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ambeesbookishpages's review
4.0
The full review could be found at THE BOOK BRATZ!
I finished this book a little less then 48 hours ago, and I am still trying to digest what I read. Fiore's writing was beautiful, and she took on a topic that is rough for many people. Thicker Than Water is heavy book, and I will warn you now that it is triggering.
Thicker Than Water is book about drug addiction and denial. The denial that everything was okay. The denial that things would get better one day. The denial that it could never be someone you love in that position. Cece's family fell apart. Her mother died of cancer, her father sold their house, remarried and moved to a farm, her brother injured his knee and is now addicted to pain medications. It's killing Cece, who had a strong connection with her brother, to see him going through this. But between her father's denial and Cyrus's reluctance to get help there isn't much that she can do. Cece's dreams of going to college are slowly being crushed under the weight of the farm's foreclosure, and one day while in the library an idea comes to her. She can sell Cyrus's pills.
The book is split between now and then. Before Cece is arrested for her brother's death, and after. In the now section Cece is a behavioral rehab, something her lawyer believes will help lessen her charges. Why lessen the charges? Cece didn't murder Cyrus. But she feels responsible for his death. I don't think it is possible for your heart not to break while you read this book. It is raw, and Cece doesn't hold anything back. Fiore's writing gave you a clear image of each of her characters, and the heart breaking reality of addiction.
I can talk about this book all day, but nothing I say is close to what this book deserves. Thicker Than Water is a book that I haven't stopped thinking about since the moment I put it down. With its beautiful language and a tough subject readers won't be able to put Thicker Than Water down.
I finished this book a little less then 48 hours ago, and I am still trying to digest what I read. Fiore's writing was beautiful, and she took on a topic that is rough for many people. Thicker Than Water is heavy book, and I will warn you now that it is triggering.
Thicker Than Water is book about drug addiction and denial. The denial that everything was okay. The denial that things would get better one day. The denial that it could never be someone you love in that position. Cece's family fell apart. Her mother died of cancer, her father sold their house, remarried and moved to a farm, her brother injured his knee and is now addicted to pain medications. It's killing Cece, who had a strong connection with her brother, to see him going through this. But between her father's denial and Cyrus's reluctance to get help there isn't much that she can do. Cece's dreams of going to college are slowly being crushed under the weight of the farm's foreclosure, and one day while in the library an idea comes to her. She can sell Cyrus's pills.
The book is split between now and then. Before Cece is arrested for her brother's death, and after. In the now section Cece is a behavioral rehab, something her lawyer believes will help lessen her charges. Why lessen the charges? Cece didn't murder Cyrus. But she feels responsible for his death. I don't think it is possible for your heart not to break while you read this book. It is raw, and Cece doesn't hold anything back. Fiore's writing gave you a clear image of each of her characters, and the heart breaking reality of addiction.
I can talk about this book all day, but nothing I say is close to what this book deserves. Thicker Than Water is a book that I haven't stopped thinking about since the moment I put it down. With its beautiful language and a tough subject readers won't be able to put Thicker Than Water down.
rachelwrites007's review
4.0
This book is an important look at drug addicts and how it affects the entire family. High school senior Cecilia Price has everything going for her: AP classes, friends, and a shot at her top school. But then her brother Cyrus gets addicted to painkillers and she spirals down with him, too. But not in the way you'd expect. THICKER THAN WATER by Kelly Fiore Stultz is a powerful, affecting novel that made me cry. A lot. This is a must read for teens, especially those dealing with such an issue as well as kids who aren't. I hope that this book lands in the right hands and doesn't get lost on the shelf.
shemyshines98's review
5.0
This book is phenomenal. Period. Best book I've ever read. Cecelia has a lot of life quotes that people should take note of and I love her whole-heartedly. Best character ever, I love how she grew throughout the book. Definitely a good read!! Everyone should take the time to read this book! Best book I've read this year. Hands down.
sidneyellwood's review
2.0
So this was a really interesting plot, but I think the execution was shitty. It was told through flashback from a rehabilitation facility, primarily for the addition of a shitty romance. CeCe's voice didn't change much from the before to the after sequences. I didn't like her voice much? It didn't sound like a teenager's, and it was overly angsty a lot of the time. Anyways, I was much more interested in the before sequences. Nothing would have been lost if it had been told chronologically.
What I do like: addiction wasn't romanticised, and it was portrayed quite realistically.
What I do like: addiction wasn't romanticised, and it was portrayed quite realistically.
sasha_in_a_box's review
3.0
I must admit, I was going to write a not very nice review of this one, up until I read the author's note. I was humbled then, because I really don't know everything there is to know.
This is the story of Cecelia and her brother Cyrus. She is in the "Behavior Therapy" wing of juvie, awaiting trial. Her brother, a promising soccer star turned junkie, is dead. What exactly was CeCe's role in it? All we know is that she's definitely not making it easy on anyone, especially herself.
So there were many improbable things in this book, like how ridiculously easy it was to get Oxy, the several unnecessary romances (well, one is definitely really unnecessary), and other things that would be spoilery. But something I found out is that none of the drug addiction parts were improbable. The author's note at the end describes her brother's addiction, and his survival. Nothing is easily explained when it comes to drug use, nothing is easy or straightforward. So I respect that she told her storyand pulled out a great follow-through on the big mystery of the novel.
That said... the writing is a little over the top - it's good when there's no unlikely poetry - the romance I mentioned is really really uncalled for and harmful in the context, and the protagonist is only meh. It is a valuable work and a painful story of addiction, so it's definitely a book that should be read and discovered by those who need it. It's nothing to dismiss, however flawed it is. And it might even change something for someone.
-Thanks to edelweiss for a complementary review copy. My review is honest and unbiased-
This is the story of Cecelia and her brother Cyrus. She is in the "Behavior Therapy" wing of juvie, awaiting trial. Her brother, a promising soccer star turned junkie, is dead. What exactly was CeCe's role in it? All we know is that she's definitely not making it easy on anyone, especially herself.
So there were many improbable things in this book, like how ridiculously easy it was to get Oxy, the several unnecessary romances (well, one is definitely really unnecessary), and other things that would be spoilery. But something I found out is that none of the drug addiction parts were improbable. The author's note at the end describes her brother's addiction, and his survival. Nothing is easily explained when it comes to drug use, nothing is easy or straightforward. So I respect that she told her storyand pulled out a great follow-through on the big mystery of the novel.
That said... the writing is a little over the top - it's good when there's no unlikely poetry - the romance I mentioned is really really uncalled for and harmful in the context, and the protagonist is only meh. It is a valuable work and a painful story of addiction, so it's definitely a book that should be read and discovered by those who need it. It's nothing to dismiss, however flawed it is. And it might even change something for someone.
-Thanks to edelweiss for a complementary review copy. My review is honest and unbiased-
greenvillemelissa's review
Book #1 Read in 2016
Thicker than Water by Kelly Fiore
Cecilia (CeCe) is in a mental facility for killing her brother. But is that really what happened? Cyrus (CeCe's brother) is addicted to drugs. Their world spins out of control after their mother dies from cancer and CeCe is trying to keep the family afloat. But will her world spiral so far out of control that she is unable to save anyone, especially herself? This book was a gripping read. Layers were peeled back to get to the truth and the writing and character development was well done. High school students and parents of high school students should read this book. I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine in exchange for a honest review.
http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com
Thicker than Water by Kelly Fiore
Cecilia (CeCe) is in a mental facility for killing her brother. But is that really what happened? Cyrus (CeCe's brother) is addicted to drugs. Their world spins out of control after their mother dies from cancer and CeCe is trying to keep the family afloat. But will her world spiral so far out of control that she is unable to save anyone, especially herself? This book was a gripping read. Layers were peeled back to get to the truth and the writing and character development was well done. High school students and parents of high school students should read this book. I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine in exchange for a honest review.
http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com
trisha_thomas's review
3.0
This was a very good but very tough book to read. I feel like there isn't a person out there that hasn't had their life affected by addiction.
For me, I remember the friends in high school on the 'meth' diet to stay so so thin. I remember the hushed conversations about parents that drank too much. I remember the O.D. The drunk driving accident.
So this book is something that I think can reach everyone. It just hits a nerve we all instinctively have and is just tough enough to make reading it not 100% enjoyable. But it's an interesting story and a very scary, real, well done look at a family with an addict where some members don't want to face it and some know all too well the violence, frustration and anger that is living with an addict.
For me, I remember the friends in high school on the 'meth' diet to stay so so thin. I remember the hushed conversations about parents that drank too much. I remember the O.D. The drunk driving accident.
So this book is something that I think can reach everyone. It just hits a nerve we all instinctively have and is just tough enough to make reading it not 100% enjoyable. But it's an interesting story and a very scary, real, well done look at a family with an addict where some members don't want to face it and some know all too well the violence, frustration and anger that is living with an addict.
kimching232's review
5.0
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Author's writing style = more than perfect!! <3
When I first read the synopsis of Thicker Than Water, I was really curious about it but I didn't really want to read it because I feared that it would clash with my morals and I wouldn't be able to fully appreciate it. I initially didn't want to request it, but I saw that many others wanted to read it as well, so I decided, why not request it as well? I'll just see if I get approved or not. And then I got approved by HarperCollins, and gosh, am I so thankful for it!
Thicker Than Water is such an amazing book filled with meaning, honesty and a unique journey. For me, it showed a very realistic and honest story. I don't know what it's like to have a family member who is a drug addict, but it just felt so real to me. It wasn't just realistic, it was real. Of course when I got finished the book and read the author's note, everything made sense - the author indeed is telling the truth because she has experienced this herself.
Aside from it being very real, what I really liked about the book is the author's writing style. My gosh! The words that Kelly Fiore used to string those sentences made even the most meaningless ones meaningful. The best part? Everything seemed natural, not forced or poem-like, but it definitely sounded melodic. I wanted to highlight everything, even if it didn't mean anything.
I really liked the story and how everything progressed and unravelled, even though Thicker Than Water is not like anything that I've ever read before. I also liked how the main character, Cecilia, never once sounded juvenile, despite being the right to because she is in fact still a teenager. She never once became whiny and always owned up to the consequences of her actions. For that, I admire her.
I seriously did not expect to love this book as much as I did, but surprise, surprise! I loved the story and the author's writing style! I really recommend this very real book filled with honesty and lots of beautiful quotes.
Author's writing style = more than perfect!! <3
"Regret forces us to relieve the moments we hate the most - the moments that drove us into spiraling downfalls, the moments where we stopped living and started surviving."
When I first read the synopsis of Thicker Than Water, I was really curious about it but I didn't really want to read it because I feared that it would clash with my morals and I wouldn't be able to fully appreciate it. I initially didn't want to request it, but I saw that many others wanted to read it as well, so I decided, why not request it as well? I'll just see if I get approved or not. And then I got approved by HarperCollins, and gosh, am I so thankful for it!
"Sometimes we have to start living the lives we never expected to live. Other times we pick up where one life left off. In the end, it's not about where you came from, but where you're going."
Thicker Than Water is such an amazing book filled with meaning, honesty and a unique journey. For me, it showed a very realistic and honest story. I don't know what it's like to have a family member who is a drug addict, but it just felt so real to me. It wasn't just realistic, it was real. Of course when I got finished the book and read the author's note, everything made sense - the author indeed is telling the truth because she has experienced this herself.
"Sometimes the picture you paint is more important than the life you're living."
Aside from it being very real, what I really liked about the book is the author's writing style. My gosh! The words that Kelly Fiore used to string those sentences made even the most meaningless ones meaningful. The best part? Everything seemed natural, not forced or poem-like, but it definitely sounded melodic. I wanted to highlight everything, even if it didn't mean anything.
"In the end, you don't give a shit what happens to me as long as it doesn't change what happens to you."
I really liked the story and how everything progressed and unravelled, even though Thicker Than Water is not like anything that I've ever read before. I also liked how the main character, Cecilia, never once sounded juvenile, despite being the right to because she is in fact still a teenager. She never once became whiny and always owned up to the consequences of her actions. For that, I admire her.
"When we have to jump,
we take a deep breath,
close our eyes
and count to three."
I seriously did not expect to love this book as much as I did, but surprise, surprise! I loved the story and the author's writing style! I really recommend this very real book filled with honesty and lots of beautiful quotes.