5 STARS “the writing is fantastic.” Andrea, Books, Baking, and Other Objects of Beauty
5 STARS “LOVED IT!!!” Monica, Goodreads.com
4 STARS “very powerful, the reader will connect to the characters.” Krystal, Live to Read
Now that the lonely and deeply damaged teenagers have discovered a strong interest in one another, what else is left to reveal and how much more can each of them handle? Sophie has taken great steps to let him in, but is Elliott ready to do the same?
With a painful past buried deep within him, Elliott embarks on a journey of self-discovery propelled by a need to be normal for his new girlfriend. Amid a lifetime of betrayal, Sophie continues down the perilous road of recovering her true strength. Each of them has something to hide and an incredible untapped reserve of compassion, love, and friendship.
Their new relationship is put to the test by both mundane and extraordinary circumstances alike. Sophie has to face up to the life she’s led, while Elliott must decide to come to terms with the life he’s been given.
The hardest part of learning how to love is allowing oneself to be vulnerable to another. As children, their choices were taken from them, and as young adults they struggle to lower their walls and let each other in. Sophie Young and Elliott Dalton continue to explore life, themselves, and each other. They learn how to trust and what it takes to fully participate in a life of love.. Every day they reveal a little more about themselves, but will it be enough or will the past continue to hold them hostage?
Learn more about N. K. Smith at thewriterscoffeeshop.com/nsmith.
Looking for other books in the Old Wounds series? Search OLD WOUNDS and LITTLE BATTLES
Based in the American Midwest, N.K. Smith is the author of the Old Wounds Series, Ghosts of Our Pasts, My Only, Are You Mine?, Hollywood Lies, and Hollywood Sins (available 7/2014). An avid lover of history, art, music, books, and people, she is interested in telling stories that speak to the human condition.
I read this book as a part of Early Reviewers and was not disappointed. I had not read the first two books of the series, and honestly did not realize it was a part of a series until about a quarter of the way through. The author has a wonderfully descriptive writing style, and I could really relate to the characters. This book started out from Sophie's viewpoint, and then switches between her and her boyfriend Elliot throughout. This is not a typical teenage love- it seems (although I'm not sure, since again I didnt read the first two books) that these two met in a group therapy program. Both teens went through some seriously emotionally damaging things in their childhood-physical and sexual abuse, neglect, dealing with death, yet somehow they relate to one another and become each others' rock. The book is sad, but there are points that do show some hope (Sophie's Christmas with her father, her progress in therapy, the way they describe their feelings for the other). The book ended with another tragedy and room for a 4th novel. I will read the first two books in this series and have a feeling that I will come to love the characters even more. Definitely a recommended read.
Still loving the series and another 5 stars,that must a record of some sort for me,usually I get a bit bored by third book. But not this time! Great story !
Reads like angsty, angsty fanfiction. (I wonder why that is?) This goes on and on, across three books. I must be a glutton for punishment, because I made myself finish. (There's actually now a 4th book. What?)
But save yourself- don't be sucked into this depressing (and badly edited, it just goes on forever!) tale.
N.K. Smith’s third novel picks up right where we left off in Little Battles, with teenagers Sophie and Elliott still trying to overcome the trauma of their pasts. While Sophie is making huge progress, having given up drugs and reckless sexual encounters, Elliott still has so much bottled up inside him that when he cracks it is catastrophic.
Elliott slowly reveals some of his father’s brutality to Sophie, and along with it the religious zealotry with which he was indoctrinated as a child. Smith’s use of biblical passages – which Elliott can recite at length without stuttering, thanks to his father’s beatings – show her mastery of understanding of this complicated upbringing, to the point where one fears her writing is based on experience. If this comes purely from her imagination, it is incredible. Either way, the writing is fantastic.
Sweet, kind Elliott becomes angry, frustrated Elliott who obsesses over his late mother and blocks Sophie’s attempts to help him with increasingly sexual encounters. When he finally breaks down completely, it is heartbreaking and frightening to read.
So many questions still remain. What happened to Joseph? What is so awful down in the basement? And will Sophie and Elliott ever be able to have a normal, loving relationship? Luckily, a fourth book, Where All Things Will Grow, is planned in which, hopefully, the two teenagers will get the happy ending they both deserve.
The summary above from Goodreads pretty much says it all-without giving away any spoilers, I can't say much more on the subject of the plot. This book picks up right where #2 left off, giving a little background information for readers who hadn't picked up this series recently.
Sophie and Elliot are the main characters, they both have terrible pasts. Sophie, for the most part, has given up her previous life of drugs and drinking and is one the road to recovery. Elliot, however, is still mad at the world and not afraid to show it. The reader will root for these two throughout the novel. Elliot will eventually break down, much to the readers' chagrin and slight fear. Sophie is the comforting presence in the book, but not even she can prevent Elliot from a huge upset. This book is very powerful, the reader will connect to the characters. This book is recommended for young adults/adults.
Every time I've picked up the next book within this exceptional series. I'm not surprised by how great it is.
The characters are gritty, realistic and quite frankly fascinating. With their dark and cruel pasts, that chase's and ensnares them in the present.
The character's become more loveable every time you learn something new.
And the plot is ceaseless at capturing your attention and dragging you into the fictional world that N.K Smith has written. (An unfortunate world that can be very real for many un-named people out there.)
This has to be one of my all time favourite series.
Now I'll start the grand finale.
And I'm dreading opening it, but only because I know this will be the last book and I'm not quite ready to let go of Sophie and Eliot's story.
This has to be one of the most poignant reads on my shelf.
Being that it seems I fall in love with Elliot more and more in every chapter of this book, this was so far the harder of the three to handle. I was completely pulled in to it but it was hard to hear about what Elliot has gone through and to know that there is obviously even more to the story is just heart breaking. The author is amazing with the emotions of these characters, including his foster siblings. You feel like you're there living the expereinces with these people. I have to say that I am surprised Sophie had the ability to clean herself up so quickly but I do hope it stays that way. She could frustrate me sometimes. It's so easy to lose yourself in these books.
So the first book got me hooked on this series the next three I read in one day. I couldnt stop avoided all the house work the kids well not totally but my mind was on the books for sure. This series left me crying and feeling heartbroken but at the same time joy. Joy that i know my kids dont have to go thru what Sophia and Elliot went thru. Yes i know that the story was made up but it was so believable that my heart ached every time some new information came out and my respect for therapist that have to deal with patients like the two main characters grew. I loved it so well written the tears i have to admit was flowing freely while i read.
The series was ok, you could feel the pain of Sophie and Elliot jumping out at you. It was hard to read in some parts as I couldn't deal with some of the intense themes within the story. Very well written and great dealing with the issues involved of both main characters. Am glad I have finished them and can read something a little more light hearted. Very intense but very very good story telling.
LOVED IT!!! Though these two young adults are going through so much i would have to say this is my favorite of the series so far. Im can't wait for the next book.
I am pulled into the story and spellbound to the last word. As a mother, I feel such compassion for the hell these two have been through at the hands of monsters, masquerading as parents.