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A More Deserving Blackness
Bree McCaffrey hasn't spoken a word in over two years, not since that horrible night. She's just trying to make it through her last year of high school without breaking apart . . .
Logan Brenner is an outcast in his own town, hated and feared by everyone he knows, haunted by a violent secret . . .
Then one night he becomes her savior, and they discover a connection between their tragic pasts, one they never thought was possible. Both find themselves drawn close to someone again, learning how to live, and love, after unspeakable heartbreak.
Logan Brenner is an outcast in his own town, hated and feared by everyone he knows, haunted by a violent secret . . .
Then one night he becomes her savior, and they discover a connection between their tragic pasts, one they never thought was possible. Both find themselves drawn close to someone again, learning how to live, and love, after unspeakable heartbreak.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
September 22, 2014
LOOK UP THE DEFINITION OF PLAGIARISM. THIS IS IT.
Having read The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay, I can say with certainty that the similarities between that book and A More Deserving Blackness go far beyond anything that could be considered coincidental. I realize that many books have comparable elements, but the similarities between these two books are too blatant to be ignored. Taken alone, some of these things would not have been an issue. However, the likenesses began to pile up to the extent that lines and situations were virtually identical.
Here are just a few examples to give you an idea:
- A mute girl, silent due to a traumatic event she experienced two years prior, moves in with her sister (away from her parents) to a new town in order to finish high school.
- An emancipated boy with no family, living alone, is socially ostracized at school. Everyone is afraid of him and doesn't speak to him; it's almost like he has a force field around him (and yes, it's actually referred to as a "force field" more than once).
- A cute guy at school she barely knows flirts with her and asks her to go to a party because his ex-girlfriend will be there and he doesn't want to go alone.
- Emancipated guy lives down the street from her and she she frequently visits his house late at night.
- They visit Home Depot and he pushes her around on a flatbed. For their first date, he drives many miles out of town to a little Italian restaurant so they can avoid seeing people.
- They have sex with each other, and right after, she says that she's ruined and that she never meant for him to love her. He accuses her of ruining him and tells her to get the fuck out of his house. After that, he goes out of his way to avoid her at school and so on.
- There is something about him that is so familiar but she can't quite place it. You find out later that they have some unexplained connection that occurred years before they met. I'm not going to go into details on their cosmic connection.
I could go on and on even to the point of quoting almost identical lines, but I think you can grasp why this is a problem.
This is not okay.
Having read The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay, I can say with certainty that the similarities between that book and A More Deserving Blackness go far beyond anything that could be considered coincidental. I realize that many books have comparable elements, but the similarities between these two books are too blatant to be ignored. Taken alone, some of these things would not have been an issue. However, the likenesses began to pile up to the extent that lines and situations were virtually identical.
Here are just a few examples to give you an idea:
- A mute girl, silent due to a traumatic event she experienced two years prior, moves in with her sister (away from her parents) to a new town in order to finish high school.
- An emancipated boy with no family, living alone, is socially ostracized at school. Everyone is afraid of him and doesn't speak to him; it's almost like he has a force field around him (and yes, it's actually referred to as a "force field" more than once).
- A cute guy at school she barely knows flirts with her and asks her to go to a party because his ex-girlfriend will be there and he doesn't want to go alone.
- Emancipated guy lives down the street from her and she she frequently visits his house late at night.
- They visit Home Depot and he pushes her around on a flatbed. For their first date, he drives many miles out of town to a little Italian restaurant so they can avoid seeing people.
- They have sex with each other, and right after, she says that she's ruined and that she never meant for him to love her. He accuses her of ruining him and tells her to get the fuck out of his house. After that, he goes out of his way to avoid her at school and so on.
- There is something about him that is so familiar but she can't quite place it. You find out later that they have some unexplained connection that occurred years before they met. I'm not going to go into details on their cosmic connection.
I could go on and on even to the point of quoting almost identical lines, but I think you can grasp why this is a problem.
This is not okay.
October 16, 2014
I decided to pick this book up after a book friend mentioned that it had a "The Sea of Tranquility feel to it." Since TSoT by Katja Milay is my favorite book, I figured that I would enjoy something like it. It's plot, characters, and scenes were just too similar to TSoT for me that I cannot rate it higher than 1 star.
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August 22, 2014
08/19/2014 --
Overall Rating = 2 Stars
Book Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 4 / 4 / 4 = 4 Stars
Writer’s Voice = 2 Stars
Character Development = 3 Stars
Story Appreciation = 1 Stars
Worth the Chili = 5 Stars -- [$Free on Amazon]
Smexy [HEAT] Rating = Mild
252 pages
A freebie that just didn't pan out. No prob ... it was FREE. Not my cuppa. Hope it works better for you.
Happy Reading!
Overall Rating = 2 Stars
Book Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 4 / 4 / 4 = 4 Stars
Writer’s Voice = 2 Stars
Character Development = 3 Stars
Story Appreciation = 1 Stars
Worth the Chili = 5 Stars -- [$Free on Amazon]
Smexy [HEAT] Rating = Mild
252 pages
A freebie that just didn't pan out. No prob ... it was FREE. Not my cuppa. Hope it works better for you.
Happy Reading!
August 27, 2016
This is one fantastic book and I'm already thinking about rereading it. The basic premise (broken girl needs a hero, enter hero and well, look at that, he's broken too) is freaking everywhere in the new adult genre and if I hadn't seen another review for this book (stellar), I wouldn't have given it a second glance. But let me tell you, I'm glad I did because this is the one to read. Those other books with a similar premise, they wish they were half this good.
Wolbert's writing is crisp and the characters are immediately believable. The way she captures her characters' changing emotions is so realistic - and she describes them holistically: mentally, emotionally and physically - I found myself completely consumed, riding every emotion right along with them. I was gasping, crying, feeling nauseous, getting dizzy, smirking, blushing, and/or grinning like a loon the whole time I was reading. I actually finished the last 20% sitting in Gattiland's TV room sunk down in my booth hiding under my ball cap while my family was off playing video games. And sitting there, in that loud room with distractions aplenty, I was wholly engrossed in this book. I could have been sitting next to [insert your favorite famous person here] and I wouldn't have noticed.
I saw some reviews in which readers longed for an afterward, but I'm so glad there wasn't one. In my opinion, this ended right where it should have. The story was told, the ending was solid (neither contrived nor hanging over a cliff) and a pat crystal ball ending would have taken away from the story's immediacy, and thus minimalized the whole book.
Wolbert's writing is crisp and the characters are immediately believable. The way she captures her characters' changing emotions is so realistic - and she describes them holistically: mentally, emotionally and physically - I found myself completely consumed, riding every emotion right along with them. I was gasping, crying, feeling nauseous, getting dizzy, smirking, blushing, and/or grinning like a loon the whole time I was reading. I actually finished the last 20% sitting in Gattiland's TV room sunk down in my booth hiding under my ball cap while my family was off playing video games. And sitting there, in that loud room with distractions aplenty, I was wholly engrossed in this book. I could have been sitting next to [insert your favorite famous person here] and I wouldn't have noticed.
I saw some reviews in which readers longed for an afterward, but I'm so glad there wasn't one. In my opinion, this ended right where it should have. The story was told, the ending was solid (neither contrived nor hanging over a cliff) and a pat crystal ball ending would have taken away from the story's immediacy, and thus minimalized the whole book.
January 11, 2016
I liked the book and how bree tried her best to be normal with what she has been through. Logan had patience and he was always there for her, I was there was more to the story I don't think it ended right I wanted more answers.
July 28, 2014
This is borderline plagiarism, for those who haven't read The Sea of Tranquility.
March 19, 2014
This book took me by surprise. I download a lot of freebies and never expect much but this book got my interest from the first page and I read it in one sitting. I couldn't help but compare it to The Sea of Tranquility. At times I wondered if it was fan fiction? But, I will go as far as to say that I felt this was the better book.
Brilliant writing. I could find no errors whatsoever and that's a rarity these days even in published authors! The story flowed well for me until near the end where I felt it really needed an epilogue. There were some things unresolved for me but can't say what without spoiling the story for others.
I loved Logan (although not sure I liked his blackout moments), he's a mature 18 year old but he has lived through something awful. Bree is 19 and hasn't spoken for two years after something tragic happened to her. I will admit when I found out what that was, it was no surprise, it was what I was expecting.
I felt the connection between Logan and Bree. He can calm her. Some might wonder how she so easily accepted Logan but there is a thread throughout the story where these two felt some connection even before they met (wasn't sure about that aspect!). I loved the way Logan calls her 'love' but it did at times make me feel I was reading a hero in his 30's or so but he was wonderful, I loved how he wanted to take care of her.
This would have been a 5 star read if the ending had been rounded up more but it's still a good ending. But..I wanted an epilogue of a few years down the line and I also wanted some resolution for Logan's 'story'.
I've just downloaded another free book by this author. She's definitely an author to look out for. I would gladly have paid for this book.
Brilliant writing. I could find no errors whatsoever and that's a rarity these days even in published authors! The story flowed well for me until near the end where I felt it really needed an epilogue. There were some things unresolved for me but can't say what without spoiling the story for others.
I loved Logan (although not sure I liked his blackout moments), he's a mature 18 year old but he has lived through something awful. Bree is 19 and hasn't spoken for two years after something tragic happened to her. I will admit when I found out what that was, it was no surprise, it was what I was expecting.
I felt the connection between Logan and Bree. He can calm her. Some might wonder how she so easily accepted Logan but there is a thread throughout the story where these two felt some connection even before they met (wasn't sure about that aspect!). I loved the way Logan calls her 'love' but it did at times make me feel I was reading a hero in his 30's or so but he was wonderful, I loved how he wanted to take care of her.
This would have been a 5 star read if the ending had been rounded up more but it's still a good ending. But..I wanted an epilogue of a few years down the line and I also wanted some resolution for Logan's 'story'.
I've just downloaded another free book by this author. She's definitely an author to look out for. I would gladly have paid for this book.
July 26, 2016
Overall this story is OK. I originally rated this story 4 star because it evoked emotions within me. After further deliberation, I settled on 2.5 stars based on the lack of resolutions between characters and situations. Also the formatting and grammatical errors didn’t help.
I liked everything Logan in this book. I felt a lot of emotion with this character. Although Logan was battling his own demons, I felt there was a ray of sunshine about him. On occasion Logan frustrated me but after understanding his POV and mindset, I appreciated his thought process. I may not have agreed with all his decisions, but I understood where he was coming from. Bree, on the other hand I did not understand the logic behind most of her decisions thus not making a connection with her.
Dylan & Erik are two characters in the book that could have been developed more amongst others. As stated earlier, characters and situations are unresolved.
The correlation Logan makes between meteoroids, shooting stars, and broken things is nothing less than sensational and heartfelt. It was a beautiful ending to an endearing story.
I liked everything Logan in this book. I felt a lot of emotion with this character. Although Logan was battling his own demons, I felt there was a ray of sunshine about him. On occasion Logan frustrated me but after understanding his POV and mindset, I appreciated his thought process. I may not have agreed with all his decisions, but I understood where he was coming from. Bree, on the other hand I did not understand the logic behind most of her decisions thus not making a connection with her.
Dylan & Erik are two characters in the book that could have been developed more amongst others. As stated earlier, characters and situations are unresolved.
The correlation Logan makes between meteoroids, shooting stars, and broken things is nothing less than sensational and heartfelt. It was a beautiful ending to an endearing story.
August 10, 2016
3.5 STARS for a good YA angst with excellent writing.
Bree has suffered a traumatic experience, she hasn't spoken a word in two years. She moves in with her sister and starts over at a new school. There she meets Logan 'The Psycho' Brenner who is feared by all and hated by most. With each other they find solace, but Bree's feelings intensify and it's not long before she completely shatters.
This book was excellently written, I couldn't spot a fault with the grammar. Only one problem arose, it was a time-line issue.
It's not at all faced paced, there's not OTT drama, it's very much filled with Bree's; feelings, panic attacks, first love, family troubles, self harm issues and nightmares. So expect a lot of inner monologue.
I liked it for what it was, not what it wasn't, it was very angsty and moody. REALLY could have done with an epilogue.
Bree has suffered a traumatic experience, she hasn't spoken a word in two years. She moves in with her sister and starts over at a new school. There she meets Logan 'The Psycho' Brenner who is feared by all and hated by most. With each other they find solace, but Bree's feelings intensify and it's not long before she completely shatters.
This book was excellently written, I couldn't spot a fault with the grammar. Only one problem arose, it was a time-line issue.
It's not at all faced paced, there's not OTT drama, it's very much filled with Bree's; feelings, panic attacks, first love, family troubles, self harm issues and nightmares. So expect a lot of inner monologue.
I liked it for what it was, not what it wasn't, it was very angsty and moody. REALLY could have done with an epilogue.
August 6, 2016
Over the top angst that just didn't work for me as a reader. The drama was so intense and the characters are oh so tortured emotionally that it borders on comical. It took until the very end to figure out why the heroine wouldn't speak, as well as why Logan the love interest is treated worst than dirt.
This entire story is so unbelievable and the characters are very underwhelming with their personalities. Also the internal musings from the heroine went on forever and could have been shortened. The reason for her fear should have created sympathy on my part but I just couldn't connect with her or anything she does, including why she finds a connection with Logan, the accused murderer the kids at their high school hate and stay far away from.
Skip this one because it's an eye rolling mess.
This entire story is so unbelievable and the characters are very underwhelming with their personalities. Also the internal musings from the heroine went on forever and could have been shortened. The reason for her fear should have created sympathy on my part but I just couldn't connect with her or anything she does, including why she finds a connection with Logan, the accused murderer the kids at their high school hate and stay far away from.
Skip this one because it's an eye rolling mess.
December 18, 2013
This book totally blew me away. A true surprise. Honestly, most of the time I don't have high hopes for Amazon freebies, but this book ... this book.. I would I have paid for.
Definitely deals with dark subjects, and this book contains scenes of violence.
It's not a book for everyone but I am glad I read it. I admit I cried more than once.
It's not a perfect book and there were a couple of times I had a frown or ? on my face.
Great, great hero!! Logan.. Damaged, but strong and :::sigh:::. ..and just what Bree need.
I would have LOVED an epilogue.. Maybe there is something in the works .. I hope so..
Definitely deals with dark subjects, and this book contains scenes of violence.
It's not a book for everyone but I am glad I read it. I admit I cried more than once.
It's not a perfect book and there were a couple of times I had a frown or ? on my face.
Great, great hero!! Logan.. Damaged, but strong and :::sigh:::. ..and just what Bree need.
I would have LOVED an epilogue.. Maybe there is something in the works .. I hope so..
November 3, 2014
“And if you’re lucky enough to find one that made it, it’s all burnt up and blackened, this broken thing . . . But hell, how many people get to touch a fallen star, you know? So it’s still the most beautiful fucking thing you’ve ever seen.”
I can't believe I picked up this book as a freebie. This story sucked me in deep and didn't spit me out until I read the last word. It's not an easy story to read, dealing with dark subjects and two broken kids who hold each other together. But it's a beautiful story of survival, bravery and love.
I can't believe I picked up this book as a freebie. This story sucked me in deep and didn't spit me out until I read the last word. It's not an easy story to read, dealing with dark subjects and two broken kids who hold each other together. But it's a beautiful story of survival, bravery and love.
May 27, 2022
Im not going to get into the "pagiarism" discussions stated about this book except to say that there is a succinct different between copying an authors work word for word and having a similar plot. I've read the Sea of Tranquility. It wasn't for me. This book was different in several ways from Sof T.
Its pretty raw and we meet two very difficult characters. Both have their tale to tell. Both have been trumatised by cirmcumstances.
I would have liked a result of some of the issues they encountered, especially Logan. I felt that wasnt addressed correctly.
This book was well written, and it kept me invested until I found out whether they get a good outcome. They did.
Be prepared for some horrible scenes but I am glad Bree and Logan got their HEA.
Its pretty raw and we meet two very difficult characters. Both have their tale to tell. Both have been trumatised by cirmcumstances.
I would have liked a result of some of the issues they encountered, especially Logan. I felt that wasnt addressed correctly.
This book was well written, and it kept me invested until I found out whether they get a good outcome. They did.
Be prepared for some horrible scenes but I am glad Bree and Logan got their HEA.
October 18, 2025
Okayyy so I’m totally torn between 3 and 4 stars 😭😭😭
It was raw, intense, and emotional .I really did love it. My heart broke a thousand times for them, especially for Logan. The whole town resented him; he was alone, no friends, no family, constantly bullied, and treated like crap by everyone.
But on the other hand, it got ridiculously dragged out with the same ‘oh, poor broken me’ drama over and over again ,the same internal monologues, the same arguments between them.
And even though it was technically a HEA, my heart still fucking hurts rn 😭. I don’t do well with open endings ,I need a proper epilogue and all that closure shit ykk💀☝️
It was raw, intense, and emotional .I really did love it. My heart broke a thousand times for them, especially for Logan. The whole town resented him; he was alone, no friends, no family, constantly bullied, and treated like crap by everyone.
But on the other hand, it got ridiculously dragged out with the same ‘oh, poor broken me’ drama over and over again ,the same internal monologues, the same arguments between them.
And even though it was technically a HEA, my heart still fucking hurts rn 😭. I don’t do well with open endings ,I need a proper epilogue and all that closure shit ykk💀☝️
October 1, 2016
4.5 stars rounded up to 5. This is a wonderfully written story about a girl, Bree, suffering the traumatic effects of a rape a few years ago, who has chosen not to speak for the last two years because she is afraid the horror and memories from the incident will drive her insane by coming alive along with her voice. She feels deep down that she brought the pain on herself by heeding the demands of the rapist (while he had a gun to her head) and keeping quiet while he attacked her. But the quiet was only on the outside, the inside of her head is filled with screams and nightmares from when the incident took place.
She meets a neighbor boy, Logan (they are both high school seniors). There are many rumors and malicious gossip about Logan that he is a murderer. Bree finds out that he killed his stepdad right after the stepdad, a respected policeman, had beaten his mother to death. But the true reason for the killing was never published, Logan was let off fairly easily, and now fellow students and the population at large thinks he got away with murder.
These two find solace in each other's company and a deep relationship develops. However, it is not all sweetness and light. This is a fairly dark story of two broken people finding each other and dealing with their horrible situations the only way they seem to be able to.
I did have a few quibbles with the story: they "heard" each other even before they met? Bree was a wreck and a few times I thought hospitalization might be warranted. But, I really enjoyed reading this book and couldn't put it down.
She meets a neighbor boy, Logan (they are both high school seniors). There are many rumors and malicious gossip about Logan that he is a murderer. Bree finds out that he killed his stepdad right after the stepdad, a respected policeman, had beaten his mother to death. But the true reason for the killing was never published, Logan was let off fairly easily, and now fellow students and the population at large thinks he got away with murder.
These two find solace in each other's company and a deep relationship develops. However, it is not all sweetness and light. This is a fairly dark story of two broken people finding each other and dealing with their horrible situations the only way they seem to be able to.
I did have a few quibbles with the story: they "heard" each other even before they met? Bree was a wreck and a few times I thought hospitalization might be warranted. But, I really enjoyed reading this book and couldn't put it down.
September 23, 2014
I really liked this book. It was a change from what I normally read but i was at a crossroads for giving it a 3.5 or a solid 4. Loved the concept, and really liked the storyline however I wish the author would have went further in-depth with it. This was a quick read, I mean I practically finished it in a matter of hours and that was with breaks.
Reason I gave it a 4: Loved the characters, especially Logan. He is a stand up guy that I wouldn't mind having in my corner. The other reason was there was no 3.5 rating so i rounded up.
Pros: The storyline is good, not great, could use some work but still good. Loved how the two main characters evolved and most of all how their romance didn't seem forced, but genuine. Logan was just hot in general and the love scenes weren't explicit in anyway.
Cons: Ending sucked. Well it didn't suck completely, it just didn't solve all the problems or deal with all the issues that needed to be dealt with for me. However before you go off my judgement realize that i am an Texas girl bent on avenging justice lol.
I really would like to see a 2nd book to this.
Reason I gave it a 4: Loved the characters, especially Logan. He is a stand up guy that I wouldn't mind having in my corner. The other reason was there was no 3.5 rating so i rounded up.
Pros: The storyline is good, not great, could use some work but still good. Loved how the two main characters evolved and most of all how their romance didn't seem forced, but genuine. Logan was just hot in general and the love scenes weren't explicit in anyway.
Cons: Ending sucked. Well it didn't suck completely, it just didn't solve all the problems or deal with all the issues that needed to be dealt with for me. However before you go off my judgement realize that i am an Texas girl bent on avenging justice lol.
I really would like to see a 2nd book to this.
June 22, 2014
What happened there at the end?? I was teetering on giving this one a 4-star review and then... Nothing happened! The end doesn't resolve a thing other than the romance part. We're invested in the horrible things that happened to these characters and then neither of their issues were resolved. One more really good chapter could have done it.
September 20, 2014
Not a well written piece and the story is uncannily similar to "The Sea of Tranquility." Too similar. In fact, the word "unethical" comes to mind. Though this book lacks the depth or development that are seen in TSoT. I cannot give this book a higher rating or a good recommendation when it so closely resembles another author's work.
December 20, 2013
Very well written book. Emotional with characters that you loved. I did wish for a bit more closure at the end, but it was a great read.
January 9, 2014
why doesn't this have more ratings?? this book was amazing! definitely one of my favourites
September 15, 2021
Oh my LAWD, that was a lot of angst! (But angst in YA Romance is never a bad thing!! 😉)
I wasn't expecting the Magical Realism bit, where they supposedly magically "heard" each other's voices on the simultaneous worst night of their lives. I thought there would be a more practical/real-world reason as to why they both felt like they knew and understood each other so well right from the start. I'm not a fan of Magical Realism, since I think it's a plot cop-out. Anyhow, despite that, I liked the overall plot.
The other thing that rankled was all the repetition with not being able to breathe, with her lungs collapsing, etc. I started getting sick of reading that inner monologue on what felt like an infinitely-endless loop. 😑
I liked Logan a LOT. I wouldn't have minded finding someone like him gift-wrapped and delivered to me back when I was a teen myself. He's all hot and hard-bodied loving angst, and what's not to like about that?! 😍🥰
Their relationship was very Edward-Bella, what with the obsession with each other right off the bat, and the constant need to be with the other. Kind of unhealthy in real life, but fun to read about in fiction. 🔥
This could've used an epilogue, since we know nothing about what they will do next, given that neither is academically driven and both seem to be stuck in the middle of sticky life situations. We leave them in limbo, and I felt like I wanted to know a bit more about what happens next.
If this novel really is a plagiarism of another novel (as several reviews are claiming), I'll definitely be reading that plagiarized-from novel soon, too, given how much I enjoyed this one.
5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I wasn't expecting the Magical Realism bit, where they supposedly magically "heard" each other's voices on the simultaneous worst night of their lives. I thought there would be a more practical/real-world reason as to why they both felt like they knew and understood each other so well right from the start. I'm not a fan of Magical Realism, since I think it's a plot cop-out. Anyhow, despite that, I liked the overall plot.
The other thing that rankled was all the repetition with not being able to breathe, with her lungs collapsing, etc. I started getting sick of reading that inner monologue on what felt like an infinitely-endless loop. 😑
I liked Logan a LOT. I wouldn't have minded finding someone like him gift-wrapped and delivered to me back when I was a teen myself. He's all hot and hard-bodied loving angst, and what's not to like about that?! 😍🥰
Their relationship was very Edward-Bella, what with the obsession with each other right off the bat, and the constant need to be with the other. Kind of unhealthy in real life, but fun to read about in fiction. 🔥
This could've used an epilogue, since we know nothing about what they will do next, given that neither is academically driven and both seem to be stuck in the middle of sticky life situations. We leave them in limbo, and I felt like I wanted to know a bit more about what happens next.
If this novel really is a plagiarism of another novel (as several reviews are claiming), I'll definitely be reading that plagiarized-from novel soon, too, given how much I enjoyed this one.
5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2017
I really really enjoyed this book! Absolutely loved it. However, I was hoping for a different ending. Maybe some kind of resolution with both characters and what they went through, and with the kids at school.
May 26, 2015
Bree McCafferty has a crippling secret. One night two years ago has left her emotionally broken and terrified to speak. She is beginning her senior year at a new high school, content on keeping to herself and living in self imposed solitude. From the first day she is intrigued by a loner named Logan Brenner. He is an outcast and reviled by everyone in town. Bree soon learns Logan has a dark and violent secret of his own.
Teen and Young Adult is typically not a genre I read frequently. High school lives don't hold much interest for me as I get older. This book definitely does not read like a typical YA romance, but Bree and Logan are not typical teenagers. They deal with very serious issues while trying to survive one day at a time.
As Bree goes through the motions of her first day at a new school she meets several people that will play an instrumental role in her new life. Most notably is Logan; a tall, dark, brooding outcast. Bree is intrigued by him from the moment she encounters him alone in a deserted hallway.
When Logan speaks, his voice stirs something inside of her, yet she has no idea why. As he saves her from an attack one night, Bree encounters a very different man then the monster everyone in town fears. He soothes and calms her in a way that both shocks and confuses her. They soon begin a friendship so deep and trusting neither one can function without the other. This is a story of two very co-dependent people. Discovering one another's dark and tragic pasts only brings them closer together.
If there is one thing I love in a book, it's co-dependent couples. I love the fact that they can't sleep without each other and have to be constantly touching when in the same room. I love the sweetness that Bree brings out in Logan. He knows exactly what she needs when she's upset and says the sweetest things to her.
There were some scenes that were hard to read. There is one such violent scene that takes place in the parking lot of a traveling fair. I literally held my breath praying that what I thought was going to happen didn't happen. Even as a couple, life is not easy for Logan and Bree. She endures the stigma of being the "strange silent girl" while at the same time being bullied for dating who the town sees as a violent criminal that escaped a prison sentence. They are also are still trying to deal emotionally with the pain of their lost innocence and youth. They bond over their tragic pasts while trying to live again, to be normal teenagers again. The shocking scene at 75% left me reeling. I cried and cried because I felt so much for these characters. I had hoped that by finding each other they would begin to heal, but sometimes love isn't enough.
I loved this book and adored Bree and Logan. I was literally sucked in from the first page. I was a little worried about how it would work with Bree not speaking, but the author handled it wonderfully. She came up with ways for Bree to communicate that didn't interrupt the dialogue or flow of the story. While it is a very serious story, there were moments of humor. Perfect little inside jokes between Bree and Logan that made you fall even more in love with them. As soon as I finished I went back to my highlighted lines and re-read my favorite parts. This book is a definite 5 star for me.
Teen and Young Adult is typically not a genre I read frequently. High school lives don't hold much interest for me as I get older. This book definitely does not read like a typical YA romance, but Bree and Logan are not typical teenagers. They deal with very serious issues while trying to survive one day at a time.
As Bree goes through the motions of her first day at a new school she meets several people that will play an instrumental role in her new life. Most notably is Logan; a tall, dark, brooding outcast. Bree is intrigued by him from the moment she encounters him alone in a deserted hallway.
When Logan speaks, his voice stirs something inside of her, yet she has no idea why. As he saves her from an attack one night, Bree encounters a very different man then the monster everyone in town fears. He soothes and calms her in a way that both shocks and confuses her. They soon begin a friendship so deep and trusting neither one can function without the other. This is a story of two very co-dependent people. Discovering one another's dark and tragic pasts only brings them closer together.
If there is one thing I love in a book, it's co-dependent couples. I love the fact that they can't sleep without each other and have to be constantly touching when in the same room. I love the sweetness that Bree brings out in Logan. He knows exactly what she needs when she's upset and says the sweetest things to her.
There were some scenes that were hard to read. There is one such violent scene that takes place in the parking lot of a traveling fair. I literally held my breath praying that what I thought was going to happen didn't happen. Even as a couple, life is not easy for Logan and Bree. She endures the stigma of being the "strange silent girl" while at the same time being bullied for dating who the town sees as a violent criminal that escaped a prison sentence. They are also are still trying to deal emotionally with the pain of their lost innocence and youth. They bond over their tragic pasts while trying to live again, to be normal teenagers again. The shocking scene at 75% left me reeling. I cried and cried because I felt so much for these characters. I had hoped that by finding each other they would begin to heal, but sometimes love isn't enough.
I loved this book and adored Bree and Logan. I was literally sucked in from the first page. I was a little worried about how it would work with Bree not speaking, but the author handled it wonderfully. She came up with ways for Bree to communicate that didn't interrupt the dialogue or flow of the story. While it is a very serious story, there were moments of humor. Perfect little inside jokes between Bree and Logan that made you fall even more in love with them. As soon as I finished I went back to my highlighted lines and re-read my favorite parts. This book is a definite 5 star for me.
August 21, 2014
*2.5* This book started off promising but it just didn't hit the spot for me. By mid book, I was completely over the whole highschool dynamic and Bree's character. Her suffering just dragged on and on and on, omg, it was just too much. I'm not saying what she went through was something she should just forget about but I think her secret took too long to be revealed. Many things weren't explained or it was randomly explained in another scene, like when Bree sent a message to Logan, asking him what he was doing at that party in the first place (the party happened at the beginning of the book but she asked him that well past mid book). That was something I was confused about the minute he showed up at the party. If people don't like you, then why show up to a house party??? His explanation for that was weak anyways. I was also confused about the whole Dylan's dad thing. I for sure would have thought that Dylan's dad would have known all the details about Logan's case but he was acting like Logan just killed the guy for no reason. It made no sense to me that Logan was still living in that house. I get that he wants to be connected with his mom but c'mon! The whole town was against him, people were vandalizing his house and he's receiving threats but he just shrugs it off...umm..ok buddy.
When Bree started to speak, I was happy for her...until she started talking non-stop to just about everyone. I thought that there would have been more gradual progression. Like a few words here and there...maybe a sentence thrown into the mix if she needed to but no, the day after she yells out loud in front of those guys beating up Logan, she's talking just fine to everyone; her sister, teachers, even to the kids at school who bugged her from day 1. I don't know, it didn't seem natural to me. The girl hasn't used her voice in 2 years and you expect me to believe that she doesn't have a strained or hoarse voice when she talks at first?
I wasn't satisfied with the ending AT ALL. It ended so abruptly that I actually had to download another version of the ebook online just to make sure I wasn't missing a few pages. There's no explanation about the future and what these characters plan on doing after highschool. Maybe this is a series or something? While I enjoyed their supportive relationship a lot (especially the hand on chest breathing, aww so cute), their romantic relationship was weird. Their major intimate moments always came after negative moments and I didn't like that. It made me think she was just using him to seek comfort in that moment instead of actually falling in love with him. I was also disappointed with this "connection" they had with their tragic accidents. While the "connection" was creative, it just didn't mesh with the story and the characters.
When Bree started to speak, I was happy for her...until she started talking non-stop to just about everyone. I thought that there would have been more gradual progression. Like a few words here and there...maybe a sentence thrown into the mix if she needed to but no, the day after she yells out loud in front of those guys beating up Logan, she's talking just fine to everyone; her sister, teachers, even to the kids at school who bugged her from day 1. I don't know, it didn't seem natural to me. The girl hasn't used her voice in 2 years and you expect me to believe that she doesn't have a strained or hoarse voice when she talks at first?
I wasn't satisfied with the ending AT ALL. It ended so abruptly that I actually had to download another version of the ebook online just to make sure I wasn't missing a few pages. There's no explanation about the future and what these characters plan on doing after highschool. Maybe this is a series or something? While I enjoyed their supportive relationship a lot (especially the hand on chest breathing, aww so cute), their romantic relationship was weird. Their major intimate moments always came after negative moments and I didn't like that. It made me think she was just using him to seek comfort in that moment instead of actually falling in love with him. I was also disappointed with this "connection" they had with their tragic accidents. While the "connection" was creative, it just didn't mesh with the story and the characters.
August 10, 2014
2.5 Stars
A friend recommended this book to me. She said it reminded her of The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay. TSoT is one of my all time favorite books so I put it on my list.
Saying this book reminds you of TSoT is an understatement. It was way too similar to TSoT for me to really enjoy it.
Mute, damaged heroine who moves out from her parents house and in with a relative - check. She suffered a terrible attack - check. She missed a year of high school recovering - check. She lost all of her friends from before - check.
Hero who is also damaged who lives on his own during his senior year of high school. Oh yea, and he's a social leper with his very own force field - check.
Nice dimpled quarterback friend - check.
But I just...didn't connect as well with these characters because it started out EXACTLY like TSoT.
And, some of the happenings were a bit unrealistic.
The book was well written, but I couldn't get into the story line. I couldn't connect with the main characters.
Not for me.
A friend recommended this book to me. She said it reminded her of The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay. TSoT is one of my all time favorite books so I put it on my list.
Saying this book reminds you of TSoT is an understatement. It was way too similar to TSoT for me to really enjoy it.
Mute, damaged heroine who moves out from her parents house and in with a relative - check. She suffered a terrible attack - check. She missed a year of high school recovering - check. She lost all of her friends from before - check.
Hero who is also damaged who lives on his own during his senior year of high school. Oh yea, and he's a social leper with his very own force field - check.
Nice dimpled quarterback friend - check.
But I just...didn't connect as well with these characters because it started out EXACTLY like TSoT.
And, some of the happenings were a bit unrealistic.
The book was well written, but I couldn't get into the story line. I couldn't connect with the main characters.
Not for me.
November 3, 2014
I absolutely love Wolbert's writing. The descriptions and the character's interactions are so raw that I could feel their pain and, though harder to realize, their joy.
Bree has suffered extreme trauma and has coped with that by burrowing into herself, interacting with others on a very limited basis and not speaking at all. While she is not suicidal, she is definitely not living.
Logan is a protector, someone who has seen too much and done too much for one so young but keeps putting one foot in front of the other. He rescues Bree from a difficult situation before he really even knows her and she latches onto him and won't let go. He is patient and kind and it is within his safety net that she truly begins to heal. It is for him that she begins to speak again and with him by her side that she can confront her past.
While she is extremely dependent on him at first, Logan also helps her to have a level of independence within her own mind. Bree's acceptance of him when so many others have turned their backs, also helps him to address his own need to heal.
This is not a happy, light love story. The subjects are dark, sad, and often brutal. But it is their love for one another that makes the pain, if not exactly better, then at least bearable. And it is this love that is starkly beautiful in its incredible strength.
Bree has suffered extreme trauma and has coped with that by burrowing into herself, interacting with others on a very limited basis and not speaking at all. While she is not suicidal, she is definitely not living.
Logan is a protector, someone who has seen too much and done too much for one so young but keeps putting one foot in front of the other. He rescues Bree from a difficult situation before he really even knows her and she latches onto him and won't let go. He is patient and kind and it is within his safety net that she truly begins to heal. It is for him that she begins to speak again and with him by her side that she can confront her past.
While she is extremely dependent on him at first, Logan also helps her to have a level of independence within her own mind. Bree's acceptance of him when so many others have turned their backs, also helps him to address his own need to heal.
This is not a happy, light love story. The subjects are dark, sad, and often brutal. But it is their love for one another that makes the pain, if not exactly better, then at least bearable. And it is this love that is starkly beautiful in its incredible strength.
March 18, 2014
This was a Kindle freebie and I'm really glad I took a chance on it. Well written, no obvious grammar issues or typos, and a heartbreaking story.
Bree is living with her sister while she finishes her senior year of high school. Having endured a traumatic event two years prior, she's older than most students at 19. She's unable/unwilling to speak, so that makes her a bit of a freak at school. She meets Logan, the school outcast, who also got a tragic past. I liked the connection between the two of them, how their relationship evolves slowly. They are both somewhat broken, but each finds in the other something that makes the bleakness better.
There are a few issues that kept this from being a 5 star read for me. The violence that happens to Logan at the carnival should have involved some consequences, or police, or something (assault charges?). At the very least an ambulance. And that part of the story with Dylan seemed to end too abruptly, without enough resolution for me. The sex scene at the end seemed implausible considering Logan's injuries. And I do wish there had been an epilogue.
But my issues were fairly minor overall, I did enjoy reading it, and I would recommend it.
Bree is living with her sister while she finishes her senior year of high school. Having endured a traumatic event two years prior, she's older than most students at 19. She's unable/unwilling to speak, so that makes her a bit of a freak at school. She meets Logan, the school outcast, who also got a tragic past. I liked the connection between the two of them, how their relationship evolves slowly. They are both somewhat broken, but each finds in the other something that makes the bleakness better.
There are a few issues that kept this from being a 5 star read for me. The violence that happens to Logan at the carnival should have involved some consequences, or police, or something (assault charges?). At the very least an ambulance. And that part of the story with Dylan seemed to end too abruptly, without enough resolution for me. The sex scene at the end seemed implausible considering Logan's injuries. And I do wish there had been an epilogue.
But my issues were fairly minor overall, I did enjoy reading it, and I would recommend it.
November 3, 2014
Excellent darker YA read, very satisfying. I have mixed feelings about the absence of an epilogue which several readers commented on - on one hand I like that I get to use my imagination for Logan and Bree and that just like the issues they struggle with everything doesn't get to be tied up neatly with a bow in life. On the other hand I wanted desperately for the rapist to be caught. I however ***LOVED*** the last page.
I thought the author did a very good job of connecting her thoughts and making her plot flow. She also captured Bree's pain in a visceral way that made me anxious and on edge. I felt with the characters.
Would highly recommend this book.
Edited to add: Also love the cover and title which are what prompted me to click the book's page on Amazon. If you enjoyed this story you might also like The Only Alien on the Planet which is an excellent read as well. I am intrigued by portrayals of after effects of trauma on the psyche with manifestations such as mutism. The power of the mind is an amazing thing.
I thought the author did a very good job of connecting her thoughts and making her plot flow. She also captured Bree's pain in a visceral way that made me anxious and on edge. I felt with the characters.
Would highly recommend this book.
Edited to add: Also love the cover and title which are what prompted me to click the book's page on Amazon. If you enjoyed this story you might also like The Only Alien on the Planet which is an excellent read as well. I am intrigued by portrayals of after effects of trauma on the psyche with manifestations such as mutism. The power of the mind is an amazing thing.
September 17, 2014
My review is conflicted, hence the 2.5/5 stars. As an adult, i still love reading cheesy and predictable YA books. The romantic teen in me relates to the outcast heroine and loves the gushing romance, finding the only person in the world that understands you, not being able to leave person that allows you to breathe- you know the cheesy and predictable YA. However, the realistic adult who wants to shelter the real teens reading this book hates that: 1-parents, teachers, therapists and cops are portrayed as idiots, 2-that sex and fooling around are not exactly PG-13 (i understand that this is an important part of Bree's healing- but glossing it over would accomplish that too) and 3-holy F bomb escalation. All this being said, as an English Major I really liked the writing, the bit about the stars, the scars in the parking lot and there were a lot of other really vivid, images and emotions conjured that I appreciated.
December 26, 2013
3.5 stars for the first 75% this was a solid 4 star read but the last 25 % I didn't feel that the real problems got resolved. I didn't feel that Bree moved forward with her character even though she did some major things. Bree is brutally attacked when she was 17 years old, since then she has not said a single word. In her head she's still screaming but nobody hears her. Bree moves to her sister Trish in another town to escape her fiends, her parents, the talking and the expectations of becoming her old self again.
Logan Brenner has his own heart wrenching story and is the only one who can calm Bree when she has panic attacks. Both off them broken in half but together they make one whole.
This story is beautifully written and that cover does not do the book any justice.
This writer has some major potential and I will for sure want to read her other books.
Logan Brenner has his own heart wrenching story and is the only one who can calm Bree when she has panic attacks. Both off them broken in half but together they make one whole.
This story is beautifully written and that cover does not do the book any justice.
This writer has some major potential and I will for sure want to read her other books.
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