Thriver

by Julia Joseph

A vicious break up with her high school's quarterback leaves sixteen-year-old Alexis Brewer isolated and with no real friends. Even her widowed father, who channeled his grief into a prodigious military career, doesn't notice the bruises on her arms. Or the terror that stalks her. In order to move forward, she makes the only choice she can-hide her abuse from everyone. Lex knows her plan is far from foolproof, but she must break free from the violence holding her hostage to find some kind of peace. The problem is, she may not remain alive long enough to do it.

262 pages, Paperback

Published February 6, 2019

About the author

Julia Joseph taught Theatre for nine years in Texas middle and high schools, where she wrote and produced three original plays for her students. In 2011, Joseph left teaching to devote all of her energy to her own children and to writing a novel. She earned her B. A. in English Literature and Language with a focus in Drama from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas.

Joseph spends most of her free time reading, writing, and chauffeuring her kids between activities. She lives happily with her husband and two children wherever the Army happens to station them.

Reviews

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 2 out of 5]

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of THRIVER by Julia Joseph in exchange for my honest review.***

When Lexie breaks up with her abusive boyfriend Cal, he isn’t willing to let her go.

My initial impression with THRIVER was distraction from the story due to overwritten prose. An abundance of awkward sounding adjectives seemed as if Julia Joseph had Roget’s Thesaurus in one hand while she wrote with the other.

My second impression is that the school treated dating violence as they would have decades ago, not under current protocols. The trope of the popular, jock fooling everyone including adults still happens today, but two teachers saw evidence of the abuse, believed Lexie and failed to notify her father. The teacher who reported to the counselor simply accepted that he did believe Lexie and wasn’t going to do anything. She didn’t pursue the matter further within the school or with Lexie’s father. The coach gave Lexie a week to tell her father. When safety is at stake, immediate action is needed.

Lexie’s friends were great, better than any of the adults.

Bottom line: THRIVER doesn’t stand out among dating violence books.

[Asher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thriver by Julia Joseph is the story of Alexis (Lexie) Brewer and the aftermath of an explosive and terrifying break-up with her boyfriend, Cal. With a single father who has dedicated all of his time, energy, and attention to an Army career after the death of his wife and Lexie's mother, she is left with nobody to confide in. On her own, Lexie must continue to cautiously maneuver every moment of her time in order to avoid being trapped and alone with her Cal, the ex who won't seem to let her go, even when he's moved on to new prey.

“We don’t even know that Cal will be the same way with her.” I crossed my arms, too, trying to be as stubborn as she was. “Hell, he was still following me down the halls yesterday at lunch."

But to survive in silence, Lexie must actually be able to survive.

Julia Joseph delivers a spine-tingling suspense-filled teen thriller with the release of Thriver. It's rare to read a book that tackles such a disturbing topic as effectively as Joseph has, all the while balancing the issue with the need for a work of fiction to be entertaining. Joseph does both incredibly well, bringing Lexie to life and making Cal feel terrifyingly real. As a man in his early forties, it's safe to say I am not Thriver's target audience...but as the father of a teenage daughter – Lexie's age – I should be.

I'd be lying if I said that parts of this book didn't make me physically ill. Isn't that the point, though? When a story is so engrossing, so compelling that it prompts a physical reaction, you know it's one that needs to be shared with the world.

Review written for Readers' Favorite.

[Myreadbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank The Wild Rose Press and the Netgalley website for this partnership.

I was immediately attracted by the cover of this book which shows the pretty Alexis with her head hidden by her hood.

We can see Alexis, known as Lex, who breaks up with the high school quarterback and finds herself isolated and friendless. Her father, who has a prodigious career as a soldier, doesn't notice the bruises on his daughter's arms. She's consumed with terror. She has to move on, so she will hide her abuse from everyone. She knows that it is far from succeeding but she must release the violence that is eating away at her to live in peace again. But is she going to live long for that?

A book read in one go, I was so captivated by the story, so moving, captivating, addictive, full of suspense and twists and turns with the character of Alexis so endearing. While reading this book I wanted to be next to her character to reassure her, to be close to her to show her that I am there no matter what, to be her friend.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking, honest, and full of insight

Lex Brewer is a young teen girl like so many others. She’s an athlete, a student, a daughter, and finding her way through high school amongst difficult situations.

Lex has a big secret though- she’s fighting to survive her ex boyfriend, to find her life, to thrive. Her story will break your heart and make you question things you’ve seen in your own life.

Julia Joseph has written a powerful story that will suck you in, will tug at your emotions, and will make you want to ensure no one you know ever has to go through what Lex lives through.

[Bookworm LLC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thriver is about a high school girl who lost her mother and her father is a military man who works as much as he can to stop the pain he feels after losing his wife. He doesn't know how to help his daughter with the loss either.

After a friend sees bruises on her body she confronts her, Lex tries to walk away from her abuser but finds its a lot harder than she first thought.

Will Lex be able to break the ties binding her to her abuser? Will she be able to tell her father what is going on in her heart and mind?

Thriver is a great story about abuse by a boyfriend and the strength it takes for Lex to walk away.
A Must Read!

[Sally Maxwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Wild Rose Press for the arc of this book.
It’s nice to see more and more books been written about so called “taboo” subjects, I felt for Alexis from the get go, and anyone who have suffered abuse can relate to how she felt and why she didn’t say anything.
It was good to see she had a couple of friends and teachers who noticed and helped her face her demons and come out fighting. This made me cry, and smile, very well written.

[Barbara Tsipouras · Rating 4 out of 5]

This well-written novel shows the effect of abuse in relationships, physical an mental, and how difficult it can be to get out of such a relationship. The help of friends and in this case of adults is crucial.
The suspenseful story makes it a good read for victims who will relate in a special way and see that they're not alone or mentally ill as well as for their friends and peers.

[Katja Bozeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put the book down. Very captivating! It took me 2 days to read and would definitely recommend.