What do you think?
Rate this book
What Doesn't Kill Us
As a child, Drew tried to protect his little sister from his belligerent parents. Through the screaming and arguing, a tragic accident occurs; one that will forever define Drew's life.
When he meets Hailey years later, he never would have thought that their lives could ever be entwined.
Despite their obvious differences, they form a life-changing bond. But on a trip to visit Hailey's dad, they unearth a fateful discovery that changes everything.
Can they survive uncovering decade-old secrets and learning the truths of their pasts? Or will the aftermath of their discoveries break the bond they've been desperately clinging to?
When he meets Hailey years later, he never would have thought that their lives could ever be entwined.
Despite their obvious differences, they form a life-changing bond. But on a trip to visit Hailey's dad, they unearth a fateful discovery that changes everything.
Can they survive uncovering decade-old secrets and learning the truths of their pasts? Or will the aftermath of their discoveries break the bond they've been desperately clinging to?
- GenresRomanceYoung Adult
264 pages, ebook
First published July 25, 2013
30 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 26, 2016
Whilst I really enjoyed this book, it was so cliché.
The story follows Andrew (Drew) and Hailey.
While Drew’s life is less than perfect to begin with, in the first 10 or so pages a terrible tragedy occurs that forever changes his already not so great life. Because of this tragedy he distances himself from everyone; this earns him the ‘bad boy’ label.
Hailey on the other hand is your pretty, perky, perfect cheerleader who is having family issues.
They meet, he pushes her away (to protect her of course), she gets really drunk, he rescues her and they all live happily ever after. This is the quintessential YA coming of age story.
This book was an easy, enjoyable read, it was well written with likeable characters.
Whilst the story line was similar to a lot of other books out there, I believe that this is still a great book that everyone will enjoy, especially readers who love a good YA romance.
Likes
The book was that it was well written and enjoyable. The characters were likeable enough that you wanted to see them happy.
This is your classic YA coming of age story, so everything turns out perfect and everyone lives happily ever after which is always a nice ending lol.
Dislikes
I didn’t like the fact that Hailey needs Drew to get through everything in her life. I would love to see a stronger lead female role.
I don’t believe that Hailey getting drunk to forget all her problems was necessary. She ends up at a party with some random guy getting handsy, of course Drew comes along and saves her. Magically everything is alright. I think this is a really bad example. In real life, you go to a party and dance with random guys to make another guy jealous; he will probably avoid you for the rest of the night. Random guy starts trying stuff behind a garage, which you stupidly followed him too. You are on your own.
The story follows Andrew (Drew) and Hailey.
While Drew’s life is less than perfect to begin with, in the first 10 or so pages a terrible tragedy occurs that forever changes his already not so great life. Because of this tragedy he distances himself from everyone; this earns him the ‘bad boy’ label.
Hailey on the other hand is your pretty, perky, perfect cheerleader who is having family issues.
They meet, he pushes her away (to protect her of course), she gets really drunk, he rescues her and they all live happily ever after. This is the quintessential YA coming of age story.
This book was an easy, enjoyable read, it was well written with likeable characters.
Whilst the story line was similar to a lot of other books out there, I believe that this is still a great book that everyone will enjoy, especially readers who love a good YA romance.
Likes
The book was that it was well written and enjoyable. The characters were likeable enough that you wanted to see them happy.
This is your classic YA coming of age story, so everything turns out perfect and everyone lives happily ever after which is always a nice ending lol.
Dislikes
I didn’t like the fact that Hailey needs Drew to get through everything in her life. I would love to see a stronger lead female role.
I don’t believe that Hailey getting drunk to forget all her problems was necessary. She ends up at a party with some random guy getting handsy, of course Drew comes along and saves her. Magically everything is alright. I think this is a really bad example. In real life, you go to a party and dance with random guys to make another guy jealous; he will probably avoid you for the rest of the night. Random guy starts trying stuff behind a garage, which you stupidly followed him too. You are on your own.
October 21, 2016
I was given the opportunity to read What Doesn't Kill Us by Stephanie Henry. This is my honest opinion of the book.
11 year old Drew and his sister, 4 year old Sarah Delmont, are once again hiding under his bed while their parents are arguing. A terrible tragedy shatters Drew's world and he loses everything that he loves. Six years later, living with his abusive father, the only bright spot in his life is his elderly neighbor, Anna. When Anna helps Drew get a job at a local bookstore, he is enthralled with the owner's daughter, Hailey. As their friendship deepens, will Drew finally be able to put his shattered past behind him?
With sensitive social issues such as abuse and gun violence, What Doesn't Kill Us is the story of two teenagers who find each other just when they both need someone they can count on for support. Although I do wish that some of the side plots were simplified, especially the story of Hailey's dad, the book flowed well and had good characterization. Not just a YA romance, What Doesn't Kill Us delves deep into issues that will resonate with some readers. The realistic aspects of the plot overshadow the implausible, which makes this book and the characters three dimensional. I would recommend What Doesn't Kill Us to fans of YA romance and realistic fiction.
11 year old Drew and his sister, 4 year old Sarah Delmont, are once again hiding under his bed while their parents are arguing. A terrible tragedy shatters Drew's world and he loses everything that he loves. Six years later, living with his abusive father, the only bright spot in his life is his elderly neighbor, Anna. When Anna helps Drew get a job at a local bookstore, he is enthralled with the owner's daughter, Hailey. As their friendship deepens, will Drew finally be able to put his shattered past behind him?
With sensitive social issues such as abuse and gun violence, What Doesn't Kill Us is the story of two teenagers who find each other just when they both need someone they can count on for support. Although I do wish that some of the side plots were simplified, especially the story of Hailey's dad, the book flowed well and had good characterization. Not just a YA romance, What Doesn't Kill Us delves deep into issues that will resonate with some readers. The realistic aspects of the plot overshadow the implausible, which makes this book and the characters three dimensional. I would recommend What Doesn't Kill Us to fans of YA romance and realistic fiction.
October 26, 2016
I received this for free in exchange for an honest review.
**Also published on my YA Book Blog.
First, the two main reasons that people are going to have issues with this book: The mega insta-love and the “he’s so perfect, omg” characters.
Second, the reason they did negatively impact my rating: Because this story relied so heavily on the characters and the story and neither were executed well enough for that.
Third, the moment I knew how I was going to feel about this story:
Because this quote is like all of the quotes. This quote shows what the writing is like and it shows how the rest of the novel is going to work—an instantly, for no apparent reason love sick girl is won over… with absolutely no effort on the young man’s part. Why did I pick this quote? Because there was absolutely nothing leading up to it. She just suddenly feels jiggly in her insides because he’s cute. I mean, jeez.
How many stars do I give this? 2.6 because it’s got holes and only so-so writing.
It has a wicked hook and there is potential… but the writing just wasn’t up to standard and in the end, there was too much rushing in a story that should have been twice as long.
But let’s begin with The Bland And So-So Writing.
What I enjoyed personally:
The fast-paced nature of it. As I mentioned, it’s got a hell of a hook and that helps a lot with a story like this. The first chapter really sets the stage for the story—for Drew anyway. And that helped a lot with getting through the rest of the story. I’ll also mention that I didn’t mind the switching POV. For this story, I found it helpful and with only one perspective, the story probably wouldn’t have been even this good.
What I felt was a little questionable:
The fast-paced nature of it. I know, I just mentioned this as something I liked, but let me explain. The story started off fast, which is good, but then it got bogged down by things like “Craig Morgan”. Is there a reason we have to say his full name every time? It started to feel like you were saying He-Who-Must-Be-Named-Every-Time… Like, give it a rest. But that aside, I’m actually talking about how Drew’s life is now. By chapter two it’s all “and no one likes me and I’m the bad boy and I don’t expect anyone to care…” All of which was important, but the author sped through it like lightning and I was just left scratching my head thinking, “Why do I care?” Because I didn’t. The stuff with his family was horrible—but I’m not really sure how it spilled out into his high school career. Was it just a result of gossip? Did his father spread the rumors? We don’t know. Because there’s nothing to let us know. Instead, we get a rapid fire break down of what’s going on and it just needed more… development. The start of something was there, but the author seemed so hellbent on getting through that she didn’t much care whether we were following or not. I needed longer scenes, or at least more developed ones. What are the characters thinking? Why are they thinking that? Why are they so hooked on each other? She tried to tell us, but I just didn’t buy it—and that’s a flaw in the writing, not necessarily (though additionally) the plot.
Moving on to The Too-Fast, Too-Insistently-Intense Story.
What I liked:
That the story is about hope and overcoming the bad things. I don’t necessarily think that reading has to teach us anything, but I think when it does and it’s not overly preachy, that can be really beneficial and add something to the story. In this case, I think it did. It’s about forgiveness and love despite differences and, ultimately, about finding hope. I’m not sure it’s really enough to save the story, but I appreciated it all the same.
I liked that Hailey was blaming her initial attraction on mystery. Oh, he’s the bad boy, so I just want to know, not that I’m really into him! It’s maybe not written well enough or followed through on later to be truly believable, but I thought that was a better way of tackling the otherwise overwhelming insta-love found here. I wish the author had stuck with it a little longer and dealt with Hailey’s drive to not have feelings for Drew.
What I didn’t like:
A lot.
I didn’t like the insta-love, as I’ve mentioned. It was excessive and that’s dangerous in a story that is literally about that love. Because it’s all about the getting together, not the being together in a story. It’s about the fighting to be with one another that lends enough drama for a story to really exist. That’s why we end up with love triangles and parental disapproval and wrong side of the tracks stories. Because there has to be a struggle and if we don’t get one, the story is, unfortunately, boring. We need the drama, and there was a lot lacking here—even when it wasn’t.
Additionally, why the heck didn’t she have more reservations about him? She was all, “he’s demented!” and then “I want to jump his bones”? How do you get from one to the other in a straight line? I don’t know, but Hailey did.
And that’s how we end up with this gem:
Um, I don’t know, like, MURDER SOMEONE? I hear that killing is the leading cause of murder-related deaths these days…
The whole party scene. From the moment with her dad to the next morning, I was rolling my eyes. And that’s a lot of eye rolling. I didn’t buy that Hailey was just suddenly super comfortable getting tossed—because the author didn’t sell it to me. She told me, “Yep, Hailey’s on a bender!” which seems so out of character for her, despite the circumstances. Not that that is necessarily an unwarranted reaction, but Hailey just seemed so… natural about it that I found it unbelievable. And the whole “Oh, Drew is here! Now I’m feeling super sober—despite the, like, six shots of tequila”? No. Just no. Have you heard of alcohol poisoning? Have you heard of drunk the next day? Have you heard of puking in the bushes? None of that happened and that seemed… unlikely. It just made everything else that happened lacking it realism to the point where I was just shaking my head.
Honestly, there’s more. The whole dad thing. How can we have the characters not freaking out about this? Yeah, they get a little upset, but then it’s like “oh, but if you see it from his point of view…” No. He does not get a point of view. Because a-holes do not get point of views. Ever. Because they are, in fact, a-holes. And he was. The most selfish jerk ever… and no one called him on it. It was just like “oh, Hailey, you just need to learn to forgive him.” Um, no. At all, no.
I thought the Val-Craig thing was useless. I thought the father thing was… poorly executed. I thought the mom thing was sort of out of left field and didn’t add anything really to the story other than a “and they all lived happily ever after!”
I know there’s a lot I didn’t like and I wish it weren’t so, but when the writing isn’t great, we need the story to carry us and vice versa. We had neither of these things here and it shows.
Next, Le Characters.
What was good:
Drew being a good guy and supportive of Hailey. Perhaps a little cliché? But I appreciated that he wasn’t just some bad boy that she was trying to change. He was legitimately a good person.
Hailey being able to look past the wage differences of their families. I don’t think it was shown enough, though they mentioned it several times, but it was nice that the money really didn’t matter to her.
The mom freaking out after what happened with Hailey’s dad. It was probably the most realistic reaction of everyone in the book and while it was annoying on some level, I appreciated that it was genuine. We didn’t get enough genuine in this, I think, and I’m grateful that it showed up here at least.
What was bad:
The fact that there was really only one “bad guy” (two if you count the party, but that was all so surreal…). Everyone else wasn’t a bad guy, even when they seemed like they were a bad guy—or really should have been. Did it help the story that Craig was a decent guy despite his reputation? No, not at all. It would have been more beneficial if he played a larger actual role, but he’s so peripheral until the party that it’s moot point. And what’s the point of forgiving the dad? He broke so much trust, wrecked a lot of lives, and didn’t even think he did something wrong! Staying with a child in a loveless marriage is the dumbest thing a parent can do and doing it for the sake of the child is just an excuse. Especially in this circumstance.
Finally, a section for Tropes and Other Much Hated Things:
• I’m just going to list them here, because… yeah.
• The Poetically Deep Kid In Bad Boy Clothing
• The Preppy Popular Cheerleading Rich Girl With A Heart Of Gold
• The Shallow Best Friend Who Only Loves Shopping And Boys
And that’s not even dealing with the assumptions the characters make about each other—everyone seems to buy the stereotypes in this book until otherwise proven. Like “Craig Morgan Reads a Book” time or the “Cheerleader Listens to Country” or the “Bad Boy Likes Poetry”. All of it makes these huge assumptions about people they don’t even know, and everyone gets offended even as they turn around and do it to each other…
Would I recommend this? Sadly, no—but if you can get past the bad writing and the poorly developed plot and the really bad insta-love, you might enjoy this. But I wouldn’t suggest it to anyone.
**Also published on my YA Book Blog.
First, the two main reasons that people are going to have issues with this book: The mega insta-love and the “he’s so perfect, omg” characters.
Second, the reason they did negatively impact my rating: Because this story relied so heavily on the characters and the story and neither were executed well enough for that.
Third, the moment I knew how I was going to feel about this story:
“Why does the sound of him saying my name make my insides melt?”
Because this quote is like all of the quotes. This quote shows what the writing is like and it shows how the rest of the novel is going to work—an instantly, for no apparent reason love sick girl is won over… with absolutely no effort on the young man’s part. Why did I pick this quote? Because there was absolutely nothing leading up to it. She just suddenly feels jiggly in her insides because he’s cute. I mean, jeez.
How many stars do I give this? 2.6 because it’s got holes and only so-so writing.
It has a wicked hook and there is potential… but the writing just wasn’t up to standard and in the end, there was too much rushing in a story that should have been twice as long.
But let’s begin with The Bland And So-So Writing.
What I enjoyed personally:
The fast-paced nature of it. As I mentioned, it’s got a hell of a hook and that helps a lot with a story like this. The first chapter really sets the stage for the story—for Drew anyway. And that helped a lot with getting through the rest of the story. I’ll also mention that I didn’t mind the switching POV. For this story, I found it helpful and with only one perspective, the story probably wouldn’t have been even this good.
What I felt was a little questionable:
The fast-paced nature of it. I know, I just mentioned this as something I liked, but let me explain. The story started off fast, which is good, but then it got bogged down by things like “Craig Morgan”. Is there a reason we have to say his full name every time? It started to feel like you were saying He-Who-Must-Be-Named-Every-Time… Like, give it a rest. But that aside, I’m actually talking about how Drew’s life is now. By chapter two it’s all “and no one likes me and I’m the bad boy and I don’t expect anyone to care…” All of which was important, but the author sped through it like lightning and I was just left scratching my head thinking, “Why do I care?” Because I didn’t. The stuff with his family was horrible—but I’m not really sure how it spilled out into his high school career. Was it just a result of gossip? Did his father spread the rumors? We don’t know. Because there’s nothing to let us know. Instead, we get a rapid fire break down of what’s going on and it just needed more… development. The start of something was there, but the author seemed so hellbent on getting through that she didn’t much care whether we were following or not. I needed longer scenes, or at least more developed ones. What are the characters thinking? Why are they thinking that? Why are they so hooked on each other? She tried to tell us, but I just didn’t buy it—and that’s a flaw in the writing, not necessarily (though additionally) the plot.
Moving on to The Too-Fast, Too-Insistently-Intense Story.
What I liked:
That the story is about hope and overcoming the bad things. I don’t necessarily think that reading has to teach us anything, but I think when it does and it’s not overly preachy, that can be really beneficial and add something to the story. In this case, I think it did. It’s about forgiveness and love despite differences and, ultimately, about finding hope. I’m not sure it’s really enough to save the story, but I appreciated it all the same.
I liked that Hailey was blaming her initial attraction on mystery. Oh, he’s the bad boy, so I just want to know, not that I’m really into him! It’s maybe not written well enough or followed through on later to be truly believable, but I thought that was a better way of tackling the otherwise overwhelming insta-love found here. I wish the author had stuck with it a little longer and dealt with Hailey’s drive to not have feelings for Drew.
What I didn’t like:
A lot.
I didn’t like the insta-love, as I’ve mentioned. It was excessive and that’s dangerous in a story that is literally about that love. Because it’s all about the getting together, not the being together in a story. It’s about the fighting to be with one another that lends enough drama for a story to really exist. That’s why we end up with love triangles and parental disapproval and wrong side of the tracks stories. Because there has to be a struggle and if we don’t get one, the story is, unfortunately, boring. We need the drama, and there was a lot lacking here—even when it wasn’t.
Additionally, why the heck didn’t she have more reservations about him? She was all, “he’s demented!” and then “I want to jump his bones”? How do you get from one to the other in a straight line? I don’t know, but Hailey did.
And that’s how we end up with this gem:
“I haven’t heard why he’s a supposed murderer. What did he do to get that reputation?”
Um, I don’t know, like, MURDER SOMEONE? I hear that killing is the leading cause of murder-related deaths these days…
The whole party scene. From the moment with her dad to the next morning, I was rolling my eyes. And that’s a lot of eye rolling. I didn’t buy that Hailey was just suddenly super comfortable getting tossed—because the author didn’t sell it to me. She told me, “Yep, Hailey’s on a bender!” which seems so out of character for her, despite the circumstances. Not that that is necessarily an unwarranted reaction, but Hailey just seemed so… natural about it that I found it unbelievable. And the whole “Oh, Drew is here! Now I’m feeling super sober—despite the, like, six shots of tequila”? No. Just no. Have you heard of alcohol poisoning? Have you heard of drunk the next day? Have you heard of puking in the bushes? None of that happened and that seemed… unlikely. It just made everything else that happened lacking it realism to the point where I was just shaking my head.
Honestly, there’s more. The whole dad thing. How can we have the characters not freaking out about this? Yeah, they get a little upset, but then it’s like “oh, but if you see it from his point of view…” No. He does not get a point of view. Because a-holes do not get point of views. Ever. Because they are, in fact, a-holes. And he was. The most selfish jerk ever… and no one called him on it. It was just like “oh, Hailey, you just need to learn to forgive him.” Um, no. At all, no.
I thought the Val-Craig thing was useless. I thought the father thing was… poorly executed. I thought the mom thing was sort of out of left field and didn’t add anything really to the story other than a “and they all lived happily ever after!”
I know there’s a lot I didn’t like and I wish it weren’t so, but when the writing isn’t great, we need the story to carry us and vice versa. We had neither of these things here and it shows.
Next, Le Characters.
What was good:
Drew being a good guy and supportive of Hailey. Perhaps a little cliché? But I appreciated that he wasn’t just some bad boy that she was trying to change. He was legitimately a good person.
Hailey being able to look past the wage differences of their families. I don’t think it was shown enough, though they mentioned it several times, but it was nice that the money really didn’t matter to her.
The mom freaking out after what happened with Hailey’s dad. It was probably the most realistic reaction of everyone in the book and while it was annoying on some level, I appreciated that it was genuine. We didn’t get enough genuine in this, I think, and I’m grateful that it showed up here at least.
What was bad:
The fact that there was really only one “bad guy” (two if you count the party, but that was all so surreal…). Everyone else wasn’t a bad guy, even when they seemed like they were a bad guy—or really should have been. Did it help the story that Craig was a decent guy despite his reputation? No, not at all. It would have been more beneficial if he played a larger actual role, but he’s so peripheral until the party that it’s moot point. And what’s the point of forgiving the dad? He broke so much trust, wrecked a lot of lives, and didn’t even think he did something wrong! Staying with a child in a loveless marriage is the dumbest thing a parent can do and doing it for the sake of the child is just an excuse. Especially in this circumstance.
Finally, a section for Tropes and Other Much Hated Things:
• I’m just going to list them here, because… yeah.
• The Poetically Deep Kid In Bad Boy Clothing
• The Preppy Popular Cheerleading Rich Girl With A Heart Of Gold
• The Shallow Best Friend Who Only Loves Shopping And Boys
And that’s not even dealing with the assumptions the characters make about each other—everyone seems to buy the stereotypes in this book until otherwise proven. Like “Craig Morgan Reads a Book” time or the “Cheerleader Listens to Country” or the “Bad Boy Likes Poetry”. All of it makes these huge assumptions about people they don’t even know, and everyone gets offended even as they turn around and do it to each other…
Would I recommend this? Sadly, no—but if you can get past the bad writing and the poorly developed plot and the really bad insta-love, you might enjoy this. But I wouldn’t suggest it to anyone.
October 26, 2016
This is a beautifully written heartbreaking coming of age story of love over grief and adversity. It is my first read from author Stephanie Henry and I would definitely read from her again. I was very pleased with her writting style, and exceptional editing.
The first chapter was a little jarring and I thought this wasn't what I was hoping to read. However, it quickly moved forward into the reality of what that past experience had brought about. It is a heartbreaking reality that Drew is forced to live and struggle through daily. You feel his pain and hope throughout the story that he can overcome all his self doubt and circumstances. When Hailey comes into his life, there is a sense of relief that something good may finally come to Drew if only he allows it. Hailey is a typical teen with what seems like a good home life and good social life as well. She is, and has everything Drew does not. Their interactions were very believable and made you root for their eventual happily ever after.
There are several twists and revelations as their lives turn out to be everything but what they thought. Their relationship is one of few constants as they traverse a very emotionally turbulant summer. I thought the author did a good job of bringing unusual circumstances into the fray. However, there were two issues with the book that prevented me from giving it 5 stars. First, Drew was too perfect (yes, I know that statement seems ironic). Don't get me wrong, I liked him a lot. You couldn't help but like him. I just felt like his actions, and especially his dialogue was way beyond his years. I get that what he went through could have made him grow up a lot faster, but to me that doesn't account for all of his too perfect responses. Second, I thought all of the issues and problems were wrapped up way to quickly and easily. In the real world, rarely is anything ever that easily dispatched without complications. I was happy with the outcome, I just felt like the author could have spent more time with the resolution to make it more realistic and a better read.
Overall, I genuinely liked What Doesn't Kill Us and would definitely recommend it to those who enjoy coming of age stories.
The first chapter was a little jarring and I thought this wasn't what I was hoping to read. However, it quickly moved forward into the reality of what that past experience had brought about. It is a heartbreaking reality that Drew is forced to live and struggle through daily. You feel his pain and hope throughout the story that he can overcome all his self doubt and circumstances. When Hailey comes into his life, there is a sense of relief that something good may finally come to Drew if only he allows it. Hailey is a typical teen with what seems like a good home life and good social life as well. She is, and has everything Drew does not. Their interactions were very believable and made you root for their eventual happily ever after.
There are several twists and revelations as their lives turn out to be everything but what they thought. Their relationship is one of few constants as they traverse a very emotionally turbulant summer. I thought the author did a good job of bringing unusual circumstances into the fray. However, there were two issues with the book that prevented me from giving it 5 stars. First, Drew was too perfect (yes, I know that statement seems ironic). Don't get me wrong, I liked him a lot. You couldn't help but like him. I just felt like his actions, and especially his dialogue was way beyond his years. I get that what he went through could have made him grow up a lot faster, but to me that doesn't account for all of his too perfect responses. Second, I thought all of the issues and problems were wrapped up way to quickly and easily. In the real world, rarely is anything ever that easily dispatched without complications. I was happy with the outcome, I just felt like the author could have spent more time with the resolution to make it more realistic and a better read.
Overall, I genuinely liked What Doesn't Kill Us and would definitely recommend it to those who enjoy coming of age stories.
July 3, 2017
Perfect coming of age story about Drew, a troubled boy from the wrong side of the tracks and Hailey, the girl who has it all or so we think. Stephanie has woven a tale of heartbreak and growth. I don't want to give spoilers but appearances can be deceiving and we never truly know what battles someone may be facing. I loved Craig and Val as well and this book made me eager for their story.
October 17, 2016
What Doesn’t Kill Us by Stephanie Henry is a young adult coming of age romance story. In this story we are introduced to two characters: Andrew and Hailey. We’re introduced to Andrew right off the bat and just as quickly as we are introduced to him tragedy strikes his life. He loses his little sister and it was a horrific accident but he has to live with the guilt of his actions. We fast forward several years and he’s older now but his father never once lets him forget what happened…or that his mother is now gone as well. Andrew is looked down upon by everyone around him except for his neighbor Anna who does her best to help take care of him. He doesn’t really have any friends but he tries to not let him affect him too much. His dad blames every day for the loss of his sister and makes his life hell. Hailey is brought in when she meets Andrew the day he starts working at her mother’s bookstore. She’s heard his story, that he’s unstable and dangerous. But as she gets to know him she sees that there is more to him and that what she’s heard isn’t true. The more time that they spend together the more that they fall for each other and come to realize how much they love each other. But Hailey is soon faced with her own family problems that are tearing her family apart as they come to light. But what doesn’t kill them will only make them stronger.
I really enjoyed reading this story despite the heartache that it created within myself. This is such a sweet story about how these two work to overcome the issues and problems that they each face in their personal lives from Andrew dealing with the abuse, neglect and pain from his dad and the guilt of accidentally killing his sister and losing his mom to Hailey dealing with learning the truth about her father and so much more. Despite all the chaos and sadness that they both experience they still manage to find love and comfort in each other. It’s sweet and seems fitting. They both truly care about each other and despite this book being a work of fiction it gives one hope of finding that for one’s self one day.
I once believed not long ago that I had found that kind of love for myself only to learn that it was all a lie so this story…while I enjoyed it immensely and finished it in less than a day, broke my heart nonetheless and left me hurting. I envy the characters their happiness but am glad that they found it nonetheless. Maybe one day I’ll find my own and this time it will last. All in all this is a really good book and one that I definitely would recommend to anyone looking to pick it up and check it out. You really won’t be disappointed. I give this story two thumbs up.
I really enjoyed reading this story despite the heartache that it created within myself. This is such a sweet story about how these two work to overcome the issues and problems that they each face in their personal lives from Andrew dealing with the abuse, neglect and pain from his dad and the guilt of accidentally killing his sister and losing his mom to Hailey dealing with learning the truth about her father and so much more. Despite all the chaos and sadness that they both experience they still manage to find love and comfort in each other. It’s sweet and seems fitting. They both truly care about each other and despite this book being a work of fiction it gives one hope of finding that for one’s self one day.
I once believed not long ago that I had found that kind of love for myself only to learn that it was all a lie so this story…while I enjoyed it immensely and finished it in less than a day, broke my heart nonetheless and left me hurting. I envy the characters their happiness but am glad that they found it nonetheless. Maybe one day I’ll find my own and this time it will last. All in all this is a really good book and one that I definitely would recommend to anyone looking to pick it up and check it out. You really won’t be disappointed. I give this story two thumbs up.
October 24, 2016
What doesn't Kill Us by Stephanie Henry is a great YA read. I enjoyed it a lot. I liked Drew and Hailey's story. It was a sweet story about love and redemption. I have not previously read this author before and I am glad that I did. I would definitely pick up another book by her as well. The plot was interesting and engaging.
Drew's life has been anything but easy especially after the moment that changed his life forever. He is an outcast and everyone thinks that he is a troublemaker and he doesn't do anything to change that either. He doesn't feel like he deserves anything good and his father doesn't help either. When his father demands he get a summer job his life is about to change once again. He meets Hailey and she is the most beautiful girl he has ever seen and it is love at first sight. But he knows that he doesn't deserve her and tries to get her to realize it too when they start getting close. Will he ever see what she sees in him? Or will he decide he isn't worth it and cut off all ties?
Hailey has had an ideal life...or at least that is what it looks like from the outside. Life isn't always what it seems though and life for her is about to change. She works afternoons in her mother's bookstore and she enjoys it because it gives her some quiet time. When her mother hires Drew she isn't thrilled at all and she thinks she is crazy. But she also finds him intriguing and a bit of a mystery...one that she would like to unravel. The more time they spend together the more she realizes that she likes him and wants to be more than friends. But she is having a hard time breaking past the barriers he has in place. Will she be able to convince him that they are meant to be? Or will she end up heartbroken?
I enjoyed What Doesn't Kill Us and would recommend it to anyone who loves YA romances reads.
Drew's life has been anything but easy especially after the moment that changed his life forever. He is an outcast and everyone thinks that he is a troublemaker and he doesn't do anything to change that either. He doesn't feel like he deserves anything good and his father doesn't help either. When his father demands he get a summer job his life is about to change once again. He meets Hailey and she is the most beautiful girl he has ever seen and it is love at first sight. But he knows that he doesn't deserve her and tries to get her to realize it too when they start getting close. Will he ever see what she sees in him? Or will he decide he isn't worth it and cut off all ties?
Hailey has had an ideal life...or at least that is what it looks like from the outside. Life isn't always what it seems though and life for her is about to change. She works afternoons in her mother's bookstore and she enjoys it because it gives her some quiet time. When her mother hires Drew she isn't thrilled at all and she thinks she is crazy. But she also finds him intriguing and a bit of a mystery...one that she would like to unravel. The more time they spend together the more she realizes that she likes him and wants to be more than friends. But she is having a hard time breaking past the barriers he has in place. Will she be able to convince him that they are meant to be? Or will she end up heartbroken?
I enjoyed What Doesn't Kill Us and would recommend it to anyone who loves YA romances reads.
October 22, 2016
Title: What Doesn't Kill Us
Author: Stephanie Henry
Publisher: S.H.
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"What Doesn't Kill Us" by Stephanie Henry
My Thoughts....
This YA romance storyline was a very good one. This author gives the reader quite a interesting story about Andrew [Drew] and Hailey. I liked how this author brought these two together with them both having had something in their lives that was troubling. For each one the trouble was
with their fathers. The story will be one that will keep your attention all the way through to the end
because each character had something going on. For Drew all I can say is that this poor kid really
had it bad with what he had to endure from that father [abuse & pain] and for Hailey well it seems like her life was falling apart with what all had happened to her relationship with her father. I don't want to spoil it so I will say you will have to pick up this well written read to find out what this story is all about. The big question to be answered is will Hailey and Drew find love and happiness in the end?
I am sure when you get into the read the reader will find it one good read. I don't want to leave out the secondary character for they really presented some very interesting thoughts that gave this read
one you will not want to put the read down until the end. Be prepared for a excellent read with many twist and turns that will have you saying I didn't see that coming! I will say I enjoyed this authors writing style and I would recommend this novel as a good read.
November 5, 2016
What Doesn’t Kills Us follows the story of two teenagers who come from different backgrounds but find acceptances and understanding in each other. This is a story of young love and how beautiful it can be to find yourself in someone else when you are going through the transition from childhood to adulthood. Andrew and Haily both have had things happen in their lives that could have the potential to break even the strongest of spirits.
Andrew comes from a broken home and struggles to over come the family difficulties that he faces do to a accident that took the life of his younger sister. He thinks his mother abandons him after the accident and is resigned to fact that he will endure a life of misery with an abusive father.
Haily’s life seems perfect from the outside. She had two parents that love her, great friends and she attend the local private school. She is instantly smitten with Andrew when he starts to work for her mother at the family book store. While trying to unravel the mystery that is Andrew she falls in love him, and when her world is blown apart by a secret her father has been keep for a decade, it’s Andrew who puts his worries and struggles aside to help her pick up the pieces of her life and over come them.
I greatly enjoyed reading this story and reflecting on my own experiences with love at seventeen. I always find I enjoy the books that I can connect with on a personal basis the most and I would recommend this book to any young adult or adult reader looking to get lost in the sweetness of first loves.
Andrew comes from a broken home and struggles to over come the family difficulties that he faces do to a accident that took the life of his younger sister. He thinks his mother abandons him after the accident and is resigned to fact that he will endure a life of misery with an abusive father.
Haily’s life seems perfect from the outside. She had two parents that love her, great friends and she attend the local private school. She is instantly smitten with Andrew when he starts to work for her mother at the family book store. While trying to unravel the mystery that is Andrew she falls in love him, and when her world is blown apart by a secret her father has been keep for a decade, it’s Andrew who puts his worries and struggles aside to help her pick up the pieces of her life and over come them.
I greatly enjoyed reading this story and reflecting on my own experiences with love at seventeen. I always find I enjoy the books that I can connect with on a personal basis the most and I would recommend this book to any young adult or adult reader looking to get lost in the sweetness of first loves.
October 24, 2016
Beautiful story! I think this was a very real story of a young couple who go through a lot in their young lives and help each other in the journey to make sense of it all. It's a hard story to read sometimes with some traumatic things happening to, first of all, the teenage boy Drew. He's forever scarred by the horrible accident that kills his little sister. You can feel his hurt...and then the girl, Hailey, her family goes through an unusual circumstance and breakup. That was a twist to the story. But central to the book is the young love of these two from the time they meet at his new job at her mom's bookstore. It's an amazing journey to their realization of true love. It's so sweet, especially in the midst of the turmoil of the rest of their lives. I highly recommend this book for the total reality of the writing and the emotional feel of the relationships within. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.
October 31, 2016
I really enjoyed the story of Drew and Hailey. It was a little clique - bad boy meets private school rich girl, they fall in love, overcome some challenges and live happily ever after! But, there were plenty of surprises and twists and turns along the journey. I was blown away a few times in the book when I thought, wow I wasn't expecting that. Hailey seemed like your typical rich girl, but there was more to her than meets the eye. Drew was seen as a typical bad boy, but he had is own struggles which defined him. The alternate viewpoint between Drew and Hailey was great. I enjoyed hearing the same events from different points of view as it put some perspective into why they were behaving the way they did. I was drawn into the ride and felt all their emotions along the way. Recommended as an enjoyable, easy read.
October 16, 2016
Really enjoyed this one!
This book took me by surprise - I enjoyed it so much I read the entire book in a day!
It definitely had the YA "love at first sight" storyline, which can be tedious if overly focused on - here it was not, and the characters were interesting and 3 dimensional. There were also plenty of interesting peripheral characters and events to move the action along.
The overall story was excellent, with unexpected situations popping up - every time I anticipated a "predictible" next step I was wrong. Things kept moving, with a natural flow to the surprise ending.
I'd definitely recommend this book, and this author.
This book took me by surprise - I enjoyed it so much I read the entire book in a day!
It definitely had the YA "love at first sight" storyline, which can be tedious if overly focused on - here it was not, and the characters were interesting and 3 dimensional. There were also plenty of interesting peripheral characters and events to move the action along.
The overall story was excellent, with unexpected situations popping up - every time I anticipated a "predictible" next step I was wrong. Things kept moving, with a natural flow to the surprise ending.
I'd definitely recommend this book, and this author.
November 4, 2016
WOW!! O my goodness. This book is really great. From the first chapter to the last. I couldn't put it down. Drew is a good kid who made a huge mistake with the best of intentions. Everyone deserves a second chance. Hailey has some troubles of her own even though she may not look like someone struggling. I love the way drew has kept his optimistic outlook on life and he helps Hailey. And they both help each other believe they deserve to be happy. I cant say enough good things about the story, truly amazing. Great, great book. Fully video review on YouTube channel Adventures-IN-Print. https://youtu.be/AMUhYpyZnHw
October 27, 2016
What Doesn't Kill is was a story of two teenagers trying to navigate life amidst abusive (strong language), abandonment, affairs, accidental murder...while it was well-written and had a cute Insta-love story, everything was too convenient, and I found myself questioning a lot of the descions and actions. But, overall, a good story--I finished it in one sitting because I wanted to know what happened.
September 14, 2016
An engaging story and a quick read featuring characters that just pop off the page. There are quite a few twists and turns that surprised me but made total sense in the context of the narrative. A must-read for lovers of contemporary romance with a touch of tragedy that makes the drama all the more addicting.
Read for professional services.
Read for professional services.
October 30, 2016
I really enjoyed this story. The issues delt with are extraordinary and the characters handled them well. I very much enjoyed the authors depiction of young love. So idealistic and all encompassing, but ultimately unrealistic in real life, which they would eventually realize. Altogether a good read that makes me want to read more by this author.
November 1, 2016
If you like the Young Adult genre, this book is a good read and very well-written, other than the two main characters falling instantly in love and managing to overcome many difficult circumstances without enough story detail. I would have enjoyed more depth but, nonetheless, can recommend it highly.
September 24, 2016
Relationships are all about compromise after all. You don’t have to be interested in exactly the same things, but you should always be interested in each others’ company regardless. That’s the important thing.
November 7, 2016
Wow really enjoyed reading this book. The characters keep me interested that I didn't want it end. The story shows what bonds can join two people with different lives that can come together . I would recommend this book to everyone.
October 30, 2016
This is a really beautiful, sweet and heartwarming story about two young people . They faced some issues in life and were able to overcome it. I enjoyed reading this intriguing story.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews