Following her parents' inevitable divorce, sixteen-year-old Chloe Archer is forced to relocate to a new school in a new town. The only part of that she's worried about, though, is having to hide the abuse she receives from her twisted, unstable mother, and making sure her reckless twin sister stays out of trouble. As Chloe begins to navigate a life she never thought possible by making new friends and even falling in love, she must quickly decide if love and friendship are worth her two worlds colliding - or continue living in two separate worlds and eventually succumb to the madness that is forcibly taking over.
I have no words to express what an absolute pleasure it was to read this beautiful book!!!
Jennifer, I hope you see this review and know how talented you are!!!❤️
This story follows Chloe through her 16th year on this earth. A year full of heartbreak, sadness, elation and joy. Chloe and her twin sister are trapped with a mother who suffers from severe mental illness and her afflictions are the driving force of what happens in the family. When Chloe and Zoe’s parents divorce the girls decide to stay with their mom. Chloe to help her mother and sister and Zoe because she has always been treated like a queen by their mother and does whatever she wants, whenever she wants. Chloe finally finds friends in the town they move to. She has only had one friend her entire life before now and you think that her life will finally be the type of life a teenager should have. The problem is her mother and sister keep her down with all of their issues.
Poor Chloe!!! I feel for this character. My heart has been broken a hundred times while reading this amazing book. I’ve felt all the emotions a reader should feel when reading this book and I thank you Jennifer for putting these words to paper. I know you had to have had a million struggles while writing this story but, I cannot thank you enough for persevering!! Your talent is immense and please never stop letting the stories come through.
This book is AMAZING! I read all 700+ pages in o e day because I couldn’t put it down. DEFINITELY check your trigger warnings but I cannot recommend it enough!!!!!
Chloe Archer is one of the most complex characters I’ve ever read. I genuinely cannot tell if I hate her or love her, mainly because she is constantly changing over the course of the novel. She can be a little unreliable and sometimes you seriously don’t know what’s real, but the progression of her mental illness is done in an artful series of building and releasing tension. By the time Chloe realizes what’s happening, the reader is already aware and it is TOUGH to read. You feel sad because she’s scared and suffering, but it’s also incredibly frustrating. Watching her cycle through trying to control everything, lying, keeping secrets, breaking, pushing everyone away over and over and over…it’s maddening.
At the same time, though, she’s been abused almost her whole life and she’s only 16. She’s been conditioned this way. She doesn’t believe she can be upset without turning into her mom, she never focuses on her own needs…she doesn’t even believe that she matters. You want to root for her because she’s smart and she’s kind and she’s loyal to a fault. She’s a bit of a Bella Swan, but that’s okay. You want her to be free and have peace, but the small glimpses we get of her happiness always feel too short, too good to last long enough.
Honestly the last four chapters of this book had me all the way fucked up and I’m…I don’t even know. Livid? Heartbroken? Depressed? Anxious? Take your pick. All I know is that somebody better fix this shit with Jackson EXPEDITIOUSLY or I will riot!!! I love him ☹️
I’m gonna have to read like six fluffy rom coms just to recover from this 💀
This was a rollercoaster ride with no bright light. Everything single time you think Chloe, our FMC will get a break, the universe is like hold my beer and kicks this poor girl down the stairs.
Growing up this poor girl experienced so much verbal abuse it is sad and sickening.
Check your triggers! Trauma is an awful thing and abuse and absolutely awful.
So many questions…
1. Why’d you have to kill the dad off? 2. Why couldn’t Chloe ever tell Jackson about Zoe… a lot of things could’ve been avoided (yes i get it thought process of a 16 yr old but still) 3. Why couldn’t Jackson and Chloe make up instead of break up? He literally was good for her. 4. The mom… no questions but wtf? 5. Kill Zoe? Take in her identity?
Excuse me will I stare at the wall continuously asking myself what the fk…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The book was easily 600 pages longer than it needed to be. The ending felt as if the author was tired of writing the book and just needed it to be over. I needed it to be over. The ending left me wanting to throw the book across the room. Don't waste your time.
You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll yell and scream. You’ll feel. So many emotions while reading this book and after. Leaving you wanting more. CanNOT wait for more from this beautiful, talented author.
This book I had so many emotions running thru me ! By the end of the book I was sobbing!!! First book to EVER have that kind of emotional hold on me! Excellent book!!
This book was everything. Chloe has been thru more trauma in her 16 years of life than most people go thru in a lifetime. This book gave me all the emotions, I cried, I laughed, I got warm fuzzies, I was scared on the edge of my seat and at times I was frustrated. WOW, is all I can say, I can't wait for book two, and if your considering reading this buckle up for the last 15%.
JENNIFER!! That ending!!! CRUEL CRUEL CRUEL!!! If you’re thinking about reading this book just READ IT! GO TO AMAZON! And read it!
This book was an emotional roller coaster. Except you never seem to be able to get to get off the roller coaster. After chapter 9 you’re just stuck on it. Full speed ahead. If you ever have been to valley fair in Minnesota and rode the “steel of venom” that’s the best way I can describe this book. It’s non stop. Once you’re at the bottom and finally get some joy you get thrusted back into the air and you’re heartbroken all over again. I suck at analogies but that that’s what I compared this book too.
I’m so completely invested in these characters. You will probably get annoyed with Chloe and her constantly bad decision making but you feel so much sympathy for her that it’s hard to dislike her.
Unpopular opinion: I really loved Zoe. She was a sweetheart. Especially after what we found out near the end. I loved her even more. I can’t say much of anything without spoiling but I adored her so much. She’s one of my favorites. Surprisingly I liked her more than Chloe. But I still really loved Chloe.
Jackson!!! Omg I loved him. He’s the perfect boyfriend. And he’s just been through so much. He has so much love to give. And I think that’s another reason I can’t stand Chloe because the majority of her bad decisions and her inability to communicate and be honest affected him the worse and he always came back and apologized even tho he literally never owed her an apology. I can’t think of one time where he actually owed her an apology. Yes Chloe apologized to but she absolutely never went out of her way to apologize to him. He always had to make the first move and go to her. And that just wasn’t fair to Jackson at all. And his storyline is heartbreaking. And that’s why I understand Chloe even less sometimes. Because he’s been through hell and back to and sometimes it always felt like she was always all about her. Jackson was always patient and I didn’t blame him at the end. I was on his side even tho I know he was hurt. Won’t say more about that I don’t want to spoil.
Julie and Ethan: these two are the best characters in this entire book. They were a breath of fresh air and out of everybody I was rooting for them the most. They have so much love to give. Even tho they have their own demons. Julie is the definition of a sweetheart. Just the purest soul. And Ethan is somebody you would want in your corner if shit hit the fan. I wish I had an Ethan and Julie in my life. Ethan and Julie deserves the best that life can give because all they do is give to everybody else. I can’t say enough good things about them. I completely understand why they are fan favorites.
Emma and Derrick. I loved both of them right off the bat. They never fit into their friend group. And I thought they were a joy to read about. Loved them both. Derrick is a sweetheart.
Valerie: what an adorable little girl. I hope we get to hear more about her in part two because of her trauma. Absolutely loved her so much! Can’t say much because of spoilers.
Piper: ……….. ima leave it at that. Because she does something so bad and it’s a major spoiler but that type of shit can’t be forgiven! It was cruel and illegal. What a disgusting bitch.
Leah: girl you’re to pretty to be that damn stupid. Why tf do you want to be piper so bad. You’re literally a pretty black girl. Get a grip. Quit being such a nasty bitch.
Logan: I loved her. She was funny and blunt. She was brutally honest. Honestly wish she hung out with Chloe more so that she can tell her straight up that she needed to be more honest. Logan needs to rub off onto Chloe!
Adrian: he had his faults. But he loves his girls. And somebody who doesn’t have a dad. I would love to have him as mine.
Isabel: I have no sympathy for child abusers. Crazy or not I hope she rots 😌
Ty, Troy, and Travis: the Triple T. All a group of bastards. Hated every last one of them. Travis and Ty were the worse.
Marcel: my god I loved Marcel. At first I was afraid he was way older. But when I got his age I was like ohh ok never mind. I absolutely adored him. He’s so patient. Overall a sweetheart.
Darryl: loved him. Especially after what he did. Somebody needed to do it. All the lying and secret keeping drove me insane. He did what a dad would do. Force them to talk and quit coddling them. He was right for what he did with Chloe!
Chloe: Chloe is very complex and complicated. Overall I sympathized with her. But I can’t get behind MOST of her irrational thinking. I get she was abused and she went through a lot. But telling the truth could have saved her almost 50% of her heartache. Everything that happened in this book would have went much different. If she was just honest and communicated. Quite literally everything was her fault. That sounds awful to say. Because she’s just a kid. But literally if she made different decisions the ending alone wouldn’t have happened. But she just never used her brain. I did like her character a lot and thought she was very accurate to how a person like her going through abuse would act. She’s in survival mode 99% of the time. And she really didn’t deserve anything that happened to her. And she was failed by all of the adults in her life. Especially her dad. Technically her mom was to blame for everything and Chloe was a victim. But her choices alone are what led her to some of the things that happened in this book. I hated her mom! Child abusers trigger me and I literally just can’t sympathize with her at all. Overall Chloe’s just an abused kid. So I can’t say I hate her. I’ll say she’s an interesting character. That I care a lot about.
Overall the book was 5⭐️. I’m really invested in these characters and can’t wait to see what happens next for Chloe. Because after the last choice she made there’s going to be a lot of consequences that once again don’t just affect her! They affect every single person in her life. Especially Jackson!
This book was addicting. It was crack and I couldn’t put it down. I have more to say but this review is to long. I hope Chloe grows up in the next book and is able to get her HEA. She really does deserve a happy life her whole life is just non stop abuse. That’s why I can’t ever hate a character like her. I just want to hug her.
This really was an amazing read! I was fortunate enough to be able to read this book prior to its release date! And let me tell you if you're looking for something that a pull, every emotion out of you. This is the book for you! You're going to follow the life of a young girl who battles daily with mental, verbal and physical abuse. But don't let that turn you off from reading the book. It's not as bad as it sounds. When a novel can suck you in and literally have you feeling like you're in the book, that's how you know the author did a fantastic job. I cried during this book. I was angry on behalf of the female main character. Literally was ready to fight some of the bullies, find you. This is not a real story lol. That is how captivating the book is! But don't take my word for it. Go buy your copy today! I can't recommend this book enough!!!
This book is an absolute rollercoaster. Chloe Archer is such a complex, well written character. I love Jenn’s style of writing. I felt like I was in Chloe’s mind and going through all of her struggles with her. This book will make you feel every emotion under the sun… in just 1 chapter alone. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll be angry. Once I picked this book up, it was hard to put down. It is such a heavy read, yet I’m ready for a sequel. I need to know more about all of these characters and what’s to come for all of them. Would read over and over again.
This was a great story. I was sucked in right from the beginning. I lived the characters.
I did not like how it just ended though. I truly hope there will be more to this. If not then that just sucks. Honestly.
It would have been a 5 star read for me but there are too many errors with words missing in sentences or not the right word in sentences. Someone really should edit this again.
I don’t even know how to start rate this book. It’s so devastating, but it’s so well written. It deserves 5 stars, but it ripped my heart out and I don’t think I’ll ever be the same after reading this book!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE read the trigger warnings and go into this book knowing that the events that take place are very dark and disturbing.
This book was a ROLLERCOASTER. When I saw this book was over 700 pages, I’ll admit I was nervous to commit. But the story is so well done and needs the length to go through Chloe’s journey. Please read the TW for this one! The author says there will be a second book, and I will be first in line to read it!!
This story was in no way easy to read! It had some really high moments but the lows were tragic! Let’s say the author is not afraid to put her characters through the wringer!
I don’t do spoilers so you have to read the book to know why I probably gave it just 4 instead of 5 stars.
This is the most beautiful yet saddest, & most depressing book I have EVER read. Chloe is the most complex character I’ve ever experienced. WOW! I am speechless…. Completely speechless.
HOLY SH*T All these pages and I legit need more right now!!! 😩😩😩😩😩😩 so many emotions through out this entire book I am so so happy I made this my first read of the year.
I’m a happy ending book person, so a little frustrating reading such a long book for that ending! It was very well written kept me turning each page. Chloe has been through more at 16 than most people in a life time. So much was packed into this book it definitely kept me on my toes guessing what was next.
I must say that this book left me so emotional at the end ALL THE WAY UP TO THE LAST WORD. I will NEVER stop raving about this book. The emotional rollercoaster that Chloe's family took her on was heart wrenching at BEST!
I absolutely adore this book. It is heavy...it covers heavy topics like abuse and mental health but it's never overbearing. It's the kind of book that will draw you in and keep your attention. The friendships and characters keep you wanting more. I've been on a reading hiatus and it's been years since I could finish a book of this length and I was able to do it in record time for me. I love how raw and realistic it all is. It's not you're typical fairy tale ending. It's realistic and just so well thought out and written. I can't wait for more!!
This book was a lot to process and so often I found myself having to remind myself that Chloe and Zoe are only 16!!!!
Chloe goes through a lot of adult situations and some she handled well and others I was like what are you doing…..oh yeah you’re only 16 Zoe is more like your “rebellious teenager” that Chloe has to pick up after
Check your triggers because when I say she goes through a lot she does! This was a very long book, 720 pages and while I thought it could have been shorter I respect the author for giving us all the backstories…..
Holy Rollercoaster. I laughed, cried, got angry, and loved..all usually in the same sit down. This book is amazing and I cannot wait for #2. You'll grow to love these characters quickly and you'll feel their feelings with them. The character development is outstanding. I could read this over and over.
This story sucked me in from the first page and kept me entranced until the very end! The characters were vivid and lovable. Even though there are some annoying typos, I highly recommend it!