Reviews

Bewilderness by Karen Tucker

chamilton3396's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Could not put this down. This story of friendship and addiction did a remarkable job of describing the intensity, and lingering ache, of young all consuming female bonds. Highly recommend.

grace_edwards's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

This is a brutal read. It's a raw, honest, and intense story about drug addiction and codependency.

Irene is as much addicted to drugs as she is to Luce. While Luce's quick-temper and impulsive tendencies often pull her down, as well as those around her. It doesn't glamorize drug use but gives a realistic depiction of how people can fall into addiction and then what comes after. The writing and structure reflect the state of mind these characters are often in and the effect drugs can have on memory-- scattered and disconnected. It's a difficult read, not for story or plot, but purely for subject manner.

TWs: drug addiction, relapse, sexual assault, overdose

Thank you to NetGalley and Catapult for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

memengwaa's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

rapgamenancyreagan's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

oldmanneill's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

3.5

shelf_inspiration's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

4.5 Stars

See more on my Bookstagram: Shelf.Inspiration Instagram

“Once upon a time there was magic, there was music, and then: nothing. Even now, years later, there are days when the world is little more than an empty scraped-out bag.” - Bewilderness.


Irene, a lonely nineteen-year-old in rural North Carolina, works long nights at the local pool hall, serving pitchers and dodging drunks. One evening, her hilarious, magnetic coworker Luce invites her on a joy ride through the mountains to take revenge on a creepy customer. Their adventure not only spells the beginning of a dazzling friendship, it seduces both girls into the mysterious world of pills and the endless hustles needed to find the next high. Everything is wild and wonderful until Luce finds a boyfriend who wants to help her get clean. Soon, the two of them decide to move away and start a new, sober life in Florida—leaving Irene behind.

Thank you to NetGalley , Catapult , and Karen Tucker for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Wow what can I say about this book! Bewilderness is the story of the friendship between Irene and Luce as they live in their small mountain town, and are caught in the hold of opioid addiction. The friendship between them is one of love, co-dependence, and even danger as they battle between sobriety and drug use. I really liked how this book examined friendship through the lens of addiction and how they impact one-another. This is a heartbreaking, graphic read but it is written so well. I felt that it accurately depicted addiction and the multitude of ways that it can impact someone’s life. I would recommend this book, especially for those who have read and enjoyed books such as “Marlena”, books by author Ellen Hopkins, or movies such as “Thirteen”.

Release Date: June 1, 2021

janna128's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Raw.

jeisenb3's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Couldnt put it down. Beautiful.

catparton_ok's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I didn’t want to give in, but I was weak. I thought I could handle just a few more pages, thought there was no way I would read more than another chapter. I should have known better...Bewilderness had me addicted, and I was up all night until I finished. Karen Tucker weaves an intoxicating tale of Irene & Luce, bored coworkers in what could be Anytown, USA, bonding together into a fast friendship of drugs, adventure, addiction, and codependency. Bewilderness isn’t for the faint of heart but is the eye-opener that many readers may need; while it is not marketed as a YA novel, it is capable of hooking a wide audience & will appeal to a broad range of readers.

jessicas's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0