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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
This book was an emotional rollercoaster I wasn't expecting.
This book starts slow, I almost put it down to start a different book because of it. The protaganist is very unlikable and suffers from "not like other girls" syndrome. I found myself rolling my eyes a lot through the first few chapters. But once it gets going, it was hard to put it down.
Our protag just has it rough, both of her parents died in a fire while she was a teenager, and here she is 4 years later, completely unable to have any sort of relationship with another person. Until she meets the Sheperds. They are a group of four siblings that are also parentless, but mainly by choice. When she meets Chris, the patriarch of this little family, she feels an immediate connection. They go through their ups and their downs, and a lot of truely heartbreaking confessions happen a long the way.
The pacing of this book is a little off. It goes very slowly, and time moves slowly. The majority of the time is spent in the winter of Blythe's senior year of college. Then all of a sudden it speeds up, and then skips over a year. Slows down for a minute then everything gets resolved. It was a little confusing and it made the story seem a little anti climactic.
I did, however, love the writing. I loved the actual tension and raw emotions she prevoked while reading about these two characters. I may have actually cried a few times while reading through the toughest parts of this book.
Overall it was a pretty good read, I couldn't put it down! I just wish the ending would have been more thought out.
This book starts slow, I almost put it down to start a different book because of it. The protaganist is very unlikable and suffers from "not like other girls" syndrome. I found myself rolling my eyes a lot through the first few chapters. But once it gets going, it was hard to put it down.
Our protag just has it rough, both of her parents died in a fire while she was a teenager, and here she is 4 years later, completely unable to have any sort of relationship with another person. Until she meets the Sheperds. They are a group of four siblings that are also parentless, but mainly by choice. When she meets Chris, the patriarch of this little family, she feels an immediate connection. They go through their ups and their downs, and a lot of truely heartbreaking confessions happen a long the way.
The pacing of this book is a little off. It goes very slowly, and time moves slowly. The majority of the time is spent in the winter of Blythe's senior year of college. Then all of a sudden it speeds up, and then skips over a year. Slows down for a minute then everything gets resolved. It was a little confusing and it made the story seem a little anti climactic.
I did, however, love the writing. I loved the actual tension and raw emotions she prevoked while reading about these two characters. I may have actually cried a few times while reading through the toughest parts of this book.
Overall it was a pretty good read, I couldn't put it down! I just wish the ending would have been more thought out.
I read a lot of fantastic books throughout the year. But once in a while I will come across a book that is so fantastic that it renders me speechless. A book that works a number on my emotions and leaves me utterly drained – but in a blissfully happy way. A rare book that will keep me up late because I just can’t bare to put it down and have to finish it. And that is what Jessica Park did to me with Left Drowning. This was the first book I’ve ready by this author – but it will certainly not be the last.
We start the book meeting Blythe. She’s on her way home from a party in a drunken haze. This has been her coping mechanism for her first few years of college while she refuses to deal with her tragic past.
Then one day she meets the fun-loving siblings who will change everything in her world. Eric & Estelle, the twins. Sabin, the out-going and hilarious flirt. And the oldest, Chris, who she immediately connects with on a level deeper than anyone in her life. It’s the friendships of these awesome people that help Blythe to start healing and dealing with her past. In addition – her love and connection with Chris continues to grow the more time she spends with him, despite his constant reminders that she’s too good for him and more than he’s ready for.
Not to mention the sexual tension and steam between them is HOT! But no matter his growing feelings for her, Chris continues to hold back and keep his past from her. Everything isn’t exactly what it seems, and it’s clear these siblings have suffered their own tragic past – but have fought to get past it. Blythe knows there’s more to their story but doesn’t question them. She’s worked hard to make peace with her past, and she wants nothing more than to help Chris get past his – whatever it may be. But he’s determined to only move into the future, never thinking about or dealing with those demons that haunt him.
I was on a spectacular high through most of this book, loving every beautiful written word. To only come CRASHING down, my heart wrecked by a certain turn of events. I understood later the authors reasoning, and it was completely justified. My advice to readers is keep an open mind. My friend told me the same thing while reading this book, and she was right. It’s worth every gut-wrenching minute.
I also loved how the author wrapped everything up in the end – bringing all the pieces together to fit like a puzzle. I had figured out some of the pieces early in the book, but it was brilliant how it all came together in the end. This author knows how to write – her style is beautiful and riveting. She pulled me in immediately and I couldn’t get enough. My emotions were all over the place, and I’m still on a high from finishing it. It was refreshing to read such a different storyline from anything I’ve read lately, but it still had all of the elements I love in a book – love, friendship, humor, sex, suspense, angst. It’s a book that I won’t soon forget!
We start the book meeting Blythe. She’s on her way home from a party in a drunken haze. This has been her coping mechanism for her first few years of college while she refuses to deal with her tragic past.
Then one day she meets the fun-loving siblings who will change everything in her world. Eric & Estelle, the twins. Sabin, the out-going and hilarious flirt. And the oldest, Chris, who she immediately connects with on a level deeper than anyone in her life. It’s the friendships of these awesome people that help Blythe to start healing and dealing with her past. In addition – her love and connection with Chris continues to grow the more time she spends with him, despite his constant reminders that she’s too good for him and more than he’s ready for.
Not to mention the sexual tension and steam between them is HOT! But no matter his growing feelings for her, Chris continues to hold back and keep his past from her. Everything isn’t exactly what it seems, and it’s clear these siblings have suffered their own tragic past – but have fought to get past it. Blythe knows there’s more to their story but doesn’t question them. She’s worked hard to make peace with her past, and she wants nothing more than to help Chris get past his – whatever it may be. But he’s determined to only move into the future, never thinking about or dealing with those demons that haunt him.
I was on a spectacular high through most of this book, loving every beautiful written word. To only come CRASHING down, my heart wrecked by a certain turn of events. I understood later the authors reasoning, and it was completely justified. My advice to readers is keep an open mind. My friend told me the same thing while reading this book, and she was right. It’s worth every gut-wrenching minute.
I also loved how the author wrapped everything up in the end – bringing all the pieces together to fit like a puzzle. I had figured out some of the pieces early in the book, but it was brilliant how it all came together in the end. This author knows how to write – her style is beautiful and riveting. She pulled me in immediately and I couldn’t get enough. My emotions were all over the place, and I’m still on a high from finishing it. It was refreshing to read such a different storyline from anything I’ve read lately, but it still had all of the elements I love in a book – love, friendship, humor, sex, suspense, angst. It’s a book that I won’t soon forget!
This has to be one of the best books that I have read in some time now. In the beginning I wasn't sold.
Blythe lost both of her parents in a fire. Guilt and sadness has taken over her life and left her barely living. She goes to classes and then she goes back to the comfort of her dorm room, alone. Until she meets an outgoing guy named Sabin and his incredible group of siblings; including Chris who Blythe falls deeply in love with.
The connection between the siblings in this book is something I have always admired. I have one sister, who is old, but it isn't the same as having 4 others. Each one is unique is their own way and it makes them an interesting bunch. Outside of the lovely bunch of siblings, the story progressed a bit slowly.
And then POW! Right in the kisser. It heats up so quickly that I was completely caught off-guard. Expect for your emotions to get the best of you throughout this book.
I would recommend this book to anyone. It is not your typical love story. You will have your heart ripped out. You will feel pain for the characters. You will probably cry (I did). But you will love it.
"So do it. Breathe. Just Breathe."
Blythe lost both of her parents in a fire. Guilt and sadness has taken over her life and left her barely living. She goes to classes and then she goes back to the comfort of her dorm room, alone. Until she meets an outgoing guy named Sabin and his incredible group of siblings; including Chris who Blythe falls deeply in love with.
The connection between the siblings in this book is something I have always admired. I have one sister, who is old, but it isn't the same as having 4 others. Each one is unique is their own way and it makes them an interesting bunch. Outside of the lovely bunch of siblings, the story progressed a bit slowly.
And then POW! Right in the kisser. It heats up so quickly that I was completely caught off-guard. Expect for your emotions to get the best of you throughout this book.
I would recommend this book to anyone. It is not your typical love story. You will have your heart ripped out. You will feel pain for the characters. You will probably cry (I did). But you will love it.
"So do it. Breathe. Just Breathe."
I've steered clear of the abuse fiction storylines for a while because it seemed that was the only conflict that authors could come up with last summer. So it's taken me a while to cleanse my literary palette to read this.
Blythe is still broken over a house fire where her parents died and her brother barely survived due to her dedication to getting him out of the house. It's been 5 years and she barely functions at her college save for notorious drinking binges. She meets Christoper and he helps her to productively work through her sorrow and guilt. Blythe and Christopher have an instant connection with some magentic chemistry.
The romance was a bit over the top.
Blythe is still broken over a house fire where her parents died and her brother barely survived due to her dedication to getting him out of the house. It's been 5 years and she barely functions at her college save for notorious drinking binges. She meets Christoper and he helps her to productively work through her sorrow and guilt. Blythe and Christopher have an instant connection with some magentic chemistry.
The romance was a bit over the top.
Even though I liked the story, I also had a lot of issues with it. The characters were extremely lovable, but the story was soooo slow and somewhat predictable. There were even a few parts that I asked myself, "Why was this part even in here??" To me it was just okay. :(
Left Drowning surprised me. From the start I was invested in the storyline. It had me both laughing and wanting to cry. At times I couldn’t put it down. I just needed to know how this was going to end.
Blythe is lost and emotionally numb after her parents die in a fire. She blames herself, her brother barely talks to her, so to cope she drinks and walked through life aimlessly. She is lost in her grief and can’t find her way out.
Until one day she happens to meet a guy who pulls her from her darkness. Chris slowly saves her. He brings her back to life and with his whole family, they heal Blythe. They made her part of something again. Something that was missing since she lost her family in the fire.
I adored the whole Sheppard family. Each member was a unique character. Sabin was so full of energy and become this protective brother to Blythe. Eric was quite, but supported Blythe when she needed him. Estelle, who is not easy to love, gave her a female friendship that she hadn’t had since before the fire. And, Chris was a big mystery the entire book. You hardly saw any peeks at what made him pull away from Blythe when it got too intense for him. You could just see him pushing her away and wanted to know why.
I don’t think he would have had the same effect on Blythe if it was only Chris. Her transformation was due to each of the Sheppard crew, not just one individual. It made the book more than just the romance. Jessica Park built this wonderful family for Blythe to be part of.
The romance developed slowly. Both were obviously attracted to each other, but didn’t act on their feelings. Their emotional and physically connection to each other was powerful. They built this bond that went deeper than a lot of relationships you see in New Adult. The last half of the book got really intense quickly. It had me so emotionally invested that at times I wanted to stop because I just needed to process what I just read.
Blythe is lost and emotionally numb after her parents die in a fire. She blames herself, her brother barely talks to her, so to cope she drinks and walked through life aimlessly. She is lost in her grief and can’t find her way out.
“God, every memory is so tied to them, and it seems impossible to separate the memories from the grief.”
Until one day she happens to meet a guy who pulls her from her darkness. Chris slowly saves her. He brings her back to life and with his whole family, they heal Blythe. They made her part of something again. Something that was missing since she lost her family in the fire.
“I know what you are thinking, and that’s not why you’re here with us."
"Why am I?"
“Does there really have to be an answer to that? Sometimes it’s just right. You fit. Jesus, kid, can’t you feel it? Don’t question everything.”
I adored the whole Sheppard family. Each member was a unique character. Sabin was so full of energy and become this protective brother to Blythe. Eric was quite, but supported Blythe when she needed him. Estelle, who is not easy to love, gave her a female friendship that she hadn’t had since before the fire. And, Chris was a big mystery the entire book. You hardly saw any peeks at what made him pull away from Blythe when it got too intense for him. You could just see him pushing her away and wanted to know why.
I don’t think he would have had the same effect on Blythe if it was only Chris. Her transformation was due to each of the Sheppard crew, not just one individual. It made the book more than just the romance. Jessica Park built this wonderful family for Blythe to be part of.
“You listen to me, all right? Listen. You are my family. From the minute that you stole my coffee, you were my family. That’s for always. I will always need you, no matter how close James and I ever get. All four of you, you have changed my life.”
Blythe
The romance developed slowly. Both were obviously attracted to each other, but didn’t act on their feelings. Their emotional and physically connection to each other was powerful. They built this bond that went deeper than a lot of relationships you see in New Adult. The last half of the book got really intense quickly. It had me so emotionally invested that at times I wanted to stop because I just needed to process what I just read.
“I hate that he knows me this well. I fucking hate it. And I fucking hate how much it hurts to look at him.”
Blythe
Incredibly powerful story
This is an amazing story of how two people overcome difficult pasts and find love and healing in each other, and each other's family. Survival can be so difficult, but finding the right person can help you overcome it and finally be whole again.
This is an amazing story of how two people overcome difficult pasts and find love and healing in each other, and each other's family. Survival can be so difficult, but finding the right person can help you overcome it and finally be whole again.
I'm not one to write many reviews because I can never think of the right words to say about how I felt about a book. Every once in a while a story comes along and just blows your mind..this is one of those books. I rank this one right up there with The Edge of Never, Hopeless, Slammed...you get the point. Honestly, this is one of the best books I've read..ever. Just when I thought I had things figured out, nope. I was wrong. I can't remember the last time I wanted to kick a character's butt like I wanted to do Chris. Good grief men can be so dense! Anyway, let me just reiterate what a gem this story is. You wont regret reading it!