Shattered Soul

by Jennifer Snyder

Hellish Nightmare.

If Seth Bradson were to describe his life, those would be the two words he would choose. Preferring to cope with his crappy existence and horrible home life by spending his days in a drug-induced haze, Seth coasts through life. Until the moment his path crosses with Ali Carson. In her, Seth finds something he’s been subconsciously seeking—a new drug, one that consumes his mind unlike any other.

Love.

But when Seth finds himself in a situation he could have never foreseen, and foolishly allows Ali to try his most addictive temptation—crystal meth—the unraveling of both their lives occurs before his very eyes, forcing Seth to learn the definition of the word regret the hard way.

(Mature Young Adult - contains explicit drug usage, language, violence, and sexual situations.)

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, New Adult, Fiction

ebook

First published May 14, 2011

About the author

Jennifer Snyder lives in North Carolina where she spends most of her time writing New Adult and Young Adult Fiction, reading, and struggling to stay on top of housework. She is a tea lover with an obsession for Post-it notes and smooth writing pens. Jennifer lives with her husband and two children, who endure listening to songs that spur inspiration on repeat and tolerate her love for all paranormal, teenage-targeted TV shows.

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Reviews

[nightlyreadingheather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author interview at NightlyReading:
http://nightlyreading.wordpress.com/2...

I had started this book and did not stop until finished. Since it is a short read, it only took me a couple of hours, but I was addicted to finishing the story of Seth and Ali. I had wanted to read this book for a while now and once I had it in my hot little hands, I could not resist temptation. I had to start it.

The Storyline…..

I can only sum up this story in one word….gripping! Ms. Snyder took a story and wove it into one that anyone could understand. You did not have to be an addict to feel for the characters. These are occurrences that happen every day around the world. Probably more often than we know or hear of. I just could not put this book down once I started reading.

The Characters…..

Really this story saddened me as I watched these characters that could be so full of life, wither away to nothing and waste their lives away to feel a chemical happiness. I loved Seth. As much as he seemed like a coward, he really was stronger than he gave himself credit for. Ali was so sweet and pure that it made me wonder if people really do get hooked that easily?

In Conclusion…..

This was a heartbreaking read for me, it really hits home when you have an addict in the family. So many nights waiting and wondering where they are or what they were doing. This book literally left me in tears and the ending will shock you. This is not your typical addiction story since both the main characters are addicts and it was interesting to see how quickly things change when one addict is trying to sober up and the other is going off the deep end!

[.Lili. · Rating 4 out of 5]

***SPOILS THE END*** I gave this book four stars even though I only want to give it one. I didn't like this book at all but it wouldn't be fair to the author to get a bad review because the book wasn't what I was expecting. I realized with the title and subject matter it wasn't going to be a peaches and cream kind of book. The book was everything everyone else previous to me mentioned but I read to escape my problems and this book quite frankly depressed the s*** out of me. I like the happily ever after. I don't want to discourage people from reading this book because this is such a big problem with our children (and society) today and we can't keep our blinders on about it. Very well written book. The author evoked every feeling she sought from the reader and that is a testament of great writing.

[Nikki (Wicked Awesome Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be warned, Shattered Soul is not a happy-go-lucky story. If you didn’t get that from the title alone, then take it from me; this book is gritty and raw, with heavy drug usage by and around the main character Seth. Despite all that, Seth is almost a sweet guy. He’s in a difficult situation – his father ditched the family, his mother is an alcoholic, and his brother is both addicted to and deals drugs. Seth likes to drown the world out with weed and has, on occasion, hit the harder stuff.

Yet he’s good at his core. Seth is easy to connect to, even if the reader has no personal experience with the kind of life he has. The beginning starts off a bit rough because we meet Seth who, at first glance, appears to be a stoner kid with no aspirations. Once we see him a bit more and see where he comes from and what he wants from his life, the connection to him becomes solid. Seth does not want to be his mom or his brother, but he doesn’t know how to stop himself from going down that path.

Ali, the girl that could very well turn Seth around, isn’t fleshed out completely, but she doesn’t need to be. She’s the spark that lights the fire for him, making him want to be different, even if he hasn’t figured out how. At times, I wanted to hold Seth and hug him and hide him from the destructive people in his life; other times, I wanted to throttle him because he was so stupid and I couldn’t believe he was doing what he was doing; then something would happen and I’d want to protect him again.

That is the beauty in what Jennifer Snyder’s debut evokes. This tortuous story of a teenager living in a hellhole is unrelenting in its portrayal of suburban drug life and how quickly addiction takes hold, escalates, and destroys everything and everyone it comes in contact with. Shattered Soul is gut-wrenching and affecting, taking the reader on a rollercoaster of ups, downs, and has an ending that no one will ever see coming.

[Autumn Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, so I was hesitant to read the book for one reason, it's sad. However, I'm glad I did even though I was tense and emotional throughout. It is a dark book with disturbing situations, but JS has such an incredible ability to give you an almost virtual reading experience. I felt like I was with Seth throughout the whole book. I could picture what he looked like, where he was, what he was doing, and I felt like I could feel his pain. I literally wanted to reach through and pull him out to help him. He's not just some druggie kid looking to get high. This is the only life he knows and doesn't have a clue how to get out of it. Yes, it's a story about Seth and Ali, but the real story to me was Seth and how one simple decision can affect your life so traumatically. I knew this book would have no happy ending, so I had to come away with the story of a boy, looking to find his way through life and love. Once I thought of it that way, I was able to digest the difficult subject matter of the book.

[Sab · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review and more at Sab The Book Eater

Don't let the cover fool you. This is not a happy book. In fact, it's soul shattering. Yep, the title basically says it all. Now I know what you might be thinking, "If this is not a happy book then why did you read it, Sab? Why are you reviewing it? What's the point?"

Well, the point is this: It's a book. You don't just read a book because it has a HEA. You read a book because of the journey it takes you on - happy or sad. And this book definitely took me on a journey.

Shattered Soul was a short read (I finished it in about 3 hours). But even if it was, Snyder managed to create a story filled with so much raw emotion and characters that felt so real.

I liked that this was written in Seth's perspective - a male protagonist at last! He's so complex, it hurts. Seriously, that's how I felt the whole time I was reading his story. There were two sides to him and it hurt seeing how he struggled with trying to get away from the life he knows. And to make matters worse, his brother Calvin is a total asshole. Whenever he's in a scene, my blood would boil. At one point, at the height of Calvin's douchebaggery, I totally cursed my tablet and wanted to smash it against a wall. I was that mad. And I felt so sorry for Seth that I actually cried with him.

Then we have Ali... she's complicated. I feel like on some level I knew Ali but then again maybe it's just her drug-induced personality that we were introduced to. It was so hard trying to see what Seth saw in her other than the fact that she's beautiful. I kind of feel like Ali was only after Seth because she knew he had the goods. And that she didn't really change because of the addiction... maybe she really was that underneath all the cute preppy outfits. Get what I'm saying? Whatever. Bottomline, Ali was the biggest game changer in Seth's life and I don't even mean that in a good way.

The story overall, is great. Like I said, not because of the ending (because it's not a happy one) but because of the journey it takes to get there. It deals with a sensitive topic and I think the author did a great job at writing about the reality of it all. There's truly something about Jennifer Snyder's writing that draws me in. This is the second book of hers I've read and I can definitely say she has a way with words. She brings out a whole lot of emotions without saying too much.

Shattered Soul is edgy and dark and all around fantastic! I'd definitely recommend this to any reader who's up for the challenge. It won't be easy... but it is so worth it.

***I received an e-copy of this book for review.***
This review is based solely on my opinion.

[Once · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seth is a very sad soul. His alcoholic mother doesn't care about him or what he does, his brother beats him up and is a major drug head. He is in love with a girl (Ali) that he feels is totally out of reach and has a cop for a Dad! A lot of this book takes place in Seth's head, but that actually makes this book quite interesting. Seth knows that the path that he is going down is headed for trouble. It is headed for a life like his mother and his brother. He knows that he does not want this for himself. However, he is unsure of how to change it and maybe just go about life as he only knows.

This story tells of a boy who only knows bad, but whose girlfriend tries to right his wrongs. Shattered Soul is masterful at making you feel Seth's raw feelings and brings you right into his head with a roller coaster of emotions and affections. Gut wrenching indeed. Seth allows his girlfriend to try crystal meth, one mistake that he will never forget. Their lives begin to spiral into a whirlwind like they never imagined. Regret and fear instantly flood into his mind. Will she make it through? Will he able to hold on to her if she does?

If you like a story that is true to life and very realistic, Shattered Soul is the book for you. Many ups and downs, pushes and pulls and yes, I did tear up a few times. Even though I did not have that type of an upbringing, I can see how children in today's society can easily get wrapped up into this type of lifestyle. Great writing Jennifer Snyder, I will definitely be a repeat customer!

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

REVIEW:

So the subject matter is really what pulled me in. Can you fall in love with a pot smoking kid from a bad home? Yes. Oh wait that was for me too and my answer is also YES! Seth is not a bad kid. He has a bad mother and brother, but really he needs love! When he meets the "new" girl Ali he just falls hard. I loved the way they were portrayed. Seth was doing his thing, but the guy was smart. He knew how things were and he knew what he could do and what he couldn't do. He his brother and his Mom become addicts to drugs and alcohol. He certainly knew that he had limits, right or wrong, he did have limits. I feel like he spoke to me and I related to his need to survive.

The best was Ali and how her Dad, a cop, was oblivious to her smoking and getting high. Her Mom was a writer and in her own little world. What things appear to be are not so. The need to wake up and understand this happens so much more than you realize. She kept it hidden and poor Seth was so in love with her he didn't see what I saw. I think if it was not Seth, she would have done what she did with someone else. She has a draw to that lifestyle.

Yes it was loaded with drama, but you have to read it! The underlying intelligence of Seth has to be read, as the love story. No matter what read it for that! Just read it! Nothing I say about the drug abuse and lifestyle will make sense to anyone unless they see it from Seth's POV. It does NOT glorify this at all, if anything some people may get educated and that is the message I want to send.

[Jagged · Rating 1 out of 5]

I stopped reading this book half way through but then I decided I would just finish it even though it wasn't doing anything for me.
First of all, it's one thing to describe the horrible repercussions of doing drugs and it is another to encourage it. And quite honestly, most of this book was spent encouraging drug use. And that was just damn horrible. It was portrayed as the way to deal with horrible life choices and horrible circumstances, but also as a way to celebrate and have fun--but acceptable. I was so very not okay with that.
I'm glad there were some serious consequences to end this book but even then it wasn't something that touched my heart at all. The reflection wasn't complete. And the writing wasn't very impressive. I certainly would not recommend this book to teens.

[Steph Campbell]

From the blurb, this may sound like a similar premise to a lot of YA books out there.
But the ending?
You won't see it coming.
At all!
Well written and well edited!
Nice debut from this author, I look forward to reading more!

[Karou Rincon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crudo y real
La historia de este libro pasa más a menudo de lo que se quisiera.
La autora tiene una forma de contarla bastante curiosa no te da ni el tiempo ni la profundidad para querer a Ali pero a pesar de eso la tristeza por como termina es real.

[RO Mejia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seth Bradson is a teenager, who walks around with a disheveled appearance, shaggy brown hair, and as he puts it, "muddy brown eyes." Seth goes every day to school in wrinkled clothing, baggy shorts with holes in them, and doesn't care what he looks like. He is being brought up, (if you can call it that), in a house with a drunken mother, and his half-baked, drug dealing, sadistic, controlling, scumbag brother, Calvin. He fears his brother's wrath, is disgusted by his lack of ethics, but does what he's told, and watches his mouth. His brother gets him to sell drugs for him at school. He does it without a fight. Seth knows no other life. He only knows that his life stinks, and that it's in his genes, because his brother told him his father was a drug dealer, that ingested his own drugs, like Calvin. His father left when Seth was three, and from that point on his mother worked till he was 11. Then, his mother slowly began drinking herself to death. Seth goes to bed every night with a bowl of marijuana, and wakes up every morning with a drug hangover. At other times of day, and, or night, he ingests pills, and inhales Crystal Meth, at his brother's intimidation. Seth's motto is, "Life's a bitch, and then you die." This is his life, until he meets, Ali Carson, "his angel," that makes him want more out of his life. Ali has long tanned legs, huge blue eyes, and a gorgeous smile. She is beautiful, innocent, and trusting. She comes from a well to do family, the complete opposite of Seth's.

The beginning of every day starts the same for Seth. He showers, walks down the hall, and searches through the left over cigarette butts, (of his brother and his friends, from the night before), for a decent butt to smoke. As Seth makes his way down the hall, I do too. The smell of cigarettes, and smoke, fills my lungs, he proceeds to the ashtray filled with ashes and soot, and I can smell the pungent odor of the stale cigarettes through my nostrils, and feel the grit that he feels on his fingers. My stomach begins to turn, as I read Ms. Snyder's descriptions. She has a way of making me feel everything, as I am reading it. The pain Seth feels for never having a mother that really cares for him, or stands up for him, is heart- wrenching. This book is a complete 360 from the prior novella I reviewed of Ms. Snyder's,The Hereafter. Yet, she pulls it off, and does a great job!

This novel is not pretty. It made me reel, with a roller coaster of emotions. I feel that this book should be displayed in every school, and be a part of the required reading. This is a book that will teach kids the dangers of drugs, the facts about how fast addiction can happen, and the fact that whether you're a good person, or a bad person, rich or poor, the end result could cost you your life. Seth and Ali both grew as individuals, yet, not in the same direction. After completing this novel, it left a hole in my heart, and an overwhelming sadness. Get your kleenex ready, because readers, you will be crying all day long!!!

Ms. Snyder spins a web of love, euphoria, adulation, danger, hostility, and rage. She has got a special gift for making the reader feel everything she has written. By the end of this book, you will feel empty, and depleted. It drained me emotionally, and will have me thinking about it for a very long time to come.

I give this novel 4 smoke filled, drug induced, Heart Breaking, panic stricken Stars!

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was how I dealt with my life. Every time I snorted a line, popped a pill, or smoked a bowl I was dealing with it, coping with it the only way I knew how.

OH. MY. GOD. My poor, poor heart!!! Why do I do it to myself? Why do I read these books that send me on such an emotional roller coaster? I'll tell you why. Because despite my heart getting ripped to shreds, I love books like this. Books that scream reality. Books that you can picture so clearly in your head. Books that make you think. Books that make you feel. Let me tell you, Shattered Soul ticked every one of those boxes and then some!!

And I wasn't just some bad boy who was nothing but a punk kid looking for trouble. I was raised around trouble and because of it, I was troubled to the very core.

To say that Seth has a tough life would be an understatement. It fact it's incredibly crappy!!! Although his mother is there physically, she offers nothing of what a mother should. He receives no love and no care whatsoever. But he has his older brother to take care of him right? Wrong!! His brother is a bigger disaster than his mum. Calvin is an addicted drug dealer. He is controlling to the extreme and takes great pleasure in the pain that he causes Seth.

And so Seth seeks to numb that pain and take refuge from his life with a mix of drugs. And then Ali enters his life. Seth see's her beauty and her goodness and knows that there is no way someone like her could ever be interested in him. But they start spending time together and she makes Seth want to be a better, stronger person. But Maybe Ali's life isn't as perfect as it looks.

I absolutely loved Seth. Did I find him swoony? Hell yes!! But more than that, I wanted to hug him and have him as part of my family so that he could experience all the things he should have experienced but missed out on. I wanted to offer him comfort and show him that there is good in the world. I wanted to protect and care for him. And I wanted him to not think so little of himself. He was capable of so much good and had so much love to give.

Being around Ali had become intoxicating. She had become my new drug of choice, the one that I preferred above all others.

I loved that Ali could see the good in Seth. I loved that she brought some happiness to his life. But there were times when I wanted to shake some sense into her. And then the next minute I wanted to help her and stop her from heading down the path she was on.

This book shows how quickly addiction can take hold. How even though you may think that you can handle and control it, it doesn't work that way. Before you know it you're in too deep.

Shattered Soul is not a fluffy read despite there being moments of light. It is deep and there is darkness, but it is a book that you won't be able to put down. Jennifer Snyder is an exceptional storyteller. A truly amazing book!!!

5/5, gripping, heart wrenching, soul shattering stars!!!

[Liz at Fictional Candy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book far exceeded any expectations I had for it. And its not like I had low expectations, either. Jennifer Snyder is a new-to-me author, and I just wasn’t sure how it would go. The blurb sounded great, the subject sounded like it was heavy, I was excited.

This story is told from Seth’s POV, which I thought was completely awesome. For some reason I really dig the teenage boy point of view on things in books. But the thing about Seth is that his words feel genuine, I just want to hang out with him and get to know him more. I can’t even count how many kids I’ve known like Seth in my life, he feels familiar. He’s just so likeable and real, it made me wish this book was a lot longer just cause I liked being around him. I could see how Ali became attracted to him.

And then there is Ali, the new girl in school. She’s light and airy and gives off an innocent feel. She is so accepting of Seth and his not-so-perfect life. The way she just lets him into her life makes me love her. It’s like she came along just when she needed him.

“My heart pounded inside my chest as I gripped the door handle. I stepped out into the blazing hot sun to walk behind my brother and his friend into what felt like the mouth of hell.”

Seth’s brother, Calvin, isn’t a great guy. He isn’t even a good guy. In fact, there isn’t one point in this story where I even felt like I could waiver on that opinion. He bullies Seth, and he is a major asshole. Right off the bat, when I first saw him in the story I thought, “I wouldn’t mind if something happens to this guy…” Family is supposed to stick together, and Calvin acts like Seth is the enemy. Not cool.

I really struggled for a few days on how to write this review without giving spoilers. The story is beyond fantastic. The emotions behind the characters are right there at the surface and ready for you to touch. Sometimes the storyline is light and easy going, like riding in a car with the windows down on a sunny day. Sometimes its dark and… well, dark. This author takes you to a variety of places in a relatively short matter of time, and she does so effortlessly. The story was touching, and I just have to say again how much I fell in love with Seth. The supporting characters were all fabulous, even the very minor ones. They all lent their voice perfectly, and fleshed out this world for me. I felt like I was there; I was smoking that first cigarette of the morning, I was slamming my door to get away from it all, I was finding refuge in someone else’s gaze, and my life was falling apart just when I thought I had it all.

If you don’t read this story, you are making a mistake. It might be hard, there are some very delicate subjects here; drug use, abuse, death, teen angst. But sometimes we have to let our safety net go and just feel the story happen. This is definitely a 5 star read for me.

[Kylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Life's a bitch, and then you die."

Shattered Soul is such a tragic, heart wrenching, make you ugly cry story. It was either going to be an epic fail for me or I was going to cry, I cried. If you think Shattered Soul is going to be some super happy story, turn around and don't look back because that's not what you're getting. My sister is a recovering meth addict and I can't explain to you how disgusting the drug is or how it's truly like a tornado that rips families apart. My sister fortunately was strong enough to pull herself out of it and became a stronger person, not everyone is though. Seth Bradson is like your typical high school stoner, he has a crappy life and copes with it the only way he knows how.

"This was how I dealt with my life. Every time I snorted a line, popped a pill, or smoked a bowl I was dealing with it, coping with it the only way I knew how."

It is so incredibly sad to know how true this statement is in our world today, to see Seth destroy himself because he didn't know how to cope with his dead beat dad, alcoholic mother, and psycho brother broke my heart. I wanted so bad to tell him to just stop, to get help before it was too late. To pull himself out of the world before he was really, truly in it but I obviously couldn't because he's fictional. When Ali Carson walks into his life that's when shit really hits the fan. Every time she would park in his driveway and wait for him to come back outside I would be sitting there freaking out because I was afraid of what Seth would walk into or how she would get involved because you can tell she obviously does by the synopsis. Ali made me emotional, like cry so much I needed tissues emotional. The things both her and Seth have been through are really tragic and I loved how Jennifer showed it doesn't matter if you have a perfect family on the outside, if you have both parents or one, if you are rich or poor, anyone can become addicted to meth for whatever reason. To see Ali get sucked into this world and watch what happened afterward ripped my heart to shreds. It was like Jennifer just took it and threw it in a wood chipper, no coming back.

To say this is a must read in my book is an understatement, I loved how Jennifer displayed the world of meth and it's affects. I loved how emotional she made me get, I probably was a bit more than most because of my personal experience but you'll get emotional either way. I loved how she crafted Seth and Ali and built up there relationship and then showed us exactly what meth can do to one. How desperate meth can make people and how it really does tear peoples lives apart. I highly recommend you read this book and remember to bring your tissues. Seriously.

[charlie. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Life's a bitch and then you die. So, fuck the world and let's get high."

The title fits this novel so, so much! When I agreed to read this for a review, I seriously thought I knew what I’m putting myself into, but damn, my heart was definitely shattered after reading this book.

I’m not new to this drug addiction theme since I’ve been writing my research paper since high school with this as my topic, but reading about it and making it seem like it is more real and part of someone’s life, plus Snyder’s amazing talent in making such words blow so hard, that it affects its readers.

I was first confused with Ali’s personality. Being the new kid, she gives me the impression of being a good girl, not saint-like but still good. Then all of a sudden, she gives hints to Seth about popping pills and ‘having fun,’ which contradicts to that good girl image she has on my mind. But after a while, I mean after having some fun, I got used to it and was okay with her acting wild.

What broke my heart were her actions towards Seth. A part of the blame is on Seth, it’s pretty obvious, but I hated how she acted towards him and how she keeps on ruining her life on her own that caused hurting those people who cares about her. I had this crazy nausea while reading this book, waiting for the next bad thing to happen and it felt worse after reading it. What she did to Seth in the end was just low. It was goddamn low, no matter how much she wanted that goddamn meth. Maybe this nausea wasn't just because of the story but also because of what she did.

This book is something to be taken seriously. It’s heart-wrenching and really depressing but it was really good. I have to say that it was very well-written because of all the emotions it gave me while and after reading this book.

To those who are planning to read this, approach with caution but never back down.


--

This copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my review in any way.

*This and other reviews can also be found on my blog*

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartrending and desolate. Jennifer Snyder weaves a wonderful story about the cost of addiction and the struggle to win free of it. Seth and Ali start on opposite sides of the addiction spectrum when they meet and as he starts to break the grip it has on his life, she gets further drawn into it.

A number of reviewers have said that they didn't see the ending coming. I'm not sure who they didn't see dying in the end. I knew from about halfway through the book that Seth would kill shoot his brother, I just wish he had did it earlier, I was hoping he would after Kerri and Ali kissed, in order to try to save her before she fell too far. In the end, I am probably one of the few who understood how Ali could commit suicide. It is tough to say after reading Th1rteen R3asons Why and seeing Hannah commit suicide there, and believing that there is no good reason to commit suicide, but, maybe, in this case. . . .I actually gained a little more respect for her character. It seemed that she recognized how fall she had fallen, and didn't believe that she could recover, and if she did, she felt she had lost Seth.

To me, this reminded me a lot of Romeo and Juliet. Seth and Ali are really from two feuding families (Cops and Drug Dealers). Despite this, they fall so deeply in love, when Ali feels she has lost Seth, she commits suicide (and yes, this was a suicide, not an overdose - Jade tells 911 that she "just grabbed a handful and shoved them in her mouth!"), and that leaves Seth (after clutching her dead body to him) to commit suicide by police - he even asked himself "How was I supposed to live with the hole...where my heart used to be?"

So in the end, Ms. Snyder weaves a modern Romeo and Juliet tale of young love and its tragic ending, as well as showing us the hazards and costs of addiction.

[Oana D. L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating:3.5/5.

"Life. Life’s a b***h and then you die. So, f**k the world and let’s get high."


Shattered Soul is a book about drugs and how everything can get worse in just one second.

Seth's life was never easy.Between his drunk mother and drug dealer brother all Seth knows is that his life is never going to get better.

Even if i liked how sometimes Seth thought i have to admit that i hoped that maybe something will change and the book won't be like how it started until the end.
I'm not a big fan of drugs and i think that books like this one are a lesson for everyone- especially when things are worse than everyone think.

"Until she came into my life, which was when things began to change for me."


When Seth first saw Ali Carson his life changed ,but not exactly how i expected.Just a little bit.
I knew that nobody could make Seth to stop using drugs and i hated that everything got complicated after that.
Ali Carson was an inocent girl whose life was almost perfect-that if i don't count the fact that she had to move from place to place because of her parents.At the beginning i liked her and i was glad that she was interested in Seth.I hoped that maybe she will help him,but i was wrong.

Once you are addicted...

This story wasn't very nice.So much violence and of course drugs.Between those things even if i want to see the good parts i can't -at least some of them i could.Those were the moments when Ali and Seth first started to hang out together.It was a nice beginning..but everything has an end.

Jennifer wrote something that could happen in real life every day.I admire her for writing a story like this because she is sending a message to everyone about how life could be for us if we had a life like Seth.A story you could learn something from.

[Tiffany Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where to start with Shattered Soul? Reading this book was like taking a walk on the dark side and thinking I was not going to return. The first paragraph sets the tone for the entire book:

“Life. Life’s a bitch and then you die. So, fuck the world and let’s get high. That was my motto. I’m not sure where it came from or where I first heard it. Hell, I could have read it off a bathroom stall somewhere for all I know. My point is this, it doesn’t matter where it came from; it stuck with me, becoming my answer, my solution to everything. Until she came into my life, which was when things began to change for me.”

This opening paragraph told me everything I would need to know about Seth who is the main character. Seth has an alcoholic mother, a drug dealing brother who gets high off of his supply, and he is a teen who smokes cigarettes, weed, pops pill, and does crystal meth. To say he is a mess is putting it lightly.

That is until he met her. Her is Ali and she seems to be the opposite of Seth. Ali’s demeanor becomes undone once she reveals she would like to be a part of Seth’s life.

“The girl I loved was becoming a stranger, and I knew this moment, the moment her soul first began to shatter, would haunt me forever.”

Nothing about Shattered Soul, and I mean absolutely nothing about this book made me feel good. It didn’t leave me with a happy-go-lucky feeling. Shattered Soul made me want to jump inside the pages and shake Seth and Ali’s addiction away. And, that’s when I knew this book was a winner! Jennifer Snyder has written a great piece of work and I will definitely be on the lookout for more work by her!

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of Shattered Soul in exchange for an honest review.

[Radiant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating - 3.5

Seth has been carefree and cared for nothing.Living in a place where ur mother wakes only to drink,where ur brother is climbing ladders of drug dealing ,where u sell stash to ur friends to make money and get high at every momemnt u want is not a place anyone want to be but seth has always lived it and is living.

But when he meets Ali..the sweet and innocent girl who is interested in him..he thinks theres lot of other ways to get high.They say when u are in others company for a longgg while you become like them..though seth wanted to become like ali..he makes her like him..started with a fun dose of meth.. turns out to be a addiction and Ali is no longer the girl he saw - innocent and pure - she is now a addicted junkie...and seth has to blame himself..but when things get tooo much out of hand and life slips from you hand in front of ur eyes...there nothing u can do ...apparently "Life’s a bitch and then you die".

Oh man i cried a lot in this one..the end just broke my heart.This book is not a happy ending forever type but the facing the harsh reality of life.

I can understand the message it wants to give to the teenagers(or any) especially who are addicted to drugs to such extent that their lives are at stake and it means so little to you.I have to bow to the author for presenting the book in such a truthful way.

I so suggest people to go to rehab if u have a addiction..just once please..take life seriously..there so much to gain to LIVE than to loose by DEATH!

Beautiful yet haunting...!

Sri.

[Aimee McGill · Rating 5 out of 5]

First a big thank you to Jennifer Snyder... I won this book from Goodreads giveaway and it was in my mail 4 days later :)

Now on to the review... I must worn you this is my first real review so I hope its ok and I don't give the plot away because this is defintely a book you wanna read...

I was suprised how emotional I got while reading this book. I felt every emotion that was written and even a few I didn't see. This is a story of addiction and what it will do to your life and what it will cost you...

Seth was someone everyone knows... the kid from the bad family... no father... all to busy mother... messed up brother... this book gives you an inside look into his life and what he goes threw. From one addiction to the next its all bad for him, even Ali, and I think by the end of the book he knows that... the ending I didn't see coming and had me crying... very raw and truthful

[Na Deela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, so first of all, I just found another favorite, so I'll have to find a paperback copy soon since I read the Kindle version. This was a pretty dark story. I was amazed and frankly thankful for just how real everything was. The situations, the characters, everything. I immediately connected with Seth. I wished so much that I could make his decisions for him, and Ali too, for that matter. Its unfortunate, but these things do happen all the time and a lot of people tend to avoid the topic. I think a story like this should be widely spread. I got so sucked into it that my stomach churned at the thought of all those drugs and my eyes got watery with Seth's growing pain. I absolutely hated Calvin and every low-life he represented. His mother I couldn't stand... I could go on. This is definitely a must-read!

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be a first for me, I don't know what to say to accurately describe this book. At first, I was taken aback by the heavy drug use and descriptions, by the last 20 or so pages it became a book that I will insist my kids read when they are a little older as this type of scene is more prevalent in their social world. I was not expecting the ending at all. I was holding out hope for the happy turn but instead ended up with a pile of tissues. Sad thing is that this read is something out of everyday life somewhere. It's not a far cry from being a real life story. For this being only 152 pages, I was immediately drawn in, the characters were relatable and obviously likable since I was bawling like a big baby. I highly recommend this for parents of preteens/teens and I would also go out on a limb and say that those kids should read it as well! It's an eye opener.

[Mayu · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.8

Dolorosa, triste, y real en muchos casos. Una novela sobre como la droga va devorando el alma de las personas, hasta destrozarlas, y sobre como ese camino, solamente puede llevar a un mal final. La vida que rodea a Seth es increíblemente triste, y todo lo que acontece en los últimos meses de su vida también. Y me da una pena enorme, porque Seth tenía un buen corazón, a diferencia del mundo que le rodeaba, y ha sido triste y doloroso ver como su alma se iba derrumbando más y más, rota por quien se supone iba a salvarle. Ahora solo me apetece llorar, es de esas novelas que según pasas las páginas, te van encogiendo el corazón, y suplicas por una esperanza, porque el protagonista merece otra vida, pero solo la oscuridad envuelve Shattered Soul.

Aquí mi reseña: http://mayuamoraprimeravista.blogspot...

[Liz Cee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not know what it is like to be addicted to hard drugs, but I have had addictions to other things (reading, food, goodreads.com). To be serious, this book is more than gritty realism and even though I haven't the personal experience to compare it to, I completely believe that.

If I hadn't known better, I'd almost believe it non-fiction.

This book is heartbreaking in so many ways. You are rooting for the main character to rise above his dismal circumstances.

Please read this book. I can't say more than any of the other reviewers here as they do a far better job of it than I can ever hope to.

[Sonia Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I'm still quite shocked out this ended. It's left me feeling sad and it's scary how things like this actually happen. I liked the fact she didn't prettify it up and make out that its easy to stop things, the writer made it seem so real. Although this ended in a way I wish it didn't it always ended the way it probably would in the real world so as I said the writer has done amazingly. I'm a sucker for happy endings so really wanted to Seth to have that with or without Ali. But it's defiantly an eye opener

[Pamela Foreman · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is amazing! This was a wonderful story about not just what happens when drugs enters the picture, but it shows us the pain that is happening in everyone’s lives that we fail to see. I wasn’t sure I’d like this book given the topic and having grown up in the “Just say no!” era, but this book is not just about drugs. It’s about pain, deceit, love, heartache and death. It makes you want to urn for more, exhibiting the same qualities of drug abuse and addiction. It’s one I would recommend to everyone.

This book gets 5 out of 5 stars!

[Ria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our loved ones are precious even if not plentiful they make us laugh and smile we should be grateful for that. Shattered Soul shows us exactly why.

My Rating

4.0 Heart wrenching, Soul shattering, Life changing, Earth shaking Stars. This is a read that will stay with you long after you have turned the last page.

Full review to follow...

Laters
;)

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy crap balls, did not see the ending coming. It was one of those books you think about for a few days after reading. What a roller coaster of a book. Very well written. Read the book in 4 hours, couldn't put it down.

[Kelly (Diva Booknerd) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy crap! This is one of the grittiest, heart wrenching and real young adult book I've read to date.
Heavens, I felt like my heart dropped reading this, it was confronting and I honestly had no idea what to expect.

Review to come after book tour.

[Deanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

That ending was EPIC!!! Great story:)