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authorheatherw 's review for:
Left Drowning
by Jessica Park
You should have a box of tissues handy when you read this emotional and powerful book. Although there was a lot of sadness in the stories of Blythe and Chris, there was love and healing too. This is the first book I read by Jessica Park and I’m certainly a new fan.
Blythe was a character I really connected with. From the beginning, you can see her struggles to feel anything since a tragedy that left her and her brother orphaned. Her relationship with her brother is strained and the only way she knows how to cope is drinking and steering clear of emotional attachments.
Blythe meets Chris and his endearing siblings and she finally starts to gain a sense of belonging. However, Chris and his family have their own dark pasts and they each have their own set of self-destructive tendencies. Chris and his family were very likable and I loved how they adopted Blythe. Sabin was a personal favorite and he added a lot of comic relief to heavier moments.
The relationship between Chris and Blythe is complicated from the get go and they go through a lot of ups and downs. I loved how their lives intersected even when they weren’t together and I really could feel the strong feelings they had for each other. They felt more like two halves of a whole than merely a pair of lovers.
My only dislike of the book was the religious debates and the disdain that the characters express over Estelle’s zealous belief in God. It’s just a personal preference for me, but I prefer books that don’t touch on religion and politics. The pacing was also just okay for me. I found some parts slow-moving and others rushed.
A very good read overall and the rave reviews are definitely deserved. It was great to read a standalone with an ending that tied up everything nicely. I’d love to see a few spin-off stories from the book especially from the siblings’ point of views.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this novel for review!
Blythe was a character I really connected with. From the beginning, you can see her struggles to feel anything since a tragedy that left her and her brother orphaned. Her relationship with her brother is strained and the only way she knows how to cope is drinking and steering clear of emotional attachments.
Blythe meets Chris and his endearing siblings and she finally starts to gain a sense of belonging. However, Chris and his family have their own dark pasts and they each have their own set of self-destructive tendencies. Chris and his family were very likable and I loved how they adopted Blythe. Sabin was a personal favorite and he added a lot of comic relief to heavier moments.
The relationship between Chris and Blythe is complicated from the get go and they go through a lot of ups and downs. I loved how their lives intersected even when they weren’t together and I really could feel the strong feelings they had for each other. They felt more like two halves of a whole than merely a pair of lovers.
My only dislike of the book was the religious debates and the disdain that the characters express over Estelle’s zealous belief in God. It’s just a personal preference for me, but I prefer books that don’t touch on religion and politics. The pacing was also just okay for me. I found some parts slow-moving and others rushed.
A very good read overall and the rave reviews are definitely deserved. It was great to read a standalone with an ending that tied up everything nicely. I’d love to see a few spin-off stories from the book especially from the siblings’ point of views.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this novel for review!