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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
BAD ROMANCE is the kind of book that stays with you long after you’ve finished. I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book from a friend and having finished it last week, I can honestly say, I’ve thought about it every day since then. What Heather Demetrios has done with this novel, is shed a light on a very real and a very dangerous experience for so many people, including teens. Abuse, whether it be physical, sexual, mental or verbal, has touched so many lives and this is the kind of book that so many readers need in their life. The story begins at the end in this novel and to read along as the MC, Grace, goes back to retell her experience from its wild and wonderful beginning to the bitter and painful end, is so powerful. I was fascinated by the way in which Demetrios chose to have Grace narrate the story as if she was telling it to her ex, Gavin. You could feel the sadness, anger and defeat in her narration, but what really moved me, was watching that narration evolve and ultimately see her discover her worth and dignity as a person. It’s everything I love in an amazing book. To go from a place of such insecurity and darkness and then fight through all of it to come out the other side.
The fact that Demetrios pulled from her own experiences with an abusive boyfriend as a teenager makes the reading experience that much more powerful. You know that this story is coming from very real and very painful truth in her life. The fact that she was able to open her heart and leave it all on the page is awe-inspiring. Huge kudos…and THANKS to Demetrios for opening herself up like that.
I won’t lie, this can be a difficult read at times, and there were so many moments that broke my heart. Sometimes I had to set the book down and walk away for a bit. But I always came back knowing that this was a book that needed and deserved to be read. It is my hope that BAD ROMANCE gets in the hands of as many young readers as possible, so they can start to recognize not only what signs to look for in an abusive relationship, but also to understand that self-worth and dignity are something that EVERYONE deserves. No matter what their situation in life or where they come from. We all deserve love and respect.
FINAL THOUGHTS…
Honest, Brave and Powerful. Bad ROMANCE is story that needs and deserves to BE tolD.
This review was originally posted on what sarah read...
Thank goodness I’ve finally read it and wow, WHAT an intense reading experience this is. I’ve unfortunately been unlucky enough to be in a similar relationship to our main female lead, Grace and many of the things she went through in her controlling relationship with Gavin were eerily reminiscent of my own experiences when I was younger.
I think young people are potentially amongst the more vulnerable to being controlled and emotionally abused especially if they’ve never had a relationship before and have additional issues with low self-esteem which was certainly the case with me. In happier news though, I think if you can come through something like that, it makes you a stronger person and ensures you realise your self-worth and what you should and should not be treated like.
I think the story of Grace and Gavin is essential reading for all young people and it was written with such heart and authenticity that it was clear the author may have had personal experiences herself with a toxic relationship. For me, I wonder if I had read it at the time I was in the relationship if it would have given me the strength to leave sooner than I did.
It’s wonderful that Demetrios is highlighting this issue and writing about it in such a relatable way. Even though parts of it made for tough reading and brought up painful memories, I’ll always be grateful I read it - it reminds me both how far I’ve come and how much I value my own peace of mind and mental health.
Four stars
The story is an important one, and the links for readers who may be affected by this scenario is a good idea. Unfortunately, there were a few aspects to this which rankled with me (perhaps being an adult makes this a different read).
From the way Grace describes her home environment we can see she’s used to toxic relationships. They’re her norm, and she’s learned ways to cope in certain situations. If she weren’t surrounded by screwed up relationships she might have not been so keen to commit so quickly to Gavin. I also found it frustrating that those around her who care for her don’t do more to help her. That said, I can see it’s important she comes to this resolution for herself.
While I would have liked to know more about her familial relationships, the focus on her romance with Gavin does allow us to see how she develops as a person. I liked the fact she grew into herself as the story developed.
Sadly, an important story and one that I think teen readers should consider reading.
