Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
I realized after half reading this book why I hate it so much because I didn’t realize she was the author of the other tragic book on here that shouldn’t have ever been written.
Jesus this book was bad. Like aggressive sex scenes constantly. and then the weird confessions about her past life out of nowhere. Then the constant like talk about faith when she’s like the other woman cause the guy Chris is getting married and didn’t bother to tell anyone. And how about his family just also failing to disclose that as well. DNF at like 65% and now I don’t feel as bad because her other book 180 seconds was so bad I DNF @ 13%.
Not sure how this author tricked people into reading her book but wow.
Jesus this book was bad. Like aggressive sex scenes constantly. and then the weird confessions about her past life out of nowhere. Then the constant like talk about faith when she’s like the other woman cause the guy Chris is getting married and didn’t bother to tell anyone. And how about his family just also failing to disclose that as well. DNF at like 65% and now I don’t feel as bad because her other book 180 seconds was so bad I DNF @ 13%.
Not sure how this author tricked people into reading her book but wow.
I received a copy of Left Drowning from NetGalley to review.
I absolutely loved Park's book Flat-Out Love. It was touching and beautiful. It also made me sob quite often. I had very high expectations for this book as a result. This book met my admittedly high expectations. Blythe and Chris had a very interesting relationship. I loved seeing how the Shepard kids all reacted to the same tragedy. They all grieved in their own very unique ways. It was interesting to see all of those approaches. Chris and Blythe are tied together in a rather interesting way. I thought it was quite clever. The reader is given enough clues to figure most of it out on their own. While I was reading the book, I was irked at how coincidental it seemed that. Thankfully, it was explained away.
I absolutely loved Park's book Flat-Out Love. It was touching and beautiful. It also made me sob quite often. I had very high expectations for this book as a result. This book met my admittedly high expectations. Blythe and Chris had a very interesting relationship. I loved seeing how the Shepard kids all reacted to the same tragedy. They all grieved in their own very unique ways. It was interesting to see all of those approaches. Chris and Blythe are tied together in a rather interesting way. I thought it was quite clever. The reader is given enough clues to figure most of it out on their own. While I was reading the book, I was irked at how coincidental it seemed that
Spoiler
they ended up at the same school. I loved that their little meeting by the lake and her giving him her shirt is why he ends up there. It was so well done.
Wow. I’m speechless. I’m still trying to get back from the roller coaster ride that is this book. It starts out really weird. How Blythe coincidentally met the Shepherds is really unrealistic. Also, the middle part contains too much unnecessary sex scene that I was set on giving it a 3. But, patience my friend, because right when I was about to give up on this book it turned into a 360 mind-blowing plot. I loved how the whole story unfold. Ironically, the main characters do not believe in God but this book made me realize just how powerful the grace of God is. How our lives are interwoven perfectly according to His plans.
Ps. I was semi rooting for Blythe and Sabin ❤️
Ps. I was semi rooting for Blythe and Sabin ❤️
SHITTING RAINBOWS!
Thank you Jessica Park. You tore me apart and put me back together again and tore me apart and put me back together. It was beautiful. I waited months for this book to come out. It was worth the wait. I, of course, loved Chris and Blythe. However, I love love loved the Shepherds as a whole. I loved Neon Jesus. I just loved the whole fuckity fucking thing. And yes at 70% my soul died a little, but then you made me believe in fate again. So, thanks Jessica Park.
Thank you Jessica Park. You tore me apart and put me back together again and tore me apart and put me back together. It was beautiful. I waited months for this book to come out. It was worth the wait. I, of course, loved Chris and Blythe. However, I love love loved the Shepherds as a whole. I loved Neon Jesus. I just loved the whole fuckity fucking thing. And yes at 70% my soul died a little, but then you made me believe in fate again. So, thanks Jessica Park.
4.5 DROWNING STARS
I have been racking my brain for the right words to clearly describe my love for this gut-wrenching, amazing, brilliant novel. I've thought and thought about it, and yet nothing can quite fit the bill. I can only compare it to the feelings I had when I read Hopeless by Colleen Hoover. I was left feeling overwhelmed by the tragedy these characters faced. My chest ached (I caught myself rubbing my chest to try to alleviate the discomfort quite a few times), my heart hurt and my brain was buzzing with all kinds of emotions. Left Drowning is the perfect combination of angst and sex with a story-line that is gripping, thought-provoking, tortured and dark
Blythe McGuire breaks my heart. To say she is an emotional wreck is an understatement! Her life was changed forever when a fire took half of her family. I can't even imagine how one would live with a tragedy like that. She drinks to numb herself from the emotional pain she carries around. She's haunted by a brother, who she was once extremely close to, and now isn't. You can feel her desperation in wanting to be forgiven for her actions the night of the fire. Blythe is closed off, shut down and barely functioning when she meets Chris Shepherd. Almost instantly, Blythe feels a connection to Chris that leaves her reeling, wanting more, and suddenly... hopeful. Hopeful that she can pull out of her despair and be normal again. Hopeful that she and Chris can become something more.
Blythe becomes close to Chris and his siblings, since they all attend the same college together. As they become their own little family, Blythe finds herself coming to terms with her past and finally allows herself to begin the grieving process and heal. Chris is instrumental with the healing. He knows just the things to say to allow her to cope and keep moving.
Chris Shepherd is just as screwed up as Blythe is, he's just better at hiding it. He's built walls so high even his feelings for Blythe can't get past them. Blythe makes him feel something real, too real. Chris can't deal with anything other than being numb, so he closes himself off from Blythe. Even after a weekend of letting their guards down and really getting to know each other, Chris can't cope. So he runs. And he hides. And he gives Blythe the ultimate slap in the face.
I think it was at this point in the story where the tears flowed almost constantly. I was overcome with such a deep sadness for what Blythe had been through, and yet, I admired her strength and determination to become a new version of herself.
Blythe and Chris have a connection that sizzles off the page. You can feel it in your fingertips as you turn the pages. This is one of those books that will stick with you. You'll be talking about it months later and recommending to your friends as a "must read".
This is what makes me want to give the book 4.5 stars though. Spoilers ahead if you haven't read the book yet!
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
I would recommend this novel
He puts his hand on my cheek. "You were left drowning"
I nod again.
"And you're struggling to breathe"
I am. It's a constant struggle to stay near the surface I have just enough air to stop me from going totally under, but not enough to thrive.
"So do it. Breathe. Just Breathe."
I have been racking my brain for the right words to clearly describe my love for this gut-wrenching, amazing, brilliant novel. I've thought and thought about it, and yet nothing can quite fit the bill. I can only compare it to the feelings I had when I read Hopeless by Colleen Hoover. I was left feeling overwhelmed by the tragedy these characters faced. My chest ached (I caught myself rubbing my chest to try to alleviate the discomfort quite a few times), my heart hurt and my brain was buzzing with all kinds of emotions. Left Drowning is the perfect combination of angst and sex with a story-line that is gripping, thought-provoking, tortured and dark
Blythe McGuire breaks my heart. To say she is an emotional wreck is an understatement! Her life was changed forever when a fire took half of her family. I can't even imagine how one would live with a tragedy like that. She drinks to numb herself from the emotional pain she carries around. She's haunted by a brother, who she was once extremely close to, and now isn't. You can feel her desperation in wanting to be forgiven for her actions the night of the fire. Blythe is closed off, shut down and barely functioning when she meets Chris Shepherd. Almost instantly, Blythe feels a connection to Chris that leaves her reeling, wanting more, and suddenly... hopeful. Hopeful that she can pull out of her despair and be normal again. Hopeful that she and Chris can become something more.
Blythe becomes close to Chris and his siblings, since they all attend the same college together. As they become their own little family, Blythe finds herself coming to terms with her past and finally allows herself to begin the grieving process and heal. Chris is instrumental with the healing. He knows just the things to say to allow her to cope and keep moving.
"You need songs that make you feel. Some make you string, some make you weak. Some build determination, some tear you apart. But you need all of those...Run through the pain."
Chris Shepherd is just as screwed up as Blythe is, he's just better at hiding it. He's built walls so high even his feelings for Blythe can't get past them. Blythe makes him feel something real, too real. Chris can't deal with anything other than being numb, so he closes himself off from Blythe. Even after a weekend of letting their guards down and really getting to know each other, Chris can't cope. So he runs. And he hides. And he gives Blythe the ultimate slap in the face.
“you're just....You're everything"
His words are perfect, but the tone in his voice is not right. Wistful. Apologetic.”
I think it was at this point in the story where the tears flowed almost constantly. I was overcome with such a deep sadness for what Blythe had been through, and yet, I admired her strength and determination to become a new version of herself.
Blythe and Chris have a connection that sizzles off the page. You can feel it in your fingertips as you turn the pages. This is one of those books that will stick with you. You'll be talking about it months later and recommending to your friends as a "must read".
This is what makes me want to give the book 4.5 stars though. Spoilers ahead if you haven't read the book yet!
Spoiler
I gave this book 4.5 stars but for me, I think it deserves 4 and the reason for that being is that I didn't like what happened after the hotel chapters.*Girls, if you read those steamy scenes you get what I'm talking about)! I think Chris should have just been alone. Why even get in a relationship with another girl after? Why even propose to said rebound girl? Why not just be alone? If he didn't want to marry heroine, why would he have wanted to marry safe girl? The heroine just forgave him for all that pain that he put her through, and the issue was just kinda glossed over, and that's always gonna bug me. Oh yeah, and then he had the audacity to say, "Well, I'm glad you haven't been with anyone else, cause it would have driven me crazy!" Really? Really? It's okay for her to put up with all that suffering, and then you just expect forgiveness? That was so wrong on so many levels. He didn't have to have a girlfriend right after they separated, there was no reason for that, and it upset me greatly. Kinda took away from their epic heartbreaking love story really. Didn't ruin it, but dampened it for sure. Sorry, Jessica Park but I think you shouldn't have put that in the book. Kinda ruined things. However, this was a fantastic book overall, and it's getting added to my favorite list <3~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
I would recommend this novel
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a very heartbreaking and emotional book to read. But I thought it was very powerful and I thuroughly enjoyed it!
Just finished and WOW is all I can say. I honestly didn't have the highest hopes for this book due to the slow start and trying to piece together what was going on. However, once you became acquainted with the characters you were on such an emotional rollercoaster. Blythe and all the Shepherds spoke to me on so many levels. Jessica Park did an amazing job weaving this book together and blending all these people into one. There was so much that at times I had to slam the book shut, not able to believe what was happening, only to open it right back up and continue on. You will not regret this book and the belief that life can get better and the past and future can be good together. Bravo! I don't even know where to go after this read, what can compete against all this?
I admit I am not the intended audience for this book, but I loved Flat Out Love by the same author. Seriously glad I didn't buy the audiobook, but borrowed it for my kindle. Parts of this were soft core porn. The characters were college aged students on their own with a huge bankroll. Of course the wounded characters are star crossed lovers who save and complete each other. I never bought it, but was compelled to finish it. I enjoyed the running metaphors, but the graphic controlled based sex scenes, not so much. Can't recommend this one.