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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
This novel is an absolute heartbreaker. The FMC is navigating her life after loss with a dash of fear of moving on. This book follows Robin's journey as she tries to embrace her future with Nick with the lingering guilt of leaving Jed behind.
This was my first time reading from this author and I’ll definitely be looking for others that they’ve written. I truly enjoyed the writing and characterization.
This was my first time reading from this author and I’ll definitely be looking for others that they’ve written. I truly enjoyed the writing and characterization.
This review first appeared at Fantasy is More Fun.
I was both excited and nervous picking up The Next Breath, after how much I loved The Holdout - I didn't want anything to spoil that memory. Well, The Next Breath didn't disappoint. It was different from The Holdout, but in really fantastic ways!
I love Robin, the main character from whose point of view The Next Breath is told. She has a really unique personality and lots of little quirks that make her a joy to read. She designs clothes using items from thriftstores - something we saw some of in The Holdout, but really get to see a lot more of in The Next Breath - and I loved it because it's of fun way of seeing how quirky she is and how uniquely she sees life.
Robin's still with Nick - who we met in The Holdout- and things are going pretty well. Nick's such a solid guy and we get to know him so much better in The Next Breath. But he wants something deeper with Robin and, for reasons she's not ready to explain to him, she's not quite ready. Watching Robin negotiate her relationship with Nick, while dealing with past emotions kept me glued to the page and my emotions swirling right along with Robin's.
The reason for Robin's emotional turmoil is all tied up with her college boyfriend Jed. We learn quickly that Jed wrote the play that she's currently preparing to perform and that Jed died shortly after writing it - for her. Through a series of flashbacks we see their relationship unfold and, even though you know where it's headed, it somehow still manages to catch you off guard. I fell in love with Jed, while still loving Nick, making Robin's turmoil so incredibly understandable.
The Next Breath's story resolves around Robin dealing with all her emotions and trying to figure out how to navigate her feelings of loss and love for her dead boyfriend - while starring in his play - and also trying to be present in her current relationship with Nick. A good part of the book is spent waiting on tenterhooks - when will she tell Nick about Jed? About the play? And how does Jed die? What happens in the play that he wrote for Robin?
I enjoyed getting every answer and quite of few of them tore me into little bitty emotional shreds. Definitely an emotional book - making The Next Breath very different from The Holdout, which was more fun than emotional. The Next Breath would work really well as a standalone, though I did enjoy knowing the characters from The Holdout.
After finishing The Next Breath I realized that there are several books surrounding the Bricker family and I've only read these two, plus November Surprises. So now I'm eagerly looking forward to reading the other books and learning more about this awesome family :)
I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
My Initial Reaction...
I was both excited and nervous picking up The Next Breath, after how much I loved The Holdout - I didn't want anything to spoil that memory. Well, The Next Breath didn't disappoint. It was different from The Holdout, but in really fantastic ways!
The Characters...
I love Robin, the main character from whose point of view The Next Breath is told. She has a really unique personality and lots of little quirks that make her a joy to read. She designs clothes using items from thriftstores - something we saw some of in The Holdout, but really get to see a lot more of in The Next Breath - and I loved it because it's of fun way of seeing how quirky she is and how uniquely she sees life.
Robin's still with Nick - who we met in The Holdout- and things are going pretty well. Nick's such a solid guy and we get to know him so much better in The Next Breath. But he wants something deeper with Robin and, for reasons she's not ready to explain to him, she's not quite ready. Watching Robin negotiate her relationship with Nick, while dealing with past emotions kept me glued to the page and my emotions swirling right along with Robin's.
The reason for Robin's emotional turmoil is all tied up with her college boyfriend Jed. We learn quickly that Jed wrote the play that she's currently preparing to perform and that Jed died shortly after writing it - for her. Through a series of flashbacks we see their relationship unfold and, even though you know where it's headed, it somehow still manages to catch you off guard. I fell in love with Jed, while still loving Nick, making Robin's turmoil so incredibly understandable.
The Story...
The Next Breath's story resolves around Robin dealing with all her emotions and trying to figure out how to navigate her feelings of loss and love for her dead boyfriend - while starring in his play - and also trying to be present in her current relationship with Nick. A good part of the book is spent waiting on tenterhooks - when will she tell Nick about Jed? About the play? And how does Jed die? What happens in the play that he wrote for Robin?
I enjoyed getting every answer and quite of few of them tore me into little bitty emotional shreds. Definitely an emotional book - making The Next Breath very different from The Holdout, which was more fun than emotional. The Next Breath would work really well as a standalone, though I did enjoy knowing the characters from The Holdout.
Concluding Sentiments...
After finishing The Next Breath I realized that there are several books surrounding the Bricker family and I've only read these two, plus November Surprises. So now I'm eagerly looking forward to reading the other books and learning more about this awesome family :)
I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I didn’t really know what I could expect about ‘The Next Breath’. After reading the description I really couldn’t imagine what this book would be really about. I expected to read about a girl struggling with her feelings for two different guys, I expected hurt feelings and tears but what I didn’t expect was to be completely blown away by this story. From the moment I started reading this book I was completely compelled. This story is told from Robin’s point of view and alternates from the present Robin, to past, college girl, Robin and I loved reading it like this. I haven’t read any previous book by Laurel Osterkamp so Robin was new to me and I loved learning about the girl she was before.
The thing about ‘The Next Breath’ was that it’s a book filled with a lot of emotions. And Laurel Osterkamp was completely able to make me feel the emotions Robin was going through. I even cried at some of the moments in this book. This book made me feel so many different things and I really loved every part of it. Being a Nurse, and having worked on a Pulmonary Care Unit for a little while made me able to almost hear Jed’s breathing when he was struggling. I could totally imagine the Mayo Clinic and the way Robin would be watching Jed sleep. And I could totally understand the nurses frustration when Jed accidently ripped his new stitches (LOL!!).
But the thing I loved most about this book was Robin’s relationship with Nick. I loved the way they found each other. And I was totally rooting for Nick. He just seemed like the perfect guy for Robin. Especially since his life hadn’t been perfect either and the way he seemed to care so much for Robin.
This book is going to stay with me for a long while. I loved Laurel’s writing and I hope to read more of her books. This book is definitely a must- read if you ask me. I promise you, you will be completely blown away by this one ;)
The thing about ‘The Next Breath’ was that it’s a book filled with a lot of emotions. And Laurel Osterkamp was completely able to make me feel the emotions Robin was going through. I even cried at some of the moments in this book. This book made me feel so many different things and I really loved every part of it. Being a Nurse, and having worked on a Pulmonary Care Unit for a little while made me able to almost hear Jed’s breathing when he was struggling. I could totally imagine the Mayo Clinic and the way Robin would be watching Jed sleep. And I could totally understand the nurses frustration when Jed accidently ripped his new stitches (LOL!!).
But the thing I loved most about this book was Robin’s relationship with Nick. I loved the way they found each other. And I was totally rooting for Nick. He just seemed like the perfect guy for Robin. Especially since his life hadn’t been perfect either and the way he seemed to care so much for Robin.
This book is going to stay with me for a long while. I loved Laurel’s writing and I hope to read more of her books. This book is definitely a must- read if you ask me. I promise you, you will be completely blown away by this one ;)
Flawless and realistic characterisation, a heart-breaking plot and clever use of different timelines, The Next Breath is a joy to read.
Full review here: http://ifthesebookscouldtalk.com/2014/11/20/tour-review-next-breath/
Full review here: http://ifthesebookscouldtalk.com/2014/11/20/tour-review-next-breath/