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Alison Hayes is set to fly or flee. When she follows her friend, Cici, to California she hopes it will be the beginning of a new, perfect life. She has spent her days trying to do something better, trying not to repeat the mistakes made by her alcoholic and broken mother. Yet, she is haunted by the only "right thing" she has ever done being the one thing she couldn't keep. Can Alison create a new, charmed life in a land where nobody knows her history? Can she soar to the elusive "something better?" Or, as she fears, will the cracks in her foundations break through and send her careening to the ground?
158 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 22, 2017
2 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Angie Gallion
8 books39 followersAngie Gallion has been a stage actor, an anti-money laundering investigator, a photographer, and a paralegal. She has lived in Illinois, California, Missouri, and Georgia and has traveled to Greece, the Dominican Republic, Scotland, and Ireland. She dreams of traveling when her children are grown, and she and her husband can set out into the world. She is currently rooted outside of Atlanta Georgia with her husband, their children, and their two French Bulldogs.
Angie’s writings often deal with personal growth through tragedy or trauma. She explores complex relationships, often set against the backdrop of addiction or mental illness. Her first novel, Intoxic, was the 2016 bronze medalist in the Readers Favorite for General Fiction. That book was a twenty-five-year adventure in self-doubt and hesitation.
Angie’s writings often deal with personal growth through tragedy or trauma. She explores complex relationships, often set against the backdrop of addiction or mental illness. Her first novel, Intoxic, was the 2016 bronze medalist in the Readers Favorite for General Fiction. That book was a twenty-five-year adventure in self-doubt and hesitation.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 27, 2023
Unlike the first two novels in the Alison Hayes series this one really frustrated me. For starters it was full of grammatical errors and that drove me INSANE! Other than that I was more frustrated with the characters but I know that is all part of the story. Alison is trying hard to get her life together but she is still making a series of poor decisions that continue to bring her down. She is still extremely naive despite all she has been through but she can’t catch a break. Just when it seems life is turning around another shoe drops. I cannot stand CiCi! Her character is awful! She is a vindictive jealous bitch! Overall the story itself was good and I’m curious how the author will put all of this together in the 4th book. I feel like giving 4 stars to this one was being generous but mostly because the abundance of grammatical errors was extremely distracting.
October 19, 2017
In the third book of the deeply moving coming-of-age series that began with Intoxic and Purgus, young adult Alison Hayes pursues a fresh start in sunny California, chasing the American dream of reinventing herself. Old scars may be hidden for a while, but they still hurt. For Alison, this means continuing to process her traumatic childhood with an alcoholic mother, and grieving a pregnancy that didn't end the way she hoped.
It made perfect sense that she would attach herself to a female "friend" who has many of her mother's flaws. Fortunately, Alison comes to the same conclusion before following her down the path of Hollywood excess, drugs and the sex industry. One thing I love about Alison is her sobriety, not only in the literal sense of avoiding addiction, but in the sense of being level-headed, introspective, and able to prioritize her long-term wellbeing—sometimes at the expense of joy in the moment, a lifelong deprivation that she rightfully resents.
Like Alison's life, the plot of this book is looser and more drifting than the prior two, which were organized around a particular crisis. Though this passive phase in her development rings true, it takes away slightly from the reader's investment in Alison's struggle to achieve her goals, since she herself doesn't seem to care much about her newfound modeling career or perfect upper-class beau. I would have liked to see her remember her passion for drawing, mentioned often in the earlier books. Her California dreams are merely borrowed, mass-produced, as she eventually realizes. Since that life was never right for her, her Icarus-like fall lacks a certain dramatic impact, though on the other hand it's a relief to see her escape the fame machine without much damage.
I certainly hope there will be a fourth book, because I want to see this brave and wise young woman find the family she deserves!
It made perfect sense that she would attach herself to a female "friend" who has many of her mother's flaws. Fortunately, Alison comes to the same conclusion before following her down the path of Hollywood excess, drugs and the sex industry. One thing I love about Alison is her sobriety, not only in the literal sense of avoiding addiction, but in the sense of being level-headed, introspective, and able to prioritize her long-term wellbeing—sometimes at the expense of joy in the moment, a lifelong deprivation that she rightfully resents.
Like Alison's life, the plot of this book is looser and more drifting than the prior two, which were organized around a particular crisis. Though this passive phase in her development rings true, it takes away slightly from the reader's investment in Alison's struggle to achieve her goals, since she herself doesn't seem to care much about her newfound modeling career or perfect upper-class beau. I would have liked to see her remember her passion for drawing, mentioned often in the earlier books. Her California dreams are merely borrowed, mass-produced, as she eventually realizes. Since that life was never right for her, her Icarus-like fall lacks a certain dramatic impact, though on the other hand it's a relief to see her escape the fame machine without much damage.
I certainly hope there will be a fourth book, because I want to see this brave and wise young woman find the family she deserves!
July 1, 2017
Excellent!!!
Yet another great book by Angus Gallion. This book is just like the first two in the Alison Hayes series- difficult to put down. I'm already looking forward to book #4!! (Fingers crossed) The end of this book (like the first two) leaves you excited to see what is next for Alison!
Yet another great book by Angus Gallion. This book is just like the first two in the Alison Hayes series- difficult to put down. I'm already looking forward to book #4!! (Fingers crossed) The end of this book (like the first two) leaves you excited to see what is next for Alison!
July 8, 2017
Following Alison has become my addiction and I certainly hope there is a Book 4. Alison is finally growing up and making decisions right for her but has a journey to go. Angie Gallion is very descriptive in her writings and you feel as if you are right beside Alison taking the journey with her. Can't wait for 4!
August 15, 2017
Fantastic book, love this author. You never know what to expect from the story. Allison Hayes, you will love to cheer for her. You want so much for everything to go well for her but.... Cannot wait for the next book to come out. Hope that there will be another book or 5! Thanks Ms Gallion!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews