Even though I read and fell in love with two of Hannah Moskowitz’s other books, I held off reading her debut, Break until very recently. I honestly was just worried that I wouldn’t love it as much as Invincible Summer and Gone, Gone, Gone, which are both by Hannah and are both absolute favorites of mine. But I am happy to report that Break lived up to Moskowitz’s other novels, and exceeded my expectations.

All of Hannah Moskowitz’s books focus heavily on family, especially sibling relationships. I found Jonah and Jesse’s brotherhood bond to be unlike any I have ever heard or read about. The concept of Break is so unique, even though the fact that Jonah is on a mission to break all of his bones isn’t what this book is really about. That’s a theme I’ve found to be the case with all of Hannah’s books, the plot they are marketed with isn’t what the books actually focus on.

Hannah Moskowitz has such a raw, intense writing style that made me feel as if I was in Jonah’s head the entire time I was reading Break. At one point, while venturing to the kitchen, I actually worried that there would be milk spilled somewhere. You’ll get that when you read the book, which you need to do, like, now.

Jonah is a messed up guy, but he is so easy to relate to, and so easy to care for. He always puts everyone else in his life first, and he is just so loving. Jesse is just as easy to love, and he is so, so real. The other characters, though they don’t have the spotlight Jonah and Jesse do, are multi-dimensional and realistic, and such perfect characters. If I had to pick one thing Hannah Moskowitz does best, it’s definitely characterization.

Break is an outstanding debut novel by one of my favorite writers. I really shouldn’t have put off reading it for this long, and you shouldn’t either. If you want a book that will break you, put you together again, and make you feel, pick up Break.