Crush

by Eve Ainsworth, Sandra C. Hessels (Translator)

Als liefde pijn doet.
Terwijl Anna worstelt met het plotselinge vertrek van haar moeder, vindt ze troost in haar relatie met Will. Hij is knap en liefdevol, en alles waar Anna altijd van heeft gedroomd. Maar hij is ook humeurig en onvoorspelbaar, en houdt haar weg van haar vrienden en haar muziek. Hij wil haar helemaal voor zichzelf hebben, en hij wil dat ze perfect is. Anna's wereld wordt steeds kleiner. En op de achtergrond dreigt een duister geheim, dat Will niet langer verborgen kan houden... Eve Ainsworths Crush is een aangrijpende verkenning van de liefde in zijn meest krachtige, verslavende en destructieve vorm. - Een realistisch verhaal over mishandeling dat je naar de keel grijpt.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Fiction, Abuse, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Relationships

284 pages, Hardcover

First published March 3, 2016

About the author

Author of Seven Days & Crush
Scholastic
www.eveainsworth.com

http://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/eve-ains...

I have also self published an adult comedy - The Blog of Maisy Malone.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blog-Maisy-Ma...

I love reading, long walks, hot baths, eighties music and tea.

Please follow me on Twitter

https://twitter.com/EveAinsworth

Or find me on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/eveainsworthn...

Reviews

[Sarah Churchill · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's great to have these kinds of books available, and I can imagine it being discussed by youth groups to raise awareness and understanding of toxic relationships.

It was handled very well; the downward spiral and justification, as well as the intensity of a first love and need to please. Other topics are also covered, like broken families, abandonment issues, mental health and abuse. There's a lot squashed into a very short read, and honestly I would have liked for it to be longer. To get to know the characters more and feel for them and their relationship, developing the controlling behaviour over time. She's a fairly streetwise girl, so I just felt that having the relationship change more subtly and escalate slowly would be more realistic and understandable for how her character reacts.

One tiny other issue I had was the tone of voice, two or three times it definitely felt like I was reading an adult trying to sound like a teenager. No big deal and won't bother everyone, but it did distract me once or twice.

[Astrid Langeveld · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anna (14) heeft het thuis niet gemakkelijk. Ze raakt verstrikt in een relatie met Will (16) die steeds gewelddadiger wordt. Lezen vanaf ca 13 jaar. Ik irriteerde mij mateloos aan de vader van Anna. Sinds haar moeder weggegaan is moet Anna alles in huis doen en als ze het niet doet krijgt ze op haar kop. Wat een rare situatie. Het onderwerp is wel actueel, maar het boek had beter gekund. Eigenlijk 2,5 sterren, maar vanwege het onderwerp 3 sterren.

[Fiona MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really excellent book. I read in two hours today and couldn't put it down. What I liked so much about this book was that it spoke to me. It was written with such realism, and it was so relatable. Elements of it reminded me so much of my past relationship. It shows how easily you can become manipulated by another person, how you can alter your personality in the hope that you will be 'better' and how you can cut the people off that really matter and mean the most to you. Eve Ainsworth has a fantastic way of writing. I will hope to read more of her.

[Sarcastic Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

O jejku, co to była za pozycja! Kiedy ją zaczynałam nie spodziewałam się aż tak dobrej oraz potrzebnej historii. "Zadurzenie" pokazuje nam jak wielki wpływ mają na nas inne osoby, jak uczucia do drugiej osoby sprawiają, że stajemy się ślepi, jak wielka może być trauma, a przede wszystkim ukazuje toksyczną relację dwojga nastolatków. Taka literatura młodzieżowa jest potrzebna, aby uświadamiać młodym ludziom już od najmłodszych lat, jak coś takiego wygląda oraz, że nie mogą pozwolić tak się traktować.

[Estella · Rating 5 out of 5]

yes, yes i did read this in one day.

it was a bit of a rollercoaster, really wanted to scream at anna to dump his ass, that she deserved better. as I collected the red flags he would leave in plain sight

lyn was amazing tho fr, what a real one, very happy for him.

[Chelley Toy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally posted at www.talesofyesterday.co.uk

After reading and loving Eve’s debut, 7 Day’s, last year I could not wait to get my little mitts on her second book Crush and I have to say it did not disappoint.

A story about a toxic relationship and a reminder that domestic abuse is never okay in any way, shape or form.

Crush tells the story of Anna who, since her Mom has left home, is struggling to cope living with her Dad and her younger brother. Everything seems to cause an issue between her and her Dad and she is generally not happy at home. She then catches the eye of Will, one of the schools heart throbs, who whilst is slightly older than Anna she enjoys the attention that Will gives her and she can’t quite believe that Will would be interested in someone like her. Will makes Anna feel good about herself and gives her something to take her mind off things. Anna is so wrapped up in Will that she doesn’t see that the relationship takes a somewhat toxic turn.

The story is told from the perspective of Anna, but also at the end/start of every chapter we get a brief glimpse into Will’s thoughts and feelings with regards to his actions.

As a character I gelled with Anna and really wanted her to get out of the situations she finds herself in. As a character she is strong even if she does not believe that to be true. Anna’s feelings of love and being swept away by love are both endearing and heart wrenching because as a reader you kind of know what’s coming and you really want her to wake up and realise it for herself. The relationship between her and her brother, Eddie, was a classic sister/brother relationship. I loved Eddie a lot and loved how Anna and Eddie’s relationship develops over the course of the book.

Also I loved Dan…..I think there’s a story in Dan somewhere! Hint Hint Eve!

I found Will harder to like as a character and rightly so. I already felt quite reserved and a bit hostile towards Will mainly because of my initial thoughts to the blurb of the book which gives a good indication of what is to come. In fact I really hated him but he has been designed by Eve not to like as a character. He treats Anna badly….very badly and whilst, as mentioned above, we get a glimpse into his reasoning’s behind what he does and his thoughts and feelings I found it a very hard lump to swallow especially with one explosive letter that he writes (I don’t want to say which one due to spoilers but my mouth dropped wide open and I felt so so angry). But Eve’s writing as always is very clever. It’s willing you to feel something for this character that you hate and I found myself constantly reminding myself of the wrongs he has done. His reasoning does not justify his actions in anyway, and the letters sort of try and justify things and reasons why he is like the way he is, but as a reader you know that this could never excuse his behaviour. It’s evident that Eve, like in 7 Days, is trying to give both sides to a very complex and harrowing story.

What shocked me about the story is that as a reader you can see the small things that begin to happen to Anna and it makes you angry that she can’t see it, but that just proves how realistic the words written in this book are. In real life when you are in a situation like Anna finds herself you may not necessarily want to believe it’s true or you may not recognise the signs.

I loved how Anna lived on the same estate as 7 Days was set. In fact the same tower block as 7 Day’s character Lyn. This paved a way for Lyn to appear in Crush and I loved it and him even more so. I love it when books cross over like this. It was almost like visiting an old friend and finding out how he is doing and what he has been up to since the end of 7 Day’s. I also loved the caring way he is with Anna, his genuine concern …. Oh how I love Lyn.

The ending, whilst I won’t spoil it, gave me as a reader some closure. This is Anna’s story and Anna as a character deserved some closure. Eve gives us as a reader room to think about the events and the characters.

Again Eve has tackled a raw, hard hitting subject and has done it fantastically well. Eve’s writing just flows across the page which makes this book quite a quick read. I really believe, like 7 Day’s that a book like this could help somebody who needed it or who maybe wasn’t aware that their relationship maybe potentially be toxic.

Well done to Eve for another brilliant powerful book. I’m excited to see the conversations this book will spark and waiting in high anticipation for Eve’s next book as I know it’s going to be brilliant.

For more review and more please visit www.talesofyesterday.co.uk

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Posted in full http://www.reviewedthebook.co.uk/2016...

Crush is a really impactful, beautifully written story of an abusive relationship between two teenagers. It’s a dark theme told extraordinarily well by the author, with highly drawn emotion and a poignancy that at times had me moved to tears. There’s such an important message in this book and one that needs to be explored in young adult fiction and Eve gets every feeling, every emotion and every bit of pain spot on. The experience of abuse ultimately is different for everyone but the hurt and confusion Eve draws upon is so recognisable and plausible so that even if you can’t relate to a similar experience, you will be moved by the way things play out.

Anna is a fourteen year old girl attempting to come to terms with her mum walking out on her family. It’s a bit lonely for her now only living with her dad and younger brother and at school she doesn’t have many friends either, just Izzy and Dan. When Will, the older guy in school that every girl wants after, shows an interest in Anna, it draws in unwanted attention from everybody in school but Anna is so taken with the feeling of being in love, she almost doesn’t notice. Will is her escape from every bad thing she’s trying to avoid. But the true core to their relationship is heart-breaking to read.

The pace of this story is not rushed, everything unfolds naturally from the feeling of falling in love to the confusion, the obsession, sadness and the blame of everything that transpires during and after. The scene is set perfectly early on – the school setting, the slight naivety, the way teenagers genuinely feel and how they prioritise and juggle time with friends, family and boyfriends/girlfriends. Crush took me back a few years to when I was in school and all the emotion and dialogue came across really realistically, like Anna was a real person and her story was playing out in reality right in front of me. Almost unsettling to read in that I wanted to step in and protect her character but I believed in her from page one, trusting she had the strength to overcome anything.

In its exploration of the fragility of relationships both romantically and between families, Crush is quite an eye-opener to some of the things that go on behind closed doors. I genuinely felt for every character involved in this story whether I particularly liked them or not as their stories were delivered in an insightful way allowing me to connect with each one of them. It’s a really thought-provoking book that proved to be a bit of a reminder that the personality and motives of a person is never just black and white – their experiences from youth shape them into who they are. It was about reading more into things, seeing the signs that maybe something wasn’t right in Will and Anna’s relationship, balancing the line between normal and not-normal. I was completely engrossed in their story.

I felt like Eve’s writing made an upsetting theme accessible to read, not being too heavy in detail but still touching on things well enough to make an emotional impact on the reader. It was why I always felt compelled to read one more page and one more chapter, because the writing was so refreshing to read and true to a teenage mind-set.

It’s difficult to say I “loved” a book that revolves around such an uncomfortable theme but Crush is one of the most moving books I have ever read. Told in a really engaging way, it might have been a quick book to read but the impression it had on me will last far longer. Eve’s writing is authentic and addictive and Anna and Will’s story is truly unforgettable. Seven Days, Eve’s previous novel, has been sat on my wishlist for ages now but I have a feeling a copy will be in my hands very soon because I can’t wait for more from this author.

(review copy)

[goosia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Książka z bardzo ważnym przekazaniem. Opowiada o tym że trzeba uważać komu ufamy i nie wszyscy są tymi za których się podają.

[Nicole Sweeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted on The Bibliophile Chronicles

This novel is a dark and gripping one, and is something that I enjoyed immensely. Recently I’ve been reading a lot of fantasy fiction so it was nice to take a step back from dragons and magic, and read about something real. Because that’s exactly what this story is about, people living in the real world, coping with life’s problems – Anna’s mum has walked out on her family – and what happens in an abusive relationship. This is by no means a light and fun read, but it’s engaging, moving and a well thought out story.

The whole novel is paced very well, the relationship between Anna and Will unfolds very naturally, and it doesn’t feel rushed like many novels which focus on the relationship between two people. The book is very well written and makes a subject which people would find uncomfortable to read about, one that is much more approachable. I think that one of the most interesting things about this book is that it highlights that not everything is black and white. Your perspective of a relationship is only one side of the coin, and what motives a person to do what they do isn’t always what you think it will be. It’s a fascinating look into humanity and relationships.

If you’re looking for some realist fiction – something that feels so genuine that I wouldn’t be surprised to find Will and Anna were real people – then Crush could be exactly what you’re looking for. It’s not the easiest subject choice, but it’s an addictive read that’s well worth the time it takes to read it.

[Lydia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up at work because I fancied something lightweight that would only take me a couple of hours to read. It definitely fulfilled my desires in that way, so that was good.

Mainly narrated by Anna who's a 14-year-old who's having a tough time at home after her mum has left, who then ends up in an abusive relationship with a 16-year-old guy from her school.

I think it's good when books aimed at teenagers focus on these types of themes and I'm all for a book that could help young people recognise some of the signs of abuse. Abuse and manipulation are pretty hard to spot if you're the victim and I think that this book did that pretty well. The ending was a bit rushed though. I felt that it could have been useful to explore the aftermath of the relationship a bit more.

It was fine. Nothing special and it won't stay with me, but that's probably largely because it's not my usual genre and the typical "YA voice" isn't the type of writing style I adore. There's a lot worse teen fiction out there and this was fine.

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really did enjoy Eve's previous book and was very much looking forward to seeing what she did next. I think this latest title is stronger and made me even more excited for what she writes next.

For me the thing I like about Eve's books is that they are so authentic. The characters feel real and their experiences feel genuine. It did mean that in this case I read much of this book feeling so much of the main character as the intensity of a first lovely came across. Anna is the girl at school we all knew. The girl who fell for a boy and was just completely wrapped up in it that it didn't matter that it made her lose track of her friends and family. The girl who kept being smitten even though things weren't quite right and just found excuses for the things that weren't right even though they really should have just got out.

This book is intense and raw perfectly capturing that all consuming feeling of a first love.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Told through the POV of Anna a 14 year old girl who is having a hard time at home after her mum leaves and finds herself in a relationship with a 16 year old will who is manipulative and abusive. Throughout the story we get small snippets of what s going on with him through letters he is writing.

I think this book represented annas position as the victim of abuse well and done a good job of showing the slow build up and how easy it is not to even realise what situation you have put yourself in.
I think the timeline was a bit rushed he's already being abusive and manipulative right at the beginning and then the ending finished fast and didn't really round up what happened with the fallout of the relationship.

Even though I thought it was well represented for the topic it wasnt overwhelmingly good or memerable. It was ok and I think it would be a good choice of book for teens to read to recognise signs of a toxic relationship.

[Arden Thijs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dit boek is een roman waar verschillende aspecten aan bod komen, zoals de grenzen van liefde, de kracht van zelfrespect en een toxische relatie. Het lezen van het boek ging vlot, omdat ik snel in het verhaal zat. Ik werd meegesleurd door het verhaal en dat kwam door de personages. Met als belangrijkste rol, de 14-jarige Anna. Ik zag het verhaal door haar perspectief, het ik-perspectief. Op het einde van elk hoofdstuk zag ik ook hoe het personage Will zich voelt. Het spijtige aan dit boek vind ik dat sommige karakters wat vlak zijn uitgewerkt, dat zie je bij de familie van Anna en Will, maar ook bij hun vrienden, ze worden eerder achtergrond. Een aanrader is het zeker.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book. It's not the type of book I usually read but I felt that the issues portrayed within the book were covered well. The resolution at the end was powerful but also it did feel a bit hurried and I had some unanswered questions especially surrounding Will. I can't see myself reading this again, but it was a good read.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not a masterpiece but still an enjoyable book. The theme of the book is very important for teens as they have no to little experience of relationships and it's good for them to know what the signs of an abusive relationship is and what to avoid.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a powerful book bringing an insight on abusive relationships to younger people. I feel this should be read in schools to bring awareness to the topic. Highly recommended and such an eye opener.

[Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty basic book on abusive relationships. It was a bit “after-school-special” and it all seemed a bit over the top but I was pretty entertained throughout.

[Alaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rtc

[szyszkava · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5/5
Trudno się czytało tą książkę, ze względu na tematykę i to że czasem była po prostu nudna.
Ale przynajmniej była krótka

[jeremiasz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Przyznam, że nużące ale znajduje w tym podobny klimat do mojej ulubionej kreskowki. Proste, krótkie i średnie.

[natalia · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 ⭐️

[16anfieldj · Rating 2 out of 5]

I din't really enjoy this book. The story line was basic and the characters weren't well developed. I felt no connection to the main character, or any other characters. However, i did like the use of writing from two perspectives.

[15PhillipsE · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a very good book and it drew me in and the writing just pulled you in and I loved it!

[helliswaiting_forus Jula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zdecydowanie cudo.Tak mi się podobała,przeczytałam ją tak szybko widać że autorka rozumie młodzież😊

[CherryCarrot · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think Crush is a fine read for younger teens. It successfully demonstrates how toxic a controlling relationship can be and is valuable for that reason. However, as it is quite simplistic - and dare I say rather textbook, with predictable events i.e. distancing from friends, Will having family issues - it didn't pack the punch I feel would have made it an absolutely killer read.

This is going to make me sound a little odd, but I wanted Crush to be bigger and nastier and darker, and to really pack a greater emotional punch. As it is, I was left feeling that not too much damage had been done by Will and Anna's relationship, and a little like the author had lost the courage of her convictions. Had Crush been aimed at somewhat older teens, I think it would have given the author much more scope to explore all of the issues touched upon in greater depth. For example, Will is jealous about Anna being friends with other boys, and the potential of Dan fancying her, but that's as far as the sexual control goes. Clearly the author chose not to pursue that angle further - understandable given the intended audience - but I can't help feeling that in real life with characters aged 14 and 16 the sexual angle would be more evident.

I do prefer Crush to 7 Days, which I had some issues with, and I think it demonstrates well but without much originality the main issues bought up by a destructive relationship. However, I was left feeling a bit wanting at the end.

Also - side issue - Crush is an appalling title which really belittles the content!

[:¨·.·¨: `·. izzy ★°*ﾟ · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I ordered this book, I didn't realise it would be so small.
I was expecting more than what I received.

I was intrigued to find a story solely based on the topic of abuse - which is an important topic.
I was expecting an in-depth story based on an abusive relationship, with complex characters who I could connect with and a complex plot.

This book seems to be more like a fictional guide for young teens. I do think abuse is a serious topic that we all need to be educated on, especially younger teens. However, this story was a little bland for me. I suppose I didn't match the audience type this book was written for.

It was clear the author was trying to educate young teens on the signs of abuse, however, it was almost as if she was trying to cram everything and anything that could happen in one short book, as if ticking off a list.

For me, this story didn't really have a plot, it was more of a 'these are the signs of abuse, this is what happens, here is how to help yourself'. I agree that abuse should be discussed more and that people need to be educated, but this book wasn't advertised as a guide. This book was advertised as a story that had more potential.

The characters were not complex, they felt like chess pieces to explain the topic of abuse. Therefore, I didn't connect with the main character.

I feel this book had potential. If the characters were more complex, the book was longer and the plot was thought out. Instead, I read someone's attempt to aware young teens of abuse using fictional characters.

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna's mother has left her father for another man. Anna is fourteen years old and she has to manage the household now. She isn't close to her younger brother and her father isn't very nice to her. When Will, the most gorgeous boy in school, is interested in her she can't believe her luck. She wants nothing more than to be his girlfriend. Will is from a broken home as well, so they understand each other. Anna is proud to be Will's girlfriend and she's happy that he wants to be with her. Only Will wishes to see her all the time. Anna's self-esteem is low and at first she doesn't notice something isn't right with their relationship. Will might not be as wonderful as she initially thought...

Sometimes it's hard to see something if you absolutely don't want to see it. Will isn't the ideal boyfriend Anna thought he would be, but she doesn't see there's something wrong for a very long time. I often felt sad for her because she's missing so much in her life. She isn't from a warm and loving home, she hasn't seen her mother in quite a while and she's insecure about a lot of things. It's why Will can come so close, she loves that he cares about her. I liked that the story isn't only being told from Anna's point of view, but that the reader also has the chance to find out more about Will. Even though there's a clear picture of right and wrong nothing is completely black or white which greatly surprised and impressed me.

I think Eve Ainsworth has written a story that every young girl should read. Crush is a story with a strong message and she presents it in a beautiful way. I wanted so much more for Anna and could literally feel her pain and her sorrows. She's a sweet girl who tries to make the best of things, but she has a lot to learn as well. Unfortunately she has to do that the hard way. Some of the scenes are absolutely heartbreaking. Crush is a book filled with many emotions and I admire the way Eve Ainsworth describes them. She handles the sensitive topic of an unhealthy relationship in a loving and caring way without losing the rawness and harshness of the situation. The easy flow of the writing balances the difficult topic, it's a combination that works very well. Crush is a strong and gripping story, it's absolutely amazing.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another YA book but it covers such a dark theme of control and toxicity in a relationship and how it affects all those around the pair. The difference is this is about a teenage couple.

Anna is fourteen, life at home is not easy or comfortable, she is struggling with her mum’s departure, so when the school heart-throb Will takes an interest in her she becomes so totally absorbed in him thinking he will make her life complete.

The way first love is tackled is charmingly written but incorporates the underlying sinister side of control. Anna’s world becomes so small that Will becomes the centre of it, she shuns friends and family and doesn’t comprehend the ‘abuse’ she is enduring. Why would someone who loves her be so mean? Totally addictive reading .. an insight for anyone who hasn’t been in a situation like this. It demonstrates how cunning and manipulative a partner can be under the pretence of having her best interests at heart.

This should be on the reading list for teenagers, not to alarm them but to raise awareness that circumstances like this can exist no matter what age you are. It’s all too easy while in the first flush of love to think the behaviour is normal .. by that time it is difficult to extract from the situation.

Not a comfortable read but certainly a powerful one. Splendid result from the author. A stunning book.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Faye Rogers for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Katie (Kitkatscanread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an example of what an unhealthy relationship can be like, which I think was good.
The title of the book has 2 meanings: when you have a crush on someone and when someone of something literally crushes you in two.
I actually really enjoyed this book despite me disliking the characters.
To be honest I think they were written like that on purpose.
Will was someone I couldn't stick and the amount of times I wanted to reach in and strangle him... well to be honest I lost count!
The main girl character did annoy me with her being pathetic and letting him walk all over her and control her.
No matter what though I was transfixed as I wanted to see if she will grow some willpower and tell him to piss off.
All in all I recommend this book to all.

[Theirlives · Rating 4 out of 5]

nie mam slow. niesamowicie poruszajaca opowiesc o mlodej dziewczynie w niezwykle trudnej sytuacji rodzinnej i przede wszystkim psychicznej. obwinianie się, oszczerstwa, utrata bliskich, w imie czego? w imie KOGO?
temat często doświadczany lecz rzadko ukazywany. uzależnienie od osoby, która sie kocha. kocha to za mocne słowo- od osoby, której się potrzebuje. dwa pozornie różne światy stykaja się, łaczac się w jedna wielka potrzebę. Potrzebę bliskości, czułości, przynależności i kontroli. ta ostatnia zawładnęła nad reszta. w zwiazku nie chodzi o zmienianie partnera, lecz o tolerowanie jego wad. jak widać nie wszyscy pojmuja ten fenomen.
mówi się że zakazany owoc smakuje najlepiej, prawda? nie bez powodu jednak został zakazany.