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Saving Beck
Reminiscent of the beloved novels by Mary Kubica and Jodi Picoult comes a chilling portrayal of a son’s addiction and its harrowing effects on both him and his mother from New York Times bestselling author Courtney Cole.
There comes a time when offering your life for your child’s doesn’t work, when you realize that it’ll never be enough.
The cold needle in his warm vein was a welcome comfort to my son at first. But then it became the monster that kept us apart.
Heroin lied, and my son believed. It took him to a world where the last year didn’t happen, to a place where his father was still alive. What Beck didn’t understand was that it couldn’t bring his father back from the dead. It couldn’t take away his pain, not permanently.
You think it can’t happen to you, that your kids, your family, will never be in this situation.
I thought that too. But you’re wrong.
Step into our world, and see for yourself.
Watch my golden boy become a slave to this raging epidemic. Watch me try and save him.
Drug addiction comes with a price.
Trust me, you’re not equipped to pay it.
Don’t miss this heartwrenching, evocative, yet hopeful novel—it will leave you forever changed.
There comes a time when offering your life for your child’s doesn’t work, when you realize that it’ll never be enough.
The cold needle in his warm vein was a welcome comfort to my son at first. But then it became the monster that kept us apart.
Heroin lied, and my son believed. It took him to a world where the last year didn’t happen, to a place where his father was still alive. What Beck didn’t understand was that it couldn’t bring his father back from the dead. It couldn’t take away his pain, not permanently.
You think it can’t happen to you, that your kids, your family, will never be in this situation.
I thought that too. But you’re wrong.
Step into our world, and see for yourself.
Watch my golden boy become a slave to this raging epidemic. Watch me try and save him.
Drug addiction comes with a price.
Trust me, you’re not equipped to pay it.
Don’t miss this heartwrenching, evocative, yet hopeful novel—it will leave you forever changed.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published July 17, 2018
98 people are currently reading
5821 people want to read
About the author
Courtney Cole
44 books4,548 followersCourtney Cole is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist who loves to eat your emotions for breakfast.
She believes in the power of blonde hair dye and red lipstick, and that a well-timed smile can save the world.
Learn more about Courtney and her books at www.courtneycolecreates.com
Find her on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/#!/courtneyc...
She believes in the power of blonde hair dye and red lipstick, and that a well-timed smile can save the world.
Learn more about Courtney and her books at www.courtneycolecreates.com
Find her on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/#!/courtneyc...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 324 reviews
July 25, 2018
If I have a chance to give six stars to this book, I do that without thinking about a second. Courtney Cole is amazing story teller. I loved the final twists. I loved the characters. It was heart wrenching, beautiful, emotional journey that I really enjoyed myself as I was turning the pages.
July 29, 2018
5 Heartbreaking Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This book takes a real and raw look at addiction and its impact not only on the addict but the addict’s entire family... Courtney Cole takes you on such an emotional journey with this book... and the fact that she has gone through this with her own son adds so much authenticity to the story.... as a mother I could not help but put myself in Natalie’s (the mother in this book) shoes... I cannot even imagine how helpless you would feel watching your child struggle with any type of addiction much less heroin... addiction has already had an impact on myself and my kids, their father is an addict (not a heroin addict) something that has both hurt them and made them stronger.... but there is a genetic component to addiction and that made this book all the more real and heartbreaking for me....
The book starts with Beck overdosing right in front of his mother Natalie.... Beck goes to the hospital and is placed in a medically induced coma... The story is told from both Beck and Natalie‘s perspectives.... I thought this was very effective, because we got both sides of the story leading up to the overdose... Beck was a stereotypical all-American boy... a good student, an athlete, has a lovely girlfriend, and a loving family... not what you picture when you think addict, but I’m sure as we all know addiction does not discriminate... after the family goes through a major tragedy and Natalie falls apart Beck is left to pick up the pieces... and really your heart breaks for him as he slowly makes the dissent into drug addiction....
This book really is about much more than just addiction... it is about forgiveness, acceptance, love, and hope... it really makes you think and ask the hard questions, and face the realization that there are some things that are simply out of your control as a parent.... there were times in this book I really found it hard not to judge Natalie for her actions, but I had to remind myself I have never been through what she has... a broken family trying to put themselves together again after tragedy... A family that could be any family, it could be my family... it could be your family... that’s what made this book so powerful and so real!
This is just a well done book about a very big problem we have in our country... it is not a light fluffy beach read, but an important book that I strongly encourage you to pick up! An emotional heartbreaking journey that will leave you feeling hopeful...
*** many thanks to Gallery for my copy of this wonderful book ***
This book takes a real and raw look at addiction and its impact not only on the addict but the addict’s entire family... Courtney Cole takes you on such an emotional journey with this book... and the fact that she has gone through this with her own son adds so much authenticity to the story.... as a mother I could not help but put myself in Natalie’s (the mother in this book) shoes... I cannot even imagine how helpless you would feel watching your child struggle with any type of addiction much less heroin... addiction has already had an impact on myself and my kids, their father is an addict (not a heroin addict) something that has both hurt them and made them stronger.... but there is a genetic component to addiction and that made this book all the more real and heartbreaking for me....
The book starts with Beck overdosing right in front of his mother Natalie.... Beck goes to the hospital and is placed in a medically induced coma... The story is told from both Beck and Natalie‘s perspectives.... I thought this was very effective, because we got both sides of the story leading up to the overdose... Beck was a stereotypical all-American boy... a good student, an athlete, has a lovely girlfriend, and a loving family... not what you picture when you think addict, but I’m sure as we all know addiction does not discriminate... after the family goes through a major tragedy and Natalie falls apart Beck is left to pick up the pieces... and really your heart breaks for him as he slowly makes the dissent into drug addiction....
This book really is about much more than just addiction... it is about forgiveness, acceptance, love, and hope... it really makes you think and ask the hard questions, and face the realization that there are some things that are simply out of your control as a parent.... there were times in this book I really found it hard not to judge Natalie for her actions, but I had to remind myself I have never been through what she has... a broken family trying to put themselves together again after tragedy... A family that could be any family, it could be my family... it could be your family... that’s what made this book so powerful and so real!
This is just a well done book about a very big problem we have in our country... it is not a light fluffy beach read, but an important book that I strongly encourage you to pick up! An emotional heartbreaking journey that will leave you feeling hopeful...
*** many thanks to Gallery for my copy of this wonderful book ***
August 14, 2018
A mother's anguish and a son's unbearable guilt. You think it can't happen to you, you hope it never happens to. Until it does. How much hurt and grief can one person bear? A mother's worst nightmare, your son gone, taking drugs, the son who was a football star, won a scholarship to college, now in the fight of his life.
I was emotionally wrung out by books end. There is so much realism here, authentic feelings that any mother would have in this situation. Absolutely heartbreaking. Narrated alternately by mother and son, we are privy to the guilt and anguish thry both feel. Making deals with God, praying, hoping for better days, for life itself. Realistic characters, supporting, suffering together, trying to give each other hope that things will turn out better. It is hope that sustains this book, this situation, as it would be in real life.
In the afterward the authentic feeling is explained, as the authors own son was heavily addicted to drugs. As a family they were in the fight of their life. Drugs have been so much in the news here in the US, as we are dealing with an opiod and drug crisis of epidemic proportions. So many families effected, so many young people addicted, losing their lives. So much pain.
ARC from Edelweiss.
I was emotionally wrung out by books end. There is so much realism here, authentic feelings that any mother would have in this situation. Absolutely heartbreaking. Narrated alternately by mother and son, we are privy to the guilt and anguish thry both feel. Making deals with God, praying, hoping for better days, for life itself. Realistic characters, supporting, suffering together, trying to give each other hope that things will turn out better. It is hope that sustains this book, this situation, as it would be in real life.
In the afterward the authentic feeling is explained, as the authors own son was heavily addicted to drugs. As a family they were in the fight of their life. Drugs have been so much in the news here in the US, as we are dealing with an opiod and drug crisis of epidemic proportions. So many families effected, so many young people addicted, losing their lives. So much pain.
ARC from Edelweiss.
Want to read
March 5, 2019Yay! I'm a winner! Thanks, Goodreads!
Now I just have to mentally prepare myself to have my heart shattered into a million pieces. Isn't reading fun? 😉
Now I just have to mentally prepare myself to have my heart shattered into a million pieces. Isn't reading fun? 😉
May 27, 2018
Saving Beck by Courtney Cole is a novel about addiction and its effect on a family. The book is written from the viewpoint of Natalie, a suburban mom of three, and her eldest son Beckitt or “Beck.” Beck is smart, handsome and athletic, the traditional “all American teenager”. The family experiences a traumatic event and Natalie can't cope, she checks out emotionally, becoming so depressed that Beck becomes the main caregiver for his younger brother and sister. Beck stops coping after his mother does, and he turns to some prescription drugs and weed. Beck is hiding a secret and the substances help him to forget, however momentarily. As with many who take prescription narcotics, Beck becomes addicted and his life reels out of control. Natalie is so caught up in her own depression that she fails to notice the marked symptoms. Even when her sister points out to her that Beck is likely using drugs, she becomes angry and ignores her sister. Not her son.
Natalie doesn’t know how to save her son, she is as helpless as the hundreds of thousands of loved ones who are currently experiencing the same situation in this country. But the book tells the story of a family of means, so Beck could get treatment, if only he wanted to. The book bothered me, but not because of anything Ms. Cole wrote. The author managed to elicit thoughts about the current opiate crisis in America for me. I just couldn’t help to think that the crisis has only become a national and political issue because of people like Beck. Until the opiate problem reached the suburbs, it was not mentioned by the politicians that now pay lip service to the epidemic. They talk about awareness, when what is needed is treatment, long-term expensive treatment that is rarely accessible to the poor and middle class. But kids like Beck have brought the problem to the forefront and perhaps one day our leaders will do something besides tell people to “Just Say No.”
Ms. Cole creates a realistic description of the disease of addiction, I’m sure in part because the she’s stated that she has a son who has been addicted to drugs.
Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books and Ms. Cole for the opportunity to read and review Saving Beck.
Natalie doesn’t know how to save her son, she is as helpless as the hundreds of thousands of loved ones who are currently experiencing the same situation in this country. But the book tells the story of a family of means, so Beck could get treatment, if only he wanted to. The book bothered me, but not because of anything Ms. Cole wrote. The author managed to elicit thoughts about the current opiate crisis in America for me. I just couldn’t help to think that the crisis has only become a national and political issue because of people like Beck. Until the opiate problem reached the suburbs, it was not mentioned by the politicians that now pay lip service to the epidemic. They talk about awareness, when what is needed is treatment, long-term expensive treatment that is rarely accessible to the poor and middle class. But kids like Beck have brought the problem to the forefront and perhaps one day our leaders will do something besides tell people to “Just Say No.”
Ms. Cole creates a realistic description of the disease of addiction, I’m sure in part because the she’s stated that she has a son who has been addicted to drugs.
Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books and Ms. Cole for the opportunity to read and review Saving Beck.
July 16, 2018
5+++++++++++ Stars
If I could, I would give this book ALL THE STARS!!!!
I knew going into this book that it was going to be an emotional read for me. I knew that going in, this book was loosely based on Courtney and her son's battle with addiction. Watching a loved one battle any addition in any way, is so hard for those of us standing on the side lines wanting to help and having no idea what to do.
I had tears in my eyes at the dedication and they were only the beginning of the many tears I shed reading this book. They were lots tears from so many different emotions; the biggest tears were from empathy.
I won't go into details on this book. Just know that this book is powerful. Even though it's a work of fiction, Courtney's words telling a harrowing tale of mother's love wanting to save her son with everything she has. When you feel that same desperation, that same anxiety and hopelessness as Natalie does in this book - you become her - you empathize with her.
Courtney delivers an emotional story on how easily opioids sink their claws into a person and quickly turn them into an addict. It's a raw and honest look at how drugs easily alter an addict's mind and personality and turn them into a totally different person.
This book is brutally honest and will dig deep into your soul. You won't be the same after reading it and you won't look at addiction the same way either. Addiction is an ugly disease that takes away everything from not just the addict, but their loved ones too.
If there is one book you read this year, let it be this one. Your emotions will run the gamut and in the end, leave you feeling hopeful - yes, hopeful. Your eyes, heart and soul will forever be changed.
If I could, I would give this book ALL THE STARS!!!!
I knew going into this book that it was going to be an emotional read for me. I knew that going in, this book was loosely based on Courtney and her son's battle with addiction. Watching a loved one battle any addition in any way, is so hard for those of us standing on the side lines wanting to help and having no idea what to do.
I had tears in my eyes at the dedication and they were only the beginning of the many tears I shed reading this book. They were lots tears from so many different emotions; the biggest tears were from empathy.
I won't go into details on this book. Just know that this book is powerful. Even though it's a work of fiction, Courtney's words telling a harrowing tale of mother's love wanting to save her son with everything she has. When you feel that same desperation, that same anxiety and hopelessness as Natalie does in this book - you become her - you empathize with her.
Courtney delivers an emotional story on how easily opioids sink their claws into a person and quickly turn them into an addict. It's a raw and honest look at how drugs easily alter an addict's mind and personality and turn them into a totally different person.
This book is brutally honest and will dig deep into your soul. You won't be the same after reading it and you won't look at addiction the same way either. Addiction is an ugly disease that takes away everything from not just the addict, but their loved ones too.
If there is one book you read this year, let it be this one. Your emotions will run the gamut and in the end, leave you feeling hopeful - yes, hopeful. Your eyes, heart and soul will forever be changed.
June 3, 2018
A family implodes as death takes their father and husband. As one woman struggles with the loss of her soulmate, one child will take the weight of the world on his shoulders, a weight that will prove too much when he finds he cannot live with the guilt of blame he places on himself. Beck will spiral into the false promises of escape in the abyss of drug addiction that will shred what remains of the life he once knew. Now he lies near death, comatose, trapped with his memories of his darkest moments and the “angel” that tried to save him. He must decide, is his life worth being saved? Can he fight the demons of drug addiction?
SAVING BECK by Courtney Cole goes beyond fiction as this brave author bases her heartrending tale on a devastating reality she knows too well, the havoc wreaked on the souls of those who can only watch as a loved one plummets into drug addiction.
Ms. Cole builds a complex world, filled with the emotional landmines her characters must plod through. She gives us heartache, devastation and self-destruction, then soothes the pain with a light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. We will witness firsthand how grief and loss brings out both the best and worst in the cornerstone of society, family. Witness grief in its most raw and brutal forms. Feel the toll “stepping up to the plate” will take on a young man still struggling to grow up, still wrestling with the monsters of regret and guilt as he attempts to hold his shattered family together when he mother “checks out” lost in her own despair. Stand in awe of the first ray of sunlight and hope that filters through and remember, but for the grace of God…
Beautifully devastating, amazingly uplifting, this story is raw and riveting and breathtaking.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Gallery Books!
Publisher: Gallery Books (July 17, 2018)
Publication Date: July 17, 2018
Genre: Family Saga | Drug Addiction
Print Length: 304 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
SAVING BECK by Courtney Cole goes beyond fiction as this brave author bases her heartrending tale on a devastating reality she knows too well, the havoc wreaked on the souls of those who can only watch as a loved one plummets into drug addiction.
Ms. Cole builds a complex world, filled with the emotional landmines her characters must plod through. She gives us heartache, devastation and self-destruction, then soothes the pain with a light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. We will witness firsthand how grief and loss brings out both the best and worst in the cornerstone of society, family. Witness grief in its most raw and brutal forms. Feel the toll “stepping up to the plate” will take on a young man still struggling to grow up, still wrestling with the monsters of regret and guilt as he attempts to hold his shattered family together when he mother “checks out” lost in her own despair. Stand in awe of the first ray of sunlight and hope that filters through and remember, but for the grace of God…
Beautifully devastating, amazingly uplifting, this story is raw and riveting and breathtaking.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Gallery Books!
Publisher: Gallery Books (July 17, 2018)
Publication Date: July 17, 2018
Genre: Family Saga | Drug Addiction
Print Length: 304 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
October 31, 2018
I thought after reading the many reviews of this book I was prepared to read it. I was wrong . I cannot envision any mother reading this book without being bowled over with its power. Courtney brings the
Impact of addiction and its destructive force to life . She shares at the end of her book that she has had to walk the path with her son. Beautifully written. Heartbreaking, illuminating moments, and still there is hope.
Impact of addiction and its destructive force to life . She shares at the end of her book that she has had to walk the path with her son. Beautifully written. Heartbreaking, illuminating moments, and still there is hope.
March 27, 2018
This one is difficult for me to review without coming off as unfeeling and cynical, but here it is.
Natalie and Matt are the loving parents of three great children. Beck is the oldest of the three - a good student, a football star, and a loving son with a beautiful girlfriend. Life is great, practically perfect, and high school graduation is just around the corner. Then tragedy strikes in the form of a car accident in which Matt is killed and Beck is injured. Life isn't so great anymore.
As Natalie spirals down into depression and starts relying on medication to help her get through the days without her husband, Beck is left to take care of his young brother and sister. Eventually, this takes a toll on the boy who is dealing with his own guilt and pain at the loss of his dad, and dependence on drugs enter his world as well.
The description of a parent's fear when a child becomes addicted to hard drugs is illustrated well in the book. The panic of a phone call in the middle of the night, the sleepless nights when you don't know where your child is or if he is even alive are all described here. Although I'm not personally familiar with the physical cravings of a drug abuser, I do think the author gave a very vivid account of what it's like to inject heroin into a vein, and the constant need for more when the drug wears off.
What I didn't care for in the book were that the younger children of the family, Devin and Annabelle, barely seemed to be affected by their father's death, their mother's deep depression and their brother's disappearance and drug addiction. They're hardly even characters in the story. To be fair, this is really Beck's story, but the other kids seem to be coping just fine in the middle of chaos. They’re basically just props to illustrate how Beck was forced to compensate for Natalie’s dysfunction.
This story is heart-rending, but it had too many spiritual undercurrents for me. A mother’s desperate prayers for her son, fine. I get it. But then, gradually, “God” started popping up in too many conversations and thoughts. And then wow. The end of the book was WAY too woo-woo spirit-in-the-sky for me. I know many people will love this part of the story. It just wasn’t for me, and it dropped my rating down from a 3.5 to a 3. I possibly would have rated it lower, but the author’s note at the end of the book captured me. THIS is what the story should have been. It was heartfelt, not fake. It was authentic, because she wrote about her son, a recovering addict. Her words about her real life situation tore into me as the book itself did not. I felt her pain and love for her son so clearly.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an advance egalley proof of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Natalie and Matt are the loving parents of three great children. Beck is the oldest of the three - a good student, a football star, and a loving son with a beautiful girlfriend. Life is great, practically perfect, and high school graduation is just around the corner. Then tragedy strikes in the form of a car accident in which Matt is killed and Beck is injured. Life isn't so great anymore.
As Natalie spirals down into depression and starts relying on medication to help her get through the days without her husband, Beck is left to take care of his young brother and sister. Eventually, this takes a toll on the boy who is dealing with his own guilt and pain at the loss of his dad, and dependence on drugs enter his world as well.
The description of a parent's fear when a child becomes addicted to hard drugs is illustrated well in the book. The panic of a phone call in the middle of the night, the sleepless nights when you don't know where your child is or if he is even alive are all described here. Although I'm not personally familiar with the physical cravings of a drug abuser, I do think the author gave a very vivid account of what it's like to inject heroin into a vein, and the constant need for more when the drug wears off.
What I didn't care for in the book were that the younger children of the family, Devin and Annabelle, barely seemed to be affected by their father's death, their mother's deep depression and their brother's disappearance and drug addiction. They're hardly even characters in the story. To be fair, this is really Beck's story, but the other kids seem to be coping just fine in the middle of chaos. They’re basically just props to illustrate how Beck was forced to compensate for Natalie’s dysfunction.
This story is heart-rending, but it had too many spiritual undercurrents for me. A mother’s desperate prayers for her son, fine. I get it. But then, gradually, “God” started popping up in too many conversations and thoughts. And then wow. The end of the book was WAY too woo-woo spirit-in-the-sky for me. I know many people will love this part of the story. It just wasn’t for me, and it dropped my rating down from a 3.5 to a 3. I possibly would have rated it lower, but the author’s note at the end of the book captured me. THIS is what the story should have been. It was heartfelt, not fake. It was authentic, because she wrote about her son, a recovering addict. Her words about her real life situation tore into me as the book itself did not. I felt her pain and love for her son so clearly.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an advance egalley proof of the book in exchange for my honest review.
July 20, 2018
Natalie and Matt have the perfect marriage and family. They have three children with Beck being the oldest. They are a normal, loving suburban family, but when tragedy strikes, it changes the lives of the Kingsley family in the worst possible way.
Natalie is completely devastated after a tragic accident takes the life of her husband, leaving her her son Beck to deal with the care of his younger siblings. Often times Natalie can’t even get out of bed and face the day. She relies on prescription medicine to dull the pain of losing the love of her life. What she doesn’t realize is that Beck is also suffering and living with the guilt of his father’s death as he was with his dad when the accident happened. Not able to face his own pain, he slowly starts to fall victim to drugs himself. Beck is such a bright and promising student, so full of life, but drugs are slowly but surely ruling his life. Natalie is determined to get her son back, but is it already to late? Or can a mother’s love pull her son out of the darkness?
Saving Beck is told in both the present and the past. We learn what happened to the Kingsley family in flashbacks and it is truly hard to read without getting emotional. But, the story is powerful and has such a strong message that really makes you stop and think about the drug epidemic that is happening in our country. We often times don’t think that drug addiction happens to good families, but it does more frequently then you realize. Often times we dehumanize drug addicts, but they are people, with a family and a story to tell. Not every addict is bad, they are just lost and addicted. Their brain chemistry is compromised from drugs and they just make bad decision after bad decision.
While I was out today running errands, I happened to drive along a strip that is notorious for addicts panhandling for money and it really got me thinking about what led them down this path and I truly felt sad for them. A big part of the reason why I looked at them differently today is because of this story. I really thank Courtney Cole for bringing this out in the open because I never really thought about the other person struggling outside, probably living on the streets because of an addiction that has taken over their entire lives. It really is a shame.
There are a lot of moments in Saving Beck which hits close to home for me in regards to faith and beliefs. Natalie prays for her son while he lays in a coma from a drug overdose and then you get to see the other side where Beck is dreaming about his father and his father is urging him to fight and that it wasn’t his time yet. I firmly believe that when it is your time to go that a loved one will come for you. Is this something that has just been ingrained on me by my only families beliefs? Is it something spiritual? I don’t know, but it gives me comfort to know that I won’t be alone.
Saving Beck encompasses so much more than just addiction. It is a story about grief and acceptance and how each of us deals with pain and guilt differently in times of tragedy and loss. This is a heartbreaking story and yet it is also filled with hope, love, understanding, and forgiveness. Courtney Cole has truly touched me through her writing and this is just one of the many reasons why Saving Beck should be on everyone’s reading list.
Natalie is completely devastated after a tragic accident takes the life of her husband, leaving her her son Beck to deal with the care of his younger siblings. Often times Natalie can’t even get out of bed and face the day. She relies on prescription medicine to dull the pain of losing the love of her life. What she doesn’t realize is that Beck is also suffering and living with the guilt of his father’s death as he was with his dad when the accident happened. Not able to face his own pain, he slowly starts to fall victim to drugs himself. Beck is such a bright and promising student, so full of life, but drugs are slowly but surely ruling his life. Natalie is determined to get her son back, but is it already to late? Or can a mother’s love pull her son out of the darkness?
Saving Beck is told in both the present and the past. We learn what happened to the Kingsley family in flashbacks and it is truly hard to read without getting emotional. But, the story is powerful and has such a strong message that really makes you stop and think about the drug epidemic that is happening in our country. We often times don’t think that drug addiction happens to good families, but it does more frequently then you realize. Often times we dehumanize drug addicts, but they are people, with a family and a story to tell. Not every addict is bad, they are just lost and addicted. Their brain chemistry is compromised from drugs and they just make bad decision after bad decision.
While I was out today running errands, I happened to drive along a strip that is notorious for addicts panhandling for money and it really got me thinking about what led them down this path and I truly felt sad for them. A big part of the reason why I looked at them differently today is because of this story. I really thank Courtney Cole for bringing this out in the open because I never really thought about the other person struggling outside, probably living on the streets because of an addiction that has taken over their entire lives. It really is a shame.
There are a lot of moments in Saving Beck which hits close to home for me in regards to faith and beliefs. Natalie prays for her son while he lays in a coma from a drug overdose and then you get to see the other side where Beck is dreaming about his father and his father is urging him to fight and that it wasn’t his time yet. I firmly believe that when it is your time to go that a loved one will come for you. Is this something that has just been ingrained on me by my only families beliefs? Is it something spiritual? I don’t know, but it gives me comfort to know that I won’t be alone.
Saving Beck encompasses so much more than just addiction. It is a story about grief and acceptance and how each of us deals with pain and guilt differently in times of tragedy and loss. This is a heartbreaking story and yet it is also filled with hope, love, understanding, and forgiveness. Courtney Cole has truly touched me through her writing and this is just one of the many reasons why Saving Beck should be on everyone’s reading list.
August 16, 2018
There comes a time when offering your life for your child’s doesn’t work, when you realize that it’ll never be enough.
This book broke me. I can honestly say, this is one of the most heartbreaking and emotional books I have read in a very long time. If you are looking for a roller coaster ride of emotions, this is your book. Saving Beck is raw, real, and extremely powerful!
This story speaks for itself and is almost impossible to review. All I can say is pick this one up... you won't be disappointed. A must read!
*Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books for the ARC of this book.
This book broke me. I can honestly say, this is one of the most heartbreaking and emotional books I have read in a very long time. If you are looking for a roller coaster ride of emotions, this is your book. Saving Beck is raw, real, and extremely powerful!
This story speaks for itself and is almost impossible to review. All I can say is pick this one up... you won't be disappointed. A must read!
*Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books for the ARC of this book.
July 11, 2018
I'm not even sure where to start with my review. I have been reading Courtney Cole for a long time yet nothing has ever touched me as much as Saving Beck has. Maybe it's because I am a mother... maybe it's because this is every parent's worst nightmare... maybe because it's so relatable, so scary, so very real... this book frightened me yet gave me such hope.
Life is not perfect. You can pray and wish for all good things never knowing what God has in store for you, what obstacles can come your way. Poor Beckitt and Natalie and their family suffering the unimaginable with the loss of their husband and father Matt. Watching Beck's spiral down because of his feelings of guilt broke my heart. Watching his turn to drugs to find the answers, to bury the pain absolutely killed me.
Told in alternating POV's from that of Natalie and Beck, readers are taken on a turbulent, raw, and emotional journey of a drug addict and his mother trying to save him. Addiction can happen to anyone and it is my biggest hope that Courtney is able to share her words to the masses... educating us, helping us to see the signs and what to look out for... and most of all giving us hope that there is the ability to fight it... to win... and to ultimately live.
From the back of the book...
You are strong enough, and you are worth it.
Live one day at a time, one moment at a time.
Live fiercely.
I loved this book... Courtney won me over years ago when I picked up If You Stay and I have been a fan ever since.
Life is not perfect. You can pray and wish for all good things never knowing what God has in store for you, what obstacles can come your way. Poor Beckitt and Natalie and their family suffering the unimaginable with the loss of their husband and father Matt. Watching Beck's spiral down because of his feelings of guilt broke my heart. Watching his turn to drugs to find the answers, to bury the pain absolutely killed me.
Told in alternating POV's from that of Natalie and Beck, readers are taken on a turbulent, raw, and emotional journey of a drug addict and his mother trying to save him. Addiction can happen to anyone and it is my biggest hope that Courtney is able to share her words to the masses... educating us, helping us to see the signs and what to look out for... and most of all giving us hope that there is the ability to fight it... to win... and to ultimately live.
From the back of the book...
You are strong enough, and you are worth it.
Live one day at a time, one moment at a time.
Live fiercely.
I loved this book... Courtney won me over years ago when I picked up If You Stay and I have been a fan ever since.
July 17, 2018
I started this book last night and after a few chapters had to put it down because my mind wasn't set for such a heavy read. So I started another book and a few chapters into that one, felt myself drawn back to picking this one back up. I probably would've stayed up late to finish it had I had some decent sleep the night before. I did have time this morning to finish it and I was right, this IS a heavy, heavy read.
People have the tendency to think "This won't happen, can't happen to me or anyone I know." However, it's all too common that there is some type of addiction happening within a family. Whether it's nicotine, alcohol, pills, food or heroin. It can also happen to the least likely person you think it WOULD happen to.. such as Beck, an intelligent young man on his way to college when one devastating accident sends him in a downward spiral.
This isn't just about Beck and his addiction though. This is also about grief, how everyone deals with this differently. We not only see what Beck is going through but how everyone around him is also dealing with their own feelings. Cole really brings you into this realistic, devastating and harrowing tale. However, this isn't just about the drug addiction and Beck's fight for his life. It's also about hope... hope... a feeling humans are lucky to feel.
I was fascinated about how well Cole brings us into this type of story so I went to her website hoping to find out more and found that she has dealt with her son's addiction and has video's discussing this with him. I highly recommend you go and watch this as it really just makes you feel all that more for this story. Thank you, Courtney, for your experiences and bringing this to the public.
Thank you Gallery for this copy.
People have the tendency to think "This won't happen, can't happen to me or anyone I know." However, it's all too common that there is some type of addiction happening within a family. Whether it's nicotine, alcohol, pills, food or heroin. It can also happen to the least likely person you think it WOULD happen to.. such as Beck, an intelligent young man on his way to college when one devastating accident sends him in a downward spiral.
This isn't just about Beck and his addiction though. This is also about grief, how everyone deals with this differently. We not only see what Beck is going through but how everyone around him is also dealing with their own feelings. Cole really brings you into this realistic, devastating and harrowing tale. However, this isn't just about the drug addiction and Beck's fight for his life. It's also about hope... hope... a feeling humans are lucky to feel.
I was fascinated about how well Cole brings us into this type of story so I went to her website hoping to find out more and found that she has dealt with her son's addiction and has video's discussing this with him. I highly recommend you go and watch this as it really just makes you feel all that more for this story. Thank you, Courtney, for your experiences and bringing this to the public.
Thank you Gallery for this copy.
July 19, 2018
SAVING BECK is Beautifully written. Evocative. Heart-wrenching. Raw. Honest. Heartbreaking. Hopeful. Inspiring. Compelling. Timely.
What a package! Loved the book and the audio version. Highly recommend. Two talented narrators! Emotional and moving: Cassandra Campbell (my favorite) and Ramón De Ocampo— combined with the writing of the gifted and skillful author, Courtney Cole. Review to follow.
What a package! Loved the book and the audio version. Highly recommend. Two talented narrators! Emotional and moving: Cassandra Campbell (my favorite) and Ramón De Ocampo— combined with the writing of the gifted and skillful author, Courtney Cole. Review to follow.
July 7, 2018
Thank you to Gallery Books and Netgalley for my free E-ARC in exchange of an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This was such a sad story, reading about how Beck struggled with coping with his father's death, his mother falling apart, having to take care of his younger siblings, because his mom won't leave her bed. All the while trying to stay strong from himself.
He was the super star athlete, with everything going for him, who let drugs get the best of him. You witness the downfall, the heartache and the pressure that Beck put on himself, causing him to crack.
This book was written from Beck's POV in his current state, and his past, and from Natalie's current POV. It takes place in the 24 hours that Beck is in a coma from his drug overdose. It is so incredibly well done. Their emotions jump off the page at you. I felt like I was there the first time Beck stuck a needle in his arm, I was there screaming "No, don't do it, put it down" from that first needle stick I was addicted to this book, like he was addicted to his drug.
This is such a complex story, it is about so much more than drug addiction. It does give a wonderful insight to how the whole family struggles, how everyone is affected by this terrible epidemic. Everyone in this book is fighting their own battle in this story. From Beck, to his mother, to his aunt, to his girlfriend, to his dad's best friend, to his younger siblings. Everyone plays a part in this book I can safely say this is one of my favorite books I've read so far this year.
This was such a sad story, reading about how Beck struggled with coping with his father's death, his mother falling apart, having to take care of his younger siblings, because his mom won't leave her bed. All the while trying to stay strong from himself.
He was the super star athlete, with everything going for him, who let drugs get the best of him. You witness the downfall, the heartache and the pressure that Beck put on himself, causing him to crack.
This book was written from Beck's POV in his current state, and his past, and from Natalie's current POV. It takes place in the 24 hours that Beck is in a coma from his drug overdose. It is so incredibly well done. Their emotions jump off the page at you. I felt like I was there the first time Beck stuck a needle in his arm, I was there screaming "No, don't do it, put it down" from that first needle stick I was addicted to this book, like he was addicted to his drug.
This is such a complex story, it is about so much more than drug addiction. It does give a wonderful insight to how the whole family struggles, how everyone is affected by this terrible epidemic. Everyone in this book is fighting their own battle in this story. From Beck, to his mother, to his aunt, to his girlfriend, to his dad's best friend, to his younger siblings. Everyone plays a part in this book I can safely say this is one of my favorite books I've read so far this year.
March 30, 2018
”I’d never felt so low.
I’d never felt so sub-human.
But even still, I waited for them to return, because I needed what they had more than I needed pride. More than I even needed to breathe.”
Courtney, Courtney, Courtney. I wish the words that I typed right now could do you the justice you so deserve with Saving Beck. Unfortunately- they won’t. Nothing I say can. Because I know how painful this one was for you write and I wish I could have held your hand every step of the way.
Saving Beck is a story that we can all relate to. We’ve either been there, done that, or we know someone who has been there and done that or maybe even a little of both. Either way, it’s a heartbreaking story. But a story that needed to be told nonetheless. And when you read this book, your heart will shatter. You’ll probably even hear the pieces hit the ground from the deafening silence of Courtney’s words.
Besides Courtney and her all around diligent writing, the characters in Saving Beck spoke to me the most. All of them. And the way Courtney crafted them all to fit perfectly within the story took my breath away. Especially Angel. Beck. The entire family. The way they all molded and were shaped blew me away.
Another extremely positive thing with Saving Beck was the past/present POVs. They were genius for this story. Knowing what led up to the events and then living in the said moments brings a whole different light to the situation going on with Beck. Seeing all sides of him brought him to life. I practically witnessed all of her characters within this book fluttering off the pages.
”Please, please, please.
I beg over and over, and I’m not sure anymore if I’m talking aloud or in my head. I feel that God will hear me either way.”
The rabbit hole. That’s what this book is. How easy it is to fall into it. How hard it is to get out of it. How every single person around you struggles with it. It’s heartbreaking, it’s overwhelming and it’s raw. Courtney describes it all so vividly. She paints a picture that isn’t pretty for us to see- but definitely something that needs to be painted and brought to life.
I’m so glad to of experienced this book with Courtney. I am even more glad that she sat down and wrote it. She did it. A story that needed to be told and told in the real and right way. She MFing did it.
I’d never felt so sub-human.
But even still, I waited for them to return, because I needed what they had more than I needed pride. More than I even needed to breathe.”
Courtney, Courtney, Courtney. I wish the words that I typed right now could do you the justice you so deserve with Saving Beck. Unfortunately- they won’t. Nothing I say can. Because I know how painful this one was for you write and I wish I could have held your hand every step of the way.
Saving Beck is a story that we can all relate to. We’ve either been there, done that, or we know someone who has been there and done that or maybe even a little of both. Either way, it’s a heartbreaking story. But a story that needed to be told nonetheless. And when you read this book, your heart will shatter. You’ll probably even hear the pieces hit the ground from the deafening silence of Courtney’s words.
Besides Courtney and her all around diligent writing, the characters in Saving Beck spoke to me the most. All of them. And the way Courtney crafted them all to fit perfectly within the story took my breath away. Especially Angel. Beck. The entire family. The way they all molded and were shaped blew me away.
Another extremely positive thing with Saving Beck was the past/present POVs. They were genius for this story. Knowing what led up to the events and then living in the said moments brings a whole different light to the situation going on with Beck. Seeing all sides of him brought him to life. I practically witnessed all of her characters within this book fluttering off the pages.
”Please, please, please.
I beg over and over, and I’m not sure anymore if I’m talking aloud or in my head. I feel that God will hear me either way.”
The rabbit hole. That’s what this book is. How easy it is to fall into it. How hard it is to get out of it. How every single person around you struggles with it. It’s heartbreaking, it’s overwhelming and it’s raw. Courtney describes it all so vividly. She paints a picture that isn’t pretty for us to see- but definitely something that needs to be painted and brought to life.
I’m so glad to of experienced this book with Courtney. I am even more glad that she sat down and wrote it. She did it. A story that needed to be told and told in the real and right way. She MFing did it.
May 15, 2018
This is a Goodreads giveaway win!
This is the second emotionally heavy book I've read this month! I think I see a pattern starting!
Saving Beck is about a son addicted to drugs, the path that led him there and a mother's struggle to save him.
Beck is on the fast track to a college of his choice with a football scholarship and a bright future in front of him when his world is flipped upside down. Him and his dad take a road trip to visit Notre Dame college and on the way home are involved in a horrific car accident. His father dies from his injuries and Beck is lucky to be alive. In the months that follow Beck is overwhelmed with grief, guilt and anger. His mother, Natalie, falls apart and goes into a deep depression. She leaves Beck to deal with the household responsibilities and to take care of his brother and sister, Devin 12 and Annabelle 8. All while still going to school, and football practice, and dealing with his own emotional fallout. When Natalie does emerge from her bed she relies on wine and xanax to get through the day. Beck begins helping himself to her pills and smoking weed to function. Things finally come to a head and Beck runs away and disappears for a couple months. He lives in an abandoned warehouse, sells his car for drugs, scavages for food from dumpsters and panhandles for money. One night he overdoses from a cocktail of drugs and manages to find his way home before collapsing on his moms porch. Shes able to get him to the hospital where they put him in a coma to try and save his life. This is where the book actually starts at, and then alternates between Beck and Natalie telling how it got to this moment.
Having known friends and family that have been through hell and back from drug and alcohol addiction this book really hit home. I felt the sadness, the struggle, the chaos, the guilt, and utter despair from both sides of the addiction. This is a very real, very sad, devastating epidemic thats gripping the world today! Saving Beck won't actually be released until I believe July but if you get a chance to pick this book up, do so, you won't be disappointed! 5★★★★★ read!
This is the second emotionally heavy book I've read this month! I think I see a pattern starting!
Saving Beck is about a son addicted to drugs, the path that led him there and a mother's struggle to save him.
Beck is on the fast track to a college of his choice with a football scholarship and a bright future in front of him when his world is flipped upside down. Him and his dad take a road trip to visit Notre Dame college and on the way home are involved in a horrific car accident. His father dies from his injuries and Beck is lucky to be alive. In the months that follow Beck is overwhelmed with grief, guilt and anger. His mother, Natalie, falls apart and goes into a deep depression. She leaves Beck to deal with the household responsibilities and to take care of his brother and sister, Devin 12 and Annabelle 8. All while still going to school, and football practice, and dealing with his own emotional fallout. When Natalie does emerge from her bed she relies on wine and xanax to get through the day. Beck begins helping himself to her pills and smoking weed to function. Things finally come to a head and Beck runs away and disappears for a couple months. He lives in an abandoned warehouse, sells his car for drugs, scavages for food from dumpsters and panhandles for money. One night he overdoses from a cocktail of drugs and manages to find his way home before collapsing on his moms porch. Shes able to get him to the hospital where they put him in a coma to try and save his life. This is where the book actually starts at, and then alternates between Beck and Natalie telling how it got to this moment.
Having known friends and family that have been through hell and back from drug and alcohol addiction this book really hit home. I felt the sadness, the struggle, the chaos, the guilt, and utter despair from both sides of the addiction. This is a very real, very sad, devastating epidemic thats gripping the world today! Saving Beck won't actually be released until I believe July but if you get a chance to pick this book up, do so, you won't be disappointed! 5★★★★★ read!
July 21, 2018
4.5 stars
This book completely broke me. Courtney Cole wrote a gut wrenching tale of drug addiction and the lengths a mother will go to in order to save her child. What a powerful read!
This book completely broke me. Courtney Cole wrote a gut wrenching tale of drug addiction and the lengths a mother will go to in order to save her child. What a powerful read!
July 21, 2018
5 * you can do anything you put in your mind * estrelas
Wowww que jornada hein Cole, parabéns por escrever esse livro, e sinto muito que tu teve que passar por isso com teu filho, doi no meu coração isso. Obrigada por me fazer ver um outro lado... Conhecendo pessoas que trabalham em hospitais eu já ouvi muitas historias de pessoas que tiverem overdoses e não tiverem sorte de sair de lá com vida e a gente sempre julga elas não? Mesmo sem saber o que elas estão passando, é tão fácil apontar defeitos assim...
"Doing drugs is easy. Doing life is hard. And sometimes, we have to hide from it in the best ways."
Esse livro me fez refletir ainda mais profundamente sobre o assunto vício. Muitas vezes começamos ele sem perceber, pegando aquele remédio sem prescrição, ou fumando, bebendo (droga é droga) só pq tu precisa por alguns minutos não sentir nada. Então tu começa a aumentar as doses dos remédios, pois aqueles minutos já não bastam mais e tu precisa algo a mais, logo depois o remédio já não faz mais efeito mesmo com doses mais altas, ai tu decide usar algo mais forte, e por algum tempo esse algo mais forte funciona, mas depois de novo ele não é mais suficiente e tu parte pra algo ainda mais forte, esse é uma maravilha, mas depois não é mais e tu decide usar 2 tipos de drogas juntas, pq se uma não dá mais aquele barato, aquela sensação de saciedade 2 vão ter que dar , e o uso é cada vez mais frequente e tu já não come mais, não dorme, não vive, tu só quer o próximo barato, tu vira um zombie andando, até que um dia tu tem uma overdose, tu quase morre. Tu promete parar, tu tenta por algum tempo, mas sabe o cérebro é um ser engraçado ele fica te lembrando o quão bom era usar essas drogas e tu vai esquecendo que tu quase morreu e que prometeu parar e isso é um ciclo, que nunca terá fim se tu não buscar a ajuda necessária, querer parar de usar e ter pessoas ao teu lado te apoiando .
"She said people create their own crosses and become their own martyrs. We feel like if we punish ourselves enough, we'll cleanse our own sins."
E esse livro ele é phoda por causa que eles nos faz pensar sobre tudo isso, e nos faz pensar que isso pode acontecer com qualquer família, com a pessoa do teu lado, estamos todos sujeitos de um jeito ou de outro... E é um assunto complicado que precisa ser discutido por TODO mundo, nas nossas casas, colégios, praças... Cole trouxe dados preocupantes: em 2016 (nos EUA) 64 070 pessoas morreram de overdose. Isso é assustador e isso precisa ser discutido urgentemente.
Termino essa review imensa dizendo:
Melhor livro de 2018.
Wowww que jornada hein Cole, parabéns por escrever esse livro, e sinto muito que tu teve que passar por isso com teu filho, doi no meu coração isso. Obrigada por me fazer ver um outro lado... Conhecendo pessoas que trabalham em hospitais eu já ouvi muitas historias de pessoas que tiverem overdoses e não tiverem sorte de sair de lá com vida e a gente sempre julga elas não? Mesmo sem saber o que elas estão passando, é tão fácil apontar defeitos assim...
"Doing drugs is easy. Doing life is hard. And sometimes, we have to hide from it in the best ways."
Esse livro me fez refletir ainda mais profundamente sobre o assunto vício. Muitas vezes começamos ele sem perceber, pegando aquele remédio sem prescrição, ou fumando, bebendo (droga é droga) só pq tu precisa por alguns minutos não sentir nada. Então tu começa a aumentar as doses dos remédios, pois aqueles minutos já não bastam mais e tu precisa algo a mais, logo depois o remédio já não faz mais efeito mesmo com doses mais altas, ai tu decide usar algo mais forte, e por algum tempo esse algo mais forte funciona, mas depois de novo ele não é mais suficiente e tu parte pra algo ainda mais forte, esse é uma maravilha, mas depois não é mais e tu decide usar 2 tipos de drogas juntas, pq se uma não dá mais aquele barato, aquela sensação de saciedade 2 vão ter que dar , e o uso é cada vez mais frequente e tu já não come mais, não dorme, não vive, tu só quer o próximo barato, tu vira um zombie andando, até que um dia tu tem uma overdose, tu quase morre. Tu promete parar, tu tenta por algum tempo, mas sabe o cérebro é um ser engraçado ele fica te lembrando o quão bom era usar essas drogas e tu vai esquecendo que tu quase morreu e que prometeu parar e isso é um ciclo, que nunca terá fim se tu não buscar a ajuda necessária, querer parar de usar e ter pessoas ao teu lado te apoiando .
"She said people create their own crosses and become their own martyrs. We feel like if we punish ourselves enough, we'll cleanse our own sins."
E esse livro ele é phoda por causa que eles nos faz pensar sobre tudo isso, e nos faz pensar que isso pode acontecer com qualquer família, com a pessoa do teu lado, estamos todos sujeitos de um jeito ou de outro... E é um assunto complicado que precisa ser discutido por TODO mundo, nas nossas casas, colégios, praças... Cole trouxe dados preocupantes: em 2016 (nos EUA) 64 070 pessoas morreram de overdose. Isso é assustador e isso precisa ser discutido urgentemente.
Termino essa review imensa dizendo:
Melhor livro de 2018.
April 18, 2019
UPDATE!! Kindle Daily Deal today for $1.99!!
This is an intense and heartbreaking story about grief and addiction but is also about hope and redemption. It is very fast paced and once I began reading I didn’t want to put it down. This story is emotionally-charged and there was truly never a moment, until the very end, where I felt like I could take a deep breath.
Natalie lost her husband in a tragic car accident and is drowning in grief as a result. Beck, her eldest son, was driving the car when the accident took place, and he survived the accident that took the life of his father. Beck is also drowning in grief but he also has the guilt of his father’s death to deal with and the way he chooses to deal with it is by trying to escape it through drug use which quickly turns him into a full out junkie. Now both mother and son have not only grief but also addiction to survive.
The story is told from the alternating viewpoints of Natalie and Beck. There were times when I wanted to strangle each of them but mostly I found my heartbreaking for them and for everyone who was affected by Beck’s addiction. The author did a wonderful job of showing us snippets of Beck that existed beneath the surface that was his addiction, allowing the reader to like him, root for him and have sympathy for him.
I would highly recommend this read. I think it is an important story to get out there as this country is in the midst of a growing drug epidemic.
I want to thank Courtney Cole for sharing her very personal and emotional journey and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this novel.
This is an intense and heartbreaking story about grief and addiction but is also about hope and redemption. It is very fast paced and once I began reading I didn’t want to put it down. This story is emotionally-charged and there was truly never a moment, until the very end, where I felt like I could take a deep breath.
Natalie lost her husband in a tragic car accident and is drowning in grief as a result. Beck, her eldest son, was driving the car when the accident took place, and he survived the accident that took the life of his father. Beck is also drowning in grief but he also has the guilt of his father’s death to deal with and the way he chooses to deal with it is by trying to escape it through drug use which quickly turns him into a full out junkie. Now both mother and son have not only grief but also addiction to survive.
The story is told from the alternating viewpoints of Natalie and Beck. There were times when I wanted to strangle each of them but mostly I found my heartbreaking for them and for everyone who was affected by Beck’s addiction. The author did a wonderful job of showing us snippets of Beck that existed beneath the surface that was his addiction, allowing the reader to like him, root for him and have sympathy for him.
I would highly recommend this read. I think it is an important story to get out there as this country is in the midst of a growing drug epidemic.
I want to thank Courtney Cole for sharing her very personal and emotional journey and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this novel.
July 15, 2018
This will be my second book from this author!!
July 23, 2018
***5 estrelas***
Estou totalmente desestruturada depois desse livro, logo de início pensei em abandonar, mas ao mesmo tempo queria um final e precisava realmente saber o que aconteceu.
Não tem segredo que o livro fala sobre a luta da mãe e seu filho que é viciado em heroína (tá na sinopse), após a morte do pai/marido a família se desestruturou, vi uma mãe se afundando na depressão, filhos assumindo responsabilidade antes da hora e Beck tentando amortecer a dor com as drogas, e não foi uma história fácil, foi difícil segurar as lágrimas e ainda assim é um livro capaz de abrir os olhos de muitos.
Eu senti, doeu demais, ainda estou sentindo e não teve como não pensar em minha filha em todos os momentos do livro e isso me desestruturou ainda mais pq a gnt nunca sabe quem pode ser atingido por esse vício, e conforme eu lia esse livro por mais que doesse eu só conseguia pensar que não queria tá no lugar dessa família, pq só de imaginar durante a leitura já tava doendo.
Esse livro me fez vê as coisas de outra forma e me colocar no lugar da Nat só me fez vê o qto somos capazes de julgar as pessoas, mas que a gnt não sabe os motivos que elas fazem e indiferente de como faz ou deixa de fazer não é nosso direito julgar ngm.
A nota final foi o ponto final que eu precisava pra querer pegar toda família e colocar no colo, querer ajudar e falar que tudo iria melhorar mesmo sem eu ter certeza, mas ainda assim é isso que eu desejo pra família força sempre pra superar o que passou e as lutas que ainda vão passar.
Sem dúvidas esse livro conseguiu mexer muito cmg e é uma história que jamais vou esquecer.
Estou totalmente desestruturada depois desse livro, logo de início pensei em abandonar, mas ao mesmo tempo queria um final e precisava realmente saber o que aconteceu.
Não tem segredo que o livro fala sobre a luta da mãe e seu filho que é viciado em heroína (tá na sinopse), após a morte do pai/marido a família se desestruturou, vi uma mãe se afundando na depressão, filhos assumindo responsabilidade antes da hora e Beck tentando amortecer a dor com as drogas, e não foi uma história fácil, foi difícil segurar as lágrimas e ainda assim é um livro capaz de abrir os olhos de muitos.
Eu senti, doeu demais, ainda estou sentindo e não teve como não pensar em minha filha em todos os momentos do livro e isso me desestruturou ainda mais pq a gnt nunca sabe quem pode ser atingido por esse vício, e conforme eu lia esse livro por mais que doesse eu só conseguia pensar que não queria tá no lugar dessa família, pq só de imaginar durante a leitura já tava doendo.
Esse livro me fez vê as coisas de outra forma e me colocar no lugar da Nat só me fez vê o qto somos capazes de julgar as pessoas, mas que a gnt não sabe os motivos que elas fazem e indiferente de como faz ou deixa de fazer não é nosso direito julgar ngm.
A nota final foi o ponto final que eu precisava pra querer pegar toda família e colocar no colo, querer ajudar e falar que tudo iria melhorar mesmo sem eu ter certeza, mas ainda assim é isso que eu desejo pra família força sempre pra superar o que passou e as lutas que ainda vão passar.
Sem dúvidas esse livro conseguiu mexer muito cmg e é uma história que jamais vou esquecer.
June 29, 2018
Oof. This was a tough read.
I mean, it was a compelling read, don't get me wrong. I read it voraciously and quickly. It was well written, and flowed smoothly between events occurring in the present, and events that occurred in the past. It was interesting - but heart-wrenching. I felt some things like a punch to the gut. As a mom, this story completely shattered my heart. As a reader, I could not put the book down.
It's definitely reminiscent of Jodi Picoult in that "ripped from the headlines" sort of way, but also a little bit like Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo. That is, there are spiritual themes running through the course of this book. I didn't think it was too much. I thought it was very realistic actually and honestly - the source for all the tears I shed while reading.
In all, this is an incredibly emotional ride. It's a little bit dark, like it wants to be depressing, but there are so many beacons of hope throughout that it never completely crosses into that territory. Still, a tough read, but 100% worth it! ~ Shelly, 4 Stars
I mean, it was a compelling read, don't get me wrong. I read it voraciously and quickly. It was well written, and flowed smoothly between events occurring in the present, and events that occurred in the past. It was interesting - but heart-wrenching. I felt some things like a punch to the gut. As a mom, this story completely shattered my heart. As a reader, I could not put the book down.
It's definitely reminiscent of Jodi Picoult in that "ripped from the headlines" sort of way, but also a little bit like Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo. That is, there are spiritual themes running through the course of this book. I didn't think it was too much. I thought it was very realistic actually and honestly - the source for all the tears I shed while reading.
In all, this is an incredibly emotional ride. It's a little bit dark, like it wants to be depressing, but there are so many beacons of hope throughout that it never completely crosses into that territory. Still, a tough read, but 100% worth it! ~ Shelly, 4 Stars
April 19, 2019
3.5 stars!
Despite the bleak subject matter (drug addiction, death, etc.), this was a fairly easy read. The writing was simple and non-descriptive, but lacked a sense of originality. Like, a lot of the sentences were "filler" sentences, ones I felt as if I'd read before in other books. You know, like the abhorred "she let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding," kind of sentences. Or the literary equivalent of stock photos.
I liked that the author went there when she wrote about the drug scene Beck found himself in when he left home. She stated it plainly and matter-of-fact, because that's just the way it is. She didn't skirt around the dark and the ugly, and I appreciated that.
Overall, I thought it was a touching story about a mother and her son, and the complexities that guilt and shame can create in different people (depression in Natalie's case; addiction in Beck's). There were cheesy, overdone moments, of course, especially toward the end, but it ended on a hopeful note!
Despite the bleak subject matter (drug addiction, death, etc.), this was a fairly easy read. The writing was simple and non-descriptive, but lacked a sense of originality. Like, a lot of the sentences were "filler" sentences, ones I felt as if I'd read before in other books. You know, like the abhorred "she let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding," kind of sentences. Or the literary equivalent of stock photos.
I liked that the author went there when she wrote about the drug scene Beck found himself in when he left home. She stated it plainly and matter-of-fact, because that's just the way it is. She didn't skirt around the dark and the ugly, and I appreciated that.
Overall, I thought it was a touching story about a mother and her son, and the complexities that guilt and shame can create in different people (depression in Natalie's case; addiction in Beck's). There were cheesy, overdone moments, of course, especially toward the end, but it ended on a hopeful note!
July 4, 2018
Saving Beck addresses a major current epidemic we are dealing with as a country, drug addiction and overdosing with heroin, head on. Quite an emotional read, where I found myself in tears at some points of this story. Beck has it all good looking, smart, and quarterback on the varsity football team, taking them to the playoffs and sure to land a major scholarship. A car accident leaves his father dead and his world forever changed, as he spirals out of control
I definitely would recommend this book, it is a heart breaking, emotional ride.
** Special thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. **
I definitely would recommend this book, it is a heart breaking, emotional ride.
** Special thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. **
July 26, 2019
Yesterday I was looking through my bookshelves, needing something different for my reading palate. I came across a copy of Saving Beck by Courtney Cole that I had won in a Goodreads giveaway and completely forgot about. As I was sitting there reading the prologue, with my heart lodged in my throat and tears in my eyes, I decided to continue on with this story. I’m not even kidding when I say, I sat on the floor in front of my bookshelf for two and a half hours completely consumed and unable to let go of this heart wrenching story. Courtney Cole gave me exactly what I was searching for. Unfiltered Honesty.
Now here I sit, in front of my computer, trying to come up with the words to tell you all how much this novel has invaded my every thought and feeling. It’s a difficult task to put into words how much another’s story can mean to a single person, especially when that story is so unbelievably raw and honest. Courtney Cole shows with this story, the other side of the world that we aren’t usually given a glimpse of in literature. The world isn’t always sunflowers and unicorns. Just beyond the fence of fiction, there’s a dark reality that has affected a great majority of the world’s population. That dark reality is addiction.
Saving Beck is the story of a family's journey through this dark reality and how quickly popping two pills can soon lead to an addiction to heroin. This is a story about a mother’s fight through depression after losing her husband in a car accident, in order to save her son from the downward spiral on the wrong path he’s decided to walk.It’s also a story about one teenage son’s need to erase the heartache, the guilt, and the overwhelming anxiety he feels when he thinks back to the accident that claimed his father’s life, the same accident that he caused.
I’m going to lay it all out on the table and say, there wasn’t a moment in this book that didn’t have me wanting to break down and sob like a newborn baby. My heart was completely crushed. Courtney Cole puts it all on the table with this devastating tale. So with that being said, If drug addiction is a trigger for you, I highly recommend you go into this one with your eyes wide open and your heart prepared.
The most important task we are given in life, is to be kind and watch over one another. I’ve always lived my life willing to reach out and offer a helping hand to anyone in need. But in all honesty sometimes I wonder if my generosity is being taken for granted. If my help is going towards something else rather than what it is intended for. My mama always says I’m soft hearted and often at times I’ve been told to harden my heart a little. I never understood what that meant until I flipped to the last page of Saving Beck. I truly understand what it means to have a soft heart just by feeling all the pain that Courtney Cole placed in this story. Even though this story resolves into a happy ending, my heart is crushed for those that haven’t had the happiest of endings.
Overall, my intention for this review is too leave spoilers out but also warn those that find this kind of material triggering. If anyone’s suffered through depression you’ll find these characters are going to be easily relatable and you’ll find the alarming truth of how easy it can be for those that fell under depression to jump on the easy track of addiction. Beck’s story completely broke my heart while Natalie’s shattered the fragile pieces. This may sound overly dramatic but in all honesty, I’ll never be the same after reading Saving Beck. This powerful story dug its way into my heart and into my head. I highly recommend this one to everyone looking for a little inspiration and hope that there is light at the end of the dark abyss.
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The Staircase Reader
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Now here I sit, in front of my computer, trying to come up with the words to tell you all how much this novel has invaded my every thought and feeling. It’s a difficult task to put into words how much another’s story can mean to a single person, especially when that story is so unbelievably raw and honest. Courtney Cole shows with this story, the other side of the world that we aren’t usually given a glimpse of in literature. The world isn’t always sunflowers and unicorns. Just beyond the fence of fiction, there’s a dark reality that has affected a great majority of the world’s population. That dark reality is addiction.
Saving Beck is the story of a family's journey through this dark reality and how quickly popping two pills can soon lead to an addiction to heroin. This is a story about a mother’s fight through depression after losing her husband in a car accident, in order to save her son from the downward spiral on the wrong path he’s decided to walk.It’s also a story about one teenage son’s need to erase the heartache, the guilt, and the overwhelming anxiety he feels when he thinks back to the accident that claimed his father’s life, the same accident that he caused.
I’m going to lay it all out on the table and say, there wasn’t a moment in this book that didn’t have me wanting to break down and sob like a newborn baby. My heart was completely crushed. Courtney Cole puts it all on the table with this devastating tale. So with that being said, If drug addiction is a trigger for you, I highly recommend you go into this one with your eyes wide open and your heart prepared.
The most important task we are given in life, is to be kind and watch over one another. I’ve always lived my life willing to reach out and offer a helping hand to anyone in need. But in all honesty sometimes I wonder if my generosity is being taken for granted. If my help is going towards something else rather than what it is intended for. My mama always says I’m soft hearted and often at times I’ve been told to harden my heart a little. I never understood what that meant until I flipped to the last page of Saving Beck. I truly understand what it means to have a soft heart just by feeling all the pain that Courtney Cole placed in this story. Even though this story resolves into a happy ending, my heart is crushed for those that haven’t had the happiest of endings.
Overall, my intention for this review is too leave spoilers out but also warn those that find this kind of material triggering. If anyone’s suffered through depression you’ll find these characters are going to be easily relatable and you’ll find the alarming truth of how easy it can be for those that fell under depression to jump on the easy track of addiction. Beck’s story completely broke my heart while Natalie’s shattered the fragile pieces. This may sound overly dramatic but in all honesty, I’ll never be the same after reading Saving Beck. This powerful story dug its way into my heart and into my head. I highly recommend this one to everyone looking for a little inspiration and hope that there is light at the end of the dark abyss.
________________
Find me here:
The Staircase Reader
July 8, 2018
4.25 stars
An emotional story about coping with loss and guilt, and the personal battle to rise above the pain.
If you know the author or follow her on FB, then you already know her backstory. If you don't, then it is worth noting that this is a very personal story for her, and as I reader, I could tell by reading it, that it was a cathartic process for her given her personal connection to the sad epidemic of addiction.
This story is told from two POVs, Natalie Kingsley and her son, Beck, who are both struggling with the death of their husband/father, Matt. Natalie's decent into depression is a quick one. Unable to cope with daily tasks, she holes up in her room, with the comfort of Xanax and her husband's cologne. That leaves Beck alone, and sadly, as a high school teenager, responsible for his two younger siblings, Devin and Annabelle. This new responsibility, along with some factors revealed later, begins Beck's own downward spiral.
Initially, I was disappointed with Natalie and her lack of awareness to others grief. But that's the thing about depression, isn't not something that can be controlled and appears from the view of others, as a selfish act. She does have moments of lucidity, but at that point, it was almost too late to help Beck.
It is heartbreaking to read about Beck's path toward addiction. It was clear that he had a number of emotions following the accident. Not just the sadness of losing a father he loved, but the guilt in believing he was responsible. Drugs took those feelings away, and gave him peace.
I've read other addition books, and they are not an easy read. However, the way this was written, both in the past as we learn about the addiction, and in the present as Beck struggles to survive his overdose, there was a sense of hope. With a good support system for both Natalie and Beck, I held on to the belief that he's make it through and get a second chance at life.
There are some religious overtones in the book, but I didn't feel they were overdone or preachy.
Overall, this author delivered a powerful story on a sensitive subject that has become an epidemic in our society. Without sugar coating things, she highlighted how easy it is for one to fall to addiction, and the struggle between giving up and fighting back.
*An ARC was received via NetGalley for an honest review.
For more reviews, visit
An emotional story about coping with loss and guilt, and the personal battle to rise above the pain.
If you know the author or follow her on FB, then you already know her backstory. If you don't, then it is worth noting that this is a very personal story for her, and as I reader, I could tell by reading it, that it was a cathartic process for her given her personal connection to the sad epidemic of addiction.
This story is told from two POVs, Natalie Kingsley and her son, Beck, who are both struggling with the death of their husband/father, Matt. Natalie's decent into depression is a quick one. Unable to cope with daily tasks, she holes up in her room, with the comfort of Xanax and her husband's cologne. That leaves Beck alone, and sadly, as a high school teenager, responsible for his two younger siblings, Devin and Annabelle. This new responsibility, along with some factors revealed later, begins Beck's own downward spiral.
Initially, I was disappointed with Natalie and her lack of awareness to others grief. But that's the thing about depression, isn't not something that can be controlled and appears from the view of others, as a selfish act. She does have moments of lucidity, but at that point, it was almost too late to help Beck.
It is heartbreaking to read about Beck's path toward addiction. It was clear that he had a number of emotions following the accident. Not just the sadness of losing a father he loved, but the guilt in believing he was responsible. Drugs took those feelings away, and gave him peace.
I've read other addition books, and they are not an easy read. However, the way this was written, both in the past as we learn about the addiction, and in the present as Beck struggles to survive his overdose, there was a sense of hope. With a good support system for both Natalie and Beck, I held on to the belief that he's make it through and get a second chance at life.
There are some religious overtones in the book, but I didn't feel they were overdone or preachy.
Overall, this author delivered a powerful story on a sensitive subject that has become an epidemic in our society. Without sugar coating things, she highlighted how easy it is for one to fall to addiction, and the struggle between giving up and fighting back.
*An ARC was received via NetGalley for an honest review.
For more reviews, visit
July 28, 2018
Saving Beck was one of the most emotional books I’ve ever read. I knew going in it was going to be tough. Between the subject matter, and the fact that it is based off a true story, the authors story, I knew I was in for it. To be honest, nothing could have prepared me for the emotions I went through while reading this book.
Reading anything about addiction for me is always heartbreaking. The thing I loved most about Saving Beck was being able to see addiction and what it caused, through two different perspectives. One through Beck who was the addict. And the other through his mother Natalie. Seeing how addiction affected both of their lives in similar and different ways was interesting. My heart broke for Beck because I knew how sad he was, and how far down the hole he had gotten. And my heart hurt for Natalie who had to live everyday distraught by recent events that occurred in her life and coming to terms with the fact that her son was a drug addict.
Beck and Natalie’s story felt real… It was real… It is real. While reading this book, I felt EVERY WORD. Courtney shared her story through these pages, and I knew that. I FELT that.
I don’t really want to give away a single thing that happens in this book. I can’t recommend this enough. It was so powerful. So heartbreaking. So REAL.
Saving Beck is the story of a mother and sons journey through the life of addiction and redemption. Beck and his mother Natalie’s story is one that will stay with me. Their journey through pain and addiction is one I won’t forget.
Courtney, I thank you for sharing this story!
Reading anything about addiction for me is always heartbreaking. The thing I loved most about Saving Beck was being able to see addiction and what it caused, through two different perspectives. One through Beck who was the addict. And the other through his mother Natalie. Seeing how addiction affected both of their lives in similar and different ways was interesting. My heart broke for Beck because I knew how sad he was, and how far down the hole he had gotten. And my heart hurt for Natalie who had to live everyday distraught by recent events that occurred in her life and coming to terms with the fact that her son was a drug addict.
Beck and Natalie’s story felt real… It was real… It is real. While reading this book, I felt EVERY WORD. Courtney shared her story through these pages, and I knew that. I FELT that.
I don’t really want to give away a single thing that happens in this book. I can’t recommend this enough. It was so powerful. So heartbreaking. So REAL.
Saving Beck is the story of a mother and sons journey through the life of addiction and redemption. Beck and his mother Natalie’s story is one that will stay with me. Their journey through pain and addiction is one I won’t forget.
Courtney, I thank you for sharing this story!
September 28, 2020
Such a powerful read, or audiobook in my case. The chapters alternated between the mom, Natalie, and the son, Beck.
They each told their story and their POV on what the last year was like after losing Natalie's husband, and Beck's dad, and how Beck went from trying to escape the pain of his loss by taking Xanax, to harder drugs, and how their lives unraveled out of control.
I think this is a story that could/should be listened to high school students. Sometimes at that age, it's hard to see how your decisions impact yourself and your loved ones.
I also think that this should be read by everyone because I'm sure a lot of people could use a little more compassion when sharing their opinions on users.
An eye-opening story that I highly recommend.
They each told their story and their POV on what the last year was like after losing Natalie's husband, and Beck's dad, and how Beck went from trying to escape the pain of his loss by taking Xanax, to harder drugs, and how their lives unraveled out of control.
I think this is a story that could/should be listened to high school students. Sometimes at that age, it's hard to see how your decisions impact yourself and your loved ones.
I also think that this should be read by everyone because I'm sure a lot of people could use a little more compassion when sharing their opinions on users.
An eye-opening story that I highly recommend.
July 18, 2018
Thank you so much to Gallery Books for providing my free copy of SAVING BECK by Courtney Cole - all opinions are my own.
This is easily one of the best books I’ve read this year. It is exquisitely written and every thought and emotion the characters have come alive on the page.
Beck and his father are on their way to Beck’s dream college, Notre Dame, when tragedy strikes and his father dies. His mother, Natalie, falls into a deep depression, relying on Xanax and wine to ease the pain. Beck is left to pick up the household responsibilities including taking care of his younger siblings. The guilt and grief becomes so overwhelming he eventually ends up addicted to heroin. After disappearing for two months, Beck shows up on their doorstep and collapses from a drug overdose. At the hospital, he is put into a medically induced coma to relieve the swelling on his brain and this is when the story really begins.
The story is told in Beck and Natalie’s perspectives, between the present and past, covering the time frame Beck is in the coma. Cole cleverly takes us to the past to see how exactly this situation came to be. If you’ve ever dealt with addiction in your family, this book will really hit home. It’s incredibly heartbreaking and fantastically well-done. With honesty and raw emotion on each page, I felt all the despair, guilt, and fear on both sides of addiction; it’s a first row seat into this harrowing life. The characters are complex but accessible and draw you in instantly. Beck’s flashback chapters are the most eye opening and hardest to read but my heart went out to him. I have family members that have succumbed to addiction, so I completely sympathize with Natalie and empathize with Beck. Cole brilliantly captures every character perfectly and the story as a whole comes together in the end. SAVING BECK is a stunningly beautiful novel that I recommend to EVERYONE.
This is easily one of the best books I’ve read this year. It is exquisitely written and every thought and emotion the characters have come alive on the page.
Beck and his father are on their way to Beck’s dream college, Notre Dame, when tragedy strikes and his father dies. His mother, Natalie, falls into a deep depression, relying on Xanax and wine to ease the pain. Beck is left to pick up the household responsibilities including taking care of his younger siblings. The guilt and grief becomes so overwhelming he eventually ends up addicted to heroin. After disappearing for two months, Beck shows up on their doorstep and collapses from a drug overdose. At the hospital, he is put into a medically induced coma to relieve the swelling on his brain and this is when the story really begins.
The story is told in Beck and Natalie’s perspectives, between the present and past, covering the time frame Beck is in the coma. Cole cleverly takes us to the past to see how exactly this situation came to be. If you’ve ever dealt with addiction in your family, this book will really hit home. It’s incredibly heartbreaking and fantastically well-done. With honesty and raw emotion on each page, I felt all the despair, guilt, and fear on both sides of addiction; it’s a first row seat into this harrowing life. The characters are complex but accessible and draw you in instantly. Beck’s flashback chapters are the most eye opening and hardest to read but my heart went out to him. I have family members that have succumbed to addiction, so I completely sympathize with Natalie and empathize with Beck. Cole brilliantly captures every character perfectly and the story as a whole comes together in the end. SAVING BECK is a stunningly beautiful novel that I recommend to EVERYONE.
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