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A review by everlaerian
The Last to Let Go by Amber Smith
4.0
I'll be honest, I did not like Brooke in the beginning.
She places her self-interest at the start of this book. She meddled and manipulated her family in doing what she wanted because she felt it was the right thing to do. She wanted them to acknowledge and include her, because she felt she had to know and she would know better on how to handle situations. This is after all a book about self-discovery, acceptance, coming of age, first love, pain and abuse (physical and emotional).
Brooke is after all a teenager, trying to hold on to what's left of her family and keep it together after a life changing event. At the beginning, it was all about her being involved and right. She didn't want help from Jackie and Ray. She wanted to be included in her mother's trial.
she wanted Aaron to put family first, even if it meant lying to him. She tried "to force" her sister to open up being she needed to know. The first third of the novel, Brooke did not appeal to me at all. But she soon grew, and learned that certain things were out of your reach, out of your control. And that you had to accept help, and learn to move on.
Brooke finds happiness, and yet finds ways to destroy such connections. With time, she realizes that she is following her parents pattern. Towards the end of the book, she has finally accepted the reality of her life, family, and tried to move on with the help of those around her.
Realistic in it's own way, this book deals with domestic abuse and it's lasting effects. The characters are complex and bold, each filling the gaps needed in this story and does not know the meaning of sugar coating.
I struggled with the beginning, placing a rating of 3 stars, but after completing it, 4.5 is a well deserved mark!
Deeply moving, I recommend this book to all.
She places her self-interest at the start of this book. She meddled and manipulated her family in doing what she wanted because she felt it was the right thing to do. She wanted them to acknowledge and include her, because she felt she had to know and she would know better on how to handle situations. This is after all a book about self-discovery, acceptance, coming of age, first love, pain and abuse (physical and emotional).
Brooke is after all a teenager, trying to hold on to what's left of her family and keep it together after a life changing event. At the beginning, it was all about her being involved and right. She didn't want help from Jackie and Ray. She wanted to be included in her mother's trial.
she wanted Aaron to put family first, even if it meant lying to him. She tried "to force" her sister to open up being she needed to know. The first third of the novel, Brooke did not appeal to me at all. But she soon grew, and learned that certain things were out of your reach, out of your control. And that you had to accept help, and learn to move on.
Brooke finds happiness, and yet finds ways to destroy such connections. With time, she realizes that she is following her parents pattern. Towards the end of the book, she has finally accepted the reality of her life, family, and tried to move on with the help of those around her.
Realistic in it's own way, this book deals with domestic abuse and it's lasting effects. The characters are complex and bold, each filling the gaps needed in this story and does not know the meaning of sugar coating.
I struggled with the beginning, placing a rating of 3 stars, but after completing it, 4.5 is a well deserved mark!
Deeply moving, I recommend this book to all.