Damaged Goods

by Cassandra Doon

A STORY OF PAIN AND HEARTACHE

Oleander Li was a young girl with an untamed spirit, raised in a small town nestled just shy of the bustling city of Sydney, Australia.

With long black hair and amber eyes, she was a presence that never failed to turn heads. But when she crossed paths with the notorious bad boy of the town, Hael, her life took a sharp turn.

Suddenly, a whirlwind of drugs, parties, and abuse became her normal. The once bright future she had imagined for herself faded into a distant memory. Day by day, her eyes lost their spark as she became lost in the chaos and darkness of her new reality.

Her once bright and hopeful outlook on life begin to fade as she became lost in this new world. Eventually, her eyes no longer search for meaning, but instead grew numb to the chaos surrounding her.

UNTILL THE PAIN CONSUMMED HER

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2024

About the author

Cassandra Doon hails from New South Wales, Australia, where she was nurtured between the bustling streets of Sydney and the serene snowy mountains of Tumut. Today, she finds inspiration in the breathtaking Scenic Rim of Queensland's Gold Coast. A versatile author with a lifelong passion for storytelling, Cassandra has penned over 16 novels and 5 children's books, exploring a variety of genres. Known for her daydreaming and a head often lost in the clouds, she admits to being more at home in her fictional worlds than on social media. Outside of her literary pursuits, Cassandra is a devoted mother to two boys, dedicating her days to their endless energy as both a soccer mom and Pokémon master.

Reviews

[Jazmyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This chilling book plunges readers into the unsettling depths of oleander, skillfully crafting haunting images of the characters' surroundings. This book will lead readers through a challenging and emotionally turbulent journey in this exceptionally well-crafted and harrowing novel.
I couldn’t put this book down it was by far one of the best books I have ever read with a PERFECT ending. This is the type of book that keeps a bit of the soul.

[Samyra Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page Turner

This was a page turner, but difficult to read at times. There were times I wanted to rescue Oli, and others I wanted to shake her. Hael was full of hell. I disliked him. I’d recommend this to anyone interested in coming of age stories packed with abuse, well-written characters, and story telling that leaves you wondering what more could happen.

[J N King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damaged goods is a superb book. It might be a hard read for some, so check the tw, but still worth it. You feel for the female protagonist and can emphasise based on her age why she made certain lifestyle choices. That doesn't deflect from the fact that you want to scoop her up and protect her with all you have. The ending hit me the most. But that's what makes a good book. When you feel everything that happened within the story.

[George Veck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic audiobook. This was my first book of Cassandra's, and I really enjoyed it. It's a thought-provoking, eloquently written account of adolescence and growing up in those difficult late teen years. Very memorable, and relatable in a lot of ways. Cassandra nailed the uncertainty of that angsty age and doesn't hold back, which I feel is necessary for this type of story. This is well worth picking up if you like gritty, authentic writing.

[Yudith Camacho · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a roller coaster of emotions! There were times I wanted to cry my heart out, other time I wanted to rescue Olie and other shake her to try to make her see some sense!

The end was a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to read what’s next!

[mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

whoa

This book did not disappoint, it was a quick read for me wanting more! I absolutely love this book and can not wait to see what else this author has in store for us!