A beautiful heartbreaking story
345942
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
As a fan of this series since the very first book, I've gotta say that Shad and Harper have one of the most heartbreaking stories in this series. I was bitting my nails and crying my eyes out with this one. So emotional this story is. I loved the feistiness that was Harper and the tortured Hero that was Shad. I'm so honored to read this book, because it was really an amazing one, and I can't wait for what comes next in this series. Evangeline is an awesome writer,  she&#039;s always adding amazing plot twist to this series. Thank you lady for the good time you provide us with this fantastic world of the kindred.
2630723
This is a heart-wrenchingly, beautiful story of one woman wading her way through the tragic loss of her husband and the subsequent grief that follows. The theme of the story is one I've read before: Widow loses husband, is now a single mother, finds new love that helps her through. However, what really made the story for me is the author's approach. She outlines which stage of grief, Liz, the main character/narrator is in, and follows each in order. The emotions are so strong I I felt each and every one of them. I FELT like this was MY loss. MY heart was shattered right along with Liz. I worked through the grief with Liz.

Well, obviously Liz is the one who loses her husband, Grady. He tragically dies of cancer after a hard fight, leaving behind Liz and their four young children. Understandably, she is a wreck. It is hard for her to go on. She is a stay at home mother and the every day things that were so simple, like getting get children to school on time, before Grady died is now monumentally difficult. She meets her new neighbor, Ben, on an especially difficult day, and at first finds him annoying. No reason, she's just moody, so she doesn't like him.

Ben knows the situation and slowly begins to help Liz. As she starts to accept his help, they forge a strong friendship and he becomes someone she trusts and relies on. Then feelings develop. Of course they are hard for Liz to accept. She is still mourning the loss of Grady and still loves him very much. And Ben...SIGH... He is so gentle and patient with her. He doesn't push, doesn't try to take Grady's place. He just wants her to make room for him. He makes this speech to her  Oh my heart! I think it is one of the most beautiful speeches and now my favorite out of all the books I've read!

There is so much I want to tell about this story, but I can't. No, I WON'T. This brilliantly written story HAS to be experienced first hand. The Five Stages of Falling in Love is the perfect example of what I'm looking for in books. Not just a story, but an experience. This book hit me on a level that only my most cherished stories have. It broke my heart and put the jagged pieces back together again. I was left with a bittersweet joy for the characters.
3794735
I have to admit that I cried------a lot------when I read this book. It's a beautiful story of making choices and then living with them. It's a beautiful story of love, trust, growing up, growing old, living and dying. I couldn't put this book down. I found it hard to read through my tears. But I loved it all. Someone else earlier wrote about the characters staying with you long after you're finished reading. I have to agree totally. I drove over 200 miles today and during the entire drive, I thought about the people, the story, the ending, the impact it made on my life
This was an awesome book. I will read more by this author.
4052028
I could not put this book down. It was heartbreaking and beautiful, a real glimpse into the life of a kid forced to grow up too soon because of a terrible disease. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
4426859
This is a beautiful story about a beautiful soul who passes away and leaves her best friend with the huge problem of continuing to live after she has left her behind. What stands out in this story is how real the emotions are, how raw, and how personal. The author truly understands what it means to experience loss and what it means to have to deal with life when that's the last thing you want to do.
1742933
I'm going to do what Zach doesn't do for the first half of this book; I'm going to be honest. I gave the book 5 stars for the story, not for the writing. It felt a bit forced, and the prose didn't "flow". It was slow to start, but once the plot unfolds the book takes off. I had to put the book down a few times because I was in tears, it's heartbreaking, but it's a beautiful story. Walking besides Zach while he sobers himself up and deals with his "monsters" is difficult. There are parts in the book that are raw and deeply emotional, and that will haunt me for a lifetime. The ending was amazing, and I was a bit sad to put it down. Amazing story, heartbreakingly beautiful. The only two words I can think of to describe this book.
234615
Heartbreakingly beautiful!  I was so sad when this book was over as I would have loved to keep reading.
903943
This is a beautiful story about two people broken, each at the hand of tragic circumstances.  The story outlines the horror that Hayden witnesses as a young boy and how from that point forward he shuts people out and with his friend Remy ends up working as a collector of debts for their underhand boss Cooper.  Hayden has learnt to keep everyone at arms length until he meets Alex.

Alex too has suffered loss in her life only recently and leaves her home to live with her estranged Aunt.  Alex meets Hayden and slowly but surely she begins to feel safe and cherished by Hayden and as a result she gradually unlocks Hayden's heart stripping away his protective walls enabling him to love, trust and open himself up to Alex.  There are many instances in Hayden's life that he regrets but Alex empowers him, through her love, to change.

I liked this story because the author keeps your attention throughout.  There is a good mix of anxiety, grief and love which had me wondering how the story would end.  This is a 5+ star read.  I will definitely not hesitate to read more from this author.

Lesley S
1678018
I will warn you now have the tissues handy because this book had me ugly crying. It's so heartbreaklingly beautiful. Some parts are just so sad that it rips my heart and the tears just start flowing. Then you have such beautiful moments that just melted my heart. Alexander when he talks about what happened to him I had to pause because it's so tough to read through and I had tears blurring my eyes. It's amazing that he even functions, but when Gwen and her kids come into his life it's a truly beautiful thing. What he also brings to that little family is so beautiful. Lives are forever changed because of a snowstorm. The epilogue is just perfect because how far everyone comes and what they to go through they deserve that ending.  Prepare for one emotional ride, but one so worth the read!
4199040
Tho story is filled with tragedy sadness pain loss heartbreak and abuse but more importantly it is filled with love hope and loyalty. I couldn't put it down once I started and I cant wait to read more from this insightful author. A must read
1441063
Falling into You is a beautiful yet Heartbreaking story. I felt every single emotion with this book, I smiled, I cried (really sobbing crying), I felt the pain and the guilt the characters felt.
It's absolutely a must read book!
3878293
A beautiful book about two beautifully broken people, torn apart by the same event, yet living very separate lives.

Maura lost her twin brother. I can't imagine a worse feeling than that. She's lost. Her best friends have left for the semester and the only thing that can make her feel anything at all is sex with random  - sometimes married - men. Her life is spiraling and it isn't until she forms a friendship with her brother's best friend that she can begin to stop blaming herself and start living.

Zack lost his best friend. He's missing him when he's rowing and pretty much doing anything else. It's rough. he tries to find happiness in an old relationship only to realize that going back won't do him any good. He needs to move forward. He just didn't know the one person who could help him with that is the one person who always reminds him of the past.

Can they find happiness together or will they always harbor too many memories of the friend and brother they lost? This story is tragic and hopeful at the same time. It deals with a lot of pain in a very good way. The writing is phenomenal. It's definitely my favorite of the series so far.
4569136
What a beautiful, gut wrenching, devastating, heartbreaking yet hopeful story.  Jennifer Foor did a phenomenal job on this book.  I couldn't put it down once I started.  The emotions that are filled in this story is powerful and must be experienced.  MUST READ!!!
473712
A heartbreakingly beautiful coming of age story that will wreck you in ways you didn't know was possible from beginning to end.

Trigger warning: self-harm, rape, drug abuse.

Faithful follows Shelby as shes left to deal with the consequences of a car accident that left her best friend in a coma while she walked away physically unscathed. Every day Shelby deals with the grief of losing her best friend and the guilt of being the driver. Shelby is left in a state of limbo where she cant decide if shes alive or dead. One day she meets someone who might convince her shes been alive after all this time.

Faithful was absolutely beautiful. It broke my heart in the first few chapters then slowly mended it as Shelby discovered what life has to offer. The entire novel is Shelby discovering what it truly means to be alive and what living entails. Her transition from a survivor filled with so many emotions that she shuts down to a self-aware individual is beautiful and flawlessly written. Alice Hoffmans writing style is impeccable because of her firm grasp and understanding of Shelbys emotional state at every moment.

A central theme of this novel is love. What it means to be loved, what it means to love someone, and what role love plays in life. Shelby discovers the answers to these questions through different people she meets throughout the novel.

What I loved most about this book was Shelbys interactions with the people she meets. Shelby is guarded, introverted, and cynical. These qualities color each of her relationships in wonderful ways. Despite her sometimes off-putting personality she becomes friends with an unlikely individual and their friendship becomes a central part of Shelbys transition.

Hoffmans decision to write this novel from third person perspective is an interesting decision that also happens to be the correct choice. One of the pitfall of writing from third person is the potential lost of connection between the character and the reader as well as telling the reader what a character is feeling rather than showing. In spite of these issues, Faithful prevails. I think this book wouldnt have worked from Shelbys perspective because of the very dark place she finds herself in for most of the novel. In my opinion, the novel would have been too depressing and would have shifted the focus to her everyday internal struggle rather than the transition from guilt ridden to self-aware.

Overall, Faithful is an absolutely beautiful novel that I would recommend to everyone. Shelbys transition is inspiring, frustrating, and real. Her struggle with guilt and depression will resonate with anyone whos suffered and will offer a story to aspire to.
I will definitely be reading more Alice Hoffman in the future!
2892052
This book is AMAZING. Its heartbreaking, real, honest, and totally raw. Throughout the entire story, I was just as confused as the heroine- Emma. I cant imagine what it would be like living in her shoes. Anyway, the complexity of emotions the emanate from this story are spot on, and the entire story is beautifully tragic. I loved every single second that I was reading it. It sucked me in from the get go and wouldnt let me go until the very end. This is one of my FAVORITE books of the year so far and I can imagine that this story will stay with me for a while. 100%, this is a MUST read.
2076334
Such a heartbreaking story, but a beautiful one at the same time. I absolutely loved this book!!
1394495
Live Through This by Mindi Scott is an unbelievably stunning, heartbreaking story. I am amazed by Mindi Scott's storytelling capabilities - I can't even imagine writing a story like this and still being able to include the beautiful, fun, light moments in such a perfect way.

Because Live Through This is an important and upsetting book. Sexual abuse is something that happens entirely too often, and the way Mindi Scott tells Coley's story is just...perfect. We have moments where we're giddy with Coley over the dorky and cute Reese, or we're laughing with Coley and her best friend Noah (who I love to death, FYI), but there's also this heavy feeling while reading Live Through This that we realize Coley must feel all the time because of what's happening to her.

I was so tense while reading Live Through This - I loved the way Mindi Scott kept the identity of Coley's abuser under wraps for a bit. I was tense and nervous and accusatory and my heart just broke when everything was revealed.

It's really hard for me to write a full review of Live Through This. Mindi Scott delivers a heart wrenching book that made me laugh and cry and want to curl up under the bed and hide from everyone. Live Through This is a beautiful contemporary that portrays an issue that ought to be brought to light more often.