A review by readwithacoffee
Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Woah. What a heartbreaking and utterly devastating read. This one just absolutely broke my heart the whole way through. 

This is the story of Shuggie Bain. It starts off in the present, set in Glasgow. And at the young age of 16, you can already tell that Shuggie has not had a good start in life. You instantly feel heartbroken for him and wonder what has lead him to this point in his young life. The story then transports you to the beginning and you soon realise that this is going to be tragic the whole way through. His Dad left his alcohol mother, his older sister left for a marriage as soon as she could and an older brother who uses his art as an escape, Shuggie is often left to be the main carer for his alcoholic mother and her string of tragic life choices. 

I felt like each word, each description, each sentence really hit the mark and made such an impact. I was often as hopeful and as distraught as Shuggie was with Mum in the beginning but by about halfway through felt the hopeless heartbreak of realisation as to how this was going to end. 

Probably not the most upbeat book to start the year but I devoured this book and came away just wanting to look after little Shuggie and even his brother too. I was infuriated with Dad throughout and honestly wanted something different to happen to him which I won't say out loud. 

Highly recommend if you are looking for a heartbreaking, tragic read.