You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

3.98 AVERAGE


It was even better the second time.

The best Miranda Kenneally book I have read, probably because it is based of the sport she herself partakes in. I loved that all the characters has conversations about nothing—from Annie and Jeremiah to Annie and her girl friends. I loved the strong emphasis of the importance of female friendship, and that there were so many positive relationships throughout the novel. I loved Annie and how she was so perceptive of people. I loved how smoothly the Hundred Oaks cameos were written in. I loved especially how Annie’s grieving was dealt with, and her interactions with Kyle’s family. I went into this novel with very low expectations, considering my opinions on the other books in this series, and I was very pleasantly surprised.

Hands down, one of my favorites I have read this year.

This was a very emotional story, but one still filled with feminine strength. That's my favorite part of the Hundred Oaks series, how much emphasis is put on females being strong and just as able to do what males can. What a positive message to spread to our youth.

This volume in the series deals with loss and grief and guilt. It has a wide range of emotions as Annie tries to move forward while still honoring her loss. There are new friends made and old friend reconnected with, as often happens in High School and even beyond. She struggles with things that she might not have struggled with before this death and has to learn to navigate her new reality.

If you enjoy stories with strong female characters, or if you are a fan of realistic/contemporary YA fiction, you will probably enjoy this book and this series.

Rating: 70% (3.5 stars)

This was my initial reaction when I finished Breathe, Annie, Breathe that I posted on Goodreads:

AHHHHH! :D I ABSOLUTELY LOVED BREATHE, ANNIE, BREATHE!!! :D EEEK!!!!

Okay, now that I've gotten that fangirling bit out of the way, I loved this one! So much! :D BREATHE, ANNIE, BREATHE is definitely my favourite in the Hundred Oaks series so far. I swear with each book I grow to love this series more and more! Annie was fantastic! She was feisty, funny, and really easy to relate to. She's normal, kinda unsure of her future, and she's dealing not dealing with her grief very well, but I loved that she pushed herself, and that she was open to trying new things and taking risks again. I really loved her, and I loved Jeremiah, too!!! He's definitely grown since we last saw him in Things I Can't Forget. He was pretty sexy, and rugged. ;) haha Well, that's my gush-fest for now!

And here are my thoughts now that I've managed to compose myself a teensy bit better:

I've said it before, and I will say it again, I love Miranda Kenneally's Hundred Oaks Series, and Breathe, Annie, Breathe was no exception! In fact, it's my favourite one yet...I really do grow to love this series more and more! :D

One of the best parts about the Hundred Oaks series is that we get to see past characters again, and again! I love that these books are companion novels, so we get to see our favourites happy, we get to see them grow, and see what they're up to! I also love that Miranda Kenneally's characters are all incredibly unique, and they all have qualities that make it impossible not to admire them. In Breathe, Annie, Breathe, Annie trains for a marathon to honour the memory of her boyfriend who passed away. What I loved most was the fact that Annie was so normal...she wasn't a runner or jogger to begin with, and she definitely wasn't athletic. It made her so incredibly easy to relate to, and it even made me realize that maybe one day I really could put on my own pair of jogging shoes instead of just saying that I could or might start jogging. :P

What set Breathe, Annie, Breathe apart from the other Hundred Oaks books for me though was the fact that Annie had been in love before. In all of the other books, the characters may be experienced with romance a bit, but they're all pretty much newbies when it comes to being in love. Annie, on the other hand, had been in love before; she'd lost her love, and she was learning to deal with it. I felt that her past made her very mature in the way that she handled her feelings towards Jeremiah. I also just loved her personality in general! She really was an amazing protagonist, and I admired her for her dedication to running the marathon, and for the way that she matured throughout the book!

I also loved Jeremiah and Annie's relationship! I loved that they started as friends, and that it grew into something more. I loved that they challenged each other, and made each other better people. But, most of all, I loved that they supported one another, and while they spoke their minds, they ultimately respected the decisions that they each made. Their relationship may have seemed to revolve mostly around their attraction, but I loved that it became something super strong that provided stability in both of their lives. Seriously...these two have a YA relationship that's done right!!! There was no insta-love, but there was definitely attraction, which grew in something more as the characters actually got to know each other...in short, it was perfect! :)

Overall, I loved everything about Breathe, Annie, Breathe! I loved the characters, the story, and as always, I loved Miranda Kenneally's writing! I think that fans of the Hundred Oaks series will definitely love this one, but I also think that if you're just starting the series, you'll love it, too. Breathe, Annie, Breathe is more than just a romance; it's a story about learning to move on from the past, about finding something to strive towards, and about re-connecting with those you love and the world around you in the wake of losing someone you love.


(*This review also appears on my blog: BREATHE, ANNIE, BREATHE Review)

This was a great book and a nice quick read. I have actually reread it a couple of times when I have had a bad day.

I've only read one other book by Kenneally, Racing Savannah (who was it this book a bit) which was okay, but this book has to be my favorite of hers.

This book really pulled at my heart-strings, I didn't cry (it is pretty hard to make me cry) but I was close a few times.

I loved the main character, Annie, because I was able to connect to her. Plus it was a nice break to read a book that was set in one POV.

There wasn't very much mystery or twists in the book which was a nice break, it was fun to just read and not try and figure things out.

I recommend this book if you want a light read, it took me three or four sittings to finish it on my kindle.

FIRST THOUGHTS:

4.5-4.75 stars. Such a beautiful story, and totally inspires me to work harder at making running a regular part of my life too! But most of all, the cameos are a win, and I am loving this new generation of Hundred Oaks kids. Plus, college setting (which rocks)! Family (as always)! Friends (as always)! Annie, with all her traits good and bad. Jeremiah, the charmer, the sweetheart, so easy to love.

REVIEW:

(Originally posted on Alexa Loves Books)

Without a doubt, Breathe Annie Breathe has solidly slid into second place among my top three Kenneally books (just behind Stealing Parker in first, and just a bit more than Racing Savannah in third). I already knew that Kenneally worked magic with her contemporary stories, bringing to life lovable (flawed) characters and putting them into realistic life situations that reveal and challenge their deepest fears and desires.

In Breathe Annie Breathe, Annie is training to run a marathon on behalf of her beloved boyfriend who passed away in an accident. In the course of her running training, she meets Jeremiah, a free spirited young man who is into extreme sports and adrenaline rushes. Even though Annie is drawn to him, she fears that she will wind up hurt and alone should something happen whenever he embarks on crazy adventures like bungee jumping and other extreme sports. But this is not just about the romance. This is a novel about a grieving girl who learns to really live again.

It might sound like I’m waxing philosophical, but it’s true. The greatest takeaway I got from Breathe Annie Breathe was learning how to get up again when life knocks you down, how to keep running even when a situation threatens to hold you back. It’s such a valuable life lesson, and I appreciate the subtle way it was a part of Annie’s story.

Annie is one of my favorite Kenneally characters. I say this because I could actually see us being friends if we met in real life! She’s a bit of a loner, particularly after her boyfriend’s accident. But her determination to run a marathon, and the doggedness with which she attacks her training reveal a backbone of steel. Plus, she cares deeply for other people, and goes out of her way to do things that require her to be brave and put herself out there.

I related most this: her struggle to define herself apart from the great tragedy that has hung over her life for months. It’s never easy to lose someone, and it’s never easy to find the balance between remembering & grieving their loss, and still moving on with the rest of your life. Annie slowly unfurls from the fetal position of grief that she’s been held captive in with each chapter, and it’s beautiful (and hopeful) to watch.

Jeremiah Brown (little brother to Matt Brown, who you may recognize from Things I Can’t Forget) plays a key role in changing Annie’s life. Jere’s a daredevil, always looking for his next adrenaline rush and the next extreme he can conquer. I’ve always been of the mind that some people are just born adrenaline junkies, but there’s an actual reason behind Jeremiah’s stunts. He’s a good guy at heart, Jere, and demonstrates it time again with his actions towards his family and Annie. It was so easy to love him, in spite of the risk his favorite pastimes imposed.

I loved that Annie and Jere’s relationship started off in an unexpected way. There were instant sparks upon their first meeting, and the attraction built to the point where it was irresistible. Even after the initial awkwardness of their lust getting the best of them, these two somehow managed to get over that and actually become friends. Their friendship was just so, so wonderful, from the support and inside jokes, to the conversations and competition. I really loved that I could sense the progression from friendship to something more so well, as the movement felt fluid, natural and just right for them both. Obviously, this is a ship I’d go down with!

There are other characters who make Annie’s life interesting – her mother, her older brother, her boyfriend, her boyfriend’s family and friends, the new friends she makes (including Vanessa and Kelsey, Savannah and Jack, Rory and Colton – all familiar faces from Racing Savannah), her running friends (Liza being the one I remember best!) and the familiar faces of the first cycle of Hundred Oaks books like Matt Brown (her running trainer in this one), Jordan Wood (the HS football coach who connects her to Matt) and many more fun appearances. As always, Kenneally managed to write them all into Annie’s story in a way that felt like they were all destined to play a part in it – and it’s the truth.

Honestly, I loved everything about Breathe Annie Breathe. I loved the story, the way it progressed so perfectly from one scene to the next. I loved the way it provided perspective into Annie’s journey, chronicling struggles and triumphs both. I loved the characters, easily falling into their banter and lines, and falling hard for Annie and Jeremiah. It’s one of my favorite contemporary novels I’ve read this 2014. With so many things about it to love, you’d definitely be missing out if you didn’t grab a copy of it, stat!

{If you liked this review, check out Alexa Loves Books for more!}

this was quite different compared to the books I've read this summer, but it was interesting and I really enjoyed it. I said 4 stars at first, but I'm going to say 3.75. this book is filled with Southern people, so there were some sexist things that bothered me, but if it's not too bad I can ignore it.