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Don't Forget To Breathe
Leocadia arrives home from school to find her mom’s body. Unaware that the killer still lingers, she rushes to her mother’s side, only to be grabbed from behind. And everything fades to black.
Leo has been battling personal demons after a year of retrograde amnesia. She’s been having vivid dreams of that day. And her dreams are getting worse—she’s starting to remember. Two more bodies are discovered and they are oddly linked to her mom’s unsolved homicide.
Leo befriends her new neighbor. He’s eager to visit Star Hallow’s notorious haunted mansion. It’s located on a deserted cul-de-sac where she once lived and where her mom was murdered. But it’s the Lucien Estate, the mansion next door to her old home, where they happen upon misty ghosts, ghosts that just might help to unravel the homicides.
Will Leo’s memories send her reeling into a relapse, or will she be able to overcome her demons to find her mother’s killer – only to become the next victim?
Leo has been battling personal demons after a year of retrograde amnesia. She’s been having vivid dreams of that day. And her dreams are getting worse—she’s starting to remember. Two more bodies are discovered and they are oddly linked to her mom’s unsolved homicide.
Leo befriends her new neighbor. He’s eager to visit Star Hallow’s notorious haunted mansion. It’s located on a deserted cul-de-sac where she once lived and where her mom was murdered. But it’s the Lucien Estate, the mansion next door to her old home, where they happen upon misty ghosts, ghosts that just might help to unravel the homicides.
Will Leo’s memories send her reeling into a relapse, or will she be able to overcome her demons to find her mother’s killer – only to become the next victim?
265 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 6, 2015
50 people are currently reading
1194 people want to read
About the author
Cathrina Constantine
23 books375 followersI am blessed with a loving family and forever friends. My world revolves around them.
I grew up in the small village of Lancaster, NY, where I married my sweetheart. I'm devoted to raising 5 cherished children, and now my grandchildren.
I love to immerse myself in great books of every kind of genre, which helps me to write purely for entertainment, and hopefully to inspire readers. When not stationed at my computer you can find me in the woods taking long walks with my dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
June 3, 2015
As a literary agent intern, an editorial intern, a freelance editor, and the executive editor of a literary journal I can say without a doubt that this book is WELL EDITED AND HAS POLISHED WRITING, contrary to what the one-star review says below. I hate seeing ridiculous reviews try to ruin new books. Especially when they "quote" a passage by adding in typos and missing words...
FIRST IMPRESSION
I love a good mystery, and the creepy atmosphere is set up right away in the first chapter of this book.
PLOT
There's a solid mystery pace—there's a great start to the book with a creepy event in a graveyard that sets of a chain of events that lead Leo to her mission: finding out what happened to her mother. I enjoyed the twists and turns, the romance was as important to the story as the mystery was—which if you like books like HOW WE FALL then you'll like this.
There are a couple good suspects, enough that you'll keep wondering is it him or her or him again? Or maybe the other him?
CHARACTERS
Leo: She's a flawed heroine, and that's the way I like them. She makes some poor decisions along the way, particularly at the start, but considering the trauma of seeing her mother murdered—I totally understand. I like how determined she is to get an answer to her mother's murder, and I liked her relationship with her dad too. It is interesting that Leo is a cheerleader, but isn't your typical sort—she's got an edge to her that I loved.
Becket: He was the type of guy you'd want to date. He's kinda cliche in the sense that he's the quarterback, but since Leo isn't a nobody—she's a cheerleader herself—it makes sense that they would be on each other's radars.
Henry: He's the one I couldn't really sort out during the story. He's either a good guy that's damaged, or a bad guy who is trying to be good. It was fun trying to figure that out throughout the story.
ROMANCE
I was really into the Leo/Becket, and kinda into the possibility of a Leo/Henry too. It wasn't a real love triangle or anything—Leo had her sights on Becket from the start, but Henry had his sights on Leo. It made me feel bad for Henry, and the two were kinda good friends—in a very dysfunctional way. But in the end, Becket had more pros than cons and was a charming cute guy. (I'll always take the good boy over the bad boy.)
CONCLUSION
If you like creepy atmospheres, but nothing drastically frightening, and a good murder mystery with a hint of romance—this is a good book for you.
FIRST IMPRESSION
I love a good mystery, and the creepy atmosphere is set up right away in the first chapter of this book.
PLOT
There's a solid mystery pace—there's a great start to the book with a creepy event in a graveyard that sets of a chain of events that lead Leo to her mission: finding out what happened to her mother. I enjoyed the twists and turns, the romance was as important to the story as the mystery was—which if you like books like HOW WE FALL then you'll like this.
There are a couple good suspects, enough that you'll keep wondering is it him or her or him again? Or maybe the other him?
CHARACTERS
Leo: She's a flawed heroine, and that's the way I like them. She makes some poor decisions along the way, particularly at the start, but considering the trauma of seeing her mother murdered—I totally understand. I like how determined she is to get an answer to her mother's murder, and I liked her relationship with her dad too. It is interesting that Leo is a cheerleader, but isn't your typical sort—she's got an edge to her that I loved.
Becket: He was the type of guy you'd want to date. He's kinda cliche in the sense that he's the quarterback, but since Leo isn't a nobody—she's a cheerleader herself—it makes sense that they would be on each other's radars.
Henry: He's the one I couldn't really sort out during the story. He's either a good guy that's damaged, or a bad guy who is trying to be good. It was fun trying to figure that out throughout the story.
ROMANCE
I was really into the Leo/Becket, and kinda into the possibility of a Leo/Henry too. It wasn't a real love triangle or anything—Leo had her sights on Becket from the start, but Henry had his sights on Leo. It made me feel bad for Henry, and the two were kinda good friends—in a very dysfunctional way. But in the end, Becket had more pros than cons and was a charming cute guy. (I'll always take the good boy over the bad boy.)
CONCLUSION
If you like creepy atmospheres, but nothing drastically frightening, and a good murder mystery with a hint of romance—this is a good book for you.
October 25, 2015
I'm so impressed with this book! The writing is really great and the characters are interesting and complex. I thought the plot was really cool and entertaining. Don't Forget To Breathe is one of the best murder mysteries I've read and I can't wait to check out Cathrina Constantine's other books.
I did find the main character to be really teenager-y. She had the stereotypical "teenage attitude" and I felt like it was a little over the top. I did like Leo but I thought she could have been more real.
There was quite a bit of romance and a borderline love triangle so that was interesting. I'm not a fan of love triangles at all but I could deal with this one.
There was a lot of creepy stuff but nothing super scary so this would be a good one to read if you don't like really scary books but still want some creepy.
Overall, Don't Forget To Breathe was a fun, entertaining read. I read it in just a couple of sittings and I wasn't bored at all. I wasn't totally into the romance but it wasn't a big deal.
If you're looking for a creepy murder mystery, I'd recommend Don't Forget To Breathe.
I did find the main character to be really teenager-y. She had the stereotypical "teenage attitude" and I felt like it was a little over the top. I did like Leo but I thought she could have been more real.
There was quite a bit of romance and a borderline love triangle so that was interesting. I'm not a fan of love triangles at all but I could deal with this one.
There was a lot of creepy stuff but nothing super scary so this would be a good one to read if you don't like really scary books but still want some creepy.
Overall, Don't Forget To Breathe was a fun, entertaining read. I read it in just a couple of sittings and I wasn't bored at all. I wasn't totally into the romance but it wasn't a big deal.
If you're looking for a creepy murder mystery, I'd recommend Don't Forget To Breathe.
February 7, 2015
Oh my goodness! I actually clapped at the end of this book. It was that good. I don’t even know where to begin with this review because I enjoyed it all.
Leocadia had just survived the year from hell with her sanity intact. A strong young woman. I’ll admit that she didn’t always make the right choices. At times I screamed at her that she should “Get the hell out.” Yet she stayed. Or I’d shake my head and say “No, girl, no.” And of course she ignored my advice and did it anyway.
The heroine was a true teenager and that’s what impressed me most about this book. Ms. Constantine got into the YA world. From the language to their attitudes. I was shocked about the drugs, but I know it happens. And I absolutely loved her best friend Nona. Level headed and always there for Leo.
My favorite part of the whole book was the mystery. I kept wondering who the hell did it. When I found out, I was flabbergasted. And when Ms. Constantine let that thing in the end happen… I can’t bear to talk about it, plus I don’t give spoilers.
There’s no genre I like more than a romance, and there was enough of it in there to keep me happy. Plenty of action to keep the story moving. Some angst, insecurity and backstabbing to ensure that it maintained a YA standing. Plus the ghost scenes freaked me out a little (That’s when some of my advice to Leocadia came into play). A well rounded book that would’ve kept me up late reading if I wasn’t such a wuss about those scary ghost scenes.
I was given a copy of this book for an honest review. To be a little more honest, I harassed the author for a copy.
Leocadia had just survived the year from hell with her sanity intact. A strong young woman. I’ll admit that she didn’t always make the right choices. At times I screamed at her that she should “Get the hell out.” Yet she stayed. Or I’d shake my head and say “No, girl, no.” And of course she ignored my advice and did it anyway.
The heroine was a true teenager and that’s what impressed me most about this book. Ms. Constantine got into the YA world. From the language to their attitudes. I was shocked about the drugs, but I know it happens. And I absolutely loved her best friend Nona. Level headed and always there for Leo.
My favorite part of the whole book was the mystery. I kept wondering who the hell did it. When I found out, I was flabbergasted. And when Ms. Constantine let that thing in the end happen… I can’t bear to talk about it, plus I don’t give spoilers.
There’s no genre I like more than a romance, and there was enough of it in there to keep me happy. Plenty of action to keep the story moving. Some angst, insecurity and backstabbing to ensure that it maintained a YA standing. Plus the ghost scenes freaked me out a little (That’s when some of my advice to Leocadia came into play). A well rounded book that would’ve kept me up late reading if I wasn’t such a wuss about those scary ghost scenes.
I was given a copy of this book for an honest review. To be a little more honest, I harassed the author for a copy.
February 9, 2015
A brief note: I don't talk about the actual plot in my reviews. I don't like it when a reviewer gives away all the details. I want to read the book without knowing every little thing but the ending. That's what the book blurb is for, to give you the right amount of details. My rant is over.
MY REVIEW
DON'T FORGET TO BREATHE is my favorite Cathrina Constantine book. The reason: I love a good ghost story, a twisted murder mystery and characters that are more than flawed, but damaged, although they have reasons for doing what they do - whether they are rational reasons are not, you'll have to decide for yourself.
I looked up the definition of Psychological Horror - a story which relies on the characters fears and emotional instability to build tension. While this isn't really a horror novel, the characters do thier share of terrorizing with a chilling effect for the reader.
I found reading DON'T FORGET TO BREATHE like walking through a spooky maze on Halloween (one of my favorite things to do) We follow Ms. Constantine in one direction just to have the characters jump out to scare us and send us in a totally other direction.
This story is, in one word is about obsession. The ghost story delves into the madness of one man due to his jealousy. Leo is obssessed with finding her mother's murderer, and the other characters, well, that's all I'm going to say about that. See rant above.
The writing is dark and suspenseful. The characters have wonderful chemistry and a false sense of trust, which hinders them for seeing the treachery that some people are capable of. There are one or two somewhat gory scenes but nothing all that gruesome.
If you, like me, love a good tales of murder, mystery, madness and of course, ghosts then DON'T FORGET TO BREATHE is the book for you.
MY REVIEW
DON'T FORGET TO BREATHE is my favorite Cathrina Constantine book. The reason: I love a good ghost story, a twisted murder mystery and characters that are more than flawed, but damaged, although they have reasons for doing what they do - whether they are rational reasons are not, you'll have to decide for yourself.
I looked up the definition of Psychological Horror - a story which relies on the characters fears and emotional instability to build tension. While this isn't really a horror novel, the characters do thier share of terrorizing with a chilling effect for the reader.
I found reading DON'T FORGET TO BREATHE like walking through a spooky maze on Halloween (one of my favorite things to do) We follow Ms. Constantine in one direction just to have the characters jump out to scare us and send us in a totally other direction.
This story is, in one word is about obsession. The ghost story delves into the madness of one man due to his jealousy. Leo is obssessed with finding her mother's murderer, and the other characters, well, that's all I'm going to say about that. See rant above.
The writing is dark and suspenseful. The characters have wonderful chemistry and a false sense of trust, which hinders them for seeing the treachery that some people are capable of. There are one or two somewhat gory scenes but nothing all that gruesome.
If you, like me, love a good tales of murder, mystery, madness and of course, ghosts then DON'T FORGET TO BREATHE is the book for you.
August 19, 2024
I don’t know what I was expecting going into this book but a YA thriller with a supernatural twist was not it. This is a difficult review because I actually quite enjoyed it but my feelings are also complicated. I loved the storyline, thought the characters were individual and believable but I think it was the overall execution that missed the mark for me. The pacing of the book was off, just feel it could have read a little faster once the initial story was built up because by the time I got to the climax and big reveal/twist I’d basically figured it out myself was like… ‘meh!’
February 11, 2015
DNF after 28%.
After basically begging for an ARC of this from the author, I'm really disappointed that I ended up DNFing it. I tried really hard to power through, but after attempting to love it over and over again, I finally just had to say that enough was enough. The cover was the first thing that caught my eye, as I thought it was pretty impressive for an indie book, and then I read the blurb and was sold. I don't normally go for random books when I've never heard of the author and none of my trusted friends even have it on their TBRs, but the author's previous high-rated books made me hope that this one would be a diamond in the rough.
Well, the plot might've eventually gotten to that point, but the author's writing was too badly in need of some rigorous editing for me to handle. As an editorial assistant myself, books that have such errors are often hard for me to cringe through. And this one was one of the worst I've experienced in a long time. The dialogue was stilted and kind of read like the author was using a thesaurus for every other word; it didn't sound anything like what teenagers actually sound like. Words and phrases like "darnit" and "holy moly," etc. are not things that anybody says anymore. But it wasn't just that...the prose was the worst part. Passages like this are what made up the entire book:
And that is just the paragraph I happened to be reading at the time of my DNF. I didn't comb through the pages trying to find a really egregious one...there were definitely some even worse than that.
I'm not trying to rip the author a new one, though. She was kind enough to give me an ARC and I'm just trying to be honest. I actually think that if I had been able to get my hands on this before its publication and really gone to town with a red pen, it might've turned out to be a decent book. I liked the plot, and the romance was actually not getting on my nerves even though it was a love triangle. There is definitely some potential here! The bad writing just made it really hard for me to enjoy the book for it's good parts and not focus on everything I disliked about the prose. But if the author were able to get a better editor (or an editor at all?) for her next book, I have no doubt that it'd be a success.
**ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
After basically begging for an ARC of this from the author, I'm really disappointed that I ended up DNFing it. I tried really hard to power through, but after attempting to love it over and over again, I finally just had to say that enough was enough. The cover was the first thing that caught my eye, as I thought it was pretty impressive for an indie book, and then I read the blurb and was sold. I don't normally go for random books when I've never heard of the author and none of my trusted friends even have it on their TBRs, but the author's previous high-rated books made me hope that this one would be a diamond in the rough.
Well, the plot might've eventually gotten to that point, but the author's writing was too badly in need of some rigorous editing for me to handle. As an editorial assistant myself, books that have such errors are often hard for me to cringe through. And this one was one of the worst I've experienced in a long time. The dialogue was stilted and kind of read like the author was using a thesaurus for every other word; it didn't sound anything like what teenagers actually sound like. Words and phrases like "darnit" and "holy moly," etc. are not things that anybody says anymore. But it wasn't just that...the prose was the worst part. Passages like this are what made up the entire book:
"Becket's hair in total disarray boosted his rowdy side, sporting jeans and his black leather jacked. We shot along Westgate and the cool air stung my eyeballs. Whether he deciphered my watery eyes or my hair whipping around my head, he pressed the button, rolling up the windows. Disparate then the preceding time driving in his car with calming strings, today Led Zeppelin rocked. I love music, but not when it shattered my eardrums."
And that is just the paragraph I happened to be reading at the time of my DNF. I didn't comb through the pages trying to find a really egregious one...there were definitely some even worse than that.
I'm not trying to rip the author a new one, though. She was kind enough to give me an ARC and I'm just trying to be honest. I actually think that if I had been able to get my hands on this before its publication and really gone to town with a red pen, it might've turned out to be a decent book. I liked the plot, and the romance was actually not getting on my nerves even though it was a love triangle. There is definitely some potential here! The bad writing just made it really hard for me to enjoy the book for it's good parts and not focus on everything I disliked about the prose. But if the author were able to get a better editor (or an editor at all?) for her next book, I have no doubt that it'd be a success.
**ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
August 13, 2021
**Book Viral Review**
Bone chilling horror and heart pounding romance come together to make an enthralling read in Don’t Forget To Breathe by author Cathrina Constantine. Winner of the 2015 Reader's Favorite International Book Award in recognition of Excellence in writing, Constantine knows how to weave a riveting and intriguing plot. With a meticulous eye for detail, her characters are nicely nuanced, neatly sidestepping the genre tendency towards stoic stereotypes to deliver flawed real world personas that quickly feel familiar and are ultimately more endearing. In the main, she achieves this through authentic dialogue. It’s a YA novel and Constantine understands her audience. How they interact and more importantly what they want. Close your eyes and you can imagine Leocadia standing before you and the action is well pitched with a number of surprising twists served with perfect timing. In short, it has all the elements reader's expect from the best in genre and it’s sure to keep the pages turning at a frantic pace.
A clever and highly entertaining YA fantasy read, Don’t Forget To Breathe is sure to prove popular with Constantine’s avid fans. A must add read from an author deserving of your attention, it is strongly recommended.
Bone chilling horror and heart pounding romance come together to make an enthralling read in Don’t Forget To Breathe by author Cathrina Constantine. Winner of the 2015 Reader's Favorite International Book Award in recognition of Excellence in writing, Constantine knows how to weave a riveting and intriguing plot. With a meticulous eye for detail, her characters are nicely nuanced, neatly sidestepping the genre tendency towards stoic stereotypes to deliver flawed real world personas that quickly feel familiar and are ultimately more endearing. In the main, she achieves this through authentic dialogue. It’s a YA novel and Constantine understands her audience. How they interact and more importantly what they want. Close your eyes and you can imagine Leocadia standing before you and the action is well pitched with a number of surprising twists served with perfect timing. In short, it has all the elements reader's expect from the best in genre and it’s sure to keep the pages turning at a frantic pace.
A clever and highly entertaining YA fantasy read, Don’t Forget To Breathe is sure to prove popular with Constantine’s avid fans. A must add read from an author deserving of your attention, it is strongly recommended.
March 2, 2015
WOW! There are not many mystery stories that I didn't figure out the ending about mid-way into the book. BUT, the curve ball that was thrown at the end, I didn't expect at all. So good job for keeping me, the reader, invested all the way through.
September 11, 2015
Don't forget to Breathe by Cathrina Constantine
Sixteen-year-old Leocadia (Leo) arrives home from school to find her mom’s bloody body. This causes her to have amnesia, and nightmares. soon more bodies turn up dead. Are they connected to her Mother's murder? Meanwhile her friend Henry takes her into an old haunted Mansion, where ghosts appear. Will these ghosts lead to the murderer?
A well written psychological/thriller. Young Leo is very likable, she had to cope with her Mother's murder, and her relationship with her father. She has regular teen problems, along with murders in her town.
As she gets close to solving the mystery surrounding her Mother, secrets are revealed and Leo could be in danger. I strongly recommend Don't Forget To Breathe to those who love a great psychological/thrill with a splash of supernatural.
Sixteen-year-old Leocadia (Leo) arrives home from school to find her mom’s bloody body. This causes her to have amnesia, and nightmares. soon more bodies turn up dead. Are they connected to her Mother's murder? Meanwhile her friend Henry takes her into an old haunted Mansion, where ghosts appear. Will these ghosts lead to the murderer?
A well written psychological/thriller. Young Leo is very likable, she had to cope with her Mother's murder, and her relationship with her father. She has regular teen problems, along with murders in her town.
As she gets close to solving the mystery surrounding her Mother, secrets are revealed and Leo could be in danger. I strongly recommend Don't Forget To Breathe to those who love a great psychological/thrill with a splash of supernatural.
February 13, 2015
I read Don't Forget To Breathe in two days. It was that good. I felt sorry for Leo and what she was going through. Then I groaned at the chances she took. The author's writing is intriguing and I needed to find out who did it. An excellent spooky mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat.
February 18, 2016
Loved it! It was suspenseful and every time I thought I had it figured it I was thrown for a curve. Leo was pretty messed up though..she was a little crazy and lot stupid. Lol
April 11, 2015
Great job!!!
This is my first time reading anything from Cathrina Constantine and I am amazed how this book was written. Through the this book I was like- he did it, no maybe he did it, or could it of been so and so. It was a great ending to my questions. It answered them all.
My heart ached for Leo. She was trying to give the benefit of the doubt to her new friend Henry who had just moved into town a year after her mom's murder. All of her friends and even her dad wanted her to stay clear from him since he was new and different. They all lived in a small town knowing and growing up with each other. Leo thought maybe she can stay friends with Henry while he's trying to fit in since after her mothers death she went through a faze of drinking and doing drugs but her best friend Nona helped her so she thought she was returning the favor for Henry.
Then things gets weird. He feels as Leo is his and she is falling in love with the head football player which is Nona's boyfriends best friend whom she's had a crush on.
Then all hell breaks loose. Rumors start flying from jealous girls who drool over Leo's guy Becket. Then Henry also starts to make up rumors that they are dating. Also at the same time Leo is starting to remember her mothers death which she had walked in on. She ended up with short amnesia from the trauma.
After all of this pieces start fit like a puzzle. She starts to see things and hear things she hadn't remembered.
This was an ARC so I do not give away the main spoilers.
You will have to read it and get swallowed up on this great book.
Amy Bernal
This is my first time reading anything from Cathrina Constantine and I am amazed how this book was written. Through the this book I was like- he did it, no maybe he did it, or could it of been so and so. It was a great ending to my questions. It answered them all.
My heart ached for Leo. She was trying to give the benefit of the doubt to her new friend Henry who had just moved into town a year after her mom's murder. All of her friends and even her dad wanted her to stay clear from him since he was new and different. They all lived in a small town knowing and growing up with each other. Leo thought maybe she can stay friends with Henry while he's trying to fit in since after her mothers death she went through a faze of drinking and doing drugs but her best friend Nona helped her so she thought she was returning the favor for Henry.
Then things gets weird. He feels as Leo is his and she is falling in love with the head football player which is Nona's boyfriends best friend whom she's had a crush on.
Then all hell breaks loose. Rumors start flying from jealous girls who drool over Leo's guy Becket. Then Henry also starts to make up rumors that they are dating. Also at the same time Leo is starting to remember her mothers death which she had walked in on. She ended up with short amnesia from the trauma.
After all of this pieces start fit like a puzzle. She starts to see things and hear things she hadn't remembered.
This was an ARC so I do not give away the main spoilers.
You will have to read it and get swallowed up on this great book.
Amy Bernal
May 1, 2016
Real....if I had to choose a word to describe the author's writing, that's what I would choose. I have never read anything by this author before, but now I want to see what else she has out there. I'm so impressed with how well this was written! The main character is a teenage girl named Leo. She has been through so much in the past year, and is also dealing with amnesia surrounding the events that took place when she found her mother dead. After being tortured with many terrifying dreams, pieces of her memory start to come back to her. The whole story is so mysterious and dark. The entire time you feel like you have it figured out, just to have a different idea show itself. The characters were all amazingly perfect for the story. As I said previously, everything felt so real. Leo felt like a mentally tortured teenage girl, who has been through a lot. Her actions conveyed this messege as well, with every stupid decision, or mistake she made. There was never a time that I thought "duh, a teenager would never do that!" Caitlin Kelly was the narrator for the audiobook, and she did a great job. Her voice was very fitting for Leo, if I were reading the book myself I would hear her voice as Leo. I really enjoyed this audiobook. I would recommend this book to anyone who like a dark, and mysterious story!
*I was provided this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own regardless of this fact!
*I was provided this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own regardless of this fact!
September 19, 2015
I will not give away any major spoilers because I've always felt that a reader should be taken by surprise not by what someone else thought. That aside let me just say that this book was a hell of a ride! Captures you from page one. The main character is a sixteen year old girl named Leocadia trying to recover from a horrible,devastating event that leaves her with amnesia as to what exactly happened.She is a mess, you will want to hug her and shake her at the same time;yet applaud her heroism throughout the entire story.
Ms.Constantine did such a superb job of creating such wonderful characters that you feel as though you're reading about teenagers you know. I have four 16 year olds so I know what they are like and Ms. Constantine got every single detail, nuance,attitude and language of teens spot on.
If you're a fan of mysteries,murders,ghosts and all things creepy,this book will keep you reading into the wee hours.Grab yourself a copy of Don't Forget To Breathe and enjoy the thrill! Can't wait to read more from Cathrina Constantine!
Ms.Constantine did such a superb job of creating such wonderful characters that you feel as though you're reading about teenagers you know. I have four 16 year olds so I know what they are like and Ms. Constantine got every single detail, nuance,attitude and language of teens spot on.
If you're a fan of mysteries,murders,ghosts and all things creepy,this book will keep you reading into the wee hours.Grab yourself a copy of Don't Forget To Breathe and enjoy the thrill! Can't wait to read more from Cathrina Constantine!
April 8, 2015
First things first I have to legally tell you that I was given a copy in exchange for an HONEST review.
Now on to the actual reason you are reading this :)
Don't Forget to Breath is a YA book that encompasses so much into it: heartbreak, mean girls, the bad boy, the good boy, murder, mystery, and ghosts. Seriously what more could you ask for??? Leo is a junior in high school trying to get her life back on track since the murder of her mom. After finding her mothers body, Leo slips into the wrong crowd trying to cope. We find her as she is slowly climbing her way back to a semblance of her old self.
I hate giving away spoilers on books so I won't. In Don't Forget to Breath you will find characters that you empathize with, This book keeps you on your toes. Just when you think you have the mystery figured out something changes. Cathrina Constantine makes her characters come alive. She has mastered the art of misdirection.
I completely recommend this book.
Now on to the actual reason you are reading this :)
Don't Forget to Breath is a YA book that encompasses so much into it: heartbreak, mean girls, the bad boy, the good boy, murder, mystery, and ghosts. Seriously what more could you ask for??? Leo is a junior in high school trying to get her life back on track since the murder of her mom. After finding her mothers body, Leo slips into the wrong crowd trying to cope. We find her as she is slowly climbing her way back to a semblance of her old self.
I hate giving away spoilers on books so I won't. In Don't Forget to Breath you will find characters that you empathize with, This book keeps you on your toes. Just when you think you have the mystery figured out something changes. Cathrina Constantine makes her characters come alive. She has mastered the art of misdirection.
I completely recommend this book.
July 10, 2015
Amnesia has held sixteen-year-old Leocadia captive for a year. Her nightmarish dreams are only getting worse as she encounters private demons; it all started one day after school. That day when she got home, she discovered her mother’s blood-stained body. Then from out of nowhere, someone seized her and her mind faded away into darkness. After Henry, Leo’s new friend, well I should say more than a friend, coaxes Leo to go into a sinister haunted house, she see daunting spirits. Will these ghosts lead her to her mother’s slayer? I really loved this book. A love triangle and romance mixed with mystery; it had me biting my nails wondering what would happen next. Leo’s best bud Nora is a great character in the story, and she is a true friend to Leo. Filled with tragedy adolescent desires and suspense, this fiction work is most definitely one you won’t want to miss. Cathrina Constantine is a great writer and her characters are convincing. Great job!
March 20, 2015
I love a good murder mystery and this book didn’t disappoint. The characters are easy to get to know. They have individual personalities that make them unique. The author has captured my interest quickly. The story flows and is full of intense scenes, teenage drama, a touch of romance and danger. I couldn’t put this book down. I love that it wasn’t your everyday fall in love in high school story. With the twist and turns and all the adventure this book was written to keep the reader sitting on the edge of their seat waiting to see what was going to happen. I loved it all of it.
April 29, 2015
This could be set in any town across the country. Constantine captures the feel of real life as it happens every day. The characters could be almost any of my kids' friends or families. The story continues to keep the reader guessing and second guessing all the way to the end. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an HONEST review.
August 30, 2015
I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Fantastic quick, fun read. Kept me guessing the entire time.
I replenished her storytelling and the way she describes things.
There were some typos as others have said. However, they did not bother me in the least, I have read typos in big name author's books.
I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Fantastic quick, fun read. Kept me guessing the entire time.
I replenished her storytelling and the way she describes things.
There were some typos as others have said. However, they did not bother me in the least, I have read typos in big name author's books.
I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
September 17, 2015
Leocadia finds her mom dead. Little does she know the killers still in the house. After a year of amnesia she starts to remember things. Will she be able to handle it when she remembers everything
I received a ARC of this book for my honest review
I received a ARC of this book for my honest review
November 6, 2021
Rating: 4.5/5.0
This story will leave the reader on the edge of their seat as each page unloads a new twist in this story!
Read full review in the 2021 November issue of InD'tale Magazine.
This story will leave the reader on the edge of their seat as each page unloads a new twist in this story!
Read full review in the 2021 November issue of InD'tale Magazine.
March 23, 2015
I'm a big fan of Cathrina Constantine's books and I highly recommend this one.
September 25, 2015
A fast-paced thriller that will keep you hanging till the end! A great read for those who love an edgy mystery.
August 1, 2017
This is my first read from this author. I found it was well written leaving you to guess who did it. It is a page turner all night read. It is a wonderful work of mystery, sorrow, heartbreak, love and supernatural intrigue. It is a painful tangle tale of truth and lies. The story is slow in the beginning and then building n speed until the end. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mystery mixed with heartbreak. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.
November 28, 2015
*We received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**
The haunting elements were there and weren't just scare tactics. There was a heavy mystery for the main character to solve and despite some of her bad choices, you find yourself rooting for her.
I admit, I was starting to get tired of YA. They were starting to follow a pattern that was once new and cool, is becoming cliche. I found with this book that there was finally a focus on a main character who is anything but sweet an innocent. She's not a slayer of all things evil, or a hopeless romantic. Don't get me wrong, there is some romance, but I was happy that it wasn't the main focus.
One thing that kind of bothered me was that she seemed to be getting her act together in everything except Henry. If a guy tried to force himself on me in a graveyard, I'd be cutting ties. Then when he tries again later, it's just getting weird and Leo's decision making problems seem to go far beyond drugs. She keeps trying to play it off as empathy, but oye. It was frustrating. I knew there was a point to it somewhere, which I'm glad the author addressed.
I found the pacing to be really great! I liked the switch of focus from Leo's home life, to her friendship with Henry, and then her friends/love interest at school. It kept me on my toes as it was neat to see her rediscover herself and get down to the root of all of her problems, which was her mother's grisly murder. Piece by piece, there are clues, red herrings and a few snags along the way, but Leo doesn't waver. It was then that I decided I could like her. I wasn't entirely thrown by the ending, but it was a heck of a fun ride!
CONCLUSION
The ending was so worth it! It rose to a heart-pounding conclusion. I was hypnotized by those last pages and really liked how Leo wasn't waiting for someone to save her, but a little help is always nice. The story as a whole is very well put together and I'd recommend this to those looking for a good YA mystery with a bit of ghostly influence.
The haunting elements were there and weren't just scare tactics. There was a heavy mystery for the main character to solve and despite some of her bad choices, you find yourself rooting for her.
I admit, I was starting to get tired of YA. They were starting to follow a pattern that was once new and cool, is becoming cliche. I found with this book that there was finally a focus on a main character who is anything but sweet an innocent. She's not a slayer of all things evil, or a hopeless romantic. Don't get me wrong, there is some romance, but I was happy that it wasn't the main focus.
One thing that kind of bothered me was that she seemed to be getting her act together in everything except Henry. If a guy tried to force himself on me in a graveyard, I'd be cutting ties. Then when he tries again later, it's just getting weird and Leo's decision making problems seem to go far beyond drugs. She keeps trying to play it off as empathy, but oye. It was frustrating. I knew there was a point to it somewhere, which I'm glad the author addressed.
I found the pacing to be really great! I liked the switch of focus from Leo's home life, to her friendship with Henry, and then her friends/love interest at school. It kept me on my toes as it was neat to see her rediscover herself and get down to the root of all of her problems, which was her mother's grisly murder. Piece by piece, there are clues, red herrings and a few snags along the way, but Leo doesn't waver. It was then that I decided I could like her. I wasn't entirely thrown by the ending, but it was a heck of a fun ride!
CONCLUSION
The ending was so worth it! It rose to a heart-pounding conclusion. I was hypnotized by those last pages and really liked how Leo wasn't waiting for someone to save her, but a little help is always nice. The story as a whole is very well put together and I'd recommend this to those looking for a good YA mystery with a bit of ghostly influence.
September 23, 2015
Leo returns home from school to find her mother brutally murdered. The killer is still in the house. A blow to Leo's head leaves her unconscious and unable to remember anything about the events of that day. A year later, Leo is still having nightmares and her mother's murderer is still on the loose. Leo learns that the recent murder of two men may be tied to her mother's death, and she sets out to find the killer
Henry, a new boy in the neighborhood, befriends Leo, but there is something not right about him. He has a secret past and an unusual interest in Leo. Then, there is Becket, who Leo has been crushing on for quite sometime. He finally asks her out, but Henry keeps messing things up for her. When Leo tries to talk to her Dad about the murder or Henry, he lashes out and insists she stop asking questions. Leo doesn't know who to trust. No one is above suspicion.
If you are looking for a suspenseful story that is full of mystery and teenage angst, then this book is for you. This psychological thriller has numerous plot twists. I found myself unable to put the book down. I had to know what happened the day Leo's mom Lily was murdered.
Henry, a new boy in the neighborhood, befriends Leo, but there is something not right about him. He has a secret past and an unusual interest in Leo. Then, there is Becket, who Leo has been crushing on for quite sometime. He finally asks her out, but Henry keeps messing things up for her. When Leo tries to talk to her Dad about the murder or Henry, he lashes out and insists she stop asking questions. Leo doesn't know who to trust. No one is above suspicion.
If you are looking for a suspenseful story that is full of mystery and teenage angst, then this book is for you. This psychological thriller has numerous plot twists. I found myself unable to put the book down. I had to know what happened the day Leo's mom Lily was murdered.
February 8, 2016
This book is amazing! It's a page-turning, all-nighter! I couldn't put it down from the moment I opened the book!
Don't Forget to Breathe is a masterpiece of mystery, sorrow, love, heartbreak, and supernatural intrigue.
Readers will fall in love with perfectly-flawed Leo as she tries to cope with the unthinkable tragedy that has occurred in her life. Her character grows as we get to see a little bit more of what makes her tick on every page. Her self-destructive nature becomes understandable as the mystery of her mother's death unfolds in front of our eyes.
The heart-pounding conclusion took me by surprise. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, Constanine throws us a curve ball.
Her characters are painfully realistic, and are far from being over-exaggerated stereotypes. The reader will feel their pain with each written word.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery! Five stars!!
Don't Forget to Breathe is a masterpiece of mystery, sorrow, love, heartbreak, and supernatural intrigue.
Readers will fall in love with perfectly-flawed Leo as she tries to cope with the unthinkable tragedy that has occurred in her life. Her character grows as we get to see a little bit more of what makes her tick on every page. Her self-destructive nature becomes understandable as the mystery of her mother's death unfolds in front of our eyes.
The heart-pounding conclusion took me by surprise. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, Constanine throws us a curve ball.
Her characters are painfully realistic, and are far from being over-exaggerated stereotypes. The reader will feel their pain with each written word.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery! Five stars!!
December 14, 2015
Don't Forget to Breathe is a chilling psychological thriller about Leocadia, (Leo) a young girl whose mother was murdered in her own home. Leo was still in the house when the murder took place, and as a result of the trauma she incurred that day, suffers from amnesia and recurring nightmares. Her lifestyle is that of a troubled teen trying to escape the horrific realities which haunt her daily. While struggling with the day-to-day issues of being a teen, she does her best to wade through the loss, fears and confusion of her mother's untimely and tragic death.
Author Cathrina Constantine has crafted a suspenseful book which will keep readers guessing from page one clear through to the climactic finish. This is a multi-faceted novel which offers much to readers of all ages who are sure to be drawn into this gripping young adult mystery.
Author Cathrina Constantine has crafted a suspenseful book which will keep readers guessing from page one clear through to the climactic finish. This is a multi-faceted novel which offers much to readers of all ages who are sure to be drawn into this gripping young adult mystery.
September 7, 2015
The idea of this book really interested me at the beginning but it became rather difficult for me to push through and finish it. Although it does have a really intriguing mystery and really great characters with distinct personalities, I found the discussions between the various teens to be rather unauthentic. They all had cell phones so I knew the setting would have to be recent but they did not speak as teenagers would and it was really distracting to me. And I don't mean to say that a book about teens needs to be filled with curse words. Another reviewer mentioned a thesaurus was overly used and I feel like she hit the nail on the coffin with that description. Great plot idea but just not very realistic feeling when it came to the verbal interactions.
December 20, 2016
Don't Forget to Breathe
I love a good mystery and this was certainly it!! Leo came home from school to find blood all over the house and her mother in the bedroom dead. When she is threatened by the killer, she passes out and can't remember much when she awakens. As the anniversary of the murder is getting closer, Leo is determined to get answers. As her memory starts coming back slowly, she starts putting some pieces together! Will she figure the puzzle out before the killer gets to her to shut her up? And who could the killer be, maybe a stranger? Maybe someone she knows? Maybe even a friend! Get this fantastic book and get the answers. You will not be disappointed.
I love a good mystery and this was certainly it!! Leo came home from school to find blood all over the house and her mother in the bedroom dead. When she is threatened by the killer, she passes out and can't remember much when she awakens. As the anniversary of the murder is getting closer, Leo is determined to get answers. As her memory starts coming back slowly, she starts putting some pieces together! Will she figure the puzzle out before the killer gets to her to shut her up? And who could the killer be, maybe a stranger? Maybe someone she knows? Maybe even a friend! Get this fantastic book and get the answers. You will not be disappointed.
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