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Breaking Beautiful
Allie lost everything the night her boyfriend, Trip, died in a horrible car accident—including her memory of the event. As their small town mourns his death, Allie is afraid to remember because doing so means delving into what she’s kept hidden for so long: the horrible reality of their abusive relationship.
When the police reopen the investigation, it casts suspicion on Allie and her best friend, Blake, especially as their budding romance raises eyebrows around town. Allie knows she must tell the truth. Can she reach deep enough to remember that night so she can finally break free? Debut writer Jennifer Shaw Wolf takes readers on an emotional ride through the murky waters of love, shame, and, ultimately, forgiveness.
When the police reopen the investigation, it casts suspicion on Allie and her best friend, Blake, especially as their budding romance raises eyebrows around town. Allie knows she must tell the truth. Can she reach deep enough to remember that night so she can finally break free? Debut writer Jennifer Shaw Wolf takes readers on an emotional ride through the murky waters of love, shame, and, ultimately, forgiveness.
354 pages, Hardcover
First published April 24, 2012
125 people are currently reading
10057 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Shaw Wolf
17 books303 followersI grew up on a farm in the tiny town of St. Anthony, Idaho. I spent cold Idaho mornings milking cows in the dark and attended a school where Hunter’s Education was part of the sixth grade curriculum. I've always been a writer, whether it was sewing together books to read to her little brothers or starting an underground newspaper in sixth grade. She met the love of her life at Ricks College, (now BYU Idaho), after he dropped her on her head. I graduated from Ricks and then Brigham Young University, Provo with a degree in Broadcast Communications. Now she lives in beautiful, green, (rainy) Lacey, Washington with her husband and four kids. She loves to produce videos, ski, ride horses, and read, but really all she has time for is chasing kids and writing.
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May 13, 2012
Breaking Beautiful was the first book dealing with abusive relationships that I've read. The subject matter always made me leery, because it could so easily be done incorrectly. But I liked the fact that this book involved a mystery: Allie's boyfriend, Trip, is dead, and Allie can't remember what happened that night. She is automatically looked at with suspicion because she survived and he did not. It doesn't help that Trip is seen as a perfect boyfriend, and was extremely popular in their small town. (It also doesn't help that his father is loaded and single-handedly brought tourism back to the town, rejuvenating it.) But the reader - and Allie - are aware of the darker side of Trip: the fact that, when he got angry - which was quite often - he'd take that anger out on Allie. Allie is afraid to say anything, though, because she doesn't want people to know what Trip did, mostly because she fears that they'd never believe her (and that it would just make her look even more guilty regarding his death). Allie spends much of this book afraid: afraid to remember, afraid to tell anyone the truth, afraid of what others think about her. The book encompasses Allie's journey as she tries to move on, and also her growth as a character.
One other thing I loved about this book was Allie's relationship with her twin brother, Andrew, who has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair. Allie tries so hard to protect Andrew, because she feels like he isn't as strong as she is, but in truth it was Andrew who was the strongest character in the story. I loved seeing their little talks, the flashbacks to when he tried to help her with Trip, and just their little day-to-day conversations and the way they lived their lives and interacted with each other. This was a really great sibling relationship, and was probably one of the strengths of the book. I also thoroughly enjoyed Blake, and the way we got to see what his and Allie's relationship looked like prior to her meeting Trip. I also loved the fact that, to Blake, Andrew was just another person and wasn't anything strange or different because of his disability (and I ADORED Caitlyn, the girl Andrew starts dating during the book). Blake was such a great character: fully developed, with an interesting back story, who's dealing with a number of things that no one knows about. He's aware of what others think about him, and doesn't care. The only person he cares about is Allie, and I give him so much credit for never giving up on her, even when she treated him horribly. I liked the slow development of his relationship with her, his little insights into what she's thinking, and how he just really cared about her from the very beginning. Their relationship was so well-developed that by the time they were "together" it was just perfect, including Allie's insecurities and worries about what the relationship might imply to others.
The abuse was dealt with in a really realistic way: you see the flashbacks of what Trip did to Allie (aside from the accident that killed him), you hear her inner monologues in which she puts herself down, and you see her reactions when people raise a hand to her (even if they're not going to hit her), or get angry with her. Her whole personality screams, "I've been abused," and it's kind of amazing that no one realized what was going on. There were so many lines that just really spoke to me: "I glance around out of habit, to see if anyone is watching before I approach [Blake]," (10%), "[Trip would] get mad if I had something to do that didn't involve him," (14%), "With Trip around, I was isolated from the rest of the school, but I was isolated with him for company. Now I'm just alone," (34%). And then there was the box of her mementos that absolutely screamed "this is what an abusive relationship looks like!" You had the apology letters - "I'm sorry, I'll never do it again, please forgive me, I didn't mean it, etc," and the expensive gifts to make up for when he hurt her. You had all the pictures in which she didn't ever really look happy, or looked horribly stressed out. The whole thing just really made me so sad for her, especially her overwhelming fear and the way she'd changed her entire life for this one guy who treated her so badly. And the fact that she believed him when he'd put her down, and how she wouldn't believe Blake when he said something nice about her just really broke my heart.
And throughout all of this, you have the overarching mystery of what happened the night Trip died. Allie is being followed, is receiving threatening letters, and is really struggling to figure out what happened to her (and is torn about whether she even wants to know what happened). I felt like the mystery was really well written, because I was just as confused as Allie was and had no idea how everything was going to turn out. I just really wanted Allie to find the strength to remember, to free herself from Trip's memory, and to start realizing that she was so much better than he'd wanted her to think she was. And most of all I wanted her to realize just how perfect Blake was for her, and how much he cared for her.
Everything about this book was so well done, and I've gone on about what I liked so much you're probably wondering why I took a star off. The truth is that this book starts kind of slowly; I didn't find myself really engrossed until about 40% into the narrative. But once I hit that point, the book was hard to put down, as I just wanted to know what was going to happen, and what the truth about Trip's death was. I stayed up far too late last night to finish it, because I got to the point where I couldn't stop reading. Even with the darker subject matter, there is a lot of hope in this book, not only hope for Allie to heal, but hope that everything will work out for the best. All in all this was a really fabulous debut novel.
Breaking Beautiful is now available in North America from the bookseller of your choice. I highly recommend you pick up a copy.
An e-galley was provided by the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Quotes taken from an uncorrected e-galley.
One other thing I loved about this book was Allie's relationship with her twin brother, Andrew, who has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair. Allie tries so hard to protect Andrew, because she feels like he isn't as strong as she is, but in truth it was Andrew who was the strongest character in the story. I loved seeing their little talks, the flashbacks to when he tried to help her with Trip, and just their little day-to-day conversations and the way they lived their lives and interacted with each other. This was a really great sibling relationship, and was probably one of the strengths of the book. I also thoroughly enjoyed Blake, and the way we got to see what his and Allie's relationship looked like prior to her meeting Trip. I also loved the fact that, to Blake, Andrew was just another person and wasn't anything strange or different because of his disability (and I ADORED Caitlyn, the girl Andrew starts dating during the book). Blake was such a great character: fully developed, with an interesting back story, who's dealing with a number of things that no one knows about. He's aware of what others think about him, and doesn't care. The only person he cares about is Allie, and I give him so much credit for never giving up on her, even when she treated him horribly. I liked the slow development of his relationship with her, his little insights into what she's thinking, and how he just really cared about her from the very beginning. Their relationship was so well-developed that by the time they were "together" it was just perfect, including Allie's insecurities and worries about what the relationship might imply to others.
The abuse was dealt with in a really realistic way: you see the flashbacks of what Trip did to Allie (aside from the accident that killed him), you hear her inner monologues in which she puts herself down, and you see her reactions when people raise a hand to her (even if they're not going to hit her), or get angry with her. Her whole personality screams, "I've been abused," and it's kind of amazing that no one realized what was going on. There were so many lines that just really spoke to me: "I glance around out of habit, to see if anyone is watching before I approach [Blake]," (10%), "[Trip would] get mad if I had something to do that didn't involve him," (14%), "With Trip around, I was isolated from the rest of the school, but I was isolated with him for company. Now I'm just alone," (34%). And then there was the box of her mementos that absolutely screamed "this is what an abusive relationship looks like!" You had the apology letters - "I'm sorry, I'll never do it again, please forgive me, I didn't mean it, etc," and the expensive gifts to make up for when he hurt her. You had all the pictures in which she didn't ever really look happy, or looked horribly stressed out. The whole thing just really made me so sad for her, especially her overwhelming fear and the way she'd changed her entire life for this one guy who treated her so badly. And the fact that she believed him when he'd put her down, and how she wouldn't believe Blake when he said something nice about her just really broke my heart.
And throughout all of this, you have the overarching mystery of what happened the night Trip died. Allie is being followed, is receiving threatening letters, and is really struggling to figure out what happened to her (and is torn about whether she even wants to know what happened). I felt like the mystery was really well written, because I was just as confused as Allie was and had no idea how everything was going to turn out. I just really wanted Allie to find the strength to remember, to free herself from Trip's memory, and to start realizing that she was so much better than he'd wanted her to think she was. And most of all I wanted her to realize just how perfect Blake was for her, and how much he cared for her.
Everything about this book was so well done, and I've gone on about what I liked so much you're probably wondering why I took a star off. The truth is that this book starts kind of slowly; I didn't find myself really engrossed until about 40% into the narrative. But once I hit that point, the book was hard to put down, as I just wanted to know what was going to happen, and what the truth about Trip's death was. I stayed up far too late last night to finish it, because I got to the point where I couldn't stop reading. Even with the darker subject matter, there is a lot of hope in this book, not only hope for Allie to heal, but hope that everything will work out for the best. All in all this was a really fabulous debut novel.
Breaking Beautiful is now available in North America from the bookseller of your choice. I highly recommend you pick up a copy.
An e-galley was provided by the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Quotes taken from an uncorrected e-galley.
March 29, 2012
1.5.
Breaking Beautiful had potential, but it didn't fulfill it. The book takes on a number of big things while trying to also weave in a mystery, but it never successfully executes either.
Allie's been in a car accident, and it left her boyfriend Trip dead. Details of the event are sketchy, and the new detective in town (a good looking 28-year-old that Allie's girlenemy has a thing for) is out to solve the case. That's the mystery, and Allie, as the only person who was at the scene of the accident, holds the keys to solving what happened and spilling why Trip died.
The relationship Allie and Trip had wasn't a good one. I'm somewhat manipulated as a reader to just buy it because it's a topic you can't and shouldn't question (because this behavior IS bad) but more problematically, because it's the only thing we ever learn about Trip. Interestingly, I found the detective in the story to be equally as problematic for the same reasons -- he's billed as another bad guy, and he never defies that role.
However, my biggest problem with the book was how uninteresting and lifeless Allie is. She's been through something huge and traumatic, but she has absolutely no agency nor any emotional response in the story. Has none in her relationship with Trip (as far as I can tell through the flashbacks) and she has none afterward. Even when . That scene disappointed me immensely because there was an opportunity for her to step up to the challenge, but she doesn't. Allie instead relied on everyone else to pull her through. There was no arc to her character.
I never fully bought the romance or feelings between Allie and Blake, neither before the accident (as told through Allie's memory) nor after (as seen straight on from the reader).
A few other things didn't quite work for me. First, the twin-connection between Allie and Andrew never felt real. They got along well, but I wouldn't necessarily call them very close, partially because Allie is so self-absorbed. The lack of building their relationship made the mystery-solving feel convenient rather than interesting. Secondary characters, including James and Hannah, were flat and didn't advance the plot. They never became real stakes in the game. Likewise, the small town set up, which plays a pretty decent role in solving the mystery, never felt like it mattered a whole lot. The development was slight and ineffective. Finally, I had problems with Blake's convoluted past, as it wasn't at all necessary to the plot, and (which I mention because her parents were wishy washy in the entire story and adding that on top of it made them even more problematic).
Overall, I wasn't surprised nor engaged in the story. None of the characters mattered to me because none of them seemed to matter to each other nor do the plot as a whole. They didn't elicit any sort of emotional reaction or investment. I kept reading hoping for the moment to come, but it never did.
Breaking Beautiful had potential, but it didn't fulfill it. The book takes on a number of big things while trying to also weave in a mystery, but it never successfully executes either.
Allie's been in a car accident, and it left her boyfriend Trip dead. Details of the event are sketchy, and the new detective in town (a good looking 28-year-old that Allie's girlenemy has a thing for) is out to solve the case. That's the mystery, and Allie, as the only person who was at the scene of the accident, holds the keys to solving what happened and spilling why Trip died.
The relationship Allie and Trip had wasn't a good one. I'm somewhat manipulated as a reader to just buy it because it's a topic you can't and shouldn't question (because this behavior IS bad) but more problematically, because it's the only thing we ever learn about Trip. Interestingly, I found the detective in the story to be equally as problematic for the same reasons -- he's billed as another bad guy, and he never defies that role.
However, my biggest problem with the book was how uninteresting and lifeless Allie is. She's been through something huge and traumatic, but she has absolutely no agency nor any emotional response in the story. Has none in her relationship with Trip (as far as I can tell through the flashbacks) and she has none afterward. Even when . That scene disappointed me immensely because there was an opportunity for her to step up to the challenge, but she doesn't. Allie instead relied on everyone else to pull her through. There was no arc to her character.
I never fully bought the romance or feelings between Allie and Blake, neither before the accident (as told through Allie's memory) nor after (as seen straight on from the reader).
A few other things didn't quite work for me. First, the twin-connection between Allie and Andrew never felt real. They got along well, but I wouldn't necessarily call them very close, partially because Allie is so self-absorbed. The lack of building their relationship made the mystery-solving feel convenient rather than interesting. Secondary characters, including James and Hannah, were flat and didn't advance the plot. They never became real stakes in the game. Likewise, the small town set up, which plays a pretty decent role in solving the mystery, never felt like it mattered a whole lot. The development was slight and ineffective. Finally, I had problems with Blake's convoluted past, as it wasn't at all necessary to the plot, and (which I mention because her parents were wishy washy in the entire story and adding that on top of it made them even more problematic).
Overall, I wasn't surprised nor engaged in the story. None of the characters mattered to me because none of them seemed to matter to each other nor do the plot as a whole. They didn't elicit any sort of emotional reaction or investment. I kept reading hoping for the moment to come, but it never did.
March 29, 2012
Every once in awhile I come across a story that just stays with me. The characters, plot, setting all of it. IT doesn’t happen very often so when it does I am just completely blown away and I just want to hold the book forever. That is what happened with Breaking Beautiful. I even dreamed about waves, cliffs, and caves the night I finished it that is how much this book affected me.
The story is about Allie, a girl having to come to terms with the death of her boyfriend Trip. She was in the car the night he died and she has multiple injuries and no memory of what happened. Everyone wants to know what happened and some are even pointing fingers at her the girl who didn’t deserve the most popular guy in school. What they don’t know is that Allie has secrets and she wants nothing more than to keep those secrets hidden because she is not sure that her little town is ready for who Trip really was behind closed doors.
I have read several abuse stories and none has gotten to me like this one. I think the way her relationship with Trip unfolded really brought the reader in. You get bits and pieces of Trip and the memories that Allie remembers throughout the book. It is just enough to terrify you and show you had broken their relationship was. On the flip of all this is Blake her childhood friend and her brother Andrew. Again I have no idea how to begin talking about these two guys. They are so much more than just characters. I really appreciate that the author didn’t go in a certain direction with Andrew and when you read this book you will understand what I mean. The story has enough drama in it that I don’t think certain things were needed and Ms.Wolf went the best route with Andrew. Major props for that one! I loved both guys and they are both on my top 5 heros of all time.
I want to gush about this book and tell everyone I know to read it. It is not a perfect story and there are a lot of scary and intense moments but sometimes we need that when we read, not everything can be sunshine and rainbows. This shows that there is light at the end of the cave and I cannot wait to read more from Jennifer Shaw Wolf. She is brilliant!
The story is about Allie, a girl having to come to terms with the death of her boyfriend Trip. She was in the car the night he died and she has multiple injuries and no memory of what happened. Everyone wants to know what happened and some are even pointing fingers at her the girl who didn’t deserve the most popular guy in school. What they don’t know is that Allie has secrets and she wants nothing more than to keep those secrets hidden because she is not sure that her little town is ready for who Trip really was behind closed doors.
I have read several abuse stories and none has gotten to me like this one. I think the way her relationship with Trip unfolded really brought the reader in. You get bits and pieces of Trip and the memories that Allie remembers throughout the book. It is just enough to terrify you and show you had broken their relationship was. On the flip of all this is Blake her childhood friend and her brother Andrew. Again I have no idea how to begin talking about these two guys. They are so much more than just characters. I really appreciate that the author didn’t go in a certain direction with Andrew and when you read this book you will understand what I mean. The story has enough drama in it that I don’t think certain things were needed and Ms.Wolf went the best route with Andrew. Major props for that one! I loved both guys and they are both on my top 5 heros of all time.
I want to gush about this book and tell everyone I know to read it. It is not a perfect story and there are a lot of scary and intense moments but sometimes we need that when we read, not everything can be sunshine and rainbows. This shows that there is light at the end of the cave and I cannot wait to read more from Jennifer Shaw Wolf. She is brilliant!
mine-to-read
May 6, 2012Dear Patricia,
if you're reading this it means you're giving into your narcissistic urges and read your own reviews. That is okay, although I advice you to go to a therapist. Now.
Still here? Well then: You want to read this book. It's not just one you added, but one you want to read, because it's much suspense, and romance, and about a girl that can't remember how her boyfriend died. (Btw, you wanted to read Pregnasia!)
And she was actually in an abusive relationship with him, and now there is someone else and maybe they killed him! Or maybe not. I don't know what the blurb is trying to imply here, but you want to read it and you like the shoes on the cover.
Sincerely,
Patricia
if you're reading this it means you're giving into your narcissistic urges and read your own reviews. That is okay, although I advice you to go to a therapist. Now.
Still here? Well then: You want to read this book. It's not just one you added, but one you want to read, because it's much suspense, and romance, and about a girl that can't remember how her boyfriend died. (Btw, you wanted to read Pregnasia!)
And she was actually in an abusive relationship with him, and now there is someone else and maybe they killed him! Or maybe not. I don't know what the blurb is trying to imply here, but you want to read it and you like the shoes on the cover.
Sincerely,
Patricia
April 22, 2012
I've always tended to stay away from abusive type books. They've never been an escape that I looked forward to, but there is something incredibly consuming about Breaking Beautiful that had me drawn to it's story.
Not only does this have a beautiful cover, but it has a heartbreaking story inside that had the power to pull at my heart strings.
I really don't know what I can say about this book. Jennifer Shaw Wolf is an amazing writing. The way she moved this story along was so perfectly paced. It wasn't dulled down or dragged out. I was hooked from the first sentence, on.
All these characters were just as amazing. I hated what Allie had to go through. I loved how Blake was the constant in her life and I adored Allie's brother Andrew so so much. Trip was an ass. Period.
The story-line has an incredible mix of thriller, mystery and a bubbling romance between old friends. But it's the ending, the whodunit revelation that had me completely floored. Did not see that coming. Brilliant move!
All in all, I really loved this book, I can even see myself reading it again and again and that saying something.
Powerful, Raw, Beautiful.
A sensational debut!
(Special thanks to Amber for sharing your arc!)
Not only does this have a beautiful cover, but it has a heartbreaking story inside that had the power to pull at my heart strings.
I really don't know what I can say about this book. Jennifer Shaw Wolf is an amazing writing. The way she moved this story along was so perfectly paced. It wasn't dulled down or dragged out. I was hooked from the first sentence, on.
All these characters were just as amazing. I hated what Allie had to go through. I loved how Blake was the constant in her life and I adored Allie's brother Andrew so so much. Trip was an ass. Period.
The story-line has an incredible mix of thriller, mystery and a bubbling romance between old friends. But it's the ending, the whodunit revelation that had me completely floored. Did not see that coming. Brilliant move!
All in all, I really loved this book, I can even see myself reading it again and again and that saying something.
Powerful, Raw, Beautiful.
A sensational debut!
(Special thanks to Amber for sharing your arc!)
April 10, 2012
The magic genie predicts this book will get lots of hype before it's all said and done. I am suprised this is not insanely popular. If you are looking for something realistic amoungst all the dystopians, check this bad boy out.
Spoilers ahead:
This is a tragic tale of a young guy dying in a car accident. It's not tragic because he dies, he is a royal A-hole! It's tragic for his girlfriend that is left behind. Unknown to everyone around her, her boyfriend Trip was abusive. He had a terrible temper and took it out on her. When she finally has enough of his crap it winds up being the same night he is discovered dead. The town, especially his friends suspect Allie killed him. At times, you as the reader can't help but feel like she probably should have. His voice booms into her mind, he haunts her. Her only reprieve is her twin brother Andrew and her "friend" Blake.
This is a who-done-it throughout the whole thing. We can't help but suspect just about everyone. Was is Blake? Was it Allie? Was is an accident?
When we finally found out who the "killer" was I was 100% shocked. I understand the why, but I am still having to hold my jaw up!
Now, I love, love, love Blake! I rooted for him the whole time and I'm glad at the ending we got! I hate Trip..... people like that need to go away!
Rating: 4 stars
I would give it 5, but I hated the parents in this book. They were there, but they were very transparant. The mom was pushy and superficial. They both seemed emotionally shut off. The communication was not good. Other than that, this book was just great.
Content: deals with abuse, death, arson, bullying....
Spoilers ahead:
This is a tragic tale of a young guy dying in a car accident. It's not tragic because he dies, he is a royal A-hole! It's tragic for his girlfriend that is left behind. Unknown to everyone around her, her boyfriend Trip was abusive. He had a terrible temper and took it out on her. When she finally has enough of his crap it winds up being the same night he is discovered dead. The town, especially his friends suspect Allie killed him. At times, you as the reader can't help but feel like she probably should have. His voice booms into her mind, he haunts her. Her only reprieve is her twin brother Andrew and her "friend" Blake.
This is a who-done-it throughout the whole thing. We can't help but suspect just about everyone. Was is Blake? Was it Allie? Was is an accident?
When we finally found out who the "killer" was I was 100% shocked. I understand the why, but I am still having to hold my jaw up!
Now, I love, love, love Blake! I rooted for him the whole time and I'm glad at the ending we got! I hate Trip..... people like that need to go away!
Rating: 4 stars
I would give it 5, but I hated the parents in this book. They were there, but they were very transparant. The mom was pushy and superficial. They both seemed emotionally shut off. The communication was not good. Other than that, this book was just great.
Content: deals with abuse, death, arson, bullying....
March 21, 2012
I am sure that I will probably one of the only ones who didn't care for this book so much but I have to give my honest opinion. It wasn't that it was a bad book, it was pretty good but the main character drove me crazy! There were SO many times I wanted to smack her.
The story starts with Allie recovering from a car accident that killed her boyfriend and left her scarred. Everyone is asking her what happened but she has no memory of anything that led up to the accident. She only knows what people have told her: her boyfriend's truck went over the cliff into the ocean and she someone made it out of the truck before it went over. Some say that Trip (her boyfriend) pushed her out to save her while others say she jumped.
Allie hasn't been back to school yet and is obviously very depressed. Her parents and her twin brother (who suffers from Cerebral Palsy) finally make her go back and she is surrounded by friends that she never had before the accident. Now she has to figure out who her real friends are and what really happened that tragic night.
Allie was so weak in my opinion! Throughout the story we see snip-its of her relationship with Trip and we find out that Trip is not really the golden boy everyone thinks he is. Sure, he comes from the wealthiest family in town and he is super popular but underneath all that is a violent streak. What I didn't like about this book was that even though Trip and Allie were together for only a year (maybe a little more) and still in high school, everyone was acting like Allie was some widow and her husband of YEARS had died. Even Allie! She couldn't talk to other boys because what would "other people" think? She couldn't date anyone else or be happy or have any fun because the people in town might think it was too soon. Excuse me? It's sad yes but she was a teenager! There is no set amount of "mourning" time. It was really ridiculous. Allie also annoyed me with how she blamed herself for everything. Towards the end of the book, Allie makes a decision that is so terribly weak and I almost quit reading the book altogether. However, after a short break, I picked it up again and finished it. I was mad at how inconsiderate Allie was and how she put Blake is so much danger but it worked out.
I loved Blake. He was Allie's friend from when they were little and Allie would visit her grandma. After Allie's family moves to Pacific Cliffs and Allie starts to date Trip, her relationship with Blake ends. Now that Trip is gone, she turns to Blake to help her get through school but of course, only in secret because no one can know she might have a friend and be happy. Blake was a rebel and a bad boy but deep down he was caring and protective.
Andrew is Allie's twin brother. He suffers from Cerebral Palsy from lack of oxygen when they were born (of course, Allie blames herself for this). He doesn't feel sorry for himself however and makes the best out of school and what he is able to do. He gets a girlfriend and is not shy about going to school dances or anything. He is just happy. He loves his sister very much and really tries to protect her and keep her safe.
Caitlyn is Andrew's girlfriend and I enjoyed her eccentric personality. She was quirky and likes Andrew despite his handicap. She helps take care of him and makes sure he has fun at parties and dances. I loved her sense of style and how she just really didn't care what others thought. I thought that Allie could learn a lot from her!
The story touches on some very serious subjects and deals with them pretty well. I just got tired of the self-blame, self-pity and secrecy. I also got tired of how everyone in town thought Allie (an 18-year-old girl) should be in mourning for a long time. It just seemed ridiculous. The person behind all the notes Allie gets is odd too. I can't say much because I don't want to tell you who it was but really? I didn't understand why this person would go to all this trouble and why they would care. It was strange.
So, this wasn't my favorite and I won't be rushing out to buy it (or even buy it at all) but it wasn't horrible. It was a book that dealt with a lot and was a somewhat fast read.
The story starts with Allie recovering from a car accident that killed her boyfriend and left her scarred. Everyone is asking her what happened but she has no memory of anything that led up to the accident. She only knows what people have told her: her boyfriend's truck went over the cliff into the ocean and she someone made it out of the truck before it went over. Some say that Trip (her boyfriend) pushed her out to save her while others say she jumped.
Allie hasn't been back to school yet and is obviously very depressed. Her parents and her twin brother (who suffers from Cerebral Palsy) finally make her go back and she is surrounded by friends that she never had before the accident. Now she has to figure out who her real friends are and what really happened that tragic night.
Allie was so weak in my opinion! Throughout the story we see snip-its of her relationship with Trip and we find out that Trip is not really the golden boy everyone thinks he is. Sure, he comes from the wealthiest family in town and he is super popular but underneath all that is a violent streak. What I didn't like about this book was that even though Trip and Allie were together for only a year (maybe a little more) and still in high school, everyone was acting like Allie was some widow and her husband of YEARS had died. Even Allie! She couldn't talk to other boys because what would "other people" think? She couldn't date anyone else or be happy or have any fun because the people in town might think it was too soon. Excuse me? It's sad yes but she was a teenager! There is no set amount of "mourning" time. It was really ridiculous. Allie also annoyed me with how she blamed herself for everything. Towards the end of the book, Allie makes a decision that is so terribly weak and I almost quit reading the book altogether. However, after a short break, I picked it up again and finished it. I was mad at how inconsiderate Allie was and how she put Blake is so much danger but it worked out.
I loved Blake. He was Allie's friend from when they were little and Allie would visit her grandma. After Allie's family moves to Pacific Cliffs and Allie starts to date Trip, her relationship with Blake ends. Now that Trip is gone, she turns to Blake to help her get through school but of course, only in secret because no one can know she might have a friend and be happy. Blake was a rebel and a bad boy but deep down he was caring and protective.
Andrew is Allie's twin brother. He suffers from Cerebral Palsy from lack of oxygen when they were born (of course, Allie blames herself for this). He doesn't feel sorry for himself however and makes the best out of school and what he is able to do. He gets a girlfriend and is not shy about going to school dances or anything. He is just happy. He loves his sister very much and really tries to protect her and keep her safe.
Caitlyn is Andrew's girlfriend and I enjoyed her eccentric personality. She was quirky and likes Andrew despite his handicap. She helps take care of him and makes sure he has fun at parties and dances. I loved her sense of style and how she just really didn't care what others thought. I thought that Allie could learn a lot from her!
The story touches on some very serious subjects and deals with them pretty well. I just got tired of the self-blame, self-pity and secrecy. I also got tired of how everyone in town thought Allie (an 18-year-old girl) should be in mourning for a long time. It just seemed ridiculous. The person behind all the notes Allie gets is odd too. I can't say much because I don't want to tell you who it was but really? I didn't understand why this person would go to all this trouble and why they would care. It was strange.
So, this wasn't my favorite and I won't be rushing out to buy it (or even buy it at all) but it wasn't horrible. It was a book that dealt with a lot and was a somewhat fast read.
July 21, 2014
Breaking Beautiful is about a girl, Allie, whose boyfriend Trip died in a car crash. She was with him, she survived and she doesn’t remember anything. The problem is her boyfriend abused her, a secret she never told anyone. She only wants to forget, but people in her small town are not letting her. They’re blaming her for his death… Now she’s struggling with freeing herself from Trip, with healing, with growing feelings for her best friend Blake and with the stares and whispers of people around her.
Halfway through this book I already knew I’m giving it 5 stars. This book is perfect. I liked everything: the characters, the plot, the feelings, the relationships… Allie’s relationship with her mom, whom mostly cares about appearance, with her strict dad and with her sick twin brother. All these relationships within her family shaped Allie into what she became, into letting Trip use her.
This book just kept me on the edge, I could not put it down. I was so engrossed with it, with all Allie felt, with suspicions and doubt and the guilt. I just wanted to know what happened. I wanted Allie to remember. And all what Allie felt was described so perfectly, I really understand what it’s like for abused persons now. “Why didn’t they say something?” All she felt: the pain, the guilt, the shame…
Usually, while reading a book, we’re always bothered with something the main character did. Here, not one decision Allie made did make me annoyed with her, not even when she cared for other people’s opinions (at the beginning). It was a remain of her old self, the one that belonged to Trip.
So, this book is truly amazing, a true story I would recommend to anyone.
Breaking Beautiful is a real, emotional, gripping story about letting go, forgiving yourself and moving on. About dealing with the bully and learning to trust someone.
Halfway through this book I already knew I’m giving it 5 stars. This book is perfect. I liked everything: the characters, the plot, the feelings, the relationships… Allie’s relationship with her mom, whom mostly cares about appearance, with her strict dad and with her sick twin brother. All these relationships within her family shaped Allie into what she became, into letting Trip use her.
This book just kept me on the edge, I could not put it down. I was so engrossed with it, with all Allie felt, with suspicions and doubt and the guilt. I just wanted to know what happened. I wanted Allie to remember. And all what Allie felt was described so perfectly, I really understand what it’s like for abused persons now. “Why didn’t they say something?” All she felt: the pain, the guilt, the shame…
Usually, while reading a book, we’re always bothered with something the main character did. Here, not one decision Allie made did make me annoyed with her, not even when she cared for other people’s opinions (at the beginning). It was a remain of her old self, the one that belonged to Trip.
So, this book is truly amazing, a true story I would recommend to anyone.
Breaking Beautiful is a real, emotional, gripping story about letting go, forgiving yourself and moving on. About dealing with the bully and learning to trust someone.
May 1, 2012
Rating: Sud-Kissed
Source: NetGalley
my thoughts in a few sentences: Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf was a striking surprise, a contemporary read that reaches in and filleted my heart with slashing memories and circumstances that aggravate frustrated tears until they were falling everywhere. Have you ever watched the movie for or read the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson? The searing frustration on behalf of Melinda directed at the few people in her life who judge, mistreat, and refuse to believe her came rushing back to me in Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf. Allie’s telling quiet, instinctive flinches, and disloyal "friends" and family who have looked the other way while she was cut down and broken up in so many ways ignited my already boiling emotions to brimming. A gripping story with an engaging mystery, rending moments, and precious characters, Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf is a wonderfully-written and brutal tale of secrets refusing to stay under and a girl with nothing left but to move forward.
Full Review on My Blog »
GIVEAWAY ALERT*// A copy of Breaking Beautiful for US residents is available on my blog here!!!
Source: NetGalley
my thoughts in a few sentences: Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf was a striking surprise, a contemporary read that reaches in and filleted my heart with slashing memories and circumstances that aggravate frustrated tears until they were falling everywhere. Have you ever watched the movie for or read the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson? The searing frustration on behalf of Melinda directed at the few people in her life who judge, mistreat, and refuse to believe her came rushing back to me in Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf. Allie’s telling quiet, instinctive flinches, and disloyal "friends" and family who have looked the other way while she was cut down and broken up in so many ways ignited my already boiling emotions to brimming. A gripping story with an engaging mystery, rending moments, and precious characters, Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf is a wonderfully-written and brutal tale of secrets refusing to stay under and a girl with nothing left but to move forward.
Full Review on My Blog »
GIVEAWAY ALERT*// A copy of Breaking Beautiful for US residents is available on my blog here!!!
March 26, 2017
Meh. Abusive relationship and the aftermath after abuser's death. The mystery was poorly done.
July 19, 2012
Jennifer Shaw Wolf's "Breaking Beautiful" unfolded like a film playing before my eyes as I read it. It's a combination of a story of grief, abuse, death, romance, mystery, and coming of age. Despite many moments where I felt the narrative and mystery drew out for a little longer than I'd anticipated, it was a good story. It reminded me a little of Kristina McBride's "One Moment" - only it took on the subject of a tragic death from a more immediate perspective in a small town community.
Allie is a young woman who goes through the motions because her boyfriend, Trip, was killed in an accident that she can't remember much about. All despite inquisitions made by a detective looking into Trip's cause of death, and gossip that she might've played a role in it. Allie isn't sure of the turth and has to deal with fragments of memories, both of Trip's relationship with her as well as the gradual recollection of that horrible night.
However, Allie grieves not from Trip's death as much as the measure that she was a victim of abuse at his hands, and many people won't let her release her former involvement with Trip that easily. There are jealous girls that provoke her, former friends of Trip's that deem her ungrateful for what he provided her, intimidation at the hands of Trip's father, among other factors. On the bright side, Allie has the support of her childhood best friend Blake - who has a rather dark past himself, and her twin brother Andrew.
I really liked the focus of Blake and Allie's developing relationship, as well as the relationship between Allie and her brother. It's quite a road that Allie has to take in order to realize the truth of what happened that night, and to realize that Trip can no longer hurt her. I think the pacing of the novel was the major factor that kept me from liking it more because it takes a while for the mystery to unravel, and once it does, it's predictable. I'd say that the mystery could've been revealed sooner and some of the events could've still been just as potent. Even so, the way this novel deals with its respective subject matter is engaging. I wouldn't necessarily say realistic because there are some elements behind that night that did seem a bit out of sorts, but for what Wolf was able to craft in this story, and the way her narrative engaged me from beginning to end with this novel, I have to give her due credit. An immersive, engaging read.
Overall score: 3.5/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Bloomsbury/Walker Books for Young Readers.
Allie is a young woman who goes through the motions because her boyfriend, Trip, was killed in an accident that she can't remember much about. All despite inquisitions made by a detective looking into Trip's cause of death, and gossip that she might've played a role in it. Allie isn't sure of the turth and has to deal with fragments of memories, both of Trip's relationship with her as well as the gradual recollection of that horrible night.
However, Allie grieves not from Trip's death as much as the measure that she was a victim of abuse at his hands, and many people won't let her release her former involvement with Trip that easily. There are jealous girls that provoke her, former friends of Trip's that deem her ungrateful for what he provided her, intimidation at the hands of Trip's father, among other factors. On the bright side, Allie has the support of her childhood best friend Blake - who has a rather dark past himself, and her twin brother Andrew.
I really liked the focus of Blake and Allie's developing relationship, as well as the relationship between Allie and her brother. It's quite a road that Allie has to take in order to realize the truth of what happened that night, and to realize that Trip can no longer hurt her. I think the pacing of the novel was the major factor that kept me from liking it more because it takes a while for the mystery to unravel, and once it does, it's predictable. I'd say that the mystery could've been revealed sooner and some of the events could've still been just as potent. Even so, the way this novel deals with its respective subject matter is engaging. I wouldn't necessarily say realistic because there are some elements behind that night that did seem a bit out of sorts, but for what Wolf was able to craft in this story, and the way her narrative engaged me from beginning to end with this novel, I have to give her due credit. An immersive, engaging read.
Overall score: 3.5/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Bloomsbury/Walker Books for Young Readers.
April 24, 2012
Breaking Beautiful gave me sweaty palms and warm fuzzies--all in the same book. This story is a creeper of a murder mystery, while also being a coming of age story. I loved that this book brought so much to the table in one little package.
Allie and Blake were well written, likable, interesting people, but I found myself particularly captivated by Andrew, Caitlyn and Detective Weeks. They were such unique characters, I couldn't get enough of them. They were the feather in Wolf's cap.
Without giving away any spoilers, I'd also like to add that the role of voice in this book was extremely well done. The way that Allie loses hers and then comes to find it again is important and I'm so happy to see Allie's journey shared with the world.
If you loved WHAT SHE LEFT BEHIND by Tracy Bilen then you'll love BREAKING BEAUTIFUL by Jennifer Shaw Wolf.
Allie and Blake were well written, likable, interesting people, but I found myself particularly captivated by Andrew, Caitlyn and Detective Weeks. They were such unique characters, I couldn't get enough of them. They were the feather in Wolf's cap.
Without giving away any spoilers, I'd also like to add that the role of voice in this book was extremely well done. The way that Allie loses hers and then comes to find it again is important and I'm so happy to see Allie's journey shared with the world.
If you loved WHAT SHE LEFT BEHIND by Tracy Bilen then you'll love BREAKING BEAUTIFUL by Jennifer Shaw Wolf.
Read
November 19, 2012I loved the story and I loved the characters.
But there were a few things that kept me from loving the book.
Like, why wouldn't Andrew just tell their parents what was going on with Allie? I totally get his motivation for what he did, but I can't see jumping straight to that without trying to get any help from anyone else first. Even Blake, for god's sake. I think that was the hardest to believe.
The true villain jumped out at me about halfway through the book, which was kind of a downer. I was enjoying the mystery until then, and I continued loving the story, but I was kind of disappointed that I didn't have any more questions to answer.
Definitely worth a read.
But there were a few things that kept me from loving the book.
Like, why wouldn't Andrew just tell their parents what was going on with Allie? I totally get his motivation for what he did, but I can't see jumping straight to that without trying to get any help from anyone else first. Even Blake, for god's sake. I think that was the hardest to believe.
The true villain jumped out at me about halfway through the book, which was kind of a downer. I was enjoying the mystery until then, and I continued loving the story, but I was kind of disappointed that I didn't have any more questions to answer.
Definitely worth a read.
March 26, 2012
{This review was originally published on Clear Eyes, Full Shelves.}
That is the essence of Jennifer Wolf Shaw's unique debut novel, Breaking Beautiful: Is there a point at which we can no longer heal?
Allie is the only survivor of a car accident that killed her boyfriend, town football star and golden boy, Trip. She has no memory of the accident, but is left with scar on her head and memories of the side of her relationship with Trip that no one else saw--or chose to ignore, in some cases. See, while Trip wore #33, he was no Tim Riggins. Allie suffered from Trip's physical and mental abuse to the point where she has lost herself.
Following Trip's death, Allie slowly rekindles a friendship with her childhood friend, Blake. As their friendship slowly moves toward being something more, the mystery surrounding Trip's death grows as well. While the town memorializes Trip and vilifies Allie for trying to move on with her life, local police begin to investigate, and Allie begins to question what really happened the night her boyfriend died.
Breaking Beautiful fills a niche that's largely missing in YA--it's a dark, mature, contemporary mystery.
While it has elements of romance and an exploration of the complexities of teenage relationships (romantic, friendship and familial), the mystery is at the core of the novel and it was easy to be swept into Shaw Wolf's fast-moving narrative. I love a dark mystery, but I haven't found a lot in that niche in YA, despite its prevalence in adult fiction.
Allie's character felt very real.
Told from her first-person point-of-view, Breaking Beautiful shifts in time between the present and flashbacks of Allie's increasingly-abusive relationship with trip. The scenes in the past were tough, really tough. While reading, I could feel Allie becoming more and more of a shell, and started to dread the sections that took place in the past, because I knew another piece of Allie would erode. But, Shaw Wolf manages this quite deftly, as I never felt like this was an "issue book," in the guise of a mystery--it was, quite simply, dark and real.
The secondary characters were also quite compelling, particularly Allie's twin brother Alex, who has Cerebral Palsy and starts a relationship with the vibrant Caitlyn, who while playing a small role in the novel, steals every scene she's in (I could probably quite easily read an entire novel devoted to Alex and Caitlyn). I was quickly rooting for Blake--Allie's friend who becomes something more--because he's not perfect, but at his core he's a good person who has always cared for Allie and he understands that he can't push things with her,
The reality of small town culture were also skillfully depicted.
Allie's Washington seaside town could be any small community in America. I grew up in a place just like it. These places are in some ways wonderful--people look out for each other, there's a sense of togetherness that's often missing in big cities.
However, the culture can be stifling, and the Golden Boys and Girls are untouchable. And when they are horrible people, it really does not matter. For example, I'm sure some folks will roll their eyes at Allie's mother's aggressive pushing of Allie and Trip's relationship because of the status it represents. But, kids, this happens all the time in small towns--I knew people where I grew up whose parents were exactly like this. The same goes for the way everyone in town refuses to give Blake a chance because he's gotten in trouble in the past--in towns like this your past is your identity and it's very, very hard to move beyond that. And with that said, none of the depictions of the town felt like stereotypes, it was just authentic.
Breaking Beautiful is not a perfect book, however.
I would have loved to see Blake's transformation and character growth happen on the page. While this is somewhat a limitation of Allie's first person point-of-view, much of what happens with Blake's character we know only because Allie tells us these things have happened. Because he is a complicated and likable personality, I wanted to see more of where he was coming from and learn more about his life. Additionally, the subplot involving Trip's father was a bit much for me, and I was left wishing it had been more subtle.
Despite these minor reservations, Breaking Beautiful is a stand-out debut and Jennifer Shaw Wolf is an author to watch.
I can't end this review without a few comments on Breaking Beautiful's stunning cover. It encapsulates so much about this story: the setting, the loneliness Allie experiences, the key plot elements. It knocked it out of the park. I was excited to see on the author's website that her husband had photographed the cover and that she had a hands-on role in creating the look. You can read more about it here.
Verdict: Highly Recommended
FNL Character Rating: Becky Sproles; like Becky, I didn't feel particularly connected to Allie until the end, but that didn't matter--I was rooting for her nevertheless.
I received a review copy of Breaking Beautiful from the publisher via Net Galley. No compensation or other "goodies" were received in exchange for my honest review.
I wonder how long until I’m allowed to be happy again.
That is the essence of Jennifer Wolf Shaw's unique debut novel, Breaking Beautiful: Is there a point at which we can no longer heal?
Allie is the only survivor of a car accident that killed her boyfriend, town football star and golden boy, Trip. She has no memory of the accident, but is left with scar on her head and memories of the side of her relationship with Trip that no one else saw--or chose to ignore, in some cases. See, while Trip wore #33, he was no Tim Riggins. Allie suffered from Trip's physical and mental abuse to the point where she has lost herself.
With Trip around, I was isolated from the rest of the school, but I was isolated with him for company. Now I’m just alone.
Following Trip's death, Allie slowly rekindles a friendship with her childhood friend, Blake. As their friendship slowly moves toward being something more, the mystery surrounding Trip's death grows as well. While the town memorializes Trip and vilifies Allie for trying to move on with her life, local police begin to investigate, and Allie begins to question what really happened the night her boyfriend died.
Breaking Beautiful fills a niche that's largely missing in YA--it's a dark, mature, contemporary mystery.
While it has elements of romance and an exploration of the complexities of teenage relationships (romantic, friendship and familial), the mystery is at the core of the novel and it was easy to be swept into Shaw Wolf's fast-moving narrative. I love a dark mystery, but I haven't found a lot in that niche in YA, despite its prevalence in adult fiction.
Allie's character felt very real.
Told from her first-person point-of-view, Breaking Beautiful shifts in time between the present and flashbacks of Allie's increasingly-abusive relationship with trip. The scenes in the past were tough, really tough. While reading, I could feel Allie becoming more and more of a shell, and started to dread the sections that took place in the past, because I knew another piece of Allie would erode. But, Shaw Wolf manages this quite deftly, as I never felt like this was an "issue book," in the guise of a mystery--it was, quite simply, dark and real.
He keeps sharpening the stick, watching the fire, and me, and sharpening the stick with his pocketknife. We’re alone. Everyone else has coupled up, left the party, or passed out in Randal’s parents’ camper. I’m waiting for an invitation to join him on the other side of the fire, but his expression tells me I’m in trouble. I know why.
“James is a jerk when he’s drunk,” I finally say. I never know when it’s better to speak up and try to defend myself or when I should keep my mouth shut.
The secondary characters were also quite compelling, particularly Allie's twin brother Alex, who has Cerebral Palsy and starts a relationship with the vibrant Caitlyn, who while playing a small role in the novel, steals every scene she's in (I could probably quite easily read an entire novel devoted to Alex and Caitlyn). I was quickly rooting for Blake--Allie's friend who becomes something more--because he's not perfect, but at his core he's a good person who has always cared for Allie and he understands that he can't push things with her,
I lean over to take off my shoes. A piece of hair falls forward and sticks to my check. Blake reaches to brush it back.
Instinctively, I flinch away.
“I’m sorry.” He takes a step backward and worry fills his eyes.
“It’s okay.” I duck my head, finish taking off my shoes, and walk out of the cave without looking at him. He doesn’t try to touch me again.
The reality of small town culture were also skillfully depicted.
Allie's Washington seaside town could be any small community in America. I grew up in a place just like it. These places are in some ways wonderful--people look out for each other, there's a sense of togetherness that's often missing in big cities.
However, the culture can be stifling, and the Golden Boys and Girls are untouchable. And when they are horrible people, it really does not matter. For example, I'm sure some folks will roll their eyes at Allie's mother's aggressive pushing of Allie and Trip's relationship because of the status it represents. But, kids, this happens all the time in small towns--I knew people where I grew up whose parents were exactly like this. The same goes for the way everyone in town refuses to give Blake a chance because he's gotten in trouble in the past--in towns like this your past is your identity and it's very, very hard to move beyond that. And with that said, none of the depictions of the town felt like stereotypes, it was just authentic.
Breaking Beautiful is not a perfect book, however.
I would have loved to see Blake's transformation and character growth happen on the page. While this is somewhat a limitation of Allie's first person point-of-view, much of what happens with Blake's character we know only because Allie tells us these things have happened. Because he is a complicated and likable personality, I wanted to see more of where he was coming from and learn more about his life. Additionally, the subplot involving Trip's father was a bit much for me, and I was left wishing it had been more subtle.
Despite these minor reservations, Breaking Beautiful is a stand-out debut and Jennifer Shaw Wolf is an author to watch.
I can't end this review without a few comments on Breaking Beautiful's stunning cover. It encapsulates so much about this story: the setting, the loneliness Allie experiences, the key plot elements. It knocked it out of the park. I was excited to see on the author's website that her husband had photographed the cover and that she had a hands-on role in creating the look. You can read more about it here.
Verdict: Highly Recommended
FNL Character Rating: Becky Sproles; like Becky, I didn't feel particularly connected to Allie until the end, but that didn't matter--I was rooting for her nevertheless.
I received a review copy of Breaking Beautiful from the publisher via Net Galley. No compensation or other "goodies" were received in exchange for my honest review.
April 8, 2012
♥ Find my reviews on Blogger ~ Reviews by Bookish Sarah
- - -
18-year-old Allie lost her boyfriend a month ago. Trip died in a tragic car accident; one in which he drove his truck off a cliff. Allie survived the accident, but with a blank spot in her memory where the events of, and leading up to, the accident should be.
In the small coastal town of Pacific Cliffs, everyone knows everyone, and having a private life isn't something to be expected while living there. So, needless to say, when a detective comes to town and works with the police on reopening the investigation concerning Trip's accident, all eyes are on Allie and what is going on in her life - including when a romantic relationship between she and her best friend Blake begins to bloom.
Allie just wants to move on with her life. She tries to mourn for the “proper” amount of time, but the truth of it is... Allie is relieved. Trip was a physically and mentally abusive boyfriend and Allie now feels free in a way she never thought she would, but does that mean she might of killed Trip? As Allie's memories come back in pieces, she soon comes to the realization that something strange did happen on that fateful night.
“All this time, I've wondered what happened that night, how I got hurt, how Trip ended up going over the edge. Now every heartbeat pulses one question.
What did I do?”
- - -
I LOVE THIS BOOK! Truly, it's fantastic. I literally could not put it down once I began reading.
The characters are full of emotion and personality. Allie was a source of conflict for me at first. I kept asking myself whether or not I felt that she was a strong person. If you are going to read this book, you've got to have patience with Allie's character. The answers come, but slowly... piece by piece. Blake; the best friend. Blake has loved Allie since they were kids, but he lost out due to happenings in the past. Now, he has his chance, but at a sorry cost. Blake's patience is never-ending. He waits for Allie and is, in his own special way, a hero. Same thing with Allie's twin, Andrew. I think he was actually my favorite character. He broke my heart so many times that I cried. Andrew is the kind of brother I wish I had. He's loyal to a fault - he has the best of intentions, but doesn't always get the results he plans for.
I adored the mystery of this novel. The author kept me guessing at every turn. Every single clue is there; the truth blatantly shakes its' caboose in your face, but then you'll receive a little tidbit of a flashback to the night of the accident... and you'll second guess your prediction. The clues seem to contradict each other a lot, but in the end everything makes 100% perfect sense. I applaud Ms. Wolf for laying it all out so nicely and wrapping it up so fantastically.
Abusive relationships. Most gals jump into the oh-I'd-never-let-a-guy-do-that-to-me bit when hearing about a situation such as the one in this book. A woman who has been in an abusive relationship can most often sympathize, but ones who have not... most likely can't, and that is understandable. I like authors that delve into tough subject matter. I appreciate stories that can maybe show someone all sides of a situation such as the one Allie went through and help them to maybe gain some enlightenment. Basically what I'm trying to say is that Breaking Beautiful was a realistic portrayal of what an abusive relationship can be like; the confusion, the hope that the abuser can change, the love mixed with hate, the shame and embarrassment. Sometimes you feel trapped even if you aren't, and people who go through such things are often brainwashed into believing no one will believe them and that what is being done to them is their own fault. I think the author did a very nice job of bringing those feelings forth for the reader to experience through Allie.
Overall, this was a great story. It's got just about everything! Action, mystery, and suspense... Romance, tragedy, and pain. Breaking Beautiful is told from Allie's first-person perspective and it's an emotional roller coaster from cover to cover. It'll break your heart and then put it back together all over again. It'll grip onto your attention and keep you glued to the edge of your seat. It gives readers a taste of what it's like to be an outcast in a small town where your every move is being judged by anyone and everyone. This story is dark, suspenseful, and truly riveting. Breaking Beautiful is definitely one to add to your TBR pile!
- - -
Book source: NetGalley
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books
April 30, 2012
When I first found out about this book, I thought to myself that's a book for me, contemporary YA with a heartbreaking story behind it. And after the first few chapters I really thought it was. Unfortunately, it all went downhill from there.
In an nutshell: Allie is in a car accident with her boyfriend, Trip, from which only Allie comes out alive. Allie does not remember what happened the night of the accident and what made Trip drive his car of a cliff. At first we are led to believe that Allie and Trip are the perfect couple. As Allie starts to remember however, we find out that Trip was sick, and abused Allie consistently.
Everything was hanky dory up until that point. Well, not the abuse part, you know what I mean. After reading about the myriad disgusting things that Trip did to Allie, I was almost convinced she somehow had a hand in his downfall.
Now here lies the problem of the book in my opinion. Not only Allie didn't speak up during her whole ordeal with Trip (how long were they together? More than a year I think), not only she let her brother suffer watching her being abused, she also had moments after Trip's death when she actually remembered him with fondness and with some perverse sense of love and longing. I just can't accept her not saying anything, not to her parents, not to a guidance counselor, someone. There was no "No one is going to believe me" scenario, since she had the bruises and cuts to prove it. I am enraged by women who can't stand up for themselves. And remember, we're not talking about a married woman with kids, whose husband abuses her and she has to live with him every freaking day. We're talking about a teenage girl, who at the end of the day goes back to her parents who are there for her. I'm not saying that married women shouldn't speak up, quite the opposite. But living with your abusing partner, spending every day with him, and especially if you have kids, it makes women second guess themselves and their decision to pack up and leave. Also for some of them, her husband is their only support, financial mostly. Sad, but true. Allie's situation is completely different. Trip was a high school crush, for Christ's sake! She was afraid she was gonna tarnish his reputation, to which I reply "Who cares?" He's sick, he needs help. If you don't care about yourself, think about all the other women he may abuse in the future. But no, she couldn't. And because of that her brother and only friend got caught in the crossfire and paid the price for something she should have taken responsibility for.
Eventually, Allie was free because Trip drove off a cliff. Horrah. What if Trip made it? What then? I doubt Allie would have talked. We're talking about a girl who got emotional selling the stuff her abusive boyfriend gave her because she said it felt wrong somehow. I can't even.
Also, the fact that the story dragged, was not to its books favor. Pages after pages of Allie wishing her life could have taken a different turn and feeling miserable overall. I wanted to shake that teen so hard and yell at her that she doesn't have a life yet, not really. All her life is ahead of her and she does nothing, NOTHING, for it to take a different turn.
Excuse my rant, but reading stuff like that especially in books for teens, enrages me.
I have never been abused in my life so maybe I don't have the right to speak about these things. I don't know how it is, how it feels. I just express my opinion as an individual and as an outside observer. I mean no disrespect to anyone who has/had similar experiences.
In an nutshell: Allie is in a car accident with her boyfriend, Trip, from which only Allie comes out alive. Allie does not remember what happened the night of the accident and what made Trip drive his car of a cliff. At first we are led to believe that Allie and Trip are the perfect couple. As Allie starts to remember however, we find out that Trip was sick, and abused Allie consistently.
Everything was hanky dory up until that point. Well, not the abuse part, you know what I mean. After reading about the myriad disgusting things that Trip did to Allie, I was almost convinced she somehow had a hand in his downfall.
Now here lies the problem of the book in my opinion. Not only Allie didn't speak up during her whole ordeal with Trip (how long were they together? More than a year I think), not only she let her brother suffer watching her being abused, she also had moments after Trip's death when she actually remembered him with fondness and with some perverse sense of love and longing. I just can't accept her not saying anything, not to her parents, not to a guidance counselor, someone. There was no "No one is going to believe me" scenario, since she had the bruises and cuts to prove it. I am enraged by women who can't stand up for themselves. And remember, we're not talking about a married woman with kids, whose husband abuses her and she has to live with him every freaking day. We're talking about a teenage girl, who at the end of the day goes back to her parents who are there for her. I'm not saying that married women shouldn't speak up, quite the opposite. But living with your abusing partner, spending every day with him, and especially if you have kids, it makes women second guess themselves and their decision to pack up and leave. Also for some of them, her husband is their only support, financial mostly. Sad, but true. Allie's situation is completely different. Trip was a high school crush, for Christ's sake! She was afraid she was gonna tarnish his reputation, to which I reply "Who cares?" He's sick, he needs help. If you don't care about yourself, think about all the other women he may abuse in the future. But no, she couldn't. And because of that her brother and only friend got caught in the crossfire and paid the price for something she should have taken responsibility for.
Eventually, Allie was free because Trip drove off a cliff. Horrah. What if Trip made it? What then? I doubt Allie would have talked. We're talking about a girl who got emotional selling the stuff her abusive boyfriend gave her because she said it felt wrong somehow. I can't even.
Also, the fact that the story dragged, was not to its books favor. Pages after pages of Allie wishing her life could have taken a different turn and feeling miserable overall. I wanted to shake that teen so hard and yell at her that she doesn't have a life yet, not really. All her life is ahead of her and she does nothing, NOTHING, for it to take a different turn.
Excuse my rant, but reading stuff like that especially in books for teens, enrages me.
I have never been abused in my life so maybe I don't have the right to speak about these things. I don't know how it is, how it feels. I just express my opinion as an individual and as an outside observer. I mean no disrespect to anyone who has/had similar experiences.
March 27, 2012
Posted Here:
http://www.betweenthepagesreviews.com...
From the very 1st page in Breaking Beautiful I was hooked. You know, from the blurb that Allie has lost her boyfriend Trip, in a car accident. The accident that left Allie alive. But what you don't know will shock you, and emotionally entwine you into the character that is Allie.
Allie and her twin brother, Andrew, have such a great bond. Even though Andrew has daily disabilities, he wants to be in control of his life. He just wants to be as normal as he can be. He loves his sister, very much.
You get a look into Allie's past life, glimpses of her relationship and how it may not have been as perfect as everyone thought. What happened that night of the car accident? Why can Allie not remember? Or does she?
Trip and Allie both had dysfunctional families. Trip was not taught how to be a man by his father, but rather a monster.One who had Allie, terrified. I really did not like Trip's father. He was a creep, and just something about him was off. His mother seemed rather, blank. Later you will understand why. She knew, all along. Allie's family on the other hand was just really to me, nothing. They had no good advice, the things that her mother said was just wrong, inconsiderate. I really did not like her. Allie's father has spent more time away from the family then in it. He is in the Army. So when he started being around all the time this was hard for Allie. He was overbearing.
Both families had some serious issues that they needed to work out. But, that time for Trip was over. He was gone. Allie was alive.
She has to try to remember what happened, or rather admit that things were not the greatest. A Detective comes to town, wanting to question Allie more about the case. It seems that Trip's father just can't walk away. He has his suspicions. But they could be further from the truth.
I really liked Blake. He really liked Allie. He was there for her. Then when she starts remembering more, she realizes he may know more then he is saying.
After Allie finds a note in her locker, written in Trips handwriting, she is scared, and confused. What is going on? Is Trip alive? No, he cannot be. Then what is happening. Who is taunting Allie & why?
Jennifer Shaw Wolf's debut novel for me was amazing. The writing kept me turning the pages. The mystery was intriguing. Everything about Allie, and this life that she had hidden for so long, had me so emotionally wrapped into the words in this book, my heart broke for her. Then, I felt joy for her. Beautifully Broken, was one of those books, you will remember days after you have read it.. you will be left in awe.
http://www.betweenthepagesreviews.com...
From the very 1st page in Breaking Beautiful I was hooked. You know, from the blurb that Allie has lost her boyfriend Trip, in a car accident. The accident that left Allie alive. But what you don't know will shock you, and emotionally entwine you into the character that is Allie.
Allie and her twin brother, Andrew, have such a great bond. Even though Andrew has daily disabilities, he wants to be in control of his life. He just wants to be as normal as he can be. He loves his sister, very much.
You get a look into Allie's past life, glimpses of her relationship and how it may not have been as perfect as everyone thought. What happened that night of the car accident? Why can Allie not remember? Or does she?
Trip and Allie both had dysfunctional families. Trip was not taught how to be a man by his father, but rather a monster.One who had Allie, terrified. I really did not like Trip's father. He was a creep, and just something about him was off. His mother seemed rather, blank. Later you will understand why. She knew, all along. Allie's family on the other hand was just really to me, nothing. They had no good advice, the things that her mother said was just wrong, inconsiderate. I really did not like her. Allie's father has spent more time away from the family then in it. He is in the Army. So when he started being around all the time this was hard for Allie. He was overbearing.
Both families had some serious issues that they needed to work out. But, that time for Trip was over. He was gone. Allie was alive.
She has to try to remember what happened, or rather admit that things were not the greatest. A Detective comes to town, wanting to question Allie more about the case. It seems that Trip's father just can't walk away. He has his suspicions. But they could be further from the truth.
I really liked Blake. He really liked Allie. He was there for her. Then when she starts remembering more, she realizes he may know more then he is saying.
After Allie finds a note in her locker, written in Trips handwriting, she is scared, and confused. What is going on? Is Trip alive? No, he cannot be. Then what is happening. Who is taunting Allie & why?
Jennifer Shaw Wolf's debut novel for me was amazing. The writing kept me turning the pages. The mystery was intriguing. Everything about Allie, and this life that she had hidden for so long, had me so emotionally wrapped into the words in this book, my heart broke for her. Then, I felt joy for her. Beautifully Broken, was one of those books, you will remember days after you have read it.. you will be left in awe.
March 23, 2012
Breaking Beautiful has one of the most broken characters I have ever read about. Her world was so heart breaking. When I started reading Breaking Beautiful I knew the story would be very sad and emotional, so I sort of knew what to expect. But what I didn't expect was to read about such a broken down girl who at such a young age experienced so much. This book really got to me and I want to talk about every little detail, unfortunately I can’t without spoiling the story.
Before the accident, Allie’s life seemed perfect. She had a boyfriend girls would’ve given anything to have, but behind doors her life was full of secrets. I wanted to reach in the book and hug her and help her out. She loses her boyfriend in a nasty car crash and has a hard time remembering every single detail of the accident. To top things off her life at home isn't so great either. As she begins to remember exactly what happened that night of the accident, you learn about how abusive Trip was towards her and everything she went through. To the world, Trip and Allie's relationship was perfect. Trip was perfect. No one knows the truth but Allie and she is so ashamed and afraid, she keeps that secret. There were some scenes that made me want to cry. Even with Trip gone, she is so scarred by his abuse, that little things sent her in panic mode. The only person she can truly count on is the one person she pushed away because of Trip, and that is Blake, her childhood friend.
The romance between Blake and Allie was also heart breaking. I am making this book seem like one big ball of depression, but trust me it has a very happy ending. Blake and Allie both have skeletons in their closet and through each other they were able to face it head on.
This is definitely a book I recommend and think both, young adult, and adults can read and enjoy it.
There were one or two things I thought could have been a bit different, but it wasn't anything that would make you want to put the book down. You just want to shake the character and say "snap out of it."
Breaking Beautiful is a definite Good Choice for Reading!
4 out of 5 stars!
Before the accident, Allie’s life seemed perfect. She had a boyfriend girls would’ve given anything to have, but behind doors her life was full of secrets. I wanted to reach in the book and hug her and help her out. She loses her boyfriend in a nasty car crash and has a hard time remembering every single detail of the accident. To top things off her life at home isn't so great either. As she begins to remember exactly what happened that night of the accident, you learn about how abusive Trip was towards her and everything she went through. To the world, Trip and Allie's relationship was perfect. Trip was perfect. No one knows the truth but Allie and she is so ashamed and afraid, she keeps that secret. There were some scenes that made me want to cry. Even with Trip gone, she is so scarred by his abuse, that little things sent her in panic mode. The only person she can truly count on is the one person she pushed away because of Trip, and that is Blake, her childhood friend.
The romance between Blake and Allie was also heart breaking. I am making this book seem like one big ball of depression, but trust me it has a very happy ending. Blake and Allie both have skeletons in their closet and through each other they were able to face it head on.
This is definitely a book I recommend and think both, young adult, and adults can read and enjoy it.
There were one or two things I thought could have been a bit different, but it wasn't anything that would make you want to put the book down. You just want to shake the character and say "snap out of it."
Breaking Beautiful is a definite Good Choice for Reading!
4 out of 5 stars!
April 12, 2012
You can also find my review of Breaking Beautiful on my blog
I was hoping to read Breaking Beautiful and find it to be beautiful. That didn’t happen. I found it to be kind of broken.
I know the above couple of sentences sound a bit harsh. I couldn’t connect with Breaking Beautiful in anyway…well maybe one way. I will get to it. Let’s start off with the protagonist Allie. I didn’t feel sorry for her in the slightest. This sounds rather horrible of me since her boyfriend just died and this boyfriend was also physically abusing her. I eye-rolled SO many times. I was screaming at Allie in my head to just tell the flipping truth already! She just kept digging herself into deeper holes…it didn’t make any sense to me. If she didn’t do these things, I guess we wouldn’t’ have a story though.
Allie’s parents I couldn’t stand. Allie’s mom seems to be so wrapped up in outward appearances and how her and her family are perceived in town, she doesn’t seem to notice what has been happening to her daughter and that her daughter is struggling. Maybe I wasn’t supposed to like them…I’m not totally sure. I do know that they weren’t the “smother you with love” parent types.
I was one-third of the way into Breaking Beautiful and I kept wondering when SOMETHING was going to happen. Just anything. It took a bit longer after that point for the author to start moving the story forward. As you can tell, this story had a bit of a slow start for me.
The one and only thing I found enjoyable in this story were two characters: Andrew & Caitlyn. Andrew is Allie’s twin brother and I fell in love with him from the start. I also loved Caitlyn when she was introduced later in the story…I won’t tell you for what reasons. She’s very accepting and is a super sweet, nice, and loving girl.
I was hoping to read Breaking Beautiful and find it to be beautiful. That didn’t happen. I found it to be kind of broken.
I know the above couple of sentences sound a bit harsh. I couldn’t connect with Breaking Beautiful in anyway…well maybe one way. I will get to it. Let’s start off with the protagonist Allie. I didn’t feel sorry for her in the slightest. This sounds rather horrible of me since her boyfriend just died and this boyfriend was also physically abusing her. I eye-rolled SO many times. I was screaming at Allie in my head to just tell the flipping truth already! She just kept digging herself into deeper holes…it didn’t make any sense to me. If she didn’t do these things, I guess we wouldn’t’ have a story though.
Allie’s parents I couldn’t stand. Allie’s mom seems to be so wrapped up in outward appearances and how her and her family are perceived in town, she doesn’t seem to notice what has been happening to her daughter and that her daughter is struggling. Maybe I wasn’t supposed to like them…I’m not totally sure. I do know that they weren’t the “smother you with love” parent types.
I was one-third of the way into Breaking Beautiful and I kept wondering when SOMETHING was going to happen. Just anything. It took a bit longer after that point for the author to start moving the story forward. As you can tell, this story had a bit of a slow start for me.
The one and only thing I found enjoyable in this story were two characters: Andrew & Caitlyn. Andrew is Allie’s twin brother and I fell in love with him from the start. I also loved Caitlyn when she was introduced later in the story…I won’t tell you for what reasons. She’s very accepting and is a super sweet, nice, and loving girl.
April 30, 2012
Rating: 4.5 Stars
This was an intense and amazing read. What a tough subject to tackle for a debut novel, but Jennifer Shaw Wolf did it beautifully. She had me hooked from page one and never let go. Breaking Beautiful is realistically told and perfectly paced. It's intense, somber, sad, and hopeful all at the same time. I experienced so many emotions throughout reading this book, some that even surprised me.
I'm generally a little short on patience when it comes to weak girls in novels but I was surprised to see several people complain about Wolf's main character Allie in their reviews, saying how frustrated they were that it took her so long to grow a backbone, or stand up for herself. I personally think Wolf did any amazing job portraying Allie's weaknesses. She definitely had them. Lots of them. But those were what Trip prayed upon. Her character flaws, in my opinion were flaws in her character, not characterization. Maybe it's because I'm older than the average YA reader or maybe it's because I've sort of been where Allie was that I can see how you can get there and end up staying in it longer than you know you damn well should.
Congratulations, Jennifer Shaw Wolf for gracefully writing an engaging story on such a taboo subject. I'm sincerely impressed and I highly recommend this book.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through Net Galley.
This was an intense and amazing read. What a tough subject to tackle for a debut novel, but Jennifer Shaw Wolf did it beautifully. She had me hooked from page one and never let go. Breaking Beautiful is realistically told and perfectly paced. It's intense, somber, sad, and hopeful all at the same time. I experienced so many emotions throughout reading this book, some that even surprised me.
I'm generally a little short on patience when it comes to weak girls in novels but I was surprised to see several people complain about Wolf's main character Allie in their reviews, saying how frustrated they were that it took her so long to grow a backbone, or stand up for herself. I personally think Wolf did any amazing job portraying Allie's weaknesses. She definitely had them. Lots of them. But those were what Trip prayed upon. Her character flaws, in my opinion were flaws in her character, not characterization. Maybe it's because I'm older than the average YA reader or maybe it's because I've sort of been where Allie was that I can see how you can get there and end up staying in it longer than you know you damn well should.
Congratulations, Jennifer Shaw Wolf for gracefully writing an engaging story on such a taboo subject. I'm sincerely impressed and I highly recommend this book.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through Net Galley.
March 30, 2013
It seems as though Allie has lost everything since the accident that killed her boyfriend, Trip: her will to go on at school and her best friend, Blake, her one constant through her many years of moves and different schools (she’s an army brat). But throughout BREAKING BEAUTIFUL, secrets and lies begin to unfold as the truth about Allie and Trip’s relationship are revealed and the investigation into the accident begin to heat up in the small town of Pacific Cliffs. Allie doesn’t escape the suspicious eyes of Trip’s family and the new detective hired to the town’s police force.
This book was a total page-turner right to the end and I just loved the way I was dragged along, staying up well past my bedtime, just trying to read a few more pages to find out what really happened. I particularly loved Allie’s brother Andrew and thought their relationship (as twins) was a beautiful one, where each is trying so hard to protect the other, despite both of them having their own unique limitations.
This was a beautiful book about complex relationships, finding inner strength through tragedy, and how things often aren’t what they seem.
I support independent bookstores. You can use this link to find one near you or order at IndieBound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/978080...
This book was a total page-turner right to the end and I just loved the way I was dragged along, staying up well past my bedtime, just trying to read a few more pages to find out what really happened. I particularly loved Allie’s brother Andrew and thought their relationship (as twins) was a beautiful one, where each is trying so hard to protect the other, despite both of them having their own unique limitations.
This was a beautiful book about complex relationships, finding inner strength through tragedy, and how things often aren’t what they seem.
I support independent bookstores. You can use this link to find one near you or order at IndieBound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/978080...
April 23, 2012
Breaking Beautiful is a richly descriptive story of a young girl trying to emerge from a painful relationship, but it seems that her old friends and small community won't let that happen. Allie's senior year starts without her as she fights to recover from the injuries she suffered in an accident that killed her popular boyfriend, Trip. It has left her with no memory of what happened that night, but some of her memories of Trip must remain a secret. He was well loved, and the community thought he could do nothing wrong. With no body and his truck maybe still dangling over the edge of a cliff, she can't be sure that he's gone, but she's sure someone is following her--waiting for her to screw up again. When a newly hired police detective starts looking closer into the accident, he forces more memories to come to the surface. The more she remembers, the more she's sure that someone very close to her may have had something to do with Trips accident.
Wolf takes the reader on a heart wrenching journey to find hope. Proving that the strength of your spirit cannot be bound by the limitations of your body.
Wolf takes the reader on a heart wrenching journey to find hope. Proving that the strength of your spirit cannot be bound by the limitations of your body.
December 6, 2015
Very nicely done YA novel. Fast moving and well written. The end was just a bit convenient. But that was only a minor quibble. On the whole the heroine was interesting and you really felt like you knew her by the end of the book. The secondary characters were well written and interesting. The book was written in first person present tense which I really don't like but it wasn't too intrusive. The love story was fairly sweet like in any number of teen movies. Still it was nicely done. There were some difficult themes such as abuse but there is nothing explicit. There was a mystery element as the heroine didn't remember what happened the night of the accident. I would not hesitate to recommend this to teenage girls. There is no sex and only a minor mention of drinking and that was by the bad guys. Clean with only a couple of sweet kisses mentioned in passing.
April 10, 2012
Allie can't remember anything from the night her boyfriend, Trip, died except that she made it out of the car before it went over the cliff. All she knows is she was left with deep scars, behind her head, on her face, on her reputation. My fellow Class of 2k12 author Jennifer Shaw Wolf spins a riveting story that's equal parts mystery, thriller and romance, and there was no way I was putting BREAKING BEAUTIFUL down until Allie remembered exactly what happened that night! The insight and grace with which Jennifer Shaw Wolf covers some heavy issues make this an important and appropriate addition to every public and middle/high school library.
March 30, 2012
I've had my eye on this contemporary FOR EV ER. When NetGalley put it up I squealed, put it on my Kindle, and then let it taunt me for a little while before reading (the anticipation is half the fun, right?).
Full Review: http://chickloveslit.com/2012/04/revi...
Full Review: http://chickloveslit.com/2012/04/revi...
March 6, 2019
My local public library had a display for the month of February with selections to read for Teen Dating Violence awareness month. I decided that I wanted to read as many of them as I could before they took the display down.
Reading about any kind of violence or abuse is never easy, but I find it very important for today's youth to recognize the signs and get help when needed. That's where books like this can be so helpful. In this story, the abused person shares feelings of guilt, like it was her fault. She felt like she needed to protect her abuser. There was a sense of shame as well. All of these are things that keep victims silent.
I like the way this story illustrates how alone a victim can feel, even when surrounded by people. Also, how sometimes the abuser's friends or family will look the other way. I think it's a very good story and well worth the read.
Reading about any kind of violence or abuse is never easy, but I find it very important for today's youth to recognize the signs and get help when needed. That's where books like this can be so helpful. In this story, the abused person shares feelings of guilt, like it was her fault. She felt like she needed to protect her abuser. There was a sense of shame as well. All of these are things that keep victims silent.
I like the way this story illustrates how alone a victim can feel, even when surrounded by people. Also, how sometimes the abuser's friends or family will look the other way. I think it's a very good story and well worth the read.
April 24, 2012
Wow. After my last Apocalypsies read was such a disappointment, I was a little worried that my streak of awesome reads from those guys might be over. Well, most assuredly not. Breaking Beautiful captured my interest right from the beginning, and the continued to suck me more and more. Although the cover didn't capture my interest, I am impressed, now having read the book, with how much more accurate it is than most. Good job, Bloomsbury!
Breaking Beautiful is another one of those books that falls into the 'wonderful but so depressing it will feel like you're being eviscerated emotionally' category. I've been reading a lot of these lately, and apparently I love them, even though as a younger reader I mostly only liked happy books. I do not want to think too much about what this change in my tastes says about me.
Allie definitely doesn't handle things the way she should have. Sometimes I wanted to cry and ask her what she was thinking. BUT there is no way I could not feel completely sympathetic towards her. She behaved the way she did because she went through so much emotional and physical abuse. In no way will I judge her for not reacting a certain way. ALL of my rage goes to Trip and to all of the people who suspected what was going on and didn't say anything. Not to get all preachy, but seriously, ladies, do not let anyone do this to you. Or gents, too. No one deserves to be abused, and, if you suspect it, do something...carefully.
What made this book work, I think, was definitely Allie's character. In her every word and thought, you can feel the specter of Trip hanging over her head. Memories of him flit constantly through her head, judging her and terrifying her, continuing to hurt her in the only way he now can. His influence on her is so obvious; this is why we can relate to her so well, and feel with her.
Jennifer Shaw Wolf definitely made me tear up. This is a beautifully written book on an incredibly dark topic. If reading about abuse doesn't interest you, there's also a murder mystery. This book is beautiful, as suggested by the title, and excruciating. I highly recommend it to those who like dark YA stories with depth.
Breaking Beautiful is another one of those books that falls into the 'wonderful but so depressing it will feel like you're being eviscerated emotionally' category. I've been reading a lot of these lately, and apparently I love them, even though as a younger reader I mostly only liked happy books. I do not want to think too much about what this change in my tastes says about me.
Allie definitely doesn't handle things the way she should have. Sometimes I wanted to cry and ask her what she was thinking. BUT there is no way I could not feel completely sympathetic towards her. She behaved the way she did because she went through so much emotional and physical abuse. In no way will I judge her for not reacting a certain way. ALL of my rage goes to Trip and to all of the people who suspected what was going on and didn't say anything. Not to get all preachy, but seriously, ladies, do not let anyone do this to you. Or gents, too. No one deserves to be abused, and, if you suspect it, do something...carefully.
What made this book work, I think, was definitely Allie's character. In her every word and thought, you can feel the specter of Trip hanging over her head. Memories of him flit constantly through her head, judging her and terrifying her, continuing to hurt her in the only way he now can. His influence on her is so obvious; this is why we can relate to her so well, and feel with her.
Jennifer Shaw Wolf definitely made me tear up. This is a beautifully written book on an incredibly dark topic. If reading about abuse doesn't interest you, there's also a murder mystery. This book is beautiful, as suggested by the title, and excruciating. I highly recommend it to those who like dark YA stories with depth.
April 30, 2012
Another YA mystery (yay!) I had high hopes for.
They were partially realized. Wolf is a gifted writer who's created some unique, compelling characters. Allie's bond with her CP brother was one of my favorite things about this novel. And there's some great tension between Allie and her new love interest, Blake. The story opens as Allie recovers from a car accident that killed her boyfriend, Trip. She's based her identity on being his girlfriend and now that he's gone, she's got serious issues trying to figure out who she is and what role she played in his death.
This book didn't really work for me because I'm not a fan of victim-heroines. Allie never really stands on her own two feet, she's either thinking about Trip or Blake the whole story. Her self-worth is totally based on how these guys see her - which is probably very true to a traumatized person like Allie. But it just drove me crazy. The last thing a girl like this needs is to hook up with another guy right away - even if it is a hottie like Blake. She's got enough on her plate trying to remember what happened and dealing with her grief/guilt. But Wolf has her dive into a new relationship with barely a breath. I was also hoping for a more Sleeping with the Enemy style plot once the notes started arriving and got all excited only to be disappointed. I would've loved to have seen Allie go on the offensive occasionally (and go solo!), not only for the tension in the book, but as a better role model for a YA audience.
They were partially realized. Wolf is a gifted writer who's created some unique, compelling characters. Allie's bond with her CP brother was one of my favorite things about this novel. And there's some great tension between Allie and her new love interest, Blake. The story opens as Allie recovers from a car accident that killed her boyfriend, Trip. She's based her identity on being his girlfriend and now that he's gone, she's got serious issues trying to figure out who she is and what role she played in his death.
This book didn't really work for me because I'm not a fan of victim-heroines. Allie never really stands on her own two feet, she's either thinking about Trip or Blake the whole story. Her self-worth is totally based on how these guys see her - which is probably very true to a traumatized person like Allie. But it just drove me crazy. The last thing a girl like this needs is to hook up with another guy right away - even if it is a hottie like Blake. She's got enough on her plate trying to remember what happened and dealing with her grief/guilt. But Wolf has her dive into a new relationship with barely a breath. I was also hoping for a more Sleeping with the Enemy style plot once the notes started arriving and got all excited only to be disappointed. I would've loved to have seen Allie go on the offensive occasionally (and go solo!), not only for the tension in the book, but as a better role model for a YA audience.
April 13, 2012
This book is so intense! I mean, once I started the book and really got into the story line, I was hooked.
What I loved most about this book is the great story line. We have missing clues, a relationship that is not what it is as well as a unsolved murder. While this plot line builds and builds to an exploding ending, the reader also get each part of the demise that has happened. With each new memory coming back fast, the reader slowly learns the truth of what happen that night.
The characters of the book are well written. I think that with everything that has happen to Allie her feelings and action are justifiable. I can't imagine anyone else acting differently then what Allie went through. Allie dealt with so many conflicted emotions it was hard not to step into her shoes.
There are two kinds of love in the book that simply blew me away. The love of a friendship spawning into something more and a sibling love that bring in so much loyalty. The way the story is written mixed in with amazing views of what happen, I loved it.
Breaking Beautiful is an dazzling story. It scorns the reader with burning curiosity of what happen that night, leading with breads crumbs to an great ending. Rich in plot and emotions, Breaking Beautiful is fantastic!
What I loved most about this book is the great story line. We have missing clues, a relationship that is not what it is as well as a unsolved murder. While this plot line builds and builds to an exploding ending, the reader also get each part of the demise that has happened. With each new memory coming back fast, the reader slowly learns the truth of what happen that night.
The characters of the book are well written. I think that with everything that has happen to Allie her feelings and action are justifiable. I can't imagine anyone else acting differently then what Allie went through. Allie dealt with so many conflicted emotions it was hard not to step into her shoes.
There are two kinds of love in the book that simply blew me away. The love of a friendship spawning into something more and a sibling love that bring in so much loyalty. The way the story is written mixed in with amazing views of what happen, I loved it.
Breaking Beautiful is an dazzling story. It scorns the reader with burning curiosity of what happen that night, leading with breads crumbs to an great ending. Rich in plot and emotions, Breaking Beautiful is fantastic!
August 26, 2012
I would have given this a 4 1/2 stars.
Allie has a secret, a secret she thought she kept from everyone. When her abusive boyfriend dies as his truck goes over a cliff the town mourns the golden boy, son of one of the richest most powerful man in town. Allie was there but doesn't remember. As time goes on, Trips father is launching an investigation into the accident and the pressure is on her and her childhood friend Blake, the town bad boy.
Allie was the classic abused woman. She hid her scars and bruises and told no one what was happening. When Allie did finally stand up to Trip, it's the start of the horror leading up to the accident and what happens as a result of the accident. The accident maybe isn't what it seems or is it?
Really enjoyed this one. I love the way this author writes and while the subject matter is somewhat disturbing, it's a real portrait of life in a small town and life of an abuse victim. How many young girls or women are out there experiencing the same thing, and are too afraid to tell anyone? That blame themselves and think its their fault that their boyfriends or husbands act the way they do. This is definitely a book that needs to be out there and read. I wanted to keep reading and not do anything else.
Allie has a secret, a secret she thought she kept from everyone. When her abusive boyfriend dies as his truck goes over a cliff the town mourns the golden boy, son of one of the richest most powerful man in town. Allie was there but doesn't remember. As time goes on, Trips father is launching an investigation into the accident and the pressure is on her and her childhood friend Blake, the town bad boy.
Allie was the classic abused woman. She hid her scars and bruises and told no one what was happening. When Allie did finally stand up to Trip, it's the start of the horror leading up to the accident and what happens as a result of the accident. The accident maybe isn't what it seems or is it?
Really enjoyed this one. I love the way this author writes and while the subject matter is somewhat disturbing, it's a real portrait of life in a small town and life of an abuse victim. How many young girls or women are out there experiencing the same thing, and are too afraid to tell anyone? That blame themselves and think its their fault that their boyfriends or husbands act the way they do. This is definitely a book that needs to be out there and read. I wanted to keep reading and not do anything else.
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