Safe with Me

by Amy Hatvany

A novel about two mothers and one daughter who are linked by tragedy and bound by secrets, from the acclaimed author of Heart Like Mine. Now, in the provocative Safe with Me, Amy Hatvany explores controversial and timely issues with astonishing emotional complexity.

The screech of tires brought Hannah Scott’s world as she knew it to a devastating end. Even a year after she signed the papers to donate her daughter’s organs, Hannah is still reeling with grief when she unexpectedly stumbles into the life of the Bell family, whose child, Maddie, survived only because hers had died. Mesmerized by this fragile connection to her own daughter and afraid to reveal who she actually is, Hannah develops a surprising friendship with Maddie’s mother, Olivia.

The Bells, however, have problems of their own. Once on the verge of leaving her wealthy but abusive husband, Olivia now finds herself bound to him as never before in the wake of the successful transplant that saved their fifteen-year-old daughter’s life. Meanwhile Maddie, tired of the limits her poor health puts upon her and fearful of her father’s increasing rage, regularly escapes into the one place where she can be anyone she wants: the Internet. But when she is finally healthy enough to return to school, the real world proves to be just as complicated as the isolated bubble she had been so eager to escape.

A masterful narrative, shaped by nuanced characters whose fragile bonds are on a collision course with the truth, Safe with Me is a triumph.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Drama, Womens Fiction, Adult Fiction, Audiobook

352 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2014

About the author

Amy Hatvany was born in Seattle, WA in 1972, the youngest of three children. She graduated from Western Washington University in 1994 with a degree in Sociology only to discover most sociologists are unemployed. Soon followed a variety of jobs – some of which she loved, like decorating wedding cakes; others which she merely tolerated, like receptionist. In 1998, Amy finally decided to sell her car, quit her job, and take a chance on writing books.

The literary gods took kindly to her aspirations and THE KIND OF LOVE THAT SAVES YOU was published in 2000 by Bantam Doubleday. THE LANGUAGE OF SISTERS was picked up by NAL in 2002. (Both titles published under "Yurk.")

Amy spends most of her time today with her second and final husband, Stephan. (Seriously, if this one doesn’t work out, she’s done.) She stays busy with her two children, Scarlett and Miles, and her “bonus child,” Anna. Their blended family also includes two four-legged hairy children, commonly known as Black Lab mutts, Kenda and Dolcé. When Amy’s not with friends or family, she is most likely reading, cooking or zoning out on certain reality television shows. Top Chef is a current favorite. She eagerly awaits auditions for the cast of “Top Author.” (“Quick Edit” instead of “Quick Fire” Challenge? C’mon, producers! That’s gripping television!)

Reviews

[Judy Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

HATVANY’S “Best of the Best! SAFE WITH ME is an award-winning book, rightly deserving to be at the top of the list as the recipient of Best Fiction of 2014.

When I give a 5-star rating, it is due to a number of criteria, with the main one, “not being able to put the book down”. So when you run across a book such as SAFE WITH ME, five stars seems inadequate, deserving of more. (you want to blog and tell all your friends to buy this book, TODAY)!

I knew the first time I read one of Amy’s books, she would be one of my favorite authors for life. Everything she writes is so masterfully crafted, reflective of her talents as a highly skilled author, speaking from the heart with honesty, sensitivity, and humor.

She is not afraid to tackle highly charged subjects such as alcoholism, grief, critical illness, sickness, abuse, family drama, relationships, social subjects, death, bullying, and organ donation.

From the first page, I was hooked! There are some strong women characters here, and the topics Hatvany selected, and the brilliant way she was able to skillfully create a path for each of these women to connect and intersect, was outstanding!

The characters had so many flaws, yet she used them in such a delicate way to create a positive and warm feel and take away, for her readers and fans. (I also enjoy her acknowledgment with the creation of her stories — inspiring).

SAFE WITH ME, offers an array of feelings —from the emotional to the physical. From creating false identity and hope of oneself, coping with insecurities and dishonesty, fabricating stories and lies created by fear, and continuing to keep feelings and actions buried deeper, for a more serious outcome.

I especially related to the abuse topic, a victim in a similar situation with a wealthy, controlling the second husband, with Jekyll and Hyde, Sleeping with the Enemy type personality, as James; in so much, I could almost predict his next move, with painful memories resurfacing, as I turned the pages of this realistic plight. Fortunately, I was able to escape this abusive marriage after five long years, finding a highly independent and rewarding life thereafter.

I loved the character of Hannah, a successful hair stylist owner, mother, friend, daughter, sister, and business partner; picking herself up, getting back into the world and trusting again, as well as her altruistic friendship and nurturing with Olivia and Maddie.

Maddie’s first-hand struggle as patient and afterward as a transplant survivor was heartbreaking, as she is attempting to survive in the world new to her while dealing with her own guilt and prison within her own home.

In addition, how social media and technology plays a huge part in the storyline and narrative, as well as how teens can become involved in such peer pressure with such tactics as bullying, shoplifting, as well as online attempts to help make themselves to fit in and be more acceptable.

There are so many dynamics to this powerful and riveting story which will keep you turning well into the night, with your heart pounding to see what coming around the corner. We all need friendships, encouragement, and support to help those in a time of need through grief, with domestic shelters, and support groups.

An amazing story, which will live on well after the last page. Hats off Amy – this is a winner! Thank you, for the courage, tenacity, and commitment to craft such a remarkable story. I highly recommend, as well as all her books. (Here’s hoping for a sequel with Hannah, Olivia, and Maddie -these characters are too good, to end.)

JDCMustReadBooks

TOP 30 BEST BOOKS OF 2014

Check out Amy's upcoming, Somewhere Out There coming March, 2016. (another 5 Star)

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 I fell in love with Hatvany's first book, or at least the first to be released here called, Best Kept Secret. This one I had a few problems with, I felt it lacked focus, tried to cover too many things. Organ donation is a worthy subject all its own, throw in domestic abuse and one or the other will suffer. This one for me was borderline soap opera material, just one heartbreaking moment after another. She can definitely write, covers pertinent issues of the day but for me this novel was over kill.

Picoult fans will probably love Hatvany's novels.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

SAFE WITH ME is the story of how 3 women connect in times of tragedy. Told in alternating POV's: Hannah, Olivia & Maddie, readers become emotionally invested in their world. (Hatvany does an excellent job of pulling at your emotional strings.) Hannah loses her twelve-year-old daughter, Emily after she is hit & killed riding her bike across the street. The doctors ask her if she will consider making Emily an organ donor- & although hesitant, she eventually agrees. The idea of saving other lives with her daughter's organs is a bittersweet idea- & one that leads her to Olivia & Maddie.

Maddie is fifteen & is in desperate need for a liver transplant after being diagnosed with an autoimmune hepatitis. She has been in the hospital for years & will die without this operation. Because organ donations are anonymous, Maddie is unaware of the donator & Hannah doesn't know who the recipients are. After the successful surgery, Maddie is left dealing with her identity after being sick for so long as well as struggling with feeling inadequate that she lived while the donor did not (she is only told that it came from a girl in the same age group). Maddie wants to send a letter to the parents of the girl (which is intercepted by workers to deliver to families to ensure anonymity), but her parents refuse her to. Little do they know they'll end up meeting the family anyways...

Olivia, Maddie's mother, is dealing with issues of her own. For the last 20 years she has been stuck in an abusive marriage with James, afraid that her will take custody of Maddie & aware that she will not have the financial means to take care of Maddie if she leaves. She plans to go after Maddie gets out of the hospital. But soon hours & days turn into a year & she is still there. Readers are shown a deep look into domestic violence (a more accurate & gritty picture than say BIG LITTLE LIES in my opinion). We see how each encounter with James makes Olivia fear leaving, but still eager to leave, eventually leading her to the conclusion the best movement is to just stay still. We see Olivia try to break free from all of this- including her going back to school & speaking up when she'd rather do anything but.

After the surgery, Maddie goes to public school for the first time & is trying to act like a "normal" teenager for once. On the first day, she gets called a "Franken-babe" among other things just because of her scar. She ends up going to a nearby salon because she wants to change her look. They choose one they haven't gone to before, chosen right from a business card. Maddie gets her new look from none other than- Hannah. How all 3 women find out about each other & how they grapple with that knowledge is worth taking the plunge on. As well as finding out what Olivia will do about James.

I've only read one other Hatvany work so far (OUTSIDE THE LINES) but I can tell she has a pattern of making you engrossed in the story with her powerful prose, for you to actually care about the characters as if they individuals in your own life. I felt that these characters were a bit more developed than LINES, but perhaps I'm just biased because I can relate to them more. This is worth a read for sure, although there were a couple things that didn't sit right with me.

I was not satisfied with the ending at all. Without trying to give away spoilers, let me just say from a logical & personal view, I understand the thinking of how an abuser tricks their prey into staying. It is extremely difficult to not feel for Olivia as she tries to make the best decision for herself & Maddie. The ending is vague; tries to wrap up neatly after a major crisis. I would have liked it to be more in-detail, but I can't say more without those pesky spoilers. Another thing that really made me angry: Olivia is always quick to bring up that if James ever laid a hand on Maddie, she would leave immediately. I hope you have never been in a similar situation but if you have you know how much this isn't true, but readers are still hopeful that it will be easy for Olivia. So there is a subtle mention that is easy to gloss over, but it really made me stop & think. One night at dinner, James gets upset & lightly puts his hand on Maddie & squeezes it around her neck- just once & it was so fast, if you'd blink you'd miss it, but it never gets discussed again.

There are a lot of reasons why that didn't sit right with me, ones that I won't go into detail here, but I am upset at the decision to not have Olivia leave after this, aka not considering that encounter of putting his hands on her daughter (again, seriously complex family dynamics at play here), but I can see how this would be included to show just how difficult it all really is. No matter the reason I personally had a problem with it. It didn't stop me from finishing the book, but I did knock a star off for that as well as the ending. I was hoping this book would go a bit more into the organ process & stayed on that longer, but I guess that's what actual medical sources are for. Still recommend for a strong domestic fiction tale.

[Jülie ☼♄  · Rating 4 out of 5]

Safe With Me

Thanks to The Reading Room and Allen & Unwin for this first edition copy.
Read from April 28 to 30, 2014

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, for all that it was very sad, it also had some very positive elements which often gave me pause.

I loved the author's turn of phrase and how she so captured a mood, whether it be comical or clinical, or even nuance.
For me, these are the qualities that raised the bar, elevating this from a good read to a very good and thought provoking read. One that lingered long past the last page.

With page turning tension, you will be drawn into the lives of two families as they face their worst nightmares.
This is a story about what some real life issues can be like when faced by ordinary people, who are taken suddenly unawares into the depths of despair and helplessness. And how they are suddenly and forever changed and affected by it.

....."nights spent alone are the hardest---the silence confronts her with weapons she doesn't know how to handle."

Amy Hatvany has that rare quality of being able to effectively translate real and raw emotion into words, in such a way that the pain is almost palpable, adjusting the intensity in realistically measured waves according to the circumstance.
She will gradually draw you right into the energy of the moment so that you cannot look away...making you totally empathize with the cast of characters.
No potential event or action was left unaccounted for and even the ordinary moments keep you spellbound with their authenticity.
Truly credible writing.

I gave it 4★s and would have no problems recommending this book.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

So lucky to get an ARC of this. As I was crying on page 2, I knew this would be an extremely affecting read. This was hard for me in parts, and I mean that in a most completely complimentary fashion. It felt so true and real, at times it was emotionally difficult to take in. (Maybe because I have daughters?) I'd find myself completely out of breath and have to put the book down. I was there, I was there 100% with Olivia and Hannah and Maddie.

Olivia's daughter Maddie is gravely ill and is saved by an organ donation...from Hannah's daughter Emily. Though this is about the transplant, it is really about so much more. The author could've completely relied on this for "plot" but she really weaves greater complexity into all the characters, and tremendous complexity into Maddie's personality in particular, especially given her life has been defined by her illness and transplant. Really well done. I know some of the author's background and I'm fairly certain she does not have first-hand experience in organ transplant (or losing a child, or being critically ill), but if someone told me she did, I would believe it 100%.

As a writer, I found it interesting in the acknowledgments that the author says she tried to tackle this book before, unsuccessfully, and finally she was "ready" to write it. A very interesting insight. Overall expertly executed, and definitely the best of her books so far. Loved this.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this book and couldn’t put it down.

Hannah loses her 12 year old daughter in a car accident and agrees to donate her organs to those who need them. Olivia’s 15 year old daughter has a chronic liver disease and needs a transplant. Maddie gets Hannah’s daughter’s liver and they all go on with their lives.

Except.

Hannah can’t get over the loss of her daughter; Maddie now has to attend school instead of being home tutored and is having problems adjusting to the social aspects of school; Olivia is in an abusive marriage and wants to leave before the abuse escalates. The three meet unexpectedly and Hannah suspects that Maddie is her daughter’s liver recipient, but doesn’t say anything. Hannah and Olivia become friends and later everything in their lives comes to a head.

The characters are all wonderfully portrayed, even the ones you don’t like. There is a lot of drama in the book, and the scenes of domestic violence are stressful to read. Hannah’s grief over her daughter is heartbreaking, but sometimes it’s a bit much. This book would have been just as good if the author had concentrated on just one issue: organ transplantation or domestic violence. The double whammy doesn’t take away from either issue, since each character experiences each issue differently.

There are many themes that are addressed in the story: grief, friendship, honesty, loyalty, secrets, coping skills and what facade do you present to others, among others. I found it interesting that although the abuser, James, tried to present one facade, a co-worker described him as “a real jerk.” BTW, any scene involving James made my stomach knot. Well done.

One absolutely minor point: what is with the upside down question marks in all of her books? I find them very distracting. Such a strange font. 🤪

I have loved all of Amy Hatvany’s books, and this was no exception. I absolutely recommend this book.

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the first page I was emotionally involved in this story. I was right there with single parent Hannah, when she hears the scream and finds the body of her twelve year old daughter Emily lying on the road after having been hit by a car. Hannah is called on to make a choice no parent should ever have to make. But Hannah’s decision could benefit others. Olivia Bell and her sixteen year old daughter Maddie, who has had years of debilitating sickness, are beneficiary of Hannah’s agonising decision. The story is told from these three points of view. A year later Hannah is still struggling to come to terms with her loss. She has cut herself off from many people. Then one day Olivia and Maddie walk into the hair dressing salon Hannah and her business partner run. Olivia and Hannah just seem to click and form a friendship but there are secrets both of them are keeping.
Despite a couple of incidents that seemed a tad co-incidental but are necessary to the plot, I found myself engrossed in this novel. It involved me in all three lives. It raises issues about hard choices, lies and deception, abuse and reasons why someone may choose to stay in an abusive relationship, the effects of an abusive relationship on children, and touches on dangers of the internet and not knowing who you are really talking to.
I thought all three female characters were well drawn and believable and I liked the way the story ranged across the three points of view. Once I started reading I hated having to put this book down. As a result I was up till l after midnight because I just had to get to the end. This for me, was a riveting and emotionally charged read.

[Crumb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not turn the pages fast enough! This book pulled at my heart strings in the best of ways. I thought the characters were very relatable, which is a big plus. Fantastic book!

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 3 out of 5]

Told from the perspectives of Hannah, Olivia and Maddie, Amy Hatvany's Safe with Me is an emotive story of tragedy, grief, friendship, secrets and second chances.

A year after her twelve year old daughter's tragic death, Hannah is still struggling with the loss, burying herself in work to distract herself from the memories, the crippling grief mitigated only by the knowledge that part of Emily lives on in those who received her donated organs.
Olivia was just days away from losing her daughter to liver disease when fifteen year old Maddie received the transplant she desperately needed and after decades of enduring an abusive marriage to ensure the health of her child, Olivia can finally make plans for the two of them to escape.
After years of illness and hospitalisation, Maddie can finally lead a more normal life but she's worried about fitting in at a regular high school, and devastated when the first girl she meets makes snide remarks about her hair and clothing.
To cheer Maddie up, Olivia treats her to a cut and colour at the new and exclusive salon in town where they meet stylist, Hannah. Hannah is stunned when Olivia reveals that twelve months previously, Maddie received a transplant and can't help but wonder if the teenage girl before her lived because her daughter died. Tentatively Hannah initiates a friendship with Olivia, and the women are surprised at the ease with which they confide in each other but there are some secrets neither are willing to share.

I was absorbed by the intensity of tragedy and emotion that unfolds from the first page of Safe With Me. Hannah's grief is raw and visceral as she faces the loss of her precious daughter, the agonising decision to donate her organs and then living without her. Olivia's love and concern for her ill daughter is evident and when we learn of the physical and emotional abuse she has endured for Maddie's sake we both admire and pity her. Maddie evokes immediate sympathy as a very ill girl and then as an awkward teen as she struggles to rebuild her life.

But if I am honest, on reflection, the plot of Safe With Me resembles a soap opera episode or a lifetime movie. I wish Hatvany hadn't opted to combine two such emotive issues - organ donation and domestic violence. While I think the author approaches both issues with sensitivity and compassion, it also seems calculated and somehow cheapens the seriousness of both.
I also took issue with some elements of the storyline, I would have liked the author to have developed the friendship between Hannah and Olivia more, for example. Hannah and Maddie's outrage over Olivia withholding her suspicions that Maddie was the recipient of her daughters liver, seems disproportionate, after all they had shared little more than a hairdressing appointment and a coffee date.

I've struggled with this review because while my heart was touched by this story when I was immersed in it, as I began to write down my thoughts I grew increasingly cynical about it all. I can't deny that Safe With Me is a gripping, affecting read in the moment but some readers, like me, may ultimately find it disingenuous.

[Kasia (kasikowykurz) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Z literaturą piękną zazwyczaj jest mi nie po drodze. Głównie chyba dlatego, że po tylu fantastycznych i romantycznych przygodach trafiam na książkę, która jest do bólu wręcz zwyczajne, że czasami aż ciężko się w tym odnaleźć. Nie tym razem! Być może i nie jestem targetem (chyba), ale słuchanie tej książki sprawiło, że naprawdę cieszę się, że żyję jak żyję.

Gdzieś tam głęboko ta książka boli nawet mnie, chociaż nie mogę utożsamić się z żadną z postaci. Ale jest dobrze napisana, jest o kobietach dla kobiet, jest trudna (ale ma cholernie satysfakcjonujące zakończenie!), zapewne trudniejsza będzie dla rodziców nastolatek.

Wybrałam ją kompletnie przez przypadek - od kolejny tytuł walający się gdzieś w odmętach czytnikowych i po lekturze stwierdzam, że nie żałuję tego wyboru i w sumie brakuje mi takich książek - z morałem, mądrych, ale w żadne sposób nie piętnujących i nie narzucających swojego zdania. Aż szkoda myśleć, że u nas autorka w ogóle nie znana.

[Myrn🩶 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book. Easy, emotional read that includes issues of friendship, deceit, abuse, and grief. I need to read more from this author.

[Maria Lavrador · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gostei deste livro, em que as histórias de vida de 3 mulheres se cruzam em torno de um acontecimento menos feliz, mas que vem beneficiar a vida de algumas delas

[Paul Pessolano · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Safe With Me” by Amy Hatvany, published by Washington Square Press.

Category – Fiction/Literature Publication Date – March 04, 2014

If you like the books of Jodi Picoult and want a story that tears at your heartstrings, put “Safe With Me” on your must read list. It is a story of two families and the tragedies they are faced with and how they overcome them.

Hannah Scott has just been informed that her young daughter is brain dead and she must make the decision if she wants her to be an organ donor. This is a difficult decision due to this being her only child and her total devotion to her.

Olivia Bell’s daughter, Maddie, has been sick for years and is at the top of the list for a liver transplant.

Hannah makes the decision to donate her daughter’s organs, and Maddie receives Emily’s liver. Although donors and recipients are to remain anonymous they can correspond through the Hospital’s donor program. By a quirk of fate Hannah, Olivia, and Maddie lives intersect and Hannah feels confident that Maddie is the recipient of Emily’s liver but is reluctant to tell them until she is sure. Through their relationship Hannah finds out that Olivia is in an abusive relationship with her husband but finds circumstances such that she cannot extricate herself from the marriage.

All of this comes to a head as each must face their problems both individually and together.

A story that will have you wanting to read Amy Hatvany’s other books because of the human element in them, stories that are very real in the world today.

[Carina Carvalho · Rating 4 out of 5]

O tema da violência doméstica é daqueles que evito ler. Talvez por isso tenha demorado mais de 20 dias a ler este livro. Uma das razões é a forma realista como a escritora expõe os sentimentos das personagens. Esta escritora é muito boa! Não será um livro fácil para algumas pessoas.

[Lisa B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is told in three voices. Hannah, a single Mom who loses her daughter Emily due to a tragic accident and ultimately decides to donate her organs. She is trying to come to terms with her loss and move her life forward. Maddie, the recipient of Emily’s liver. She has been sick for so long that she struggles with trying to live her new life as someone with good health. And finally, Olivia, Maddie’s Mom who is trapped in an abusive marriage. She wants to find a way to leave her husband, but circumstances keep this from happening.

I thought each of these characters were portrayed very realistically. I liked the way the author slowly brought these three women together. The story line really builds the suspense. There were no easy answers for any of the three, and towards the end I was worried for all of them. All in all, this was a very enjoyable read.

Many thanks to Atria, via Netgalley, for allowing me to read this in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Stuart Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Hatvany's books. I especially love reading her while Im on the eliptical machine at the gym. Her stories have a way of carrying me away from my workout and setting me in her scenes and right beside her characters.
This newest book is no dissapointment. It is her same gifted characterizations and story telling with an added new sense of urgency and a heart racing storyline that kept my legs pumping.
I think this is her best book yet and it put her in a category with Jodi Picoult and a little bit Beth Harbison and a little bit of Emily Griffin.
If you haven't read her before...get into it. If you have read her before...get ready.

[Mafi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Depois de 4 anos com o livro na estante, lá peguei neste livro. Gostei mais deste do que o outro que li da autora. Adorei todas as figuras femininas centrais. Um bom livro.
--

(...)
Temos aqui um conjunto de personagens femininas muito fortes mas também muito diferentes entre si. Não sei porquê (talvez devido aos temas que o livro aborda) mas senti uma vibe à ''Jodi Picoult'' neste livro mas sem a presença de tribunais como já é comum nos livros da Jodi, mas de resto gostei bastante de tudo que li neste livro.
Temos uma narrativa a 3 vozes - Hannah, Olivia e Maddie. Hannah ainda está a recompor-se da morte da sua filha Emily, que falece depois de ser atropelada na sua bicicleta. A morte de Emily é a salvação de Maddie, filha de Olivia, que luta há vários anos com problemas de saúde. Por causa desses problemas, Olivia nunca conseguiu fugir do marido abusivo e aguentou muitos anos de sofrimento mas agora sente que talvez tenha coragem suficiente para fugir com Maddie e começarem uma nova vida a duas.

(...)

Em relação ao primeiro livro que li da autora, este livro conseguiu surpreender-me imenso e por isso fico contente por ainda ter mais um livro da autora por ler, algo que irei fazer brevemente.

Opinião completa: https://algodaodoceparaocerebro.blogs...

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never read any books written by Amy Hatvany before. I won this book as a Goodreads First Read and within the first few pages, I couldn't put it down! I started the book at 11:30pm on a Friday and finished it over the weekend. The way the Amy portrayed the main characters in the book made you want to jump into the pages and hug them! It was easy to feel the emotion of the relationships that were being depicted and I found myself not wanting it to end. I kept wanting more but I was happy that the ending did not leave off on a cliff hanger and it tied everything together. I will definitely being adding more Amy Hatvany books to my collection!

[Maggie61 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I've found another author that'll be a favourite. This is the first I have read of hers and it was so good I couldn't put it down.
What starts out as a story of a mother donating her daughter's organs cascades into a gripping story of spousal abuse.
In some ways it seemed like two unrelated stories, but they are brought together with events that meshed the two and makes you think about what you would do in either situation.
If your child died, would you donate their organs. And if you did, would you want to know who received them? Hannah had to deal with the tragic loss of Emily, withdraws into herself and removes mostly everything that reminds her of Emily as they are too painful to be around.
Then on the other storyline, how much abuse is enough I finally make you leave your spouse? Olivia is stuck in the world she's in, if she leaves, she won't be in any position to support her daughter especially with all the medical issues. Her husband is a respected man of the community. Who will believe her? What if he wins custody of Maddie? So she stays, hoping that she can stay on top of things, make sure James doesn't get mad, walking on eggshells constantly. Maddie is dealing with being a teenager in a way she never has before. She's been home schooled, hadn't had friends before and is thrust into the world of high school and boys and mean girls and just fitting in.
When Hannah and Olivia meet, there is an instant bond. Hannah suspects Maddie may be a recipient of her daughter Emily's liver but doesn't want to say anything until she is sure.
This book makes you think, and parts, especially the abuse are very difficult to read. This book tugged at my heart for Hannah, and Olivia and Maddie, all who have dealt with such struggle.
I will now need to go and find more books from this author. This was a great read.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Safe with me was an intense and emotionally charged story. I couldn't put it down, I just had to know how it would end. From page one it sucked me in and I felt so much compassion for Hannah, Olivia, and Maddie. I wanted to reach out and help all of them. It was such a gripping story and I know it is one I will be thinking about for awhile. I love stories and characters that stay with me long after I've read the last sentence. I just wish I could know what happens with the three of these women. How do their stories really end? To me the ending of this book would make a great beginning for Hatvany's next book (hint, hint!). This is the first book I have read by Amy Hatvany and I will be adding all her books to my must read list. *I received an advance copy of this book from Goodreads First Reads.*

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

well the back of the book doesn't give the book justice in the description. it gives just brief sentence to what this family deals with in the home. I gave this book 5 stars because this author got domestic violence right on. kids know what's going on, the woman's self worth is always self questioning, careful what to say around the man. it covers a lot of the complex reasons why women stay in abusive relationships. and she also got it right that friends should point out stuff but it's always best to just be supportive. the grief, heartbreak and donor issues were also well put. this was a story that pulled me in from first chapter. this is going on my list of books for women to read that I can say, read that and tell me that's your life. I am always finding ways to motivate my clients! sometimes the power of a good story can see they are not alone. well done author, Amy Hatvany!

[Mandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a perfectly readable and enjoyable novel that explores motherhood through the experiences of two women whose paths cross after the death of the daughter of one of them. The story moves along fairly well, and keeps the reader wanting to know what happens next, but essentially it’s more soap opera than good fiction, and it failed to engage me very deeply, in spite of the important issues that it tackles, namely organ donation and domestic abuse. Bland and predictable.

[Mystica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two mothers linked by a strange link. It was a bit too slick to be true but at the same time the story was so well put together that I did enjoy my first read from this author.



Emily is Hannah's much loved daughter. Maddie is Olivia's much adored daughter. Emily dies in a tragic car accident and her organs are donated by Hannah to various receipients. Fast forward Maddie is just weeks from dying if she does not get a new liver and it is timely for want of a better word when Emily's liver becomes available. The two families live in widely disparate worlds. Hannah is a single mother, successful and upto now managing very well on her own. Olivia is in an abusive relationship and though on the surface having everything material available to her and her daughter, she knows that this is not the way to live. She has no choice though, with Maddie so ill and needing so much she in a situation she cannot get out of.



The story goes on and with their eventual meeting, accidental and not contrived and the eventual realisation of who each person was.



The near death escape by Olivia from her husband is the catalyst that sets her and her daughter free and it is a happily ever ending of a kind though for Hannah her life has changed completely and will never ever be the same.



Emotional but not overpoweringly so read.

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book! It had me in tears really early on-- it just grabs you and yanks at your heart! This book is about a mother's love for their daughters and what you will do for them.
Hannah's daughter is killed when she is run over by a car and she decides to donate her organs. Olivia's daughter is the recipient of one of the organs and when the 2 women's paths cross they share so much more than they know. I loved how simple this was, but how thought provoking it was. The relationships are great and very realistic and I flew through this!

[Marti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Safe With Me by Amy Hatvany is a novel that is going to be published in March. While this is my first time reading a novel by her, this is not her first book. This book touches on difficult issues: loss of a child, organ donation and spousal abuse. There is a poignancy to the grief and a sharpness to the fear. Amy Hatvany's novel delivers characters struggling with their burdens. Their emotions underline the passion of the novel. Even during the hardest times, there is an underlying positiveness to the novel, with your hope moving them forward.

Hannah has lost her daughter, Alice. A tragic accident has left her raw with grief as she slowly pushes everything and everyone away. Her daughter's organs are donated to children needing transplants. Meanwhile, in a parallel story line, Olivia is living with her husband of many years and their teenage daughter who desperately needs a liver. Maddie is growing weaker daily, while waiting for a match. The two stories begin their connection when Maddie receives Alice's liver. However, it is as the story line continues that the secrets of Olivia and Maddie's lives are revealed.

This is the first Amy Hatvany novel I have read. I have enjoyed this book and will be adding her name to the writers to watch for. I was able to read the book easily in a day and found myself engaged with the storyline and empathy with the characters.

I received this book through Bookbrowse with the understanding of providing an honest evaluation of the book.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

See this review on 1776books.net...
http://1776books.blogspot.com/2014/02...

Amy Hatvany's Safe With Me begins with the ultimate horror for any parent -- the sudden death of their child. Life changes in an instant for Hannah, who is grieving the loss of her beloved daughter, Emily, in a tragic accident. When the doctors ask Hannah to make a decision about organ donation, she is thrust into something that no parent should ever have to decide.

At the same time, Maddie is a teenager with a diseased liver, having spent much of her life in the hospital and wanting more than anything to have a sense of normalcy. Without an immediate liver transplant, Maddie's prognosis is not good, and Olivia, her mother, is forced to think about the probable death of HER child. She is also in an abusive marriage but feels that she can't possibly do anything about that unless Maddie gets well. Safe With Me goes back and forth between narration by Hannah, Maddie, and Olivia; Hannah realizes soon after Maddie and Olivia come into her hair salon that Maddie is the recipient of Emily's liver. What she will do with that information and how all three slowly move on with their lives makes Safe With Me a compelling read.

The novel ends a little suddenly, and I would have loved it if Hatvany had provided her readers with an epilogue. However, this is the sort of thought-provoking book that gets people talking about issues and the "What ifs?" That, to me, makes Safe With Me the most rewarding type of book.

MY RATING - 4

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an incredible story, told in a comfortable and sensitive way. Hannah, Olivia, and Maddie were all easy to relate to, even if I have never been in their shoes (nor do I want to be). I was expecting to be overly emotional for Hannah's situation, but it was told in such a way that I could feel her anguish and grief without needing to cry the entire time. And even with Maddie being a teenager, I loved reading her parts of the story and thought it was cool that she was the only voice in first person. It made me feel closest to her.

This is my first time reading an Amy Hatvany novel and I definitely want to check out her others. She has a way with writing that gets into my head and stays there even when I am not actively reading the book. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next and I was worrying about the characters in the meantime.

I highly recommend this novel, but be aware that there are some heavy and sensitive topics that could affect you even if you have no personal experience with those situations.

Of course, I can't read a novel without casting it as a movie...

Hannah: Jennifer Connelly http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000124/
Olivia: Naomi Watts http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0915208/?r...
Maddie: Shailene Woodley http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0940362/?r... (she's convincing as a teen)

[Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

"She wanted to warn them, to tell them how quickly everything can change, but she knew it was useless. There's simply no telling whose life will be touched by tragedy. There is only a before and an after, with no way to predict the moment when one is over and the other begins (Safe with Me, pg 46)."

What would you do if you were faced with the loss of a child and then the possibility to save many others due to this loss? Would you be able to let your child live on inside others? What happens when your path crosses with one of the people your child saved? Answer: Your world is turned upside down and changed in ways you never imagined! This is a book filled with tragedy, loss and emotions. And also healing, second changes and unexpected friendships. "Sometimes it's easier to talk to someone who doesn't have preconceived notions of who you are, no expectations based on past behavior, no running commentary on the choices you've made in your life (Safe with Me, pg 225)." Safe with Me is complex, raw and real. I was so completely drawn into the pages of this novel. Safe with Me will cause you to think and to be grateful for everyday you have with your loved ones. You will feel emotionally connected from page one and be held tight to the very last page. 4.5 stars

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A year after she signed papers to donate her daughter’s organs, Hannah still suffers from the loss of her young child. Unexpectedly she stumbles upon the recipient of her daughter’s kidney when Olivia and Maddie arrive at Hannah’s hair salon. Olivia harbors a secret that her husband abuses her both mentally and physically. She’s wanted to leave him but can’t because her Maddie, her daughter has been so sick for years and now at 15 just received the kidney transplant that saved her life. Hannah and Olivia form a fast friendship. She’s not hiding the abuse as well as she thinks. Hannah figures it out and wants to help her. Meanwhile Maddie, tired of years living as an invalid, plots her escape but also spends increasingly more time forging relationships [even new identities] on the Internet. Seems like you may have read similar stories but Amy Hatvany creates an impressive story and completely believable multifaceted characters you might meet. Didn’t expect to becoming completely engulfed in this novel. It’s a total page-turner. Perfect way to while away a cozy weekend.

[Brandi Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a heavy read, but I was hooked from the very first paragraph. Lots of Big Issues going on within its pages: death & grieving; abuse & survival. But there was a positive vein that ran through the entire novel: the power of circumstance, of female friendship, of hope, and of really, really good timing. And, above all, the gentle reminder of the importance of organ donation. I loved every character (with the exception of James, though the author does a brilliant job of describing him), even Dirk. Especially Dirk (would love to see a future novel featuring Dirk, cough Amy cough, heh heh). Phenomenal writing, as always. I'm thankful I got to be a first reader.