Just when I didn’t think this series could hurt my heart anymore, Heroin Stained Hearts breaks me. Completely. Hadley and Ander continue to try to find a path forward after all the heartbreak as they battle the formidable stronghold of addiction. Their quest to determine if love can conquer perhaps the greatest disease of all- if their love is enough. Though really, at this point, the question is if their love can survive the battle.
Truth be told- Ander and Hadley’s story is getting harder and harder to read. At times it feel like walking through glass. Because they are just so toxic, so very tragically broken. As Hadley herself says, they are constantly one step forward, two steps back- and the last two installments have felt so hopeless, so painful and tragic. And not tragic in a romantic way- tragic in a truly devastating way. Ander continues to hurt Hadley, to fail her and himself as he struggles with his addition. The lies, the mistakes, the whiplash treatment of her. And Hadley has become a new form of addiction to him- his fervent love of her feeding into his addictive personality. At times she’s stringently resolved to expect him to get better, and other times she’s apologetically enabling. They love each other so much that keep thinking their love will be enough to defeat the enemy- ADDICTION. The pervasive, toxic disease of addiction. But love might not be enough. And book three really shows us that- just how unconquerable addiction can be, even for those recovering- because it is always there. At times I’ve wondered if I really want to root for them- for them to make it- it is that painful. I’ve wondered if being apart would be better for them both- and wow, isn’t that the point of this story? To make us feel how trapping addiction can be, how hopeless and consuming and destructive. I both dreaded and welcomed every passing page, the fear and power of addiction looming large. I want to believe that together they can be whole, even though they are so broken, but I feel lost as to how- just as they do.
These characters are not pretty- nor is their love. I was frustrated by them, angry, consumed by their vicious and brutal cycle. I was desperately craving any bit of hope, a small moment of peace- and folks, you won’t find it here. If you thought book 2 took us to the pits of addiction, Book 3 is even harder- because we see addiction’s battle with the hope of recovery, and it makes the fall all the harder. More devastating. I wish their story had progressed a bit more in this book- but again, I think that’s the point- they are stuck in an unbreakable cycle. A cycle that will break them if they don’t break it. Both of them broke my heart- and we truly have three enemies here, Ander’s addiction, Hadley’s enabling, and their toxic need for each other. A need that has them making destructive decisions- because they either can’t or won’t prioritize themselves. For Ander, because he doesn't’ feel worthy, and for Hadley because she believes her love can heal him.
Honestly, I’m a bit terrified for our conclusion- because the path to a happily ever after for these two is feeling less and less likely. But I still have small glimmers of hope, mostly because my heart needs to know that love can win. That love CAN be enough- but, I know the final leg of their journey won’t be easy, and right now, their demons feel too formidable to defeat.