Keep Me Breathing

by U.R. Holm

Fubuki Snow has everything. Her motorcycle, books, a job she likes and her family.

Why would she ever need to leave her home? Besides, everything she needs to know about the world outside, she can learn from her best friend. (When she
isn’t pestering her to find love…)

Sakura Petal is nothing like her friend. She have always loved adventure and
romance. Even if she only manages to get one of them, it doesn’t
stop her from trying.
When her son goes missing, the two friends set out into the cave system to identify the only clue they have.

Even with Sakura’s knowledge and their newfound friends, the search for the boy only seems to create more questions than answers. Will Fubuki be able to get him home, before it’s to late? And who will still stand beside her when she does?

238 pages, Paperback

Published June 11, 2024

Reviews

[DC Guevara · Rating 5 out of 5]

She looked at him. For the first time, it felt like she looked at him — not as a fraud or annoying, just him.

KEEP ME BREATHING is gentle and patient. It is a soothing cup of tea after a long, difficult day. Love radiates from ever word within it, felt across every page-- it’s a warm embrace welcoming you back home.

From the world to the characters, down to their dynamics, KEEP ME BREATHING is a warm and sweet ride.

We follow Fubuki Snow, a standoffish character who loves many but lets few in. She’s a fantastic protagonist to add to the roaster if you love characters like Raven from Teen Titans or Rosa Díaz from B99. She’s softer than she looks and as we follow her difficult journey against harsh and strange terrain, we get to unravel her layers one by one and get to know the true, vulnerable Fuki within.

Now, don’t get me wrong-- the rest of the cast is just as fantastic as well! Sakura and Gideon are the picture of a loving, dedicated family, accompanied by the Great Families of the sector who all make up a wonderfully unique cast of characters to make the world feel as alive as it is vibrant. Throughout the journey, we meet Sandr and Casey, two agile and efficient men on different quests to prove their worth, their valor and to find a community to belong to, whether they know it or not.

To me, the thing that stands out from this novel is the found family aspect. How broken people find each other and try their best to heal together. Vulnerability is a difficult thing to experience, but KEEP ME BREATHING also offers the warmth of it, the ability to trust others and be trusted-- it reminds you that sometimes understanding, kindness, and empathy are the best tools we could ever had.

KEEP ME BREATHING is perfect for fans of SPYXFAMILY (found family), TEEN TITANS (Raven & Starfire dynamic) & subterranean fiction.

[Eline Holt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gosh, where to start. When I initially started reading this book, I had some trouble getting into it. It is not something I usually read, the writing style in very different and to be quite honest, I had so much going on that doing this somewhat felt like a chore. But once I had some more time, I really got into it.

The book is perfect if you love the found family trope, badass female characters, mamma bears and characters being bad at feelings (don't worry, the romance is still cute). The world building has great potential and the plot, while being somewhat predictable, is very nice. Overall, the perfect comfort read (especially with summer time coming up).

The reason why I rated it 4 stars (actually 3.5 but for a lack of this option, I chose 4) and not 5 is because I had a rather hard time getting into the characters and some scenes felt rather slow. I feel like this book could've been a bit better if it was a bit faster paced and if the characters were a bit more fleshed out. Additionally, after the long buildup, I felt like the ending (not the romance ending, cause gosh that was cute) was a bit anti-climatic.

So, to put it all together; a nice comfort read from an author with great potential. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

(Apologies for typos, I was in a hurry)

(I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review)

[Avra Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

The number one thing I can say about this book is that I didn’t want it to end. I really fell in love with these characters and wanted to spend more time with them. Fortunately this book is the first of a series so I’ll get to see Fubuki and her friends again (hopefully soon).

This book made me laugh, cry (so much crying) and screech with excitement. The emotions hit hard in this one. There was a great mix of both sweet and heartbreaking moments, as well as lots of excitement. The ending had me turning the pages so fast to find out what would happen.

The worldbuilding was spectacular and I can’t wait to learn more about the cave system and all its wonders in the next installment.

If you love stories about friendship, forgiveness, characters who come to know their own worth, and absolutely adorable annoyances-to-lovers then you should definitely give Keep Me Breathing a chance.

[Nicha K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Modern tech meets low fantasy in a breathtaking setting full of moonstone, lush flora, and deadly fauna. With a charming cast, a touch of romance, and two badass FMCs, this book is a (literal) action-packed ride from start to finish!

[Joshua Dharmawan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keep Me Breathing is a heartwarming adventure about finding a lost son. I initially thought I would be reading another Romance book, but it was something completely different. Not necessarily a bad thing because it kept me thoroughly surprised. There was something about this book's premise—two best friends fulfilling each other's promises—that tugs your heart in a pleasant way.