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Relapse
What would you do to escape living in your worst nightmare?
Meet Casey, a quiet 13 year old girl living in a city just outside of New York City. Each day she lives in her nightmare with her step father who abuses her mentally and physically. Casey finally has enough and decides to escape this life through the use of the only thing she has access to, heroin. The choice is not easy, but it gives her a quick jump out of her own existence. Just when she is feeling good, she is betrayed once again and finds another way to run, this time she runs away to New York City.
As a young girl who has come to New York City with no money, no friends, and no family to turn to, she is forced to make some tough life decisions on how to survive. Taken up by a woman with one of the oldest professions known to man, Casey begins to turn into someone that her younger self would not recognize, hardened by the streets and the things she continues to experience, Casey develops habits that she would have been ashamed to have only months before. Each choice that she makes only seems to deepen her in this black hole that she has slipped into.
When life continues in a downward spiral and rock bottom seems inevitable, Casey gets a light at the end of the tunnel. She begins to turn her life around and fight off the demons from her past. Life is becoming something to be proud of and Casey is making something of herself. Just as everything seems perfect, her past catches up. Will Casey be able to continue to run, or will she be forced to fight back? Is she strong enough to overcome this, or will she relapse? Get ready for this wild ride through this nightmare that Casey calls her life and be ready for what comes at the end.
Meet Casey, a quiet 13 year old girl living in a city just outside of New York City. Each day she lives in her nightmare with her step father who abuses her mentally and physically. Casey finally has enough and decides to escape this life through the use of the only thing she has access to, heroin. The choice is not easy, but it gives her a quick jump out of her own existence. Just when she is feeling good, she is betrayed once again and finds another way to run, this time she runs away to New York City.
As a young girl who has come to New York City with no money, no friends, and no family to turn to, she is forced to make some tough life decisions on how to survive. Taken up by a woman with one of the oldest professions known to man, Casey begins to turn into someone that her younger self would not recognize, hardened by the streets and the things she continues to experience, Casey develops habits that she would have been ashamed to have only months before. Each choice that she makes only seems to deepen her in this black hole that she has slipped into.
When life continues in a downward spiral and rock bottom seems inevitable, Casey gets a light at the end of the tunnel. She begins to turn her life around and fight off the demons from her past. Life is becoming something to be proud of and Casey is making something of herself. Just as everything seems perfect, her past catches up. Will Casey be able to continue to run, or will she be forced to fight back? Is she strong enough to overcome this, or will she relapse? Get ready for this wild ride through this nightmare that Casey calls her life and be ready for what comes at the end.
Unknown Binding
First published November 3, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 22, 2014
3.5 Stars
The Blurb intrigued me and the first few pages were crazy good. Matthew Faist hit the ground running with this story, unfortunately he didn't keep up the momentum throughout the rest of book.
Casey's home life is tragic, she looks for a way out, ends up in New York working the streets. Her life is a total mess and you're just waiting for her to hit rock bottom. While that story line drew me in, the writing was very formal such as-I will not ask, you will not ask, I cannot, do not-it goes on and on like that. Some contractions in the conversations would have made the lines flow a little more smooth.
Besides the formal writing style. the story line is touted as dark and I would call it more tragic than dark. Maybe I'm greedy, or crazy, but I wanted more details of the street scenes or things she was going through with her customers to make it a darker read. The situation is set up, then glossed over and moved on from.
I hate to write a negative review about somebody's hard work, however I also like to be honest. The lack of details and the formal writing style had me struggling to finish this book. Also, the Amazon copy I read has words crossed out and then the correct words every few pages that I found distracting.
Reviewed for Renee Entress's Blog
The Blurb intrigued me and the first few pages were crazy good. Matthew Faist hit the ground running with this story, unfortunately he didn't keep up the momentum throughout the rest of book.
Casey's home life is tragic, she looks for a way out, ends up in New York working the streets. Her life is a total mess and you're just waiting for her to hit rock bottom. While that story line drew me in, the writing was very formal such as-I will not ask, you will not ask, I cannot, do not-it goes on and on like that. Some contractions in the conversations would have made the lines flow a little more smooth.
Besides the formal writing style. the story line is touted as dark and I would call it more tragic than dark. Maybe I'm greedy, or crazy, but I wanted more details of the street scenes or things she was going through with her customers to make it a darker read. The situation is set up, then glossed over and moved on from.
I hate to write a negative review about somebody's hard work, however I also like to be honest. The lack of details and the formal writing style had me struggling to finish this book. Also, the Amazon copy I read has words crossed out and then the correct words every few pages that I found distracting.
Reviewed for Renee Entress's Blog
February 18, 2019
A shitty book by a shitty person.
November 10, 2014
This book devastated me from the minute I opened the book and started reading. When they say this book isn't for the faint of heart they were right. This book will definitely rip you apart and drain you from every emotion that you have. You never want to believe that anything harsh can happen to people, let alone a child. It's difficult to believe that this sort of thing happens but it goes to show you how cruel life is. The book brings you on a journey of how life could turn out from dealing with such trama at a young age and shows the destruction and rebuilding of how life can be. If you are looking for a deeply emotional book then this ones for you. It was a difficult read for me because you feel like you know Casey and want to help her. The book was so real that you get pulled in and want to know what is going to happen and want to make sure that she is going to be ok. This is the first type of book like this that I read so it was a big leap from going out of my box to try something new. I recommend this book to you all. Just go into it prepared for anything and once you start you have to finish it to the end. Congrats Matthew on your debut book you really shook me to my core!
November 9, 2014
If you're looking for the book you can't put down, then I strongly recommend picking this one up. Matthew Faist has written a book that made me feel and reel leaving me turned inside out. I wanted nothing more than to hug this poor girl and cry through the whole book.
The story is not for the faint of heart. It's dark from the very beginning when we are introduced to Casey, the lead character on the eve of her thirteenth birthday. Very quickly life spirals out of control, leading her to run away and is taken under the wing of a prostitute in NYC. As the story unfolds we're taken through the next 20 years of her life and the trials and tribulations that accompany it. It's breathtaking, heart-stopping and just fantastic. I highly recommend this to anyone that is looking for a story that makes you feel and experience as it happens.
Keri
This book contains mature content, covering sexual abuse, prostitution and drug addiction. As a result, I strongly recommend readers 18+.
The story is not for the faint of heart. It's dark from the very beginning when we are introduced to Casey, the lead character on the eve of her thirteenth birthday. Very quickly life spirals out of control, leading her to run away and is taken under the wing of a prostitute in NYC. As the story unfolds we're taken through the next 20 years of her life and the trials and tribulations that accompany it. It's breathtaking, heart-stopping and just fantastic. I highly recommend this to anyone that is looking for a story that makes you feel and experience as it happens.
Keri
This book contains mature content, covering sexual abuse, prostitution and drug addiction. As a result, I strongly recommend readers 18+.
November 8, 2014
Relapse completely blew me away!! I was sucked in from the very beginning! It was a very emotional read and the author had a way of keeping you intrigued the whole time. Although the author is male, you completely forgot that because it was so well written. You feel as if you are reading Casey's autobiography. He also completely nailed the relationship between her and her best friend. I recommend this book to everyone (over 18.. since it has some strong subject material) it will make you feel emotions you didn't know you had as well as be that book you won't be able to put down. Definitely a 5 STAR read!!!! I can't wait to read more from this author!!
January 4, 2015
Wow! I am in shock and speechless. Matthew blew me away. I could not put this book down. I was instantly hooked. I will say this is not a book for the faint hearted. I think mine is even torn from this read.
This is a story of a beautiful young girl and how one wrong decision can ruin your life. Casey was taken in by the feeling of euphoria that only drugs could offer. She struggled and went down a spiraling trail of a life. Her best friend Jessica never left her side when she decided to get help. The bond they shared was amazing and the ending took me by complete surprise.
Very well written and a truly a 5 star read! I was happy, angry, and cried happy n ugly tears.
This is a story of a beautiful young girl and how one wrong decision can ruin your life. Casey was taken in by the feeling of euphoria that only drugs could offer. She struggled and went down a spiraling trail of a life. Her best friend Jessica never left her side when she decided to get help. The bond they shared was amazing and the ending took me by complete surprise.
Very well written and a truly a 5 star read! I was happy, angry, and cried happy n ugly tears.
November 11, 2014
Great read if....you enjoy dark stories, plot twists, surprises, conflict, fighting demons, and an ending you don't see coming.
Side Note: This book is a MUST READ if you can stomach the twists and turns of a dark story. I enjoyed every moment that rises your eyebrows. This book was totally worth it and I feel that this author is going to be bringing even more strong books like this, which is what the market needs.
Side Note: This book is a MUST READ if you can stomach the twists and turns of a dark story. I enjoyed every moment that rises your eyebrows. This book was totally worth it and I feel that this author is going to be bringing even more strong books like this, which is what the market needs.
March 2, 2015
This is was fantastic book. Very dark, but kept you wanting more. I went on so many emotional roller coasters reading this book it wasn't even funny. Great read, defiantly a different book than I am used to reading, but it was worth the jump.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews