quiet about the physical abuse is because it will ruin the lives of her two young cousins. If her aunt is charged with child abuse, Emma reckons that her cousins will be put into care and they will suffer needlessly. But the only way in which I could believe the safety of the cousins to be a fair reason to counterbalance Emma's torture is if we ever saw Emma's aunt to be a decent human being. I never saw this, so I couldn't believe that this aunt is magically a wonderful, caring parent AS WELL AS being this evil incarnate woman who abuses Emma so cruelly. There isn't any sort of depth or complexity to Emma's aunt's character. All I ever saw of her was her mean side in which there seemed to be no reason to cut Emma, to burn her, to leave her in an inhumane living conditions. And because of this, while I felt sorry for Emma for what she goes through, the abuse also didn't ring true for me as a reader as much as it could have done.
I couldn't decide whether or not I really liked Emma as a main character. She's a bit too eager to play the martyr for the sake of her cousins and I found myself rolling my eyes at the huge difference in the way in which she sees herself and the way in which the male population at her school apparently sees her and for that I didn't always connect to her. I get why she doesn't play nice with other people her own age and I did like seeing her break out of her shell a bit. I'm glad that she had at least one close friend for whom she had no secrets and didn't have to hide herself away from, even if that friendship gets tested quite a bit throughout the novel. Every girl needs a best friend.
And I did mostly like her relationship with the new boy, Evan. I like how upfront and honest Evan is with Emma. I like that there's no playing of games with Evan. He's curious about Emma, he's very open with his intentions to date Emma and he pursues her doggedly even though she treats him pretty bad. He seems content to be friends for ages even though he clearly wants more, but he can see that Emma isn't ready for anything more, on a phsyical as well as emotional level, and I like that. And I like that they talk and really seem to connect as friends. They're both artists, her a painter and him a photographer and I found both of those hobbies to be interesting to read.
And while I felt myself not fully believing the hateful and violent aspect of Emma's homelife and while I found her character to be slightly frustrating at times, there is still something about this book that I just couldn't quite put my finger on. Reason to Breathe is well over 500 pages long but it still only took me just over a day to read it. Once I started this book, I had to finish it and find out just how Emma's story ends up and that level of addiction to this novel surprised me. But I will have to wait a bit longer, as Reason to Breathe is but the first in a trilogy about Emma and I will have to wait until March before I can continue reading...
This was a hard book to like, because of the subject matter. It was hard to read about the abuse over and over again. The book itself, otherwise, was fine as a contemporary young adult romance, though I could have done without the love triangle drama. It was a bit long for the content as well.
4/5 stars
DOESN'T REALLY SPOIL THE BOOK BUT A MENTIONED A FEW THINGS THAT HAPPENS!
Rebecca Donovan's Reason to Breathe was so amazing! I love series where you continue the main characters adventure to the next book. This book definitely ended with a "bang". So Emma Thomas is not your average girl. Her dad died in an accident and her mom was a drunk who couldn't take care of her. Enter her dad's brother George, his slightly delusional wife Carol and their two children. Carol absolutely doesn't want Emma staying with them so she abuses Emma verbally and physically whenever she can to make it know. (Carol is a bitch and I would have slapped her if I could.)George was no better and totally clueless! It was frustrating. I also didn't like the motive behind Carol's constant abuse. Maybe if she had a better reason it would have been more believable.
So her home life isn't good but there's her wonderful friend Sara who is a pretty, popular, caring, fiery redhead. She obviously cares for Emma and helps her every way she can throughout the book. My favorite line by her was when Drew came to the lunch table and asked if Emma was alright and she said "I feel much better, thanks" and Sara starts coughing and says "Sorry, some bullshit caught in my throat." I thought this was so funny. Don't ask why. Anyways, loved her!
But lets get to my favorite person ever. EVAN MATTHEWS. I loved him from the beginning. He was adorable. He changed Emma's life for the better. I'm so glad there romance wasn't like other YA books because I'm tired of people falling in love at first sight. It's ridiculous. I'm glad there romance wasn't quick and rushed! They didn't actually kiss till almost 350 pages into the book! First kiss was so cute though. I felt the love <3
To finish this review, I loved the characters the most because they're imperfect. There problems are real and they dealt with them the best way possible. Reason to Breathe definitely will make you want the next book so bad. Already another of my favorite series!
DOESN'T REALLY SPOIL THE BOOK BUT A MENTIONED A FEW THINGS THAT HAPPENS!
Rebecca Donovan's Reason to Breathe was so amazing! I love series where you continue the main characters adventure to the next book. This book definitely ended with a "bang". So Emma Thomas is not your average girl. Her dad died in an accident and her mom was a drunk who couldn't take care of her. Enter her dad's brother George, his slightly delusional wife Carol and their two children. Carol absolutely doesn't want Emma staying with them so she abuses Emma verbally and physically whenever she can to make it know. (Carol is a bitch and I would have slapped her if I could.)George was no better and totally clueless! It was frustrating. I also didn't like the motive behind Carol's constant abuse. Maybe if she had a better reason it would have been more believable.
So her home life isn't good but there's her wonderful friend Sara who is a pretty, popular, caring, fiery redhead. She obviously cares for Emma and helps her every way she can throughout the book. My favorite line by her was when Drew came to the lunch table and asked if Emma was alright and she said "I feel much better, thanks" and Sara starts coughing and says "Sorry, some bullshit caught in my throat." I thought this was so funny. Don't ask why. Anyways, loved her!
But lets get to my favorite person ever. EVAN MATTHEWS. I loved him from the beginning. He was adorable. He changed Emma's life for the better. I'm so glad there romance wasn't like other YA books because I'm tired of people falling in love at first sight. It's ridiculous. I'm glad there romance wasn't quick and rushed! They didn't actually kiss till almost 350 pages into the book! First kiss was so cute though. I felt the love <3
To finish this review, I loved the characters the most because they're imperfect. There problems are real and they dealt with them the best way possible. Reason to Breathe definitely will make you want the next book so bad. Already another of my favorite series!
i LOVED it. it was so compelling. it was like a grown-up version of this book i really liked as a kid called Don't Hurt Laurie.
I'm still not entirely sure what to think of this book. It had its overly sappy YA moments, sure. But it also had a few moments of greatness, and several moments of being completely unbelievable. At the beginning, I was really unimpressed with both the book and Emma as a character, but it was kind of brilliant how as Emma opened up to those around her, I also felt more connected to her as a narrator. I can't put my finger on what made that so, but if it was intentional by the author, bravo.