Book Review: Barely Breathing

Book Details

Author: Rebecca Donovan

File Size: 740 KB

Print Length: 420 pages

Summary:

Emma’s struggle with an abusive home life came to heart pounding conclusion in the final chapters of "Reason to Breathe". Now everyone in Weslyn knows Emma’s secret, but Carol can’t hurt Emma anymore. Some are still haunted by the horror of that night, and some must face the repercussions of their choices. Fans of Rebecca Donovan’s debut novel will discover there’s still much to learn about Emma’s life.

Review:

Rating: 4/5

If the first book had me breathless at the end of the novel: The whole book is a torture. It had me on a roller coaster ride.

Emma is almost still the same, she would prefer to keep everything to herself, denying to have problems and loves to make herself an emotional punching bag of people she loved (or more likely wouldn't like to hurt). She has a real friend (Sara)

Evan - he's a wonderful boyfriend. A kind of boy you would want to take home to mommy. He's understanding, sweet, a knight in shining armor and he would do everything for Emma. She probably doesn't deserve him for the things she did - but it doesn't matter, Emma deserves her happy ending for everything she have been through. I just wished she knew what she's throwing away.

There's Sara who's always been her friend, and is always there for her. She was a bit bitchy in one part of this novel, nevertheless - she too had her happy ending.

Rachel - I couldn't imagine what kind of mother would do something like that to a child. She was unstable and has problems dealing with her issues and grief. The surprise visitor in the middle of the book will give readers an inkling on what she really is and what she has been through. What happened the day Emma was left with George and suffer for five years.

Plus, Donovan also had her readers FINALLY know what happened that night at the end of book 1. How Emma survived the ordeal and how Evan came into the rescue.

There's Jonathan. At first I couldn't place him - does he belong to the villains or to the heroes? But in the end, one single scene finally made up my mind and I have placed him in the group which he clearly belongs.

Barely Breathing tells readers about the aftermath of surviving abuse. It shows that it just doesn't end when the abuser is locked up behind bars. There are aftermaths to consider and to be carefully take into consideration. It also tells its readers that it is okay to ask for help if you need it - to be careful whom to trust, to see and decipher who are your real friends and the people you need to be careful with. Pain often makes people blind and push people away. It may make them feel they're saving the people they love from the pain they feel - but they just shove them away. Breaking relationships rather than making them stronger.

The ending was a major cliff-hanger. For people who are lovers of happily-ever-after, then you just have to wait for the last book to be published. Rebecca Donovan is the single author who made my stomach quench while reading a book. It was uncomfortable, but I didn't stop until I finished it. I wanted to know what will happened next, by the time I was on the last page, I groaned in frustration. (The cliffhanger is that baaad!!!)

I wish Emma would change in the next book and realize she's blessed compared to other people who have experienced the same thing she did. I would expect a happy ending for everyone.