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A review by samwlabb
Accidental by Alex Richards
4.0
They said it was an accident that killed her mother - a car accident, but after 13 years, Johanna learns the truth. Though she doesn't remember it, she was responsible for her mother's death. Reeling from this bombshell, she must work through her emotions regarding her role in her mother's death, the lies her grandparents told her, and the return of the father she never knew.
When I first read the synopsis for this book, I thought about how tragic the situation was and then tried to imagine what it would feel like to learn that I was responsible for the death of another person. I found I couldn't fathom the depth of the pain, the guilt, and the self hatred, and with that, I must commend Richards for capturing these emotions so well. When Johanna ached, I ached. When she cried, I cried.
But, as always, I appreciate that the author tempered this pain with some of the most average teen joys. Look, I like romance and will forever welcome it. I was quite pleased with the bit of romance in this story. Not just because it gave me a bit of a break from the rather weighty issues, but because I needed Johanna to have someone on her side, to prop her up. She did have her two best friends, and it was beautiful the way many people reached out to her in a show of support, but I think him being new to her world and also dealing with daddy issues, brought her a perspective she needed.
I also appreciated the way the author handled the central issue of gun violence. Her focus was on gun safety and accidental deaths. So, this was not a commentary on the second amendment or gun owners, but about being responsible, and highlighting the frequency of deaths like this. She allowed characters on both sides of the the gun issue to volley a bit, but the spotlight was always on safety.
The theme of forgiveness permeated the story, as well. Johanna had to dig deep and find a way to forgive so many people in her life. Her father abandoned her and only came looking for her many, many years later. Her grandparents lied to her, and though it may have been to protect her, it was still a major deception from those she trusted. And then she was left with herself. How do you make peace with the fact that you, essentially, killed your own mother? The struggle came across as very difficult, but honest.
This was quite an emotional journey, and I thought Richards did a wonderful job taking me on it.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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When I first read the synopsis for this book, I thought about how tragic the situation was and then tried to imagine what it would feel like to learn that I was responsible for the death of another person. I found I couldn't fathom the depth of the pain, the guilt, and the self hatred, and with that, I must commend Richards for capturing these emotions so well. When Johanna ached, I ached. When she cried, I cried.
But, as always, I appreciate that the author tempered this pain with some of the most average teen joys. Look, I like romance and will forever welcome it. I was quite pleased with the bit of romance in this story. Not just because it gave me a bit of a break from the rather weighty issues, but because I needed Johanna to have someone on her side, to prop her up. She did have her two best friends, and it was beautiful the way many people reached out to her in a show of support, but I think him being new to her world and also dealing with daddy issues, brought her a perspective she needed.
I also appreciated the way the author handled the central issue of gun violence. Her focus was on gun safety and accidental deaths. So, this was not a commentary on the second amendment or gun owners, but about being responsible, and highlighting the frequency of deaths like this. She allowed characters on both sides of the the gun issue to volley a bit, but the spotlight was always on safety.
The theme of forgiveness permeated the story, as well. Johanna had to dig deep and find a way to forgive so many people in her life. Her father abandoned her and only came looking for her many, many years later. Her grandparents lied to her, and though it may have been to protect her, it was still a major deception from those she trusted. And then she was left with herself. How do you make peace with the fact that you, essentially, killed your own mother? The struggle came across as very difficult, but honest.
This was quite an emotional journey, and I thought Richards did a wonderful job taking me on it.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS