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abidavisf 's review for:
Alive and Wells
by Bailey Hannah
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Alive and Wells is a hard-hitting and, at times, harrowing tale. I implore all of you to check its trigger warnings before delving into this book.
Bailey Hannah did a wonderful job of portraying the fear and vulnerability that partners not just being in an abusive relationship, but leaving one. The conflicting feelings of ‘I should go back’ and ‘I should run for the hills’ are detailed in an easy-to-understand way that never once gives the reader the opportunity to feel frustrated at this. It can be so easy for outsiders to tell victims what they should do but the reality is that the time has to be right, and Bailey Hannah did a great job detailing Cecily’s escape.
Where this book, tragically, may feel less realistic, though it was wonderful to read, is in the way that everybody believes Cecily. There is not a shadow of a doubt in anybody’s mind that she is a victim. From the people she met on her journey to the ranch to everybody in Wells Canyon, Cecily was always respected, believed and cared for. I can only wish that every victim receives the same.
I wasn’t the greatest fan of Austin and Cecily’s love story. I’d have liked there to have been more of an emotional connection at the start, as it felt like Austin, in particular, was falling for Cecily purely based on what she looked like which is not, for me, something that can make a person fall in love. Lust, maybe. As their emotional connection deepened, though, I was glad to see the two of them come together.
Without giving too much away, I was disappointed with the competition aspect of KJ’s final scene. Some of the dialogue between the men was so territorial and painted Cecily less as a human than a prize which did not sit well with me. This was rectified later but it was poignant and repeated enough to irk me. She won by getting away from him. She was brave and strong. She should have been protected by the men at the ranch because she is a human, not just because she is Austin’s girlfriend. I have no doubt that she would have been protected had she not been in a relationship with Austin, but the words used to describe her in that scene felt unnecessarily possessive. She is her own person, and it would do the men well to remember that, even if another man is trying to ‘take their spot’. (Obviously, I expect it from KJ but it was disappointing from Austin.)
With that being said, I really enjoyed getting to know so many of the men in this book, Denny and Red in particular. I believe the next book is about Red and I’m excited to find out more about this kind and funny man. I hope Denny gets his time to shine too.
Bailey Hannah did a wonderful job of portraying the fear and vulnerability that partners not just being in an abusive relationship, but leaving one. The conflicting feelings of ‘I should go back’ and ‘I should run for the hills’ are detailed in an easy-to-understand way that never once gives the reader the opportunity to feel frustrated at this. It can be so easy for outsiders to tell victims what they should do but the reality is that the time has to be right, and Bailey Hannah did a great job detailing Cecily’s escape.
Where this book, tragically, may feel less realistic, though it was wonderful to read, is in the way that everybody believes Cecily. There is not a shadow of a doubt in anybody’s mind that she is a victim. From the people she met on her journey to the ranch to everybody in Wells Canyon, Cecily was always respected, believed and cared for. I can only wish that every victim receives the same.
I wasn’t the greatest fan of Austin and Cecily’s love story. I’d have liked there to have been more of an emotional connection at the start, as it felt like Austin, in particular, was falling for Cecily purely based on what she looked like which is not, for me, something that can make a person fall in love. Lust, maybe. As their emotional connection deepened, though, I was glad to see the two of them come together.
Without giving too much away, I was disappointed with the competition aspect of KJ’s final scene. Some of the dialogue between the men was so territorial and painted Cecily less as a human than a prize which did not sit well with me. This was rectified later but it was poignant and repeated enough to irk me. She won by getting away from him. She was brave and strong. She should have been protected by the men at the ranch because she is a human, not just because she is Austin’s girlfriend. I have no doubt that she would have been protected had she not been in a relationship with Austin, but the words used to describe her in that scene felt unnecessarily possessive. She is her own person, and it would do the men well to remember that, even if another man is trying to ‘take their spot’. (Obviously, I expect it from KJ but it was disappointing from Austin.)
With that being said, I really enjoyed getting to know so many of the men in this book, Denny and Red in particular. I believe the next book is about Red and I’m excited to find out more about this kind and funny man. I hope Denny gets his time to shine too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Infertility, Infidelity, Terminal illness