What do you think?
Rate this book
Ten Tiny Breaths #1.5
In Her Wake
Before you knew him as Trent in Ten Tiny Breaths, he was Cole Reynolds—and he had it all. Until one night when he makes a fatal, wrong decision…and loses everything.
When a drunken night out at a Michigan State college party results in the death of six people, Cole must come to terms with his part in the tragedy. Normally, he’d be able to lean on his best friends—the ones who have been in his life since he could barely walk. Only, they’re gone. Worse, there’s the shattered body of a sixteen-year-old girl lying somewhere in a hospital bed, her entire life ripped from her because of a case of beer and a set of keys.
Everyone assures him that they know it wasn’t intentional, and yet he can’t ignore the weight of their gazes, the whispers behind his back. Nor can he shake the all-consuming guilt he feels every time he thinks of that girl who won’t so much as allow him near her hospital room to apologize. As the months go by and the shame and loneliness festers, Cole begins to lose his grip on what once was important—college, his girlfriend, his future. His life. It’s not until Cole hits rock-bottom that he can begin to see another way out of his personal hell: forgiveness.
And there’s only one person who can give that to him…
When a drunken night out at a Michigan State college party results in the death of six people, Cole must come to terms with his part in the tragedy. Normally, he’d be able to lean on his best friends—the ones who have been in his life since he could barely walk. Only, they’re gone. Worse, there’s the shattered body of a sixteen-year-old girl lying somewhere in a hospital bed, her entire life ripped from her because of a case of beer and a set of keys.
Everyone assures him that they know it wasn’t intentional, and yet he can’t ignore the weight of their gazes, the whispers behind his back. Nor can he shake the all-consuming guilt he feels every time he thinks of that girl who won’t so much as allow him near her hospital room to apologize. As the months go by and the shame and loneliness festers, Cole begins to lose his grip on what once was important—college, his girlfriend, his future. His life. It’s not until Cole hits rock-bottom that he can begin to see another way out of his personal hell: forgiveness.
And there’s only one person who can give that to him…
177 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2014
362 people are currently reading
8175 people want to read
About the author
K.A. Tucker
66 books25k followersK.A. Tucker writes captivating stories with an edge.
She is the internationally bestselling author of over thirty books, including Ten Tiny Breaths, The Simple Wild, and the Fate & Flame series, Until It Fades, Say You Still Love Me, and Keep Her Safe. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, Publisher's Weekly, Oprah Mag, and First for Women.
Ten Tiny Breaths, The Simple Wild, and A Queen of Thieves & Chaos were Goodreads Choice award nominees.
K.A. Tucker lives outside of Toronto. When she's not writing books, you can find her reading recipes she'll never make or chasing rabbits away from her hostas.
Join Tucker's Troop on Facebook! >>
https://www.facebook.com/groups/14685...
Signup for her newsletter >> https://www.katuckerbooks.com/newslet...
She is the internationally bestselling author of over thirty books, including Ten Tiny Breaths, The Simple Wild, and the Fate & Flame series, Until It Fades, Say You Still Love Me, and Keep Her Safe. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, Publisher's Weekly, Oprah Mag, and First for Women.
Ten Tiny Breaths, The Simple Wild, and A Queen of Thieves & Chaos were Goodreads Choice award nominees.
K.A. Tucker lives outside of Toronto. When she's not writing books, you can find her reading recipes she'll never make or chasing rabbits away from her hostas.
Join Tucker's Troop on Facebook! >>
https://www.facebook.com/groups/14685...
Signup for her newsletter >> https://www.katuckerbooks.com/newslet...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 737 reviews
April 20, 2015
4 stars!!!
In Her Wake is a novella from the Ten Tiny Breaths series. Even though it's a prequel about Trent, if you haven’t read TTB, I would recommend reading it first. I think it’s better to already know Trent and Kacey before jumping into this story…
What do you to when one decision changes everything in your life? Takes away not only your two best friends, but also the person you used to be? Not only that, but a carefree and happy teenage girl’s lost her parents, best friend, boyfriend and much of herself due to that choice. How do you come back from something like that? Is it possible to move on? To make amends? Cole Reynolds knows all about one choice changing his life. He knows about regret, loss and grief.
After all he’s been through, there is one thing that keeps him going. And that’s her. Making sure she’s okay. He knows he can never move on in life and forgive himself until he knows that she’s alright…
Cole, Trent, whatever you want to call him… If you’ve read Ten Tiny Breaths, you know him and love him. I loved getting his back story. You find out the gist of what happened to him in TTB, but actually being in his head and learning the full story was great. The best part of this for me was seeing how much he truly did care about Kacey even before he knew her. If I didn’t already know and love him, it could seem borderline creepy, and it was a little extreme. But it was his way of coping and moving on. He’s a broken and depressed man who finds a way to claw himself out of it. It’s not a happy story, but for fans of TTB, it was great to see what lead up to Cole and Kacey meeting. Now I really want to jump into a re-read of TTB and re-live one of my favorites all over again!
In Her Wake is a novella from the Ten Tiny Breaths series. Even though it's a prequel about Trent, if you haven’t read TTB, I would recommend reading it first. I think it’s better to already know Trent and Kacey before jumping into this story…
What do you to when one decision changes everything in your life? Takes away not only your two best friends, but also the person you used to be? Not only that, but a carefree and happy teenage girl’s lost her parents, best friend, boyfriend and much of herself due to that choice. How do you come back from something like that? Is it possible to move on? To make amends? Cole Reynolds knows all about one choice changing his life. He knows about regret, loss and grief.
After all he’s been through, there is one thing that keeps him going. And that’s her. Making sure she’s okay. He knows he can never move on in life and forgive himself until he knows that she’s alright…
I destroyed her life and then got caught in the wake. And I realize now that it’s exactly where I’m meant to be.
Cole, Trent, whatever you want to call him… If you’ve read Ten Tiny Breaths, you know him and love him. I loved getting his back story. You find out the gist of what happened to him in TTB, but actually being in his head and learning the full story was great. The best part of this for me was seeing how much he truly did care about Kacey even before he knew her. If I didn’t already know and love him, it could seem borderline creepy, and it was a little extreme. But it was his way of coping and moving on. He’s a broken and depressed man who finds a way to claw himself out of it. It’s not a happy story, but for fans of TTB, it was great to see what lead up to Cole and Kacey meeting. Now I really want to jump into a re-read of TTB and re-live one of my favorites all over again!
August 15, 2014
4 stars!!
In Her Wake is a book that has left me feeling deeply conflicted and though I’ve finally decided on a 4 star rating, I’m not so sure it’s an entirely accurate representation of my feelings for the book. But before I jump into the review, I do want to clarify a few things:
- This is a novella that focuses on the Trent before the events of Ten Tiny Breaths so even though this book chronologically comes first, I highly recommend reading TTB before this one.
- If you are looking for a Trent and Kacey fix, I’m sorry to say you won’t be finding it here. You do not read about their relationship development, though you do see several scenes with Kacey in them. The novella is told entirely from his POV.
Okay, moving on with the review.
Out of all the books I’ve read from K.A. Tucker, Ten Tiny Breaths is my favorite. The devastating emotional impact, the imperfectly perfect characters, the heartfelt second chance romance are only some of the many reasons why I adore that book. I was secretly hoping there’d be a novella about Trent before he’s with Kacey but you know what they say right? Be careful what you wish for. Now that I’ve read about his past, frustration and sympathy have been warring in my head. I love that the author portrays his character with such harsh honesty, never flinching or trivializing his experiences and thoughts. But at the same time, this positive is also the downfall of the book for me.
So why the 4 stars? As much as I disliked his actions in the book, I feel like I’m not in the position to judge if his behavior is right or not. I’ve never been in his shoes and didn’t experience the kind of grief he has so in a way, I’ll never fully relate and understand why he does what he does. The only thing I can judge is how well the author takes all that jagged pain and portrays his character in the story. As depressed, frustrated and melancholy I got, I have to say the author did a damn fine job.
ARC provided by Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In Her Wake is a book that has left me feeling deeply conflicted and though I’ve finally decided on a 4 star rating, I’m not so sure it’s an entirely accurate representation of my feelings for the book. But before I jump into the review, I do want to clarify a few things:
- This is a novella that focuses on the Trent before the events of Ten Tiny Breaths so even though this book chronologically comes first, I highly recommend reading TTB before this one.
- If you are looking for a Trent and Kacey fix, I’m sorry to say you won’t be finding it here. You do not read about their relationship development, though you do see several scenes with Kacey in them. The novella is told entirely from his POV.
Okay, moving on with the review.
Out of all the books I’ve read from K.A. Tucker, Ten Tiny Breaths is my favorite. The devastating emotional impact, the imperfectly perfect characters, the heartfelt second chance romance are only some of the many reasons why I adore that book. I was secretly hoping there’d be a novella about Trent before he’s with Kacey but you know what they say right? Be careful what you wish for. Now that I’ve read about his past, frustration and sympathy have been warring in my head. I love that the author portrays his character with such harsh honesty, never flinching or trivializing his experiences and thoughts. But at the same time, this positive is also the downfall of the book for me.
So why the 4 stars? As much as I disliked his actions in the book, I feel like I’m not in the position to judge if his behavior is right or not. I’ve never been in his shoes and didn’t experience the kind of grief he has so in a way, I’ll never fully relate and understand why he does what he does. The only thing I can judge is how well the author takes all that jagged pain and portrays his character in the story. As depressed, frustrated and melancholy I got, I have to say the author did a damn fine job.
ARC provided by Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2015
How the hell do you cross to get to the other side when you've run out of concrete? I guess you can slap on some wood to patch it up, to help you move on. But the bridge will never be quite right-- never as strong-- again.
Note: I highly recommend you to read Ten Tiny Breaths first before diving into this novella to avoid spoilers.
In Her Wake gave me a hard time to put my thoughts in order after reading it. It was so poignant and stirring, one that totally gives a serious emotional punch. In fact, I like this novella way better than TTB because in here, the narration was retold in a more captivating and heart-wrenching way.
K.A. Tucker sure knows how to make her readers shed a tear. Every line squeezed my heart. There were also lots of realizations that somehow affected me.
The building of romance, more likely a one-sided attraction, also made me appreciate everything in this novella. It wasn't instant, but it was eventually established.
What if she could learn to love again? And what if I'm the one who can remind her what that feels like?
All in all, I admired how In Her Wake was delivered in a painful yet very sweet and promising appeal.
Rating: 5 Stars
Note: I highly recommend you to read Ten Tiny Breaths first before diving into this novella to avoid spoilers.
In Her Wake gave me a hard time to put my thoughts in order after reading it. It was so poignant and stirring, one that totally gives a serious emotional punch. In fact, I like this novella way better than TTB because in here, the narration was retold in a more captivating and heart-wrenching way.
K.A. Tucker sure knows how to make her readers shed a tear. Every line squeezed my heart. There were also lots of realizations that somehow affected me.
The building of romance, more likely a one-sided attraction, also made me appreciate everything in this novella. It wasn't instant, but it was eventually established.
What if she could learn to love again? And what if I'm the one who can remind her what that feels like?
All in all, I admired how In Her Wake was delivered in a painful yet very sweet and promising appeal.
Rating: 5 Stars
September 4, 2014
4.5 Stars
”The worst nightmare of my life is over, I reminded myself. I’m just living in it’s wake.”
Wow K.A. Tucker I loved this novella told completely in Cole’s pov of the events that landed our characters into position for book one. I strongly recommend book one to be read prior to this novella.
Cole’s loss, grief, guilt and utter despair is well written as was his need for Kacey to be okay.
"Kacey's spiraling. Just like me."
Cole falls to the pits of depression but his need to be connected to Kacey Cleary and make amends propels him to live.
”When did this become about more than watching out for her, about making amends?”
Overall, this is a short novella gifts a reader with the transformation of Cole becoming Trent. His inability to go back to the life he once led and his need to make the beautiful red head smile like the girl she was before the accident.
”I destroyed her life and then got caught in the wake. And I realize now that it’s exactly where I’m meant to be.”
”The worst nightmare of my life is over, I reminded myself. I’m just living in it’s wake.”
Wow K.A. Tucker I loved this novella told completely in Cole’s pov of the events that landed our characters into position for book one. I strongly recommend book one to be read prior to this novella.
Cole’s loss, grief, guilt and utter despair is well written as was his need for Kacey to be okay.
"Kacey's spiraling. Just like me."
Cole falls to the pits of depression but his need to be connected to Kacey Cleary and make amends propels him to live.
”When did this become about more than watching out for her, about making amends?”
Overall, this is a short novella gifts a reader with the transformation of Cole becoming Trent. His inability to go back to the life he once led and his need to make the beautiful red head smile like the girl she was before the accident.
”I destroyed her life and then got caught in the wake. And I realize now that it’s exactly where I’m meant to be.”
September 14, 2014
First things first....Warning!! If you don't want to be spoiled, do not read this before Ten Tiny Breaths!! Even though it says its #0.5, it really should be #1.5.
Ever since reading Ten Tiny Breaths, I've wondered how things came to be. Whatever happened to Trent and why he did what he did. Now...we get the answers.
I knew this would be heart breaking but I had no idea the connection I would feel between Trent, Sasha and Derek. I think that's the part that was the most devastating, well, who am I kidding? It was all pretty horrible.
My heart went out to Trent and his poor parents. They took on sooo much of the burden. I hate what happened with them and what they had to go through but I loved how they were always there for Trent.
And Trent...poor guy, to be soo tormented. I think KAT did too good of a job with that!
One thing I didn't like reading was about Trent and a certain someone even though I did feel bad for her. Obviously, he had a life before but ugh.
It was really interesting how Trent's "obsession" came about and some of the incidents he got himself into made me laugh! I can't believe he didn't get caught!
I loved how it ended and it really made me want to read Ten Tiny Breaths all over again!
Favorite quotes
♥ "Did that smile survive?"
♥ "Friends and brothers forever."
♥ “I’m so sorry. For everything. If I could take it back, could change it, I would. I swear it. I’d trade my life in a heartbeat.”
♦ Post before review:
woohooo....im sooo excited about this one! Yes!! more Trent!!!
Ever since reading Ten Tiny Breaths, I've wondered how things came to be. Whatever happened to Trent and why he did what he did. Now...we get the answers.
I knew this would be heart breaking but I had no idea the connection I would feel between Trent, Sasha and Derek. I think that's the part that was the most devastating, well, who am I kidding? It was all pretty horrible.
My heart went out to Trent and his poor parents. They took on sooo much of the burden. I hate what happened with them and what they had to go through but I loved how they were always there for Trent.
And Trent...poor guy, to be soo tormented. I think KAT did too good of a job with that!
One thing I didn't like reading was about Trent and a certain someone even though I did feel bad for her. Obviously, he had a life before but ugh.
It was really interesting how Trent's "obsession" came about and some of the incidents he got himself into made me laugh! I can't believe he didn't get caught!
I loved how it ended and it really made me want to read Ten Tiny Breaths all over again!
Favorite quotes
♥ "Did that smile survive?"
♥ "Friends and brothers forever."
♥ “I’m so sorry. For everything. If I could take it back, could change it, I would. I swear it. I’d trade my life in a heartbeat.”
♦ Post before review:
woohooo....im sooo excited about this one! Yes!! more Trent!!!
May 23, 2015
5 Heartbreaking Stars
I loved Ten Tiny Breaths so I was so excited to get to read Trent’s story. In Ten Tiny Breaths you mostly get to see the aftermath of the accident from Kacey’s point of view. You know that Trent obviously had a lot of regret and was devastated by the accident since he followed Kacey to Florida, and wanted to make things better for her.
In Her Wake shows how Cole learns about the 16 year girl who was the only survivor in the other vehicle. He learns about how she had to sit in the car for hours with everyone else deceased waiting to get cut out of the vehicle. Cole develops a fascination with her, probably because they are both the only survivors in this horrific car accident.
This novella gives us insight into Cole’s motives and what leads to him becoming Trent.
I typically don’t think a novella is a 5 star read, so why did I give this one 5 stars?
From the very beginning my heart was breaking for Cole. The guilt and responsibility he felt, I could feel his emotions when I read the story. Having lost someone I love in a car accident I could relate to the story and Trent’s journey of having to eventually move forward with his life. I think it is a 5 star read because in such a short story I was able to connect and feel for the characters.
I loved that K.A. Tucker decided to write this novella!
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
I loved Ten Tiny Breaths so I was so excited to get to read Trent’s story. In Ten Tiny Breaths you mostly get to see the aftermath of the accident from Kacey’s point of view. You know that Trent obviously had a lot of regret and was devastated by the accident since he followed Kacey to Florida, and wanted to make things better for her.
In Her Wake shows how Cole learns about the 16 year girl who was the only survivor in the other vehicle. He learns about how she had to sit in the car for hours with everyone else deceased waiting to get cut out of the vehicle. Cole develops a fascination with her, probably because they are both the only survivors in this horrific car accident.
This novella gives us insight into Cole’s motives and what leads to him becoming Trent.
I typically don’t think a novella is a 5 star read, so why did I give this one 5 stars?
From the very beginning my heart was breaking for Cole. The guilt and responsibility he felt, I could feel his emotions when I read the story. Having lost someone I love in a car accident I could relate to the story and Trent’s journey of having to eventually move forward with his life. I think it is a 5 star read because in such a short story I was able to connect and feel for the characters.
I loved that K.A. Tucker decided to write this novella!
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
August 24, 2016
Great follow up to Ten Tiny Breaths. My heart was breaking reading about how Cole was feeling. This novella is short, but worth the read!
I really liked Ten Tiny Breaths and I want to know more about Cole!
I really liked Ten Tiny Breaths and I want to know more about Cole!
April 6, 2015
4 I love Trent / Cole Stars
In Her Wake is a prequel to Ten Tiny Breaths. You do not have to read Ten Tiny Breaths prior to reading In Her Wake, however I strongly suggest you read Ten Tiny Breaths first, just so you can experience everything for the first time.
This is Trent story, or as you known him as Cole in Ten Tiny Breaths. This tells his side of the story prior to meeting Kacey.
I’ll be honest, this is a really sad read. Coming from Trent’s POV, you can really FEEL his pain. He holds a lot of guilt on that night. He does have a girlfriend and you feel bad for her too! They had the perfect relationship and she’s really sweet, but with the accident, Trent just went into the deep end.
He stops caring and just basically gives up on life. He also is fixated on Kacey, which is cute, but also kind of sad because of his guilt.
It’s difficult reading his struggles, but I liked getting his POV.
If you are a big TTB fan, I recommend this short read. It’s very emotional and it gives you a better insight on Trent’s feelings.
An ARC was provided
AMAZON
In Her Wake is a prequel to Ten Tiny Breaths. You do not have to read Ten Tiny Breaths prior to reading In Her Wake, however I strongly suggest you read Ten Tiny Breaths first, just so you can experience everything for the first time.
This is Trent story, or as you known him as Cole in Ten Tiny Breaths. This tells his side of the story prior to meeting Kacey.
I’ll be honest, this is a really sad read. Coming from Trent’s POV, you can really FEEL his pain. He holds a lot of guilt on that night. He does have a girlfriend and you feel bad for her too! They had the perfect relationship and she’s really sweet, but with the accident, Trent just went into the deep end.
He stops caring and just basically gives up on life. He also is fixated on Kacey, which is cute, but also kind of sad because of his guilt.
It’s difficult reading his struggles, but I liked getting his POV.
If you are a big TTB fan, I recommend this short read. It’s very emotional and it gives you a better insight on Trent’s feelings.
An ARC was provided
AMAZON
February 23, 2015
I destroyed her life and then got caught in her wake.
And I realize now that it’s exactly where I’m meant to be.
4.5 heartbreaking stars
Even though this is technically a prequel, it is imperative that you read Ten Tiny Breaths before reading this one. And having said that, this review is going to be hugely spoilery if you haven’t read TTB.
This novella tells Trent’s side of the story – back when he was Cole. From the night of the accident, right through the four year period until Trent and Kacey are both in Miami, and he walks through that laundry door.
KA Tucker does an amazing job at getting us right to the heart of all that Cole/Trent is feeling. We get to witness a brief glimpse at his life before it shattered to pieces, his realisation that all that has happened, and watch him try to deal with the aftermath, and it’s devastating.
His life as he knew it is over as he loses everything dear to him, and the depression that he goes through is heartbreaking! Not only is he learning to live without the best friends that have been a part of his life for as long as he remembers, but he also mourns for Kacey and all that she has lost and he has to witness the follow on effect to his own family. And underpinning it all is the guilt that he feels over the whole situation. As tragic as it is, it really is one of those things that could happen to anybody, and it’s really painful to read.
Given all that he is going through, I thought that his actions towards Kacey are understandable. He focuses on her, wanting to help her through her grief, wanting her to be ok, and when he finds her spiralling out of control, he wants to protect her and help her find herself again. There is a touch of the creepy about it as his stalking gets a bit out of control, but his heart is in the right place and his dedication to helping her is a powerful force for him.
Trent’s story is beautifully written, and I loved getting this glimpse into his life before we meet him in TTB. I need to go and reread it now so that I can see him get his happy ending.
This is a must read for all fans of the series. I loved it.
4.5 stars.
An Advanced Reader Copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
And I realize now that it’s exactly where I’m meant to be.
4.5 heartbreaking stars
Even though this is technically a prequel, it is imperative that you read Ten Tiny Breaths before reading this one. And having said that, this review is going to be hugely spoilery if you haven’t read TTB.
This novella tells Trent’s side of the story – back when he was Cole. From the night of the accident, right through the four year period until Trent and Kacey are both in Miami, and he walks through that laundry door.
KA Tucker does an amazing job at getting us right to the heart of all that Cole/Trent is feeling. We get to witness a brief glimpse at his life before it shattered to pieces, his realisation that all that has happened, and watch him try to deal with the aftermath, and it’s devastating.
His life as he knew it is over as he loses everything dear to him, and the depression that he goes through is heartbreaking! Not only is he learning to live without the best friends that have been a part of his life for as long as he remembers, but he also mourns for Kacey and all that she has lost and he has to witness the follow on effect to his own family. And underpinning it all is the guilt that he feels over the whole situation. As tragic as it is, it really is one of those things that could happen to anybody, and it’s really painful to read.
The crushing pain in my chest now has little to do with my injuries.
And it’s suffocating me.
Given all that he is going through, I thought that his actions towards Kacey are understandable. He focuses on her, wanting to help her through her grief, wanting her to be ok, and when he finds her spiralling out of control, he wants to protect her and help her find herself again. There is a touch of the creepy about it as his stalking gets a bit out of control, but his heart is in the right place and his dedication to helping her is a powerful force for him.
I want her to meet me. Trent Emerson. The guy who wants to feel the warmth that I know exists within her. The guy who’s tied to her forever, whether she likes it or not. The one who needs to somehow make things right with her because I made everything so wrong.
Trent’s story is beautifully written, and I loved getting this glimpse into his life before we meet him in TTB. I need to go and reread it now so that I can see him get his happy ending.
This is a must read for all fans of the series. I loved it.
4.5 stars.
An Advanced Reader Copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
![Profile Image for [~Ami~]♥Sexy Dexy♥ .](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1388500902i%2F22427047._UY200_CR8%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
September 5, 2014
2 stars
The prequel for Ten tiny breaths told entirely from Coles POV.
Gah I actually made it through this depressing book. If it wasn't so short I may have DNF. It wasn't a companion novel which I'm glad for but it was just too sad for my taste. There wasn't anything in particular I enjoyed.
If you are a fan of the series or if you like to torture yourself with some heartache it may still work for you. Sadly not my type of book.
ARC provided by NetGalley
The prequel for Ten tiny breaths told entirely from Coles POV.
Gah I actually made it through this depressing book. If it wasn't so short I may have DNF. It wasn't a companion novel which I'm glad for but it was just too sad for my taste. There wasn't anything in particular I enjoyed.
If you are a fan of the series or if you like to torture yourself with some heartache it may still work for you. Sadly not my type of book.
ARC provided by NetGalley
January 3, 2016
******Major spoilers if you have read Ten Tiny Breathes******
In Her Wake is Trent/Cole’s story before he meets up with Kacey in Miami, and it’s a sad one. My heart definitely went out to Trent and you really don’t realize how much he suffered until reading this novella. His story underscored what I felt in Ten Tiny Breathes, Trent and Kacey were meant to be. The accident marks a definite before and after for both Kacey and Trent. Life was so utterly changed after the accident and I doubt anyone could relate to just how tragic and profound those changes were except for Trent and Kacey.
Trent suffers from major survivor’s guilt, because even though he wasn’t the driver of the vehicle that killed everyone, he was supposed to be the designated driver of the night and then was unable to fulfill his duties after drinking anyhow. Instead of calling a cab or waiting it out the house they’re at, his best friend, Sasha, says he’s fine to drive when in fact he’s drunker than Trent. I completely sympathize with his mistake because I probably would’ve trusted my friend’s word, too. If he said he was okay to drive I would’ve assumed that he wasn’t drinking and got in the car to drive home.
Trent wakes up in the hospital and finds out the extent his error cost everyone. He’s lost his two best friends, four others are dead, and sixteen year-old Kacey is in the hospital suffering from major injuries. Trent struggles with resuming the life he had before the accident and instead basically checks out until he hits rock bottom landing him in the care of Dr. Stayner. The unconventional doctor we’ve met from previous books aids him to see that in order to move on, Trent needs to figure out how to forgive himself for being human. What amends will he have to make to do that?
Even before this counseling Trent was fixated on Kacey, checking on her to see if she’s coping. When she’s clearly not dealing well, he makes it his mission to become a sort of guardian angel, looking out for Kacey’s well-being. Watching out for Kacey becomes more than just his way of making “amends”, though. He’s fallen for her from afar.
I really had no idea the scope of Trent’s involvement in Kacey’s life in the years after the accident, and she had no idea of his presence at all. Lucky for her on a couple of occasions that he was looking out for her!
Trent’s novella gives additional insight into Ten Tiny Breathes that I think fans will appreciate. I went back and re-read portions of TTB while reading this novella to refresh my mind and then after finishing In Her Wake to remind me of their HEA. K.A. Tucker added more depth and heart to an already beautiful story!
A copy was provided by Atria Books in exchange for an honest review.
You can read this review and more at The Readers Den.
In Her Wake is Trent/Cole’s story before he meets up with Kacey in Miami, and it’s a sad one. My heart definitely went out to Trent and you really don’t realize how much he suffered until reading this novella. His story underscored what I felt in Ten Tiny Breathes, Trent and Kacey were meant to be. The accident marks a definite before and after for both Kacey and Trent. Life was so utterly changed after the accident and I doubt anyone could relate to just how tragic and profound those changes were except for Trent and Kacey.
Trent suffers from major survivor’s guilt, because even though he wasn’t the driver of the vehicle that killed everyone, he was supposed to be the designated driver of the night and then was unable to fulfill his duties after drinking anyhow. Instead of calling a cab or waiting it out the house they’re at, his best friend, Sasha, says he’s fine to drive when in fact he’s drunker than Trent. I completely sympathize with his mistake because I probably would’ve trusted my friend’s word, too. If he said he was okay to drive I would’ve assumed that he wasn’t drinking and got in the car to drive home.
Trent wakes up in the hospital and finds out the extent his error cost everyone. He’s lost his two best friends, four others are dead, and sixteen year-old Kacey is in the hospital suffering from major injuries. Trent struggles with resuming the life he had before the accident and instead basically checks out until he hits rock bottom landing him in the care of Dr. Stayner. The unconventional doctor we’ve met from previous books aids him to see that in order to move on, Trent needs to figure out how to forgive himself for being human. What amends will he have to make to do that?
Even before this counseling Trent was fixated on Kacey, checking on her to see if she’s coping. When she’s clearly not dealing well, he makes it his mission to become a sort of guardian angel, looking out for Kacey’s well-being. Watching out for Kacey becomes more than just his way of making “amends”, though. He’s fallen for her from afar.
I really had no idea the scope of Trent’s involvement in Kacey’s life in the years after the accident, and she had no idea of his presence at all. Lucky for her on a couple of occasions that he was looking out for her!
Trent’s novella gives additional insight into Ten Tiny Breathes that I think fans will appreciate. I went back and re-read portions of TTB while reading this novella to refresh my mind and then after finishing In Her Wake to remind me of their HEA. K.A. Tucker added more depth and heart to an already beautiful story!
A copy was provided by Atria Books in exchange for an honest review.
You can read this review and more at The Readers Den.
September 26, 2014
5 BREATHTAKING STARS
I LOVE this series and Ten Tiny Breaths was the first and still my overall favourite. Not an easy story to read but so gut wrenchingly beautiful. I was thrilled to learn that Ms. Tucker gave us this heartbreaking novella in Trent's POV. What a gift!!
This novella takes place before TTB. It gave me a chance to fully understand where Trent was coming from and why he did what he did. It also beautifully sets up one of the best and most heartbreaking moments from TTB, IMHO, as he writes his letter in this novella. Perfection!
I LOVE this series and Ten Tiny Breaths was the first and still my overall favourite. Not an easy story to read but so gut wrenchingly beautiful. I was thrilled to learn that Ms. Tucker gave us this heartbreaking novella in Trent's POV. What a gift!!
This novella takes place before TTB. It gave me a chance to fully understand where Trent was coming from and why he did what he did. It also beautifully sets up one of the best and most heartbreaking moments from TTB, IMHO, as he writes his letter in this novella. Perfection!
October 30, 2015
Immediately after finishing 'Ten Tiny Breaths' I dived into this prequel. This was a short, quick novella that only took a few hours to listen to in it's entirety. Told in Trent's POV, this story takes us back in time to the night of the accident. The novella comes to an end when Trent relocates to Miami, at the beginning of 'Ten Tiny Breaths'. You will want to read 'Ten Tiny Breaths' before reading this prequel...or reading more of this review.
Watching the foretold tragic events unfold through Trent's eyes was heartbreaking. The guilt and self-loathing that he carried on his shoulders was tremendous. Seeing it from his perspective, I couldn't help but pity him and his parents. To then feel responsible for the destruction of his parents' marriage, in addition to the lives lost in the wreck and Kacey's downward spiral, was a unbearable cross to carry. Though, I have to admit that this book made me reevaluate my views on many things, including some pretty creepy stalking behaviors and incredibly invasive actions by Trent.
This is one of those stories where you want to intervene somehow to prevent the inevitable from happening. Instead, you're left to observe from the sidelines, biting your nails down to the quick. It'll have your rapt attention, start to finish. Be prepared to shed some tears. Unlike the first book, this one does focus pretty much entirely on the emotional, depressing elements of Trent and Kacey's shared past.
I didn't think the male narrator was as good as the female narrator for the first book. However, that is just a reflection of my personal preferences related to the sound of his voice. It was alright after a little while, but not the voice I had imagined for Trent. In the end, it didn't stop me from enjoying this audiobook. If you're a fan of 'Ten Tiny Breaths' I highly recommend hearing Trent's side.
Watching the foretold tragic events unfold through Trent's eyes was heartbreaking. The guilt and self-loathing that he carried on his shoulders was tremendous. Seeing it from his perspective, I couldn't help but pity him and his parents. To then feel responsible for the destruction of his parents' marriage, in addition to the lives lost in the wreck and Kacey's downward spiral, was a unbearable cross to carry. Though, I have to admit that this book made me reevaluate my views on many things, including some pretty creepy stalking behaviors and incredibly invasive actions by Trent.
This is one of those stories where you want to intervene somehow to prevent the inevitable from happening. Instead, you're left to observe from the sidelines, biting your nails down to the quick. It'll have your rapt attention, start to finish. Be prepared to shed some tears. Unlike the first book, this one does focus pretty much entirely on the emotional, depressing elements of Trent and Kacey's shared past.
I didn't think the male narrator was as good as the female narrator for the first book. However, that is just a reflection of my personal preferences related to the sound of his voice. It was alright after a little while, but not the voice I had imagined for Trent. In the end, it didn't stop me from enjoying this audiobook. If you're a fan of 'Ten Tiny Breaths' I highly recommend hearing Trent's side.
November 12, 2015
3 stelle e mezzo (ma solo perché per me Cole Trent avrebbe meritato un intero libro tutto per lui!)
Sono un po’ imbronciata sia con la Newton che con la Tucker. Si perché se mi avessero permesso di leggere questa novella prima dei volumi canonici sicuramente avrei valutato diversamente i primi due volumi della serie! Questa novella, a parer mio, non può essere letta all’ultimo perch�� è l’INIZIO di ogni cosa. Da qui si aprono le storie non solo di Cole e Kacey, ma a cascata, anche quella di Livie e di tutti i personaggi che entreranno in contatto con loro.
La novella è splendida. È un pugno allo stomaco, un tuffo nel senso di colpa, nella perdita, nel dolore, nel rimpianto, nei se e nei ma. È il brillante esempio di come una vita possa cambiare in un attimo.
Cosa rimane a Cole dopo l’incidente? Solo due cose: il dolore e il senso di colpa. Una colpa che è un buco nero, che lo perseguita, che non lo fa esistere, che lo costringe a rintracciare Kacey e a comportarsi come una specie di stolker, solo perché sente di dover espiare il suo peccato.
È stato molto bello, ma anche molto difficile leggere questo brano. L’autrice scava così bene nella mente di Trent, nelle sue emozioni più profonde, tanto che in alcune situazioni mi sono sentita a disagio con lui e per lui! Ma questo ha confermato la mia convinzione che un personaggio come Trent non può essere descritto in una novella. Trent si meritava un libro tutto suo, grazie al quale, l'avrei apprezzato molto di più in Dieci Piccoli Respiri, di questo, dopo questa lettura, sono sicura!
Sono un po’ imbronciata sia con la Newton che con la Tucker. Si perché se mi avessero permesso di leggere questa novella prima dei volumi canonici sicuramente avrei valutato diversamente i primi due volumi della serie! Questa novella, a parer mio, non può essere letta all’ultimo perch�� è l’INIZIO di ogni cosa. Da qui si aprono le storie non solo di Cole e Kacey, ma a cascata, anche quella di Livie e di tutti i personaggi che entreranno in contatto con loro.
La novella è splendida. È un pugno allo stomaco, un tuffo nel senso di colpa, nella perdita, nel dolore, nel rimpianto, nei se e nei ma. È il brillante esempio di come una vita possa cambiare in un attimo.
Cosa rimane a Cole dopo l’incidente? Solo due cose: il dolore e il senso di colpa. Una colpa che è un buco nero, che lo perseguita, che non lo fa esistere, che lo costringe a rintracciare Kacey e a comportarsi come una specie di stolker, solo perché sente di dover espiare il suo peccato.
È stato molto bello, ma anche molto difficile leggere questo brano. L’autrice scava così bene nella mente di Trent, nelle sue emozioni più profonde, tanto che in alcune situazioni mi sono sentita a disagio con lui e per lui! Ma questo ha confermato la mia convinzione che un personaggio come Trent non può essere descritto in una novella. Trent si meritava un libro tutto suo, grazie al quale, l'avrei apprezzato molto di più in Dieci Piccoli Respiri, di questo, dopo questa lettura, sono sicura!
May 13, 2019
I'm glad that I didn't read this before Ten Tiny Breaths since there is a curve ball that is ruined by even reading the blurb. Not that it was really that big of a curve ball, since I already guessed it, but it would take away from the original experience. I didn't even ready the blurb before diving into this, so I assumed this was going to be in Kacey's perspective. I was pleasantly surprised that it was Trent's. It really gave me a lot of empathy for both characters once again. For some reason, this made their experience more real to me as well, since you get to see both sides of the story. I highly recommend reading this after TTB.
October 22, 2015
Ma si Cole/Trent prendi pure il mio cuore e fai un bel sushi cardiaco! Ero pienamente consapevole che il tuo pov mi avrebbe fatto a tocchetti, ma non ho saputo resistere... Adesso devo almeno sbirciare le pagine del primo libro, per rinfrescarmi la mente sulla tua gnoccaggine assolta!
Tanto amore per te ❤
Tanto amore per te ❤
April 4, 2016
Me encanto !!! Me gusto mucho poder leer lo que le paso a Trent ♥ Sin lugar de esas precuelas que te agregan cosas a la historia!
August 30, 2014
4.5 learning to live stars
There's something about K A Tucker's writing that reels me in. She has this way of connecting with the reader and making them feel every emotion. Ten Tiny Breaths is one of my all time favorite books, so to read what happened before the fairy tale from Trent's POV was a great in site and makes me want to read the story all over again.
Also Dr Stayner makes an appearance, that Man cracks me up, He's off the wall crazy :)
There's something about K A Tucker's writing that reels me in. She has this way of connecting with the reader and making them feel every emotion. Ten Tiny Breaths is one of my all time favorite books, so to read what happened before the fairy tale from Trent's POV was a great in site and makes me want to read the story all over again.
Also Dr Stayner makes an appearance, that Man cracks me up, He's off the wall crazy :)
September 21, 2017
This was an amazing read. I strongly recommend reading Ten Tiny Breaths before this book as this book will spoil the story for you if you read this book first. I really loved getting to go into the mind of Trent's character, and getting to know him a bit more. I loved how the author made his character more vulnerable and raw. I broke my heart to see him so devastated. I am glad I read this after TTB because I probably would not have had the same impact if I already knew what happen. Now, it is time to read book 2 - One Tiny Lie. I hope the series gets better and better. Overall, an incredible read.
July 11, 2016
Lo ripeterò all'infinito: La Tucker ha un modo di scrivere che ti cattura dalla prima parola. Ho divorato questo breve libro su Trent e,come era prevedibile, l'ho amato.
Mi ha aiutato a capire meglio le sue motivazioni e le sue azioni, nonostante a volte sembrassero -e fossero- davvero assurde e al limite.
E così sono arrivata ad amare Trent ancora di più.
Complimenti, K.A. adesso ho una dipendenza!
Mi ha aiutato a capire meglio le sue motivazioni e le sue azioni, nonostante a volte sembrassero -e fossero- davvero assurde e al limite.
E così sono arrivata ad amare Trent ancora di più.
Complimenti, K.A. adesso ho una dipendenza!
September 29, 2025
I'm not gonna lie...I forgot A LOT of things from the first book. I really didn't like it and wasn't sure if I was going to come back to this series or not. I decided to come back because I do really enjoy K.A. Tucker's books and I also realize this was one of her first series written.
It took me a sec to realize what was going on, but once I did, I was glad to be getting Cole's POV. This gives us the background of what was going on in his life before it collided with Kasey's. I definitely felt his struggle.
It took me a sec to realize what was going on, but once I did, I was glad to be getting Cole's POV. This gives us the background of what was going on in his life before it collided with Kasey's. I definitely felt his struggle.
June 19, 2015
I destroyed her life and then got caught in her wake.
And I realize now that it’s exactly where I’m meant to be.
Oh Trent, you've destroyed my heart.
Having read Ten Tiny Breaths last year, I was excited to read this novella from Trent's point of view. One night, one decision, six people dead and his life forever changed. In the aftermath of a horrific accident, Trent is struggling under the crushing weight of grief and guilt. Despite the efforts of family and friends who want him to somehow 'move on', Trent feels he doesn't deserve it. The only thing giving him a sense of purpose? His desire to ensure that Kacey Cleary, the only other survivor of the accident, is made whole again.
In Her Wake was a emotional read and K.A. Tucker did a fantastic job of conveying Trent's feelings of grief and despair. He was in a position that no one should ever be in: weighted down by grief, suffering the loss of his friends, but also dealing with the larger-than-life guilt over his role in the tragedy. It made my heart hurt to watch as Trent went from outgoing all-American college student/football player with a bright future to a shell of who he used to be. And the ripple effect... the impact was felt by so many people in so many ways. Trent's girlfriend, his parents, Kacey and Livie. So many lives changed by the events of one night.
Getting Trent's POV and a better understanding of his actions and motivation makes me want to go back and read Ten Tiny Breaths again. It brought so much more to the story. I liked the scenes he had with Kacey that weren't known/mentioned in TTB. He tried so hard to keep her safe, to make things right.
One of my favorite things was the authenticity of Tucker's writing. Getting a male POV right (from a female author) can be tricky but Trent's voice here was so spot on. It was completely believable and I never doubted that I was reading from a 20-something male perspective. It made the whole reading experience so much better to have that believability factor.
In Her Wake is an excellent addition to TTB and I'm so glad I read it and learned even more about Trent. I will say that calling this #0.5 in the series is truly misleading as it contains major spoilers for Ten Tiny Breaths (#1). This should be considered #1.5 and I definitely recommend reading TTB *before* picking up In Her Wake.
November 7, 2015
Un libro straziante… Ho gli occhi gonfi e un magone al petto…
Questo prequel mi ha fatto apprezzare ancora di più Dieci piccoli respiri…
Solo un centinaio di pagine, ma che ti fanno riflettere su tematiche delicate, come l’abuso di alcool e droghe, la morte di una persona cara, la depressione, il senso di colpa, il suicidio e la voglia di cercare di rimediare agli errori commessi. Ma non è così facile e non tutti vogliono essere aiutati…
Da leggere con fazzolettini a portata di mano…
Questo prequel mi ha fatto apprezzare ancora di più Dieci piccoli respiri…
Solo un centinaio di pagine, ma che ti fanno riflettere su tematiche delicate, come l’abuso di alcool e droghe, la morte di una persona cara, la depressione, il senso di colpa, il suicidio e la voglia di cercare di rimediare agli errori commessi. Ma non è così facile e non tutti vogliono essere aiutati…
Da leggere con fazzolettini a portata di mano…
July 31, 2019
Dość długo nie mogłam się zabrać za ten prequel. "Dziesięć płytkich oddechów" bardzo mi się podobało i bałam się, że ta historia będzie słaba lub co gorsza zniszczy mi tę 1 część.
Jednak okazało się, że K. A. Tucker sprostała moim oczekiwaniom, bo historia ta jest świetnym dopełnieniem 1 tomu. Dowiadujemy się z niej trochę o głównym bohaterze, a jest to napisane w taki sposób, że nawet jeśli wiemy, jak wszystko się skończy, to nie możemy się oderwać. Bardzo polecam. Lektura aż obowiązkowa, jeśli przeczytaliście "10 płytkich oddechów".
Jednak okazało się, że K. A. Tucker sprostała moim oczekiwaniom, bo historia ta jest świetnym dopełnieniem 1 tomu. Dowiadujemy się z niej trochę o głównym bohaterze, a jest to napisane w taki sposób, że nawet jeśli wiemy, jak wszystko się skończy, to nie możemy się oderwać. Bardzo polecam. Lektura aż obowiązkowa, jeśli przeczytaliście "10 płytkich oddechów".
September 6, 2024
This made the first book even more enjoyable. This is a must-read, especially after reading the first book. I am so impressed with how the storyline was told from his point of view. It gives so much emotion and heart. I actually wish this was a duet with the same couple,focusing on the relationship aspect.
June 10, 2015
Although the Ten Tiny Breaths series is over, it was nice reading a novella that brought us back to the characters from a point of view we haven’t seen before. I would recommend reading this book only after you’ve read the first Ten Tiny Breaths book, as it contains some major spoilers.
In Her Wake tells us Trent’s past before he met Kacey, tying it all together and showing us the depth of his trauma and emotion following the car accident that changed everything. Not only do we see what he was like before the accident, we also witness his family and friends before his life changes.
It’s a really confronting book, as Trent spirals into deep depression and his whole demeanor changes – just like it did for Kacey. We see how much the accident tore both of them apart, and how they learnt to cope in different ways. Kacey, on a reckless disregard for her own life and Trent, on his unwillingness to accept what has happened and scarily, his stalking of Kacey. I didn’t expect to see this side of Trent, with his guilt over the accident leading him to obsess over Kacey’s wellbeing. He does some pretty creepy things, but we know the reason behind it is because it’s his way of coping after the accident, and somehow knowing how it all turns out kind of made it seem less creepy.
For it’s short length, a lot happens in this novella as it covers two years from when the accident happened to the characters as we know today.
Check out Happy Indulgence for more reviews!
In Her Wake tells us Trent’s past before he met Kacey, tying it all together and showing us the depth of his trauma and emotion following the car accident that changed everything. Not only do we see what he was like before the accident, we also witness his family and friends before his life changes.
It’s a really confronting book, as Trent spirals into deep depression and his whole demeanor changes – just like it did for Kacey. We see how much the accident tore both of them apart, and how they learnt to cope in different ways. Kacey, on a reckless disregard for her own life and Trent, on his unwillingness to accept what has happened and scarily, his stalking of Kacey. I didn’t expect to see this side of Trent, with his guilt over the accident leading him to obsess over Kacey’s wellbeing. He does some pretty creepy things, but we know the reason behind it is because it’s his way of coping after the accident, and somehow knowing how it all turns out kind of made it seem less creepy.
For it’s short length, a lot happens in this novella as it covers two years from when the accident happened to the characters as we know today.
Check out Happy Indulgence for more reviews!
April 10, 2022
3.5 STARS ☆
This book is the prequel to Ten Tiny Breaths and told from only Trent's POV. I decided for an audio listen and started with In Her Wake prior to Ten Tiny Breaths.
Disclaimer: IF you do not want spoilers, I suggest reading Ten Tiny Breaths FIRST as In Her Wake is used to fill in missing gaps and give a better understanding to Trent and why he is the way he is with Kacey.
─────── ⋆⋅❤️⋅⋆ ───────
THEME SONG
↳ Fix You - Coldplay
─────── ⋆⋅❤️⋅⋆ ───────
Format: Audio listen 🎧. This prequel is just under 4 hrs and told from only Trent's POV and narrated by Sebastian York. As always when Sebastian York does audio narration, it was fantastic!
Anyways ~~~
STORY PLOT
MAIN CHARACTER
WHAT I LIKED:
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
✧ BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS BOOK ✧
➳ ⚠️ Trigger Warnings ⚠️: YES - depression, suicide attempt, emotional trauma, death
➳ Told from only male main character POV and prequel in the series
➳ Would I recommend? YES
⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆
ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔹𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕜𝕕𝕠𝕨𝕟:
⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆
↠ 3 stars = Trent handling the aftermath from the accident
↠ 0.5 stars = Memories from his childhood
I couldn't give it higher or round it to a 4 star due to Trent's increasing stalker tendencies with Kacey. It is quite problematic and not from a stance of falling in love but rather bonding through trauma.
* * *
╔═════════ ≪ °💔° ≫ ═════════╗
Ten Tiny Breaths Series
#1 Ten Tiny Breaths ➳ TBR
#1.5 In Her Wake ➳ 3.5 stars
#2 One Tiny Lie ➳ 3 stars
#3 Four Seconds to Lose ➳ TBR
#4 Five Ways to Fall ➳ TBR
╚═════════ ≪ °💔° ≫ ═════════╝
This book is the prequel to Ten Tiny Breaths and told from only Trent's POV. I decided for an audio listen and started with In Her Wake prior to Ten Tiny Breaths.
Disclaimer: IF you do not want spoilers, I suggest reading Ten Tiny Breaths FIRST as In Her Wake is used to fill in missing gaps and give a better understanding to Trent and why he is the way he is with Kacey.
─────── ⋆⋅❤️⋅⋆ ───────
THEME SONG
↳ Fix You - Coldplay
─────── ⋆⋅❤️⋅⋆ ───────
Format: Audio listen 🎧. This prequel is just under 4 hrs and told from only Trent's POV and narrated by Sebastian York. As always when Sebastian York does audio narration, it was fantastic!
Anyways ~~~
STORY PLOT
↳ This story is over a course from April 26 2008-2012 focusing on Cole Reynolds aka Trent Emerson (H). His life was irrevocably altered when he made the decision to let his best friend - Sasha drive home from a college party. That action caused a chain reaction resulting in 6 people's death and both he and other survivor - Kacey trying to cope with the aftermath from the tragic car accident. This story is overall heartbreaking and is not told for the development of a love relationship or romance, rather it is a story of grief, coping, and healing.
MAIN CHARACTER
↠ Cole Reynolds (H) = first meeting (2008) - 21 years old, dating his high school sweetheart, tight end for the college football team, close friend group, aspiring graphic designer vs. post accident (2008-2012) - handling depression, having new identity - Trent Emerson, single, closed off, floundering through life, obsessed with "helping" Kacey.
↠ Kacey Cleary (h) = first meeting (2008) - 16 years old, outgoing, plays softball, and close with her parents vs. post- accident (2008-2012) - spiraling with different vices to slapping a band aid over the trauma and trying to make it through life
WHAT I LIKED:
(1) The stages of grief Cole/Trent went trough
⇢ I think it takes true talent to properly develop a character, no less a MC, who is struggling with grief. I cried so much during this audio listen as I truly could feel his pain after the accident and truly felt the grief stricken feelings he carried from surviving that horrific accident. K.A. Tucker overall beautifully showed the stages of grief a person may experience after a traumatic event.
(2) Portrayal of MC who is experiencing Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
⇢ I have read plenty of books that when it comes to mental health, it misses the mark. However, this book was spot on and fits the criteria so to speak on what PTSD can be like for a person.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
Trent/Cole or should we call him Mr. Red Flag?
He becomes obsessed with Kacey after the accident. Trent gets into his head that if he is there for her or perhaps makes her fall in love with him, she will finally begin to cope with her trauma from the accident.
Like I said red flag and overall unhealthy start for a relationship. My guy, this is not healing, it is more so ✨ trauma bonding ✨
🚩 Trent's Red Flags 🚩⇒ Driving an inebriated Kacey home when he sees her in trouble at a party, this part is fine as those group of guys were going to take advantage of her. The red flag and stalker meter went up when Trent went through her phone to get her address and phone number
⇒ Following Kacey to several locations (e.g., the gym, outside her home, and her work place)
⇒ Hacking into her email. No privacy and the stalker meter continues to grow...
⇒ Attending church to gain information from her family about how Kacey is doing. He even goes as far as to pose as a priest during her little sister's confession
⇒ Packing up and moving to Miami to be closer to her and start his plan of getting her to know him and fall in love with him
⇒ Having a saved photo of her on his phone and going through her Facebook photos
I think Dr. Stayner would even go on record to call this problematic behavior
✧ BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS BOOK ✧
➳ ⚠️ Trigger Warnings ⚠️: YES - depression, suicide attempt, emotional trauma, death
➳ Told from only male main character POV and prequel in the series
➳ Would I recommend? YES
⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆
ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔹𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕜𝕕𝕠𝕨𝕟:
⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆⋅☆⋅⋆
↠ 3 stars = Trent handling the aftermath from the accident
↠ 0.5 stars = Memories from his childhood
I couldn't give it higher or round it to a 4 star due to Trent's increasing stalker tendencies with Kacey. It is quite problematic and not from a stance of falling in love but rather bonding through trauma.
* * *
╔═════════ ≪ °💔° ≫ ═════════╗
Ten Tiny Breaths Series
#1 Ten Tiny Breaths ➳ TBR
#1.5 In Her Wake ➳ 3.5 stars
#2 One Tiny Lie ➳ 3 stars
#3 Four Seconds to Lose ➳ TBR
#4 Five Ways to Fall ➳ TBR
╚═════════ ≪ °💔° ≫ ═════════╝
January 6, 2018
I can't believe I hadn't read this yet. It was really interesting to get Trent's POV. Now I want to reread Ten Tiny Breaths - it's been so long!
September 20, 2018
Great read!
May 21, 2017
Chyba wszystko, co związane z Dziesięcioma płytkimi oddechami, zawsze będzie dla mnie numer jeden! 💔
Displaying 1 - 30 of 737 reviews