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Worth It
“Nielsen’s words provide hope and light—even when all seems lost in this heart-wrenching coming-of-age drama.” -Award-winning author, S.E. Reed, My Heart is Hurting
Seventeen-year-old Angela Carter intended to pick out prom dresses with her best friend and fill out college applications during her senior year. But her father abandons the family, and her addict mother kicks her out. The now pregnant teen’s new normal is keeping her pressure cooker older boyfriend, Dale, from erupting.
When an intoxicated Dale loses control of her car one night, Angela fears she’ll never hold her unborn child. Desperate for what little stability he provides, and for fear of his retaliation, Angela lies to the police when questioned about the accident. Her lie not only protects him from a DUI but also conceals a darker secret—what happens behind the closed doors of their single-wide trailer.
Set in Central Florida in the late 80s, Worth It is a story of courage, redemption, and the power of becoming your own hero.
Seventeen-year-old Angela Carter intended to pick out prom dresses with her best friend and fill out college applications during her senior year. But her father abandons the family, and her addict mother kicks her out. The now pregnant teen’s new normal is keeping her pressure cooker older boyfriend, Dale, from erupting.
When an intoxicated Dale loses control of her car one night, Angela fears she’ll never hold her unborn child. Desperate for what little stability he provides, and for fear of his retaliation, Angela lies to the police when questioned about the accident. Her lie not only protects him from a DUI but also conceals a darker secret—what happens behind the closed doors of their single-wide trailer.
Set in Central Florida in the late 80s, Worth It is a story of courage, redemption, and the power of becoming your own hero.
- GenresYoung Adult
347 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2024
2 people are currently reading
3313 people want to read
About the author
Amy Nielsen
4 books45 followersAmy Nielsen spent twenty years as a youth librarian sharing her love of books with young readers. Daily immersion in story took root and she penned her YA debut, WORTH IT, behind her circulation desk. Amy is the proud parent to four humans, one pup, and has more grand pups than she can count. When she’s not reading or writing, Amy, her family, and at least two canine co-captains in mermaid life vests can be found boating the waters of Tampa Bay.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 18, 2024
From the moment you start the book, you’re invested in the main character, Angela. You’re immediately transported into her teenage life, which turns out to be rather tough. Nielsen uses strong descriptive words to set the scene. You can smell the gumbo, beer and cigarettes, you can envision yourself in their family house, the school, claypits, or the worn down trailer. It makes the reader want to keep reading, turning the pages to find out what’s next for Angela on this journey of life. It’s difficult, at times, to imagine what she had to endure as a teenager, let alone a pregnant one in an abusive relationship with parents who basically abandoned her. But you’re rooting for her and hoping for the best and wanting her to succeed. The road to get there, however, is rough. Isolated from her friends as she was ashamed of her terrible relationship and being a pregnant teen, she pulled away as their worlds grew further apart. Angela wasn’t going to high school parties or cheering anymore. She was stuck. Stuck in a disgusting trailer with an abusive “boyfriend”. Stuck in a rut with school.. will she graduate? Will she go to college? Stuck and struggling to find a job. These things seemed impossible for her, but she’s a smart girl who dug deep to make a better life for her and her baby. Angela’s strength came through in a way that made me proud. Proud of her for confronting her abuser, proud of her for reaching out to her parents despite being tossed out of the house, proud of her for graduating high school and applying to college, and mostly proud of her for getting herself and her daughter to a better, safer place. Angela finds her voice and uses it. Angela realizes what she’s capable of and goes after it. Worth It is a quick read, an inspiring story, and you will love the ending! The epilogue wrapped everything up so nicely and shows you how far Angela and her daughter have come. I said it before, but I’ll say it again. I’m proud of her.
October 20, 2024
This book was very hard to read at first each chapter seemed to get more sad for the main character but they were worth it (haha get it?) I won this from a giveaway and am BAFFLED there are so little reviews from this amazing book! It’s easy to understand and I personally felt connected because I actually know live in a city mentioned in the book like what are the chances? The only thing is that I felt like the phrase “worth it” came up a bit too often and I kinda hated the FMCs parents like even when they were getting better I still hated them and felt like the FMC maybe shouldn’t have been so forgiving but maybe that’s just me.
Oh so triggers :car crash, SA (mentioned) substance abuse, pedophilia, depression (in my opinion because she starts to emotionally detach from people she used to love) and pregnancy
Oh so triggers :car crash, SA (mentioned) substance abuse, pedophilia, depression (in my opinion because she starts to emotionally detach from people she used to love) and pregnancy
April 12, 2024
A fictional tale that felt like truth the entire time. Amy paints the picture of teenage pregnancy along with the trials and tribulations of family, life, friends, and heartbreaking but brave choices through her witty words and easy storytelling style. Bravo!
March 23, 2024
From the outside, Angela Carter may seem like a kid who has made bad choices. But the truth is, she never had any good ones.
Angela’s family moved to central Florida for her dad’s new job, only to learn the work had dried up. The family slid into poverty, with Angela’s mother stepping up her drinking. When Angela gets to high school, her dad can’t take any more and abandons the family, leaving Angela to care for her younger siblings and, increasingly, her addicted mother. In a fit of drunken anger, her mom throws her out of the house.
With nowhere else to turn, Angela ends up living with Dale, her manipulative older boyfriend and an abusive deadbeat. Angela gets pregnant at 17, throwing her entire future into doubt. She initially feels resigned to a miserable life of abuse and neglect. But despite all the forces that seem aligned against her, she finds the strength and courage to fight for a better life for herself and her child, a life that will take them out of that beer-soaked, smoke-filled trailer.
WORTH IT is an incredibly powerful story, anchored by a highly sympathetic main character. Author Amy Nielsen gives us a front-row seat into Angela’s life and makes us care about this girl. The result is a novel that is shocking at times and uplifting at others—I was emotionally invested from the first page.
But Nielsen doesn’t just make you feel—she makes you think, too. While WORTH IT obviously is a valuable lesson of hope for teen girls who find themselves in tough situations, it also has plenty to teach those of us fortunate enough to grow up in stable, secure families. It’s impossible to read this book without feeling compassion and empathy for Angela and girls in similar circumstances.
I can’t recommend WORTH IT more highly. It’s not just a good read—it’s an important one.
Angela’s family moved to central Florida for her dad’s new job, only to learn the work had dried up. The family slid into poverty, with Angela’s mother stepping up her drinking. When Angela gets to high school, her dad can’t take any more and abandons the family, leaving Angela to care for her younger siblings and, increasingly, her addicted mother. In a fit of drunken anger, her mom throws her out of the house.
With nowhere else to turn, Angela ends up living with Dale, her manipulative older boyfriend and an abusive deadbeat. Angela gets pregnant at 17, throwing her entire future into doubt. She initially feels resigned to a miserable life of abuse and neglect. But despite all the forces that seem aligned against her, she finds the strength and courage to fight for a better life for herself and her child, a life that will take them out of that beer-soaked, smoke-filled trailer.
WORTH IT is an incredibly powerful story, anchored by a highly sympathetic main character. Author Amy Nielsen gives us a front-row seat into Angela’s life and makes us care about this girl. The result is a novel that is shocking at times and uplifting at others—I was emotionally invested from the first page.
But Nielsen doesn’t just make you feel—she makes you think, too. While WORTH IT obviously is a valuable lesson of hope for teen girls who find themselves in tough situations, it also has plenty to teach those of us fortunate enough to grow up in stable, secure families. It’s impossible to read this book without feeling compassion and empathy for Angela and girls in similar circumstances.
I can’t recommend WORTH IT more highly. It’s not just a good read—it’s an important one.
March 26, 2024
Whether you are a mother or you grew up in a difficult relationship with yours, this book makes you want to drive over and hug your mom. There is so much to unpack in this beautiful story, and my own words won't do it justice, so you must read it for yourselves.
Worth It follows Angela, a young girl who continues to face trial after trial after trial in her life. We watch her struggle and self-sacrifice and withdraw from her reality. It's real, raw, and emotional. There are times I was screaming at these pages right alongside Angela for someone--ANYONE--to see this young woman and help her. Then I was screaming at Angela to trust the people she loves and do better. This story dwells on the unfortunate but real situation that not all young women grow up with a white picket fence life, how difficult it can be to ask for help, and ultimately how our bad experiences can be motivators to help shape our positive future so that in the end, it would all be worth it. All this to say--this book quite possibly might break your heart, but keep going, because then it will equivalently put it back together in the most beautiful way.
Worth It follows Angela, a young girl who continues to face trial after trial after trial in her life. We watch her struggle and self-sacrifice and withdraw from her reality. It's real, raw, and emotional. There are times I was screaming at these pages right alongside Angela for someone--ANYONE--to see this young woman and help her. Then I was screaming at Angela to trust the people she loves and do better. This story dwells on the unfortunate but real situation that not all young women grow up with a white picket fence life, how difficult it can be to ask for help, and ultimately how our bad experiences can be motivators to help shape our positive future so that in the end, it would all be worth it. All this to say--this book quite possibly might break your heart, but keep going, because then it will equivalently put it back together in the most beautiful way.
February 13, 2025
This was a truly beautiful and inspiring story. I adored the main character, Angela, and her resilience. It’s been a couple of weeks since I finished the book and I keep thinking back to the story; the characters were so realistic I feel like know I know them! That's what stood out to me most—literally every character in the book was so three-dimensional—as I’ve reflected on the book since finishing it, I realized there wasn’t a moment spent in suspended disbelief—I can’t remember the last time that’s happened while reading! This story is based on the author’s lived experience (DON’T skip the author note at the end!) and absolutely beautifully written. It addresses a lot of tough topics in such a sensitive way. It’s a book I’ll want my own daughter to read when she’s a teen.
I have this ebook and the audiobook, and the narrator on the audiobook did such a fantastic job!! It was so fun to listen to.
I have this ebook and the audiobook, and the narrator on the audiobook did such a fantastic job!! It was so fun to listen to.
March 25, 2024
“Worth It” is not your typical pregnant teen story. Amy Nielsen’s Angela Carter is caring and sympathetic, but also complex and flawed, making for a compelling read.
When Angela’s alcoholic mother throws her out of the house, her options are less than ideal. She moves in with her older boyfriend, Dale, who soon shows himself to be violent and controlling. When Angela becomes pregnant, she believes she has no way out, and nowhere to go, but now there is a baby to consider.
Amy Nielsen fearlessly takes on homelessness, addiction, domestic violence, and teen pregnancy. This book is not only a cautionary tale, it’s a story of hope and resiliency, and a young mother’s determination that her daughter will have a better childhood than she did.
When Angela’s alcoholic mother throws her out of the house, her options are less than ideal. She moves in with her older boyfriend, Dale, who soon shows himself to be violent and controlling. When Angela becomes pregnant, she believes she has no way out, and nowhere to go, but now there is a baby to consider.
Amy Nielsen fearlessly takes on homelessness, addiction, domestic violence, and teen pregnancy. This book is not only a cautionary tale, it’s a story of hope and resiliency, and a young mother’s determination that her daughter will have a better childhood than she did.
April 8, 2024
Worth It is a reminder that we never know what is going on in someone’s life behind closed doors and that kindness matters. Nielsen weaves an emotional journey for the reader. But what really struck me was that even as the main character navigates horrific circumstances, throughout her life she encounters so many people that extend kindness. And while it takes the MC Angela a while before she believes what people tell her, that she is worth more, those moments really struck me. And finally the moment she hears the words, sometimes you’ve got to be your own hero," from someone who arrives on the scene just in time, is finally the turning point for this girl who’d suffered so much. I cannot recommend Worth It enough. It’s a story that I am certain will change lives.
May 13, 2024
I enjoyed this book. The writing is excellent. The characters are interesting. The pacing of the story makes the story flow and easy to read.
It is a heartwarming, heart-wrenching story. I feel the theme of this book is something that teens will enjoy and help them face obstacles in their life, even if their parents don't have their back. I can see how WORTH IT would give teens a deeper understanding that we can make mistakes on the bumpy road of life, but if you work hard and have enough courage, there is light on the other side. Mistakes are meant to be overcome. This is a great message for teens who feel one mistake has or will ruin their whole lives. This book will give them hope for redemption by helping them realize never to give up.
It is a heartwarming, heart-wrenching story. I feel the theme of this book is something that teens will enjoy and help them face obstacles in their life, even if their parents don't have their back. I can see how WORTH IT would give teens a deeper understanding that we can make mistakes on the bumpy road of life, but if you work hard and have enough courage, there is light on the other side. Mistakes are meant to be overcome. This is a great message for teens who feel one mistake has or will ruin their whole lives. This book will give them hope for redemption by helping them realize never to give up.
June 28, 2024
WORTH IT follows the story of Angela Carter’s tumultuous senior year of high school that begins with dreams of prom, memory-making summer adventure with her best friend, and plans to go to college. But those dreams seem out of reach when Angela’s dad leaves the family, her addict mom kicks her out, and she finds herself pregnant and living with an abusive older boyfriend. Amy Nielsen doesn’t shy away from addressing the tough themes of teen pregnancy, addiction, homelessness, poverty, domestic violence, and abuse, but also offers an uplifting message to the reader: Even if your circumstances drive you to make some choices you regret, have hope that you can rise above and come out stronger on the other side. I recommend reading this book – it will be worth it!
March 24, 2024
“...the life I wanted didn’t want me.”
Ouch. Talk about a gut punch.
Worth It was a delightful read. I was drawn into Angela’s world, where financial struggles and familial discord weigh heavily upon her young shoulders. Through her eyes, readers witness the harsh realities of poverty, neglect, abusive relationships, and the stigma surrounding teenage pregnancy. But among the obstacles, there are moments of hope and unexpected kindness that illuminate Angela’s journey toward being her own hero. The author skillfully navigates Angela’s tumultuous path, portraying her highs and lows with sensitivity and authenticity (no doubt drawn from her own experience, which added another layer of emotion for me), and I loved following her to find out where she’d land.
Ouch. Talk about a gut punch.
Worth It was a delightful read. I was drawn into Angela’s world, where financial struggles and familial discord weigh heavily upon her young shoulders. Through her eyes, readers witness the harsh realities of poverty, neglect, abusive relationships, and the stigma surrounding teenage pregnancy. But among the obstacles, there are moments of hope and unexpected kindness that illuminate Angela’s journey toward being her own hero. The author skillfully navigates Angela’s tumultuous path, portraying her highs and lows with sensitivity and authenticity (no doubt drawn from her own experience, which added another layer of emotion for me), and I loved following her to find out where she’d land.
March 21, 2024
My heart is so full from this story. This book is a must read for anyone who has struggled, who wants to root for the underdog, or who is looking for a beautiful story of triumph. Worth It truthfully and authentically dives into difficult topics like poverty, abuse, and neglect, while also showing the incredible human spirit. It shows the reality of being a pregnant homeless teen, and how lack of resources and support traps people in dangerous situations. Amy Nielsen masterfully weaves this tale that will leave you rooting for the MC while bawling at the ending.
March 22, 2024
Exceptional. This wonderful book should be required reading for every teenage girl. Angela is only seventeen years old, a young woman with a rocky family life, trying desperately to find her way. She unfortunately falls in with the wrong person who not only abuses her—he gets her pregnant. Angela’s fortitude and desire to pull herself and her baby girl from the fire consuming them is both heartwarming and beyond commendable. This story is not only a cautionary tale, it’s a blueprint for young women who find themselves in a similar situation. Bravo, Amy Nielsen. Five stars aren’t enough.
March 22, 2024
Set in Central Florida in the 80's, "Worth It" by Amy Nielsen follows Angela, a pregnant and abused teen. Nielsen skillfully portrays Angela's struggles and resilience amidst insurmountable obstacles. Set against the backdrop of poverty and complicated family dynamics, the novel explores themes of redemption and hope, showcasing the transformative power of resilience in adversity. Nielsen's emotive prose and rich charter development make "Worth It" a compelling testament to the human spirit.
March 23, 2024
The emotional roller coaster of WORTH IT is soooo worth it.
I cried, I cheered, I swore and cursed at the pages of this story as I watched a young woman get thrown into an unfortunate situation with the breakdown of a family. You see a young woman grow up in front of your eyes and overcome poverty, abuse, low self esteem, broken family dynamics to reach motherhood with a sense of purpose.
I could not put this book down and neither will you. Believe me…it’s worth it.
I cried, I cheered, I swore and cursed at the pages of this story as I watched a young woman get thrown into an unfortunate situation with the breakdown of a family. You see a young woman grow up in front of your eyes and overcome poverty, abuse, low self esteem, broken family dynamics to reach motherhood with a sense of purpose.
I could not put this book down and neither will you. Believe me…it’s worth it.
April 5, 2024
Great writing! This story pulled me into a place where I was clenching my teeth in anger and frustration. The moments that Angela face are moments that many young girls find themselves in. Reading about how she is able to, not only survive, but overcome her mistakes and the things that others use to keep her down, turns that anger and frustration into pride and satisfaction for young Angela.
March 27, 2024
I don't want to give any spoilers - but this smart book will keep you turning the page long after you should turn off the light and get some sleep. You'll be desperate to find out whether Angela will survive the mess of her relationship and find a way to stand up for herself. If tense page turners aren't your thing - then you should check it out for the 80s nostalgia.
March 29, 2024
This book is absolutely ‘Worth It’. Angela Carter is a relatable teenager faced with a chain of difficult circumstances and decisions. Along the way, she learns self-worth and the worth of her unborn child. I cried for her. I cheered with her. And I underlined so many insightful sentences that I wanted to revisit again and again. This story will truly inspire you to be your own hero!
May 22, 2024
What an emotional roller-coaster of a read! Worth It is not my usual genre but I'm glad I read because the main character forced me reflect on the decisions we make vs those forced on us. I was invested in her journey from the beginning. Nielsen wrapped her characters in layers of emotion, weaving a story that makes you root for the outcome.
Highly recommend!
Highly recommend!
March 22, 2024
Worth It is a page-turner. I wanted to swoop in and rescue Angela at every turn. This author crafted a compelling story that pulled on every emotion, from anger, to sadness, and hope. It is a must-read and a story I will definitely keep on my reread shelf.
August 31, 2024
This book is going to leave me with an emotional hangover! WORTH IT isn't my usual genre, but I devoured it. It's full of hurt, hope, pain and joy. I found myself yelling at characters, audibly gasping and holding back tears. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator is fantastic!
March 14, 2025
This was the first book in quite a while that I wasn't able to put down. I was immediately invested in Angela, the main character. The storyline is engaging. I didn't expect the story about a teenager to draw me in but it absolutely did.
March 31, 2024
Excellent emotional read with an inspiring message. I was weeping by the end, happy tears! highly recommend this novel!
May 6, 2024
An inspiring tale of overcoming that you could feel at every turn. Brought me back to my pregnancy days and made me cry. Well done!
June 27, 2024
I was completely immersed in the characters and the gritty, compelling dialogue. What a page turner -- I loved it!
October 28, 2024
Very good story, well told.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews