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Leave the Little Light On, Book One: Windsor
Athena Brkovich believes in true love.
Born into a blue collar family in 1968, young Athena and her sisters are sent away when their mother is hospitalized and their father is unable to care for them. The beginnings of trauma, separation, denial and suffering set Athena on her path.
Brilliant, but naive, Athena refuses to grow up and become part of an adult world she doesn't trust. But as time unfolds, the guilt that swirls around her beloved sister Lejla, and the blossoming desire for her soulmate Niko, plunge Athena into confusion. When circumstances bring them all together in high school, betrayal threatens to engulf Athena in shame and hatred.
No matter how many walls Athena builds to escape her painful past, she must confront the person she is becoming in a society where only the strong survive.
Compelling, and at times tragic, Book 1 explores the themes of childhood trauma, family conflict, alcoholism, and teenage love. Despite the darkness, Athena struggles to follow the little light inside herself, guiding her to forgiveness, peace, redemption, and the ultimate prize, love.
Born into a blue collar family in 1968, young Athena and her sisters are sent away when their mother is hospitalized and their father is unable to care for them. The beginnings of trauma, separation, denial and suffering set Athena on her path.
Brilliant, but naive, Athena refuses to grow up and become part of an adult world she doesn't trust. But as time unfolds, the guilt that swirls around her beloved sister Lejla, and the blossoming desire for her soulmate Niko, plunge Athena into confusion. When circumstances bring them all together in high school, betrayal threatens to engulf Athena in shame and hatred.
No matter how many walls Athena builds to escape her painful past, she must confront the person she is becoming in a society where only the strong survive.
Compelling, and at times tragic, Book 1 explores the themes of childhood trauma, family conflict, alcoholism, and teenage love. Despite the darkness, Athena struggles to follow the little light inside herself, guiding her to forgiveness, peace, redemption, and the ultimate prize, love.
402 pages, Paperback
Published March 6, 2023
6 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
May 5, 2023
This was a really good book. It’s one that I think a lot of people can relate to. It’s emotional and deals with real issues. It was beautifully written and the characters were handled well, especially Athena. I loved that we were able to see growth from her character. It’s one of those books that will stay with you after reading it. I would highly recommend it. Can’t wait to read more from this author.
Thank you so much to the author for the gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you so much to the author for the gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 7, 2023
This book is a fictional memoir that follows athena through a turbulent childhood to graduation. It explores themes of family, religion, sexuality, mental health and more. Athena’s raw and unfiltered emotions really resonated with me. I did find a format error with chapter 53 being in the middle of a page, but besides for that this story flowed very well in chronological order, I liked the authors writing style. It’s 400 pages but I read it in a day. I’m excited to see what’s next in Athena’s journey(A THERAPIST HOPEFULLY)
June 4, 2023
This book, a journey of feeling and healing, of loving and being loved, brings you along with Athena while she grows up. The ride to adulthood is a bumpy one and I think every reader would be able to find one of those "bumps" that resonates with them and reminds them of their own life. It also shows that life is unfair and that good people do not always get the good things they deserve. I think Sonia did so well in capturing the feelings kids have in certain situations.
This is a fictional memoir based on the author's own life, my heart goes out to Sonia, and I admire her resilience.
The part that reminded me most of my own childhood, was the "gifted" part, Athena is much smarter than the other children, and although I have not always been top of my class, I have always been smart and I noticed I have a very different way of thinking than others, which I recognize in Athena. Thinking differently makes it really hard to connect with people and "fit in", and for me it was so important to find my people in the end.
Really good book and I will recommend it to people, but only if you are mentally in the right space to start healing.
Thank you so much to the author, as well as @bookinfluencerscom for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved having this opportunity.
This is a fictional memoir based on the author's own life, my heart goes out to Sonia, and I admire her resilience.
The part that reminded me most of my own childhood, was the "gifted" part, Athena is much smarter than the other children, and although I have not always been top of my class, I have always been smart and I noticed I have a very different way of thinking than others, which I recognize in Athena. Thinking differently makes it really hard to connect with people and "fit in", and for me it was so important to find my people in the end.
Really good book and I will recommend it to people, but only if you are mentally in the right space to start healing.
Thank you so much to the author, as well as @bookinfluencerscom for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved having this opportunity.
May 25, 2024
This is a heavy, inspiring read. I'm looking forward to continuing the series.
June 24, 2023
"Athena Brkovich believes in true love"
♡
Just to explain some of the story's main themes a little, here's a part of the description: "Compelling, and at times tragic, book 1 explores themes of childhood trauma, family conflict, alcoholism and teenage love"
That is to say: I'd bet all my cookies that you won't be able to read this with dry eyes.. because I sure didn't 😭 *roughly blows nose*
'Leave the Little light on' is a fictional memoir that follows Athena through a troubled childhood up until her graduation. We get to see her fall in love, both with herself and other people. We get to see her navigate difficult situations, explore deeper topics and most importantly, grow as a person. Her story is a raw and emotional one, and my heart honestly dropped a little from certain scenes because they felt so achingly relatable.. (or were just generally painful)
I'd recommend being in the right headspace before tackling Athena's story, especially considering the topics I'd previously mentioned! But I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of the installments in this 4-book-series!
Rating: 4/5 ☆
- Thank you so much to the author and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of the book for review. All opinions are my own.
♡
Just to explain some of the story's main themes a little, here's a part of the description: "Compelling, and at times tragic, book 1 explores themes of childhood trauma, family conflict, alcoholism and teenage love"
That is to say: I'd bet all my cookies that you won't be able to read this with dry eyes.. because I sure didn't 😭 *roughly blows nose*
'Leave the Little light on' is a fictional memoir that follows Athena through a troubled childhood up until her graduation. We get to see her fall in love, both with herself and other people. We get to see her navigate difficult situations, explore deeper topics and most importantly, grow as a person. Her story is a raw and emotional one, and my heart honestly dropped a little from certain scenes because they felt so achingly relatable.. (or were just generally painful)
I'd recommend being in the right headspace before tackling Athena's story, especially considering the topics I'd previously mentioned! But I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of the installments in this 4-book-series!
Rating: 4/5 ☆
- Thank you so much to the author and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of the book for review. All opinions are my own.
May 11, 2023
3.5 Stars - I liked this
Leave The Little Light on is a fictional memoir that shows how awkward, messy, and lonely growing up can be.
In book 1 we follow Athena from the age of 3 all the way through graduating high school. We follow her and her family’s highs and lows. The story is definitely hard to read at times when we come across the lows. Athena goes through a lot during her childhood, but pulls herself up each time and ends the first part of her story with resolve.
It was an interesting look into the world of Canada in the 70s and 80s and how people, especially young girls, were treated at the time. I hope things get better for Athena moving forward!
review in paid partnership with Sonia Palleck & Book Influencers . com
Leave The Little Light on is a fictional memoir that shows how awkward, messy, and lonely growing up can be.
In book 1 we follow Athena from the age of 3 all the way through graduating high school. We follow her and her family’s highs and lows. The story is definitely hard to read at times when we come across the lows. Athena goes through a lot during her childhood, but pulls herself up each time and ends the first part of her story with resolve.
It was an interesting look into the world of Canada in the 70s and 80s and how people, especially young girls, were treated at the time. I hope things get better for Athena moving forward!
review in paid partnership with Sonia Palleck & Book Influencers . com
May 24, 2023
After reading the first book of this 4-book series, I am excited to read the next 3 when released.
Leave the Little Light on tells the story of Athena Brkovich, who’s childhood was marked by trauma, separation, neglect, and abuse. Sonia Palleck’s writing is raw, honest, and powerful and she does not shy away from the painful parts of childhood abuse/trauma. I enjoyed reading this book because it teaches a powerful lesson- no matter how hard life gets, Athena chooses to find and follow the little light inside herself, “guiding her to forgiveness, peace, redemption, and love.”
This book holds a special place in my heart now and I think everyone should read this atleast once in their life 🤍
Leave the Little Light on tells the story of Athena Brkovich, who’s childhood was marked by trauma, separation, neglect, and abuse. Sonia Palleck’s writing is raw, honest, and powerful and she does not shy away from the painful parts of childhood abuse/trauma. I enjoyed reading this book because it teaches a powerful lesson- no matter how hard life gets, Athena chooses to find and follow the little light inside herself, “guiding her to forgiveness, peace, redemption, and love.”
This book holds a special place in my heart now and I think everyone should read this atleast once in their life 🤍
June 3, 2023
This book, I tell you. This book has sustained me for so long. I've wept through the pages, cried, if I'm being honest. I raged, I cried some more and then, at the end, everything came a full circle and I healed, alongside Athena.
At first I thought the book wasn't anything special but boy was I wrong. Athena, the main character, whose life you live through in these five hundred or so pages is the strongest, fiercest main character ever. And she's healing, despite everything and it's a miracle.
I don't think I've read any book recently that had this profound effect on me. The book is phenomenal and Sonia's writing is awesome. I think y'all need to pick up this book. Stat
At first I thought the book wasn't anything special but boy was I wrong. Athena, the main character, whose life you live through in these five hundred or so pages is the strongest, fiercest main character ever. And she's healing, despite everything and it's a miracle.
I don't think I've read any book recently that had this profound effect on me. The book is phenomenal and Sonia's writing is awesome. I think y'all need to pick up this book. Stat
May 9, 2023
*I was gifted a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review*
Some major content warnings include: child abuse, domestic violence, alcoholism, and bullying.
This book follows Athena Brkovich, a girl growing up in a Serbian family in Windsor, Canada, throughout her childhood up to her graduation from high school. Athena is precocious, intelligent, and rarely in agreement with her sisters, which makes for an engaging point of view as we understand many aspects of her life through a lens of conflict. Athena's outspoken nature and willingness to "talk back" especially to authority figures that are being cruel towards her or other children was a refreshing aspect of this book. It was nice to see, even through the hardships, that Athena's self-respect shined through again and again.
This book is autobiographical fiction, and the amount of detail and care put into each scene really shows how well the author knows her story and how much she's thought about it. The book covers a lot of ground, and the topic I think it handled with the most grace and compassion was poverty. Athena's family struggles with money throughout the book, and it is a major source of conflict and even at times violence at home. The autobiographical nature of the novel allowed for an in-depth and really authentic look at what it's like to grow up with so little, and seeing Athena persevere was powerful and felt to me like it gave this book a real thematic throughline. The author did not sugarcoat the experience of poverty, nor did she portray Athena or her family as being "at fault" for their circumstances, even with many opportunities to do so that a less skilled writer might have taken.
My primary challenge with this book was its handling of instances of sexism, racism, homophobia, ableism, etc. The focus on portraying things exactly as they occurred in life meant that name-calling and jokes at the expense of people with marginalized identities (most of which Athena did not have herself) landed quite harshly and without any balancing perspectives. For example, an AIDS joke during an abrupt and seemingly inconsequential speech competition made me question why that particular joke needed to be in the text verbatim, and why the narrator needed to clarify that everyone in the room laughed before moving on.
While I understand the value of portraying events truthfully, I think there can be more responsible ways to get across the point the author was trying to make by including these instances of derision, as she did when Athena was faced with sexism and explored that as an oppressive obstacle to overcome, rather than (for example) the punchline of an ableist slur used a few times without any further exploration. As a queer reviewer, this was the thing that I struggled most with in the book.
However, these instances were generally few and far between, and I found that overall I did quite enjoy this book and feel engaged by it. Though it rings in at a fairly hefty 400 pages, it did not feel like a slog to get through, and I found myself wanting to read just one more chapter before putting it down. The chapters being quite short helped a lot with pacing and flow. I also learned so much about Serbian culture, and immigrant communities in Canada! I love learning from the books I read and this book gave me a great opportunity to do so.
I would pick this book up if:
-You are already a fan of autobiographical fiction
-You want to try out autobiographical fiction, and are looking for an entrypoint
-You enjoy reading stories about specific cultural experiences
-You want to resonate with another person's experience (the depth of detail in this book means that almost everyone will find something meaningful to connect with)
-You need a pick for your book club (lots to discuss!)
Some major content warnings include: child abuse, domestic violence, alcoholism, and bullying.
This book follows Athena Brkovich, a girl growing up in a Serbian family in Windsor, Canada, throughout her childhood up to her graduation from high school. Athena is precocious, intelligent, and rarely in agreement with her sisters, which makes for an engaging point of view as we understand many aspects of her life through a lens of conflict. Athena's outspoken nature and willingness to "talk back" especially to authority figures that are being cruel towards her or other children was a refreshing aspect of this book. It was nice to see, even through the hardships, that Athena's self-respect shined through again and again.
This book is autobiographical fiction, and the amount of detail and care put into each scene really shows how well the author knows her story and how much she's thought about it. The book covers a lot of ground, and the topic I think it handled with the most grace and compassion was poverty. Athena's family struggles with money throughout the book, and it is a major source of conflict and even at times violence at home. The autobiographical nature of the novel allowed for an in-depth and really authentic look at what it's like to grow up with so little, and seeing Athena persevere was powerful and felt to me like it gave this book a real thematic throughline. The author did not sugarcoat the experience of poverty, nor did she portray Athena or her family as being "at fault" for their circumstances, even with many opportunities to do so that a less skilled writer might have taken.
My primary challenge with this book was its handling of instances of sexism, racism, homophobia, ableism, etc. The focus on portraying things exactly as they occurred in life meant that name-calling and jokes at the expense of people with marginalized identities (most of which Athena did not have herself) landed quite harshly and without any balancing perspectives. For example, an AIDS joke during an abrupt and seemingly inconsequential speech competition made me question why that particular joke needed to be in the text verbatim, and why the narrator needed to clarify that everyone in the room laughed before moving on.
While I understand the value of portraying events truthfully, I think there can be more responsible ways to get across the point the author was trying to make by including these instances of derision, as she did when Athena was faced with sexism and explored that as an oppressive obstacle to overcome, rather than (for example) the punchline of an ableist slur used a few times without any further exploration. As a queer reviewer, this was the thing that I struggled most with in the book.
However, these instances were generally few and far between, and I found that overall I did quite enjoy this book and feel engaged by it. Though it rings in at a fairly hefty 400 pages, it did not feel like a slog to get through, and I found myself wanting to read just one more chapter before putting it down. The chapters being quite short helped a lot with pacing and flow. I also learned so much about Serbian culture, and immigrant communities in Canada! I love learning from the books I read and this book gave me a great opportunity to do so.
I would pick this book up if:
-You are already a fan of autobiographical fiction
-You want to try out autobiographical fiction, and are looking for an entrypoint
-You enjoy reading stories about specific cultural experiences
-You want to resonate with another person's experience (the depth of detail in this book means that almost everyone will find something meaningful to connect with)
-You need a pick for your book club (lots to discuss!)
May 18, 2023
Trigger warnings for everyone before reading this book:
• violence
• suicidal thoughts
• thoughts and references to self harm
• violence against children
• couldnt think of any others but feel free to add in the comments ☺️
Athena loves her mother, and she loves her sisters and she also loves her dad, she is so full of love that sometimes it overwhelms her. She is used to putting her love for others in front of everything without even realizing when that love she feels for someone is not mutual or given her back.
What happens when one loves so much and forgets to be loved back?
That is Athena, she gives and gives but keeps forgetting to take.
Leave the little light on is about Athena’s life from her childhood through her teen years and high school;
Sonia Palleck tells us a story of love, tears and life and she manages to be so real about it that the reader is able to feel and cry with Athena, it’s almost like going through her mind throughout the book, we can feel the shift in her thoughts, the way growing up changes a person, even how the perception of things changes through time, it’s like Athena’s thoughts are the pen that wrote these pages and it is almost impossible not to share her feelings and empathize with her.
This is also a story about childhood trauma and how we can overcome it or interiorize it, how Athena responds to it and what she carries with her throughout her teen years is a consequence of the situation she’s in and the circumstances surrounding her. Should have added “emotional damage” to the tw because I feel destroyed internally, like it truly hurt reading about everything not fair happening to only one person.
I have loved this book although I cried about it because it’s so real, I could compare so many feelings to my own, and even though it hurt, it was real and is so accurate Sonia might deserve an award for it 🥹 If you read this book I hope you never forget that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel ��
• violence
• suicidal thoughts
• thoughts and references to self harm
• violence against children
• couldnt think of any others but feel free to add in the comments ☺️
Athena loves her mother, and she loves her sisters and she also loves her dad, she is so full of love that sometimes it overwhelms her. She is used to putting her love for others in front of everything without even realizing when that love she feels for someone is not mutual or given her back.
What happens when one loves so much and forgets to be loved back?
That is Athena, she gives and gives but keeps forgetting to take.
Leave the little light on is about Athena’s life from her childhood through her teen years and high school;
Sonia Palleck tells us a story of love, tears and life and she manages to be so real about it that the reader is able to feel and cry with Athena, it’s almost like going through her mind throughout the book, we can feel the shift in her thoughts, the way growing up changes a person, even how the perception of things changes through time, it’s like Athena’s thoughts are the pen that wrote these pages and it is almost impossible not to share her feelings and empathize with her.
This is also a story about childhood trauma and how we can overcome it or interiorize it, how Athena responds to it and what she carries with her throughout her teen years is a consequence of the situation she’s in and the circumstances surrounding her. Should have added “emotional damage” to the tw because I feel destroyed internally, like it truly hurt reading about everything not fair happening to only one person.
I have loved this book although I cried about it because it’s so real, I could compare so many feelings to my own, and even though it hurt, it was real and is so accurate Sonia might deserve an award for it 🥹 If you read this book I hope you never forget that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel ��
July 3, 2023
✒️Leave the Little Light On is a compelling tale of a girl growing up in the dynamics of the world. The story is inspired by author Sonia Palleck's life dedicated to love and compassion, giving her best shot whenever life gives her a blow.
✒️It is the story of Athena. Set up in the 1960s in Canada, Athena grew up with her sisters Lejla and Danica, her mom, and her father, whom she referred to as Tata. With the medical complexities of the upcoming child, her mother's deteriorating health, and her father's inability to manage the sisters, the trio is sent to a relative's house.
✒️Growing up in someone's house away from the family, surviving school bullying and teenage love with complexities, Athena has enough in her fate. It is a wonderful story of a girl who blossoms like a lotus in the mud of despair.
✒️The story minutely captures the innocence of teenage love and the confusion a child has while stepping into adulthood. With captivating narration and an enchanting plot, the story uncovers the beauty of life. I liked how it celebrated life.
✒️In between the chapters, I lost myself, and with Athena's journey, I rediscovered life. At various points in the story, I could feel Athena's pain. The narration is so gripping that one could easily slip into her shoes, especially when she lost her connection with her sisters and how they treated her. The way author described how her father's alcoholism and the domestic violence her mother endured affects the present of children is worth reading.This is just the first part of the story, and I can't wait for the next one.
✒️The story gives us an important message through the title itself: let the little light, the light of hope, shine in the darkest nights. The ray of hope, although timid, will help you navigate through the toughest paths.
✒️Overall, Leave the Little Light On is a gripping tale that will leave you yearning for more.
✒️It is the story of Athena. Set up in the 1960s in Canada, Athena grew up with her sisters Lejla and Danica, her mom, and her father, whom she referred to as Tata. With the medical complexities of the upcoming child, her mother's deteriorating health, and her father's inability to manage the sisters, the trio is sent to a relative's house.
✒️Growing up in someone's house away from the family, surviving school bullying and teenage love with complexities, Athena has enough in her fate. It is a wonderful story of a girl who blossoms like a lotus in the mud of despair.
✒️The story minutely captures the innocence of teenage love and the confusion a child has while stepping into adulthood. With captivating narration and an enchanting plot, the story uncovers the beauty of life. I liked how it celebrated life.
✒️In between the chapters, I lost myself, and with Athena's journey, I rediscovered life. At various points in the story, I could feel Athena's pain. The narration is so gripping that one could easily slip into her shoes, especially when she lost her connection with her sisters and how they treated her. The way author described how her father's alcoholism and the domestic violence her mother endured affects the present of children is worth reading.This is just the first part of the story, and I can't wait for the next one.
✒️The story gives us an important message through the title itself: let the little light, the light of hope, shine in the darkest nights. The ray of hope, although timid, will help you navigate through the toughest paths.
✒️Overall, Leave the Little Light On is a gripping tale that will leave you yearning for more.
May 27, 2023
4.5/5⭐️
A fictional memoir based on the author's life and the first in a series of four books, "Leave a little light on" follows Athena Brkovich from a very young age to her high school graduation.
Born in the 1960s in Canada into a blue-collar family with Serbian origins, Athena and her sisters are sent away when their mother is hospitalized and their father is unable to care for them. The beginnings of trauma, separation, denial, and suffering set Athena on her path.
I really liked this one. I believe that anyone could find a part of themselves in the pages of this book. I definitely did. Even though I thankfully did not share most of Athena's experiences I still could relate many aspects of her personality to how I was as a child (for example her being the bored "gifted" kid in school).
Despite it having compelling writing and good pacing, with the potential of being a very quick read, it took me a while to reach the final page. Childhood trauma, family conflict, alcoholism and teenage love are only a few of the important themes that this book deals with. Some passages were truly heartbreaking to read, so I had to take it slow.
I especially liked Athena's character development and how, despite it all, she manages to survive and to keep the little light inside herself on. It truly is an ode to the human condition and what it means to love and be loved.
I'm really curious to read the next books and see which direction Athena's life will take, hoping it will involve the opportunity to heal.
Also, I absolutely adore the cover🫶🏻 the author designed and painted it herself!!!
The copy of the book (and a small compensation) was kindly provided by the author Sonia Palleck and by Bookinfluencerscom in exchange for a review. The opinion is entirely my own🩶
A fictional memoir based on the author's life and the first in a series of four books, "Leave a little light on" follows Athena Brkovich from a very young age to her high school graduation.
Born in the 1960s in Canada into a blue-collar family with Serbian origins, Athena and her sisters are sent away when their mother is hospitalized and their father is unable to care for them. The beginnings of trauma, separation, denial, and suffering set Athena on her path.
I really liked this one. I believe that anyone could find a part of themselves in the pages of this book. I definitely did. Even though I thankfully did not share most of Athena's experiences I still could relate many aspects of her personality to how I was as a child (for example her being the bored "gifted" kid in school).
Despite it having compelling writing and good pacing, with the potential of being a very quick read, it took me a while to reach the final page. Childhood trauma, family conflict, alcoholism and teenage love are only a few of the important themes that this book deals with. Some passages were truly heartbreaking to read, so I had to take it slow.
I especially liked Athena's character development and how, despite it all, she manages to survive and to keep the little light inside herself on. It truly is an ode to the human condition and what it means to love and be loved.
I'm really curious to read the next books and see which direction Athena's life will take, hoping it will involve the opportunity to heal.
Also, I absolutely adore the cover🫶🏻 the author designed and painted it herself!!!
The copy of the book (and a small compensation) was kindly provided by the author Sonia Palleck and by Bookinfluencerscom in exchange for a review. The opinion is entirely my own🩶
June 22, 2023
“I hate them. You don't know how I feel."
"Maybe you don't like them, but you don't hate them. I never want you to use that word. It's a bad word. To hate someone, you have to use your energy. You can use your energy for good or evil. Hating someone doesn't just destroy the person you hate - it eventuals destroys you too, so you must never hate."
We read about our main character, Athena, as she grows up during the 70s and graduates. We really dive deep into her life and her struggles. This is semi autobiographical and you can see that as a lot of scenes feel raw and very real. The author doesn’t sugarcoats poverty, depression and abuse. The book does a good job at exploring these themes.
The book is fast paced, however I struggled to finish it quickly due to some scenes.
It’s nice to watch Athena grow and mature, I really liked her character development, all her flaws and all her hopes change as she ages and it’s nice to read.
This is kind of a trigger warning section. What I think the book could improve is how it addresses themes of racism, homophobia, ableism. There are some jokes at
the expenses of marginalized groups. While I understand this is supposed to be a very real representation of that time, I think some things were unnecessary, but I do hope there are here so we can see Athena think with her own mind in future books. I’m giving this the benefit of the doubt, but I did want to warn you.
Overall, it’s a nice book if you’re looking for an authentic representation of the 70s and what it meant to be a young woman at that time. Fun fact: the author painted the cover herself!
I received a small compensation to review this book, all opinions and thoughts are my own.
"Maybe you don't like them, but you don't hate them. I never want you to use that word. It's a bad word. To hate someone, you have to use your energy. You can use your energy for good or evil. Hating someone doesn't just destroy the person you hate - it eventuals destroys you too, so you must never hate."
We read about our main character, Athena, as she grows up during the 70s and graduates. We really dive deep into her life and her struggles. This is semi autobiographical and you can see that as a lot of scenes feel raw and very real. The author doesn’t sugarcoats poverty, depression and abuse. The book does a good job at exploring these themes.
The book is fast paced, however I struggled to finish it quickly due to some scenes.
It’s nice to watch Athena grow and mature, I really liked her character development, all her flaws and all her hopes change as she ages and it’s nice to read.
This is kind of a trigger warning section. What I think the book could improve is how it addresses themes of racism, homophobia, ableism. There are some jokes at
the expenses of marginalized groups. While I understand this is supposed to be a very real representation of that time, I think some things were unnecessary, but I do hope there are here so we can see Athena think with her own mind in future books. I’m giving this the benefit of the doubt, but I did want to warn you.
Overall, it’s a nice book if you’re looking for an authentic representation of the 70s and what it meant to be a young woman at that time. Fun fact: the author painted the cover herself!
I received a small compensation to review this book, all opinions and thoughts are my own.
May 30, 2023
Leave the Little Light On, Book One: Windsor, follows the childhood and adolescence of Athena Brikovich, amidst family conflict, mental health struggles, alcoholism, and abuse. Born into a blue collar, Serbian family in 1968, Canada, Athena and her sisters are sent away from their home upon their mother’s hospitalisation. With their mother incapacitated and their father unable to care for them, Athena begins a journey marked by struggle and suffering. While gifted, Athena struggles (or refuses) to grow up, instead building walls of naivety around herself to remain safe. However, adulthood is approaching. Things change for Athena as she attends high school, and she struggles to keep the trauma out. Athena must decide to follow the little inside herself, which guides her towards a better future.
Athena is an enthralling character, though it is difficult to engage with the traumatic circumstances of her life. Watching the formulation of a person and the choices they must ultimately make about who they want to become is empowering. As this book is a fictionalised memoir, it is worth noting that it is clear Sonia Palleck has really poured herself into this book and it has resulted in something difficult but beautiful. As a second generation Bosnian immigrant, I was interested to see the similarities and differences of experience to those of my parent. Over all a powerful book which I would recommend reading, if you feel up to it and a review of trigger warnings is advised.
Thank you Sonia Palleck and bookinfluencers.com for the opportunity to review this book.
Athena is an enthralling character, though it is difficult to engage with the traumatic circumstances of her life. Watching the formulation of a person and the choices they must ultimately make about who they want to become is empowering. As this book is a fictionalised memoir, it is worth noting that it is clear Sonia Palleck has really poured herself into this book and it has resulted in something difficult but beautiful. As a second generation Bosnian immigrant, I was interested to see the similarities and differences of experience to those of my parent. Over all a powerful book which I would recommend reading, if you feel up to it and a review of trigger warnings is advised.
Thank you Sonia Palleck and bookinfluencers.com for the opportunity to review this book.
June 4, 2023
📚 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: 𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞.
The book is a fictional memoir set in 1968. It is about Athena Brkovich. Athena's story is a tragic one, spanning her life from childhood to high school graduation. It is heart-breaking, but the book is raw and elaborate. This is an amazing amalgamation of young adult fiction and psychology.
Athena has endured a lot of pain at this young age. She is struggling with her high school life, coming to age issues. There were a lot of cringe-worthy incidents with Stric and Strina. The way author has written their characters, I felt nothing but hate and anger towards them. The incidents were so well articulated that I thought I was in this with Athena and I wanted to pull her out of the hell hole.
The Author has unveiled a lot of human emotions that are usually hidden due to societal constraints. The most important aspect to me was "Childhood Trauma". The author has done a commendable job in narrating such a sensitive topic. Key elements to pay attention to here are Parenting, Guilt, Remorse, Denial, Repressed memories, Childhood trauma and Self-discovery.
The situations and personalities struck me as being really relatable. We frequently run into circumstances where the past has moved on but we are unable to. It is intriguing and heart-wrenching at the same time. With a good mix of all the above this was an interesting read.
In anticipation of the next part.
The book is a fictional memoir set in 1968. It is about Athena Brkovich. Athena's story is a tragic one, spanning her life from childhood to high school graduation. It is heart-breaking, but the book is raw and elaborate. This is an amazing amalgamation of young adult fiction and psychology.
Athena has endured a lot of pain at this young age. She is struggling with her high school life, coming to age issues. There were a lot of cringe-worthy incidents with Stric and Strina. The way author has written their characters, I felt nothing but hate and anger towards them. The incidents were so well articulated that I thought I was in this with Athena and I wanted to pull her out of the hell hole.
The Author has unveiled a lot of human emotions that are usually hidden due to societal constraints. The most important aspect to me was "Childhood Trauma". The author has done a commendable job in narrating such a sensitive topic. Key elements to pay attention to here are Parenting, Guilt, Remorse, Denial, Repressed memories, Childhood trauma and Self-discovery.
The situations and personalities struck me as being really relatable. We frequently run into circumstances where the past has moved on but we are unable to. It is intriguing and heart-wrenching at the same time. With a good mix of all the above this was an interesting read.
In anticipation of the next part.
June 25, 2023
𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🇨🇦 grew up in Canada
📖 enjoy fiction that reads like a memoir
👧🏻 like relatable characters
❤️ want a book that’ll tug at your heartstrings
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
Athena Brkovich believes in true love.
Born into a blue collar family in 1968, young Athena and her sisters are sent away when their mother is hospitalized and their father is unable to care for them. The beginnings of trauma, separation, denial and suffering set Athena on her path.
Brilliant, but naive, Athena refuses to grow up and become part of an adult world she doesn't trust. But as time unfolds, the guilt that swirls around her beloved sister Lejla, and the blossoming desire for her soulmate Niko, plunge Athena into confusion. When circumstances bring them all together in high school, betrayal threatens to engulf Athena in shame and hatred.
No matter how many walls Athena builds to escape her painful past, she must confront the person she is becoming in a society where only the strong survive.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
This was such a powerful and heartfelt read. As we follow Athena Brkovich, a Serbian growing up in Canada, throughout her childhood (ages 3-18), we see her go through a lot of highs and lows. As someone who is also stubborn and talks back, I related heavily to Athena, though I didn’t grow up with any sisters. I enjoyed the short chapters as they helped keep my attention and I wanted to see what would happen next with this family. I loved reading about her life, and I hope that Athena eventually finds happiness in the next installments of this incredible story!
🇨🇦 grew up in Canada
📖 enjoy fiction that reads like a memoir
👧🏻 like relatable characters
❤️ want a book that’ll tug at your heartstrings
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
Athena Brkovich believes in true love.
Born into a blue collar family in 1968, young Athena and her sisters are sent away when their mother is hospitalized and their father is unable to care for them. The beginnings of trauma, separation, denial and suffering set Athena on her path.
Brilliant, but naive, Athena refuses to grow up and become part of an adult world she doesn't trust. But as time unfolds, the guilt that swirls around her beloved sister Lejla, and the blossoming desire for her soulmate Niko, plunge Athena into confusion. When circumstances bring them all together in high school, betrayal threatens to engulf Athena in shame and hatred.
No matter how many walls Athena builds to escape her painful past, she must confront the person she is becoming in a society where only the strong survive.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
This was such a powerful and heartfelt read. As we follow Athena Brkovich, a Serbian growing up in Canada, throughout her childhood (ages 3-18), we see her go through a lot of highs and lows. As someone who is also stubborn and talks back, I related heavily to Athena, though I didn’t grow up with any sisters. I enjoyed the short chapters as they helped keep my attention and I wanted to see what would happen next with this family. I loved reading about her life, and I hope that Athena eventually finds happiness in the next installments of this incredible story!
May 10, 2023
Leave The Little Light On is the story of Athena and Her family. Athena was a child when her mother was hospitalized to give birth to twins and because her father was unable to take care of her and her sisters Lejla and Danica, were sent to live with their aunt.
For the first time, Athene and her sisters were abused by someone outside of their family and they didn't know what to do and who to confide with their problems. They learned to protect each other and keep their secrets from their parents. After their mother gave birth to twins, Athena, and her sisters go back to their parents and their home. Everything is back to normal for Athena and her family.
We follow Athena through her first weeks of school and how their teachers realized that she is a genius and she needs to skip grades to keep her entertained and active. Her father didn't agree with the decision of the teachers to let Athena skip grades so the teachers decided to give Athena
extra activities and exercises.
Athena refuses to grow up because she didn't understand the adults around her and their rules. slowly she realized that she has a dysfunctional family and that her father is an alcoholic and she began to desire for a new life and peace. For a while, her mother decided to leave her father and Athena was happy for the first time because everything was fine and peace in her life. But because her mother didn't have enough money, they were forced to go back to her father.
We see Athena fall in love for the first time with Niko, her friend since she was a child. She was sure that Niko was her soulmate and that he will be her husband but a betrayal destroyed her dreams and her hope for a future with him.
Leave a Little Light On is a story about a dysfunctional family and a girl who didn't know what's right or wrong but despite the doubts, she found her answers and her destiny. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
For the first time, Athene and her sisters were abused by someone outside of their family and they didn't know what to do and who to confide with their problems. They learned to protect each other and keep their secrets from their parents. After their mother gave birth to twins, Athena, and her sisters go back to their parents and their home. Everything is back to normal for Athena and her family.
We follow Athena through her first weeks of school and how their teachers realized that she is a genius and she needs to skip grades to keep her entertained and active. Her father didn't agree with the decision of the teachers to let Athena skip grades so the teachers decided to give Athena
extra activities and exercises.
Athena refuses to grow up because she didn't understand the adults around her and their rules. slowly she realized that she has a dysfunctional family and that her father is an alcoholic and she began to desire for a new life and peace. For a while, her mother decided to leave her father and Athena was happy for the first time because everything was fine and peace in her life. But because her mother didn't have enough money, they were forced to go back to her father.
We see Athena fall in love for the first time with Niko, her friend since she was a child. She was sure that Niko was her soulmate and that he will be her husband but a betrayal destroyed her dreams and her hope for a future with him.
Leave a Little Light On is a story about a dysfunctional family and a girl who didn't know what's right or wrong but despite the doubts, she found her answers and her destiny. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
May 29, 2023
This is the story of Athena Brkovich, born into a blue collar family in 1968, who along with her sisters is sent away when their mother is hospitalized and their father is unable to take care of them. From there begins a life of trauma, separation, denial, suffering and what not.
The book is tragic, at all. The story unfolds from Athen's childhood and spans her life up to high school graduation. Her life has been tragic, a dysfunctional family where her family faces domestic abuse and sisters that grow apart. The growth of Athena's character is worth reading. At times I could relate to Athena's character, even though her story was heartbreaking at times. Because she loved everyone with all her heart and didn't receive the love that she deserved, in return. The book is really raw and elaborate, spanning four hundred pages of these girls growing up, a bit too long but okay.
Exploring important themes like domestic violence, alcoholic parent, childhood trauma and teenage love, this book hits all the right places. Despite all the hardships she faces, Athena never loses hope, always keeps that little light in herself on, that's the theme and the main idea of the book, making the title relevant, and the author Sonia has herself designed the book cover. What's really interesting is that Athena's character is based on the author's life, making this book a fictional memoir. Excited to read more from the author, for this is only part one in the series of four.
The book is tragic, at all. The story unfolds from Athen's childhood and spans her life up to high school graduation. Her life has been tragic, a dysfunctional family where her family faces domestic abuse and sisters that grow apart. The growth of Athena's character is worth reading. At times I could relate to Athena's character, even though her story was heartbreaking at times. Because she loved everyone with all her heart and didn't receive the love that she deserved, in return. The book is really raw and elaborate, spanning four hundred pages of these girls growing up, a bit too long but okay.
Exploring important themes like domestic violence, alcoholic parent, childhood trauma and teenage love, this book hits all the right places. Despite all the hardships she faces, Athena never loses hope, always keeps that little light in herself on, that's the theme and the main idea of the book, making the title relevant, and the author Sonia has herself designed the book cover. What's really interesting is that Athena's character is based on the author's life, making this book a fictional memoir. Excited to read more from the author, for this is only part one in the series of four.
June 16, 2023
The trauma in Athena’s life starts early with a father who had a serious alcohol problem always arguing and hitting on her mother and sisters. Unfortunately, that isn’t the only instance in this young girl's life. When she’s about four or five she’s sent to live with an abusive aunt for a while starting her off on a difficult path full of traumatic events that begin to shape her young life. Athena is a very brilliant girl, but seeing how the adults and older people in her life are, the idea of growing up is something terrifying to her. She grows up anyway in a home that’s broken and oftentimes she’s seen as an outcast even in her own family. What gets her through is the vivid imagination she has in which she dreams of falling in love with her childhood crush Niko and having the happily ever after her mother and sisters never seem to get. A betrayal from someone close shatters those daydreams and she’s faced with the reality she had been trying so hard to run away from inside of her head.
I enjoyed reading this one. The author did an excellent job following Athena’s story from a small child to a teenager in high school. Not going to lie I really relate a lot to Athena and the way she viewed the world and her fear of growing up. I used to be the same way. It’s a great period piece that will leave you feeling a sort of way by the end. I can’t wait till the next installment of this series drops. I will definitely be ordering it!
June 30, 2023
**TW**
This book includes a lot of sensitive content including, but not limited to:
dysfunctional family, neglect, hospitalization of a parent, alcoholism, ab*se, mental health, etc.
Please see full trigger warnings before reading.
In this book we meet our main character Athena Brkovich who I feel can only be described as real. She is the epitome of humanity's struggles with emotions and I feel that Palleck really put a lot of thought and time into developing Athena's character.
Athena's life is not an easy one and Palleck made sure that we, as readers, knew this and that we could understand that your past can affect you, but you can get through it.
This book is ridden with deep emotions and I connected immediately with Palleck's writing. No one is perfect in this book and that's honestly both comforting and moving. I mean who is perfect in real life? Why is there this stigma about having perfect characters? I love that Palleck defied this and wrote about a dysfunctional family, people who are not perfect, yet people who can find their 'light'. Also, the whole subject of not fitting in, I love that. It really resonated with me, especially as someone who felt as though they didn't fit in anywhere.
One of the messages I got from this book is: There is hope everywhere, look for it, you will find it...or it can come to you, just be patient even through everything life may throw at you.
This book includes a lot of sensitive content including, but not limited to:
dysfunctional family, neglect, hospitalization of a parent, alcoholism, ab*se, mental health, etc.
Please see full trigger warnings before reading.
In this book we meet our main character Athena Brkovich who I feel can only be described as real. She is the epitome of humanity's struggles with emotions and I feel that Palleck really put a lot of thought and time into developing Athena's character.
Athena's life is not an easy one and Palleck made sure that we, as readers, knew this and that we could understand that your past can affect you, but you can get through it.
This book is ridden with deep emotions and I connected immediately with Palleck's writing. No one is perfect in this book and that's honestly both comforting and moving. I mean who is perfect in real life? Why is there this stigma about having perfect characters? I love that Palleck defied this and wrote about a dysfunctional family, people who are not perfect, yet people who can find their 'light'. Also, the whole subject of not fitting in, I love that. It really resonated with me, especially as someone who felt as though they didn't fit in anywhere.
One of the messages I got from this book is: There is hope everywhere, look for it, you will find it...or it can come to you, just be patient even through everything life may throw at you.
May 13, 2023
Moving and hard-hitting, this fictional memoir, whose writing grows more mature as the protagonist ages, deals primarily with intergenerational abuse, poverty and mental health themes. Following Athena Brkovich–a girl growing up in a Serbian family in the 1970s in Windsor, Canada–we get to reflect on the intergenerational effects of poverty, including the relationship between poverty and child abuse and neglect.
With a true-to-life description of poverty, the author doesn't whitewash the experience, nor does she suggest that Athena or her family were to blame. Besides that, as we follow her from childhood to high school graduation, we completely dive into her life. And yes, it is hard not to get attached or suffer with the character. Despite some typical age insecurities, Athena is quite comfortable with who she is and determined not to let the opinions of others influence her. I also loved seeing her feel proud of her intelligence and her challenging and passionate spirit. However, I hope to see some social and emotional growth in future books.
I didn’t particularly enjoy how the book addresses instances of sexism, racism, homophobia, and ableism. For example, name-calling and jokes were made at the expense of people with marginalized identities, which landed harshly and without a balanced perspective. I felt Athena has several prejudices and is also the victim of many of them, and that there is no one around her capable of teaching her she is wrong or, at least, of making her question herself. This is something I hope to see improved in the sequel, but I'm confident that as Athena continues to grow, we'll have the opportunity to see her question her perspective on the world.
This review is done on an honest and voluntary basis, but I received an incentive to read the book, which was gifted to me by the author.
With a true-to-life description of poverty, the author doesn't whitewash the experience, nor does she suggest that Athena or her family were to blame. Besides that, as we follow her from childhood to high school graduation, we completely dive into her life. And yes, it is hard not to get attached or suffer with the character. Despite some typical age insecurities, Athena is quite comfortable with who she is and determined not to let the opinions of others influence her. I also loved seeing her feel proud of her intelligence and her challenging and passionate spirit. However, I hope to see some social and emotional growth in future books.
I didn’t particularly enjoy how the book addresses instances of sexism, racism, homophobia, and ableism. For example, name-calling and jokes were made at the expense of people with marginalized identities, which landed harshly and without a balanced perspective. I felt Athena has several prejudices and is also the victim of many of them, and that there is no one around her capable of teaching her she is wrong or, at least, of making her question herself. This is something I hope to see improved in the sequel, but I'm confident that as Athena continues to grow, we'll have the opportunity to see her question her perspective on the world.
This review is done on an honest and voluntary basis, but I received an incentive to read the book, which was gifted to me by the author.
December 11, 2023
Sonia has been the given the beautiful gift of writing and that is something not many people in the world have.
She greatly depicts the awareness young children have (they are much more aware than us!), and puts into perspective how quickly shoving problems under the rug can change coping mechanisms later in life.
She also depicts how the parents are everything to their children. everything they do is to please their parents and win their affection, and everything parents say is internalized by their children and made a part of their identity.
Chapter 10 broke my heart at the repression of emotion and lack of understanding towards Athena - she just wanted to feel protected and understood but instead was shut down and told to consider others emotions or she would be sent away.
i have too many notes to count.. so many little things in this book really strike a cord.
“she pictured her mama being strangled, not being able to breathe, and then forgiving Tata and staying with him. Yes, her mama must really love her tata.”
Oh how the little minds work, how children are conditioned to accept abuse because of “love”.
How clever also, naming the main character Athena, which is the goddess of wisdom 🥹
All in all a fantastic book, full of life lessons and a beautiful perspective I will keep in mind for my kids. I look forward to reading the rest of the series!!
She greatly depicts the awareness young children have (they are much more aware than us!), and puts into perspective how quickly shoving problems under the rug can change coping mechanisms later in life.
She also depicts how the parents are everything to their children. everything they do is to please their parents and win their affection, and everything parents say is internalized by their children and made a part of their identity.
Chapter 10 broke my heart at the repression of emotion and lack of understanding towards Athena - she just wanted to feel protected and understood but instead was shut down and told to consider others emotions or she would be sent away.
i have too many notes to count.. so many little things in this book really strike a cord.
“she pictured her mama being strangled, not being able to breathe, and then forgiving Tata and staying with him. Yes, her mama must really love her tata.”
Oh how the little minds work, how children are conditioned to accept abuse because of “love”.
How clever also, naming the main character Athena, which is the goddess of wisdom 🥹
All in all a fantastic book, full of life lessons and a beautiful perspective I will keep in mind for my kids. I look forward to reading the rest of the series!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2023
Reading Leave the Little Light on felt like quite the journey. It's about Athena, who tries to navigate through life struggling through many setbacks and horrible circumstances. The story stars with Athena being just a child, having to deal with violence/physical abuse and a father who drinks too much. As the story progresses, she starts to go to school (until she eventually graduates high school), where she excels at all her subjects but also gets bullied a lot. Of course, a lot more happens, but let's not spoil too much.
I think all characters were written very well. They were all flawed, just like real people. I can't say I always loved Athena, but I usually got why she did what she did and ended up rooting for her. And sure, she wasn't always the kindest person, but she obviously didn't deserve all the terrible things life threw at her. The same goes for her sisters, especially Lejla, and "friends".
I thought the book was quite long, and it took me a while to read it, but there was never a moment I got bored, so don't let that keep you from reading it. In fact, I'm looking forward to reading the next book! Highly recommended.
I think all characters were written very well. They were all flawed, just like real people. I can't say I always loved Athena, but I usually got why she did what she did and ended up rooting for her. And sure, she wasn't always the kindest person, but she obviously didn't deserve all the terrible things life threw at her. The same goes for her sisters, especially Lejla, and "friends".
I thought the book was quite long, and it took me a while to read it, but there was never a moment I got bored, so don't let that keep you from reading it. In fact, I'm looking forward to reading the next book! Highly recommended.
May 18, 2023
This coming of age story focuses on Athena, a young girl in a working-class Serbian family who struggles with a complicated family life following her mother’s hospitalization. As she and her sisters grow up in turbulent times, they confront issues of trauma, conflict and alcoholism. Only in time is Athena able to overcome it all to find the little light inside herself which offers the inner peace to keep going.
As a compelling and autobiographical look at the author’s life, this story is as inspiring as it is interesting to read. When a writer really digs in and writes what they know best - their own story - it is often truly a sight to behold. I feel grateful to have had the opportunity to know her life through these words. She has set this up to be a four-part series and I’m sure the next three novels will venture into other themes and be sure to deliver as phenomenal a punch of circumstances and life lessons rich in meaning. Can’t wait to read more!
As a compelling and autobiographical look at the author’s life, this story is as inspiring as it is interesting to read. When a writer really digs in and writes what they know best - their own story - it is often truly a sight to behold. I feel grateful to have had the opportunity to know her life through these words. She has set this up to be a four-part series and I’m sure the next three novels will venture into other themes and be sure to deliver as phenomenal a punch of circumstances and life lessons rich in meaning. Can’t wait to read more!
May 21, 2023
Leave The Little Light On is a brilliant book that enthralls, compels and captures the heart as it evokes a young heroine's unforgettable journey! The Author Sonia Palleck just plain nailed the characters, the settings and an outstanding plot that had shattered every cell of my heart!
.
I adored Sonia Palleck's characters and deeply admired her precise, compelling prose, my brain was utterly captivated by this heartbreaking story from the first page to the last! The characters are so real, their feelings are so well portrayed! This was an exquisitely diamond book that I loved every page of it!
.
Leave The Little Light On is quietly stunning with finely drawn characters and vivid descriptions, the book is electrically compelling and at times tragic, hopeless and dark but Athena definitely is a heroine that we all have to read about her story! This was a 5/5 and hands down my favorite read of the Year! Sonia enters in my favorite Authors list!
.
I adored Sonia Palleck's characters and deeply admired her precise, compelling prose, my brain was utterly captivated by this heartbreaking story from the first page to the last! The characters are so real, their feelings are so well portrayed! This was an exquisitely diamond book that I loved every page of it!
.
Leave The Little Light On is quietly stunning with finely drawn characters and vivid descriptions, the book is electrically compelling and at times tragic, hopeless and dark but Athena definitely is a heroine that we all have to read about her story! This was a 5/5 and hands down my favorite read of the Year! Sonia enters in my favorite Authors list!
May 30, 2023
Thanks to @soniapalleck and @bookinfluencerscom, I was given the opportunity to review the first book out of the four book series. I am giving this spoiler free review voluntarily.
The story starts with Athena being a child. As the story progresses, we follow her year after year until her graduation.
This book will pull at your heart strings. Athena's life has been far from perfect; domestic abuse, poverty, alcoholic parent, teenage love, and so much more. I love that despite everything possible thrown her way, she still has hope. She is also comfortable with who she is from such a young age.
It was beautifully written, and I enjoyed the character development of Athena. There were many characters, but it was easy to follow. Like most stories, there are characters you'll like and others you'll dislike.
I did find the story to be a little long. However, it kept my attention from start to finish. Overall, it was a great read!
The story starts with Athena being a child. As the story progresses, we follow her year after year until her graduation.
This book will pull at your heart strings. Athena's life has been far from perfect; domestic abuse, poverty, alcoholic parent, teenage love, and so much more. I love that despite everything possible thrown her way, she still has hope. She is also comfortable with who she is from such a young age.
It was beautifully written, and I enjoyed the character development of Athena. There were many characters, but it was easy to follow. Like most stories, there are characters you'll like and others you'll dislike.
I did find the story to be a little long. However, it kept my attention from start to finish. Overall, it was a great read!
May 31, 2023
I loved this book. The writing was engaging for the readers first of all. Athena is a very interesting MC. We hear the story about how she had a very interesting childhood. There was trauma with her mother and father as a child. She doesn't understand why her childhood is the way it is and why her mother stays with her father, even though he is an alcoholic and becomes violent.***Warning this may be a trigger for some who read***. There was also so much tradition in listening to family members and how the girls were supposed to act. I found this all very intriguing as a reader. Athena is a brilliant, very smart girl too from a young age. This is a great fiction memoir. I can relate to the characters very well even though my childhood was a bit different from theirs. This was an emotional read and a great story to read overall. I really want to continue to read the series and see what happens in the next book.
May 16, 2023
The story about Athena Brkovich and her family. This book is the first part in a four part book series. It is about Athena's journey from her childhood to her graduation.
Reading this story was an emotional experience for me. There were lot of scenes where I felt sorry for Athena's character. It was difficult to read at times due to this.
The problems that Athena suffered and her thoughts were shown in the story. There wasn't even a single moment of boredom as every moment, there was something going on. There was romance and friendships that was really nice. I liked Athena and her crush on Niko, it was quite interesting.
I'm eagerly waiting for the next book in the series as this story is extremely interesting. Athena's life and how she would mould into, makes me curious to read the next book.
Reading this story was an emotional experience for me. There were lot of scenes where I felt sorry for Athena's character. It was difficult to read at times due to this.
The problems that Athena suffered and her thoughts were shown in the story. There wasn't even a single moment of boredom as every moment, there was something going on. There was romance and friendships that was really nice. I liked Athena and her crush on Niko, it was quite interesting.
I'm eagerly waiting for the next book in the series as this story is extremely interesting. Athena's life and how she would mould into, makes me curious to read the next book.
May 18, 2023
There is a lot to unpack in this book. It is based on the author's life and I think throughout the book any reader will find moments where they can relate to what the character is experiencing. All of the traumas we experience as children are within the pages, and you will feel seen as an audience member.
I wasn't a huge fan of the author's writing style as it seems a bit too much like stream of consciousness writing at times for my taste. It just wasn't a good fit for me. However the plot moves along at a good pace and will keep you engaged from beginning to end.
For those who like a coming of age story I highly recommend looking into this series.
I wasn't a huge fan of the author's writing style as it seems a bit too much like stream of consciousness writing at times for my taste. It just wasn't a good fit for me. However the plot moves along at a good pace and will keep you engaged from beginning to end.
For those who like a coming of age story I highly recommend looking into this series.
May 4, 2023
I adore Sonia. She is such a burning light of love and positivity, and it really comes through in her first story.
This book leaves you lost in time of your own memories, and will make you feel not so alone.
This book leaves you lost in time of your own memories, and will make you feel not so alone.
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