Weekend Pass

by Paul Cavanagh

Who can forgive a mother who poisons her eight-year-old son? Even if it was an accident. Tasha thought she had everything under control – her family life, her career as a nurse – until her son got into her stash of painkillers. Now, during her first weekend home from drug treatment, she must come to grips with the damage she’s done and somehow pick up the pieces. Told from the points of view of four different family members, Weekend Pass is a story about the lies we tell ourselves and the people we love. And it’s about struggling to rise above the mistakes that threaten to define us. From the International Lit Idol winning author.

210 pages, Paperback

Published January 19, 2021

About the author

Paul Cavanagh burst onto the international literary scene when he was crowned the world’s first Lit Idol at the London International Book Fair in the UK. The novel that won him the title, After Helen, was published by HarperCollinsCanada to glowing reviews. His deft touch for creating compelling characters comes in no small part from working for some 30 years in health care. He developed his literary talents at the Humber School for Writers and Western University. He currently lives in London, Ontario, Canada.

Reviews

[Sandysbookaday (on indefinite hiatus) · Rating 2 out of 5]

EXCERPT: 'So here I am,' Tasha says. 'Back in the real world.'

'How does it feel,' Milt asks.

'The truth?'

Milt nods.

'Terrifying,' she says.

ABOUT 'WEEKEND PASS': Who can forgive a mother who poisons her eight-year-old son? Even if it was an accident.

Tasha thought she had everything under control – her family life, her career as a nurse – until her son got into her stash of painkillers. Now, during her first weekend home from drug treatment, she must come to grips with the damage she’s done and somehow pick up the pieces. Told from the points of view of four different family members, Weekend Pass is a story about the lies we tell ourselves and the people we love. And it’s about struggling to rise above the mistakes that threaten to define us.

MY THOUGHTS: The excerpt I have quoted from Weekend Pass comes from the end of the first chapter. Milt, Tasha's father, has collected her from the treatment centre for her first weekend pass since being admitted. I have worked with alcohol and drug addicts during my psychiatric nursing career, and this was a common emotion; the fear that being back in the same place with the same triggers will lead to a relapse. It is a perfectly justified fear. I thought I was in for an emotional roller coaster of a read.

Unfortunately, I don't think that this author's style of writing gets the full potential from this story. At the half way point I made this comment: 'Meh. I hope this improves soon. I am not enjoying being 'told' what is happening. I feel quite removed from the characters, and not really interested in them with the exception of Jake. Really only reading on to see what happens to him. Have started skimming as this is failing to hold my attention.'

There was plenty of potential here to play with. There are complex family relationships dealing with death, addiction, betrayal, guilt, denial, abandonment issues, and infidelity. There is drama when Jake goes missing (that piqued my interest and earned an extra half star). Yet the majority of the story is narrated in a plodding manner that left me bored and restless.

I admire what the author was trying to do. It didn't work for me. That doesn't mean it isn't going to work for you. Reading is a personal and subjective experience, and what appeals to one may not please another. So if you enjoyed the excerpt from The Weekend Pass, and the plot outline appeals, please do go ahead and read it. Many other people have read and enjoyed Weekend Pass and rated it higher than I have. Please also check out their reviews.

I do love the cover.

⭐⭐.5

#WeekendPass #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Paul Cavanagh burst onto the international literary scene when he was crowned the world’s first Lit Idol at the London International Book Fair in the UK. The novel that won him the title, After Helen, was published by HarperCollinsCanada to glowing reviews. His deft touch for creating compelling characters comes in no small part from working for some 30 years in health care. He developed his literary talents at the Humber School for Writers and Western University. He currently lives in London, Ontario, Canada. (Goodreads.com)

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Not That London Writer, IBPA, via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Weekend Pass by Paul Cavanagh for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

[Gina Rae Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not your typical addiction novel. Weekend Pass delves deep into the fissures addiction causes in a family as well as the soul of the addict.

The story takes place during Tasha's first weekend away from rehab. In that one short weekend (and only 200 pages), we learn the past that caused Tasha's life to fall apart. This well-researched story pulls at your heartstrings as you watch a family disintegrate and begin to rebuild.

I love a good epilogue and Weekend Pass ties up the story in a very realistic way.


I received a copy of the book for a book blog tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.

[Lara Farrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A compassionate novel about the impact of addiction and how this can echo through the generations. Tasha is a nurse and young mother with a prescription drug habit she thinks is under control until a terrible accident involving her young son sets off a sequence of events that ends with Tasha in rehab and unable to see her son unsupervised. This story of her first weekend trip home does a very good job of exploring family legacy (when it comes to relationships as well as addiction) and is much less bleak than the subject matter suggests it might be. It’s also relatively short (I read it in a day) and I would recommend. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This really quite readable and enjoyable novel tackles with insight and empathy the serious issue of addiction – whether to alcohol or drugs – and shows the ravages such addiction causes not only to the addict but to the wider family. Here we meet Tasha, who outwardly at least has a comfortable life with her husband and son. But there are demons in her past and eventually she succumbs to them and one dreadful night inadvertently and carelessly leaves something out which her son drinks. The fallout from this is as devastating as you might imagine and the book explores the aftermath. Guilt, responsibility, forgiveness, or the impossibility of forgiveness – all these issues are examined through four different perspectives and it’s an engaging and though-provoking novel. However I found the style rather flat, even plodding at times, with straight narrative (first this then that) rather than an attempt to really get inside the characters’ heads. So although I wanted to read on and find out how everything turns out I didn’t find it a particularly compelling read. Not a bad book, by any means, but overall somewhat uninspiring, with too much reliance on cliché and platitude.

[Westveil Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to iRead Book Tours and author Paul Cavanagh for access to an eARC of Weekend Pass in exchange for an honest review as part of my participation in the blog tour for this title. This has not swayed my opinion; my thoughts are my own and my review is honest.

Weekend Pass is the story of a family recovering from the fallout of one person’s addiction problem that exploded into a tragic case of collateral damage. Tasha got high, left something out where her young son could get it, and nothing has been the same since. The book’s title alludes to her weekend passes to leave the rehab facility she’s recovering at, specifically her first one. Her chances to go to a help group, try to get her life back, and try to rebuild the family she damaged.

This book is easy to read. It flies by in a flash and feels so real. So true. I may not have ever been an addict, but I’ve been in some pretty crap life situations, and I’ve known addicts. Everything about Tasha’s experience and how those around her respond rings true. Weekend Pass is a raw, honest look at this version of the human experience.

With that said, I wasn’t excited to continue reading when I had to put it down. It’s a good book while I’m reading it, but I didn’t miss it when I had to do something else. It didn’t call me back. If I had’t been reading this for a tour deadline, I might have taken a lot longer to getting around to finishing it. Please do keep in mind that I don’t think this will be everyone’s experience, as this isn’t my favourite genre. I do like to read a wide variety, and literary is always a comfortable place to look when I’m ready to mix things up, but my reading home is SFF where worldbuilding is required and there’s a lot of fantasy lore or hypothetical technologies to keep track of. This book is real-world, modern day, and doesn’t spend a lot of time setting the scene because it doesn’t need to. That means I need it to dive deep into just a couple heads or do interesting things with the narrative, and this book doesn’t. It’s very straight forward, chronological flow, dip into whichever mind has the plot point and dip out again. If that’s the sort of thing you like to read then this will be great.

Thanks again to everyone involved in allowing me to read this book. I’m calling this a 3.5 on my own blog because I can’t quite decide between “good or great,” but for sites with strict whole-star systems, I will gladly call it a 4. I would happily recommend this book to all fans of literary fiction and anyone looking for a raw and honest look at the road to recovery from addiction.

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed my advance review copy of Weekend Pass. It was beautifully crafted and compassionate, yet a starkly realistic novel about the tolls of addiction and it’s long term multigenerational side effects. An emotional ride to ultimate peace.

[M.M. Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do caution my readers that this is raw at times and definitely has triggers throughout, which you would expect.

I wanted to read this book because I personally know people who have gone through recovery of addictions and people who have lived with loved ones that are addicted.

This was a page turner that I simply could not put down until I was done. The whole book's scenario happens on a weekend visit home, thus the cover title, after a three-week stent in a recovery program. The realism touches on how family members react to the main character as well as how she deals with her own recovery. It is heart wrenching from both sides and tough to read especially if, like me, you have gone through such things.

I am not sure if the author just did his homework or has experienced addiction in some way, but the book talked about the character going to a recovery place and attending meetings like NA and AA. I like that the author did not try to gloss over the effects of addiction and instead made it in your face what it is. It showed how someone who would normally not do, drugs or alcohol in this case, can easily become addicted. It also showed how family dynamics can be effected before and after addictions. His story unfolded well and is worth the read.

The only other thing I would like to mention is that I wished (even though I know this is a novel) there had been some resources added to the back of the book.

Overall, 4 stars for a great book.
Disclosure: I was given a copy of this book from the author. The views here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle

[Pam Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading an Advance Review copy of Weekend Pass, the latest novel by Paul Cavanaugh. The pivotal event in the title (the first visit home from a residential addiction treatment centre,) is a gateway into Tasha’s story that unfolds her recovery, but also unravels the history of personal pain and secrets in the lives of the most important people in her life. The author creates relatable characters and a credible storyline, set in a familiar geography. He avoids the trap of heroes and villains often perpetuated in stories about addiction. Selfishness, meanness, secrecy and betrayal are not the exclusive domain of the person dependent on a substance. Love for children is a powerful common denominator, as is the need for redemption and forgiveness – with or without an active addiction.
Dr. Gabor Mate has said “Addiction is not a choice that anybody makes; it’s not a moral failure; it’s not an ethical lapse; it’s not a weakness of character; it’s not a failure of will, which is how our society depicts addiction. Nor is it an inherited brain disease, which is how our medical tendency is to see it. What it actually is: it’s a response to human suffering...”
Weekend Pass is well written and easy to read, with enough twists and turns to keep me fully engaged. It lends itself to discussion of its important themes and left me wondering about the future of the characters. Weekend Pass explores the human suffering, but also the resilience that propels life forward.

[Marilyn Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book to read. It is a snapshot of literally one weekend in Tasha's life - a weekend where she steps out of rehab for the first time since her son was poisoned. The guilt is enormous as it was entirely her fault. She did not keep him safe from the drugs she was abusing. Since the time frame of the story is so very short, the focus is instead on four characters who are connected to this tragedy - their emotions, their interactions, their thoughts.

As someone who reads a lot, it took a bit to adjust my expectations. I am used to following a long story arc through many chapters. Here instead, I was asked to embrace a tale told by having me experience the emotion filled interactions and thoughts of each of the characters. It was an interesting way to tell a story. Be ready - there is a lot of darkness and sorrow here, as well as a lot of regret and anguish.

Can Tasha beat her addiction? Can she forgive herself? Can there be a positive outcome? Well you'll just have to read Weekend Pass to find out.

[Amy]

I found Weekend Pass to be a good read. I have not read Paul Cavanagh before, but was quickly found that he was quite talented. This book was uniquely written and was a little bit different than what I am used to. I really thought this was refreshing to read something that I am not used to reading. It is not a very long read but does deal with some heavy issue, such as, addiction, family, and making horrible mistakes. I thought it is a perfect story to show many who can relate to the characters. They would be able to see the lessons learned between the pages. I thought it was a beautiful tale of having hope, redeeming yourself, the power of forgiveness, and having the ability of moving on from the past. It was captivating to read. After reading the first couple of chapters and caught on what was going on, I could not put it down. I had no problem having the whole book read in a few short hours.
I am giving Weekend Pass four and a half stars. I would be interested in reading more by Paul Cavanagh in the near future. He has earned himself a new fan from me. I would recommend this book for readers who enjoy reading books dealing with real life issues and see how they were able to deal with them.
I received Weekend Pass from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent read and great for book club discussions. Appreciated the advance review copy. The story highlights a prevalent societal issue and the impact of addiction on a family including their many losses, struggles, unspoken secrets and strengths. The character development is extremely well done and how the story is told will hold your attention. The story unfolds in my home town- which was an extra bonus for me. Even if you are not familiar with the setting, you will experience the community which makes the story feel very real. You will also encounter some unexpected developments including a very creative ending filled with reality yet also with a sense of hope and new beginnings.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weekend Pass is a story about addiction and its impact on family dynamics. It is obvious the subject is well researched and the book is an easy read. Good character development and detail in a relatively short book. It left me wanting more.
Tasha, a nurse and mother, is struggling with addiction and the near death accident she caused to her 8 year old son. The story takes place during her first weekend home from rehab. She struggles to come to grips with the crisis she has caused in her marriage, and the guilt she feels about the possible damage she has caused her son.

The story is told from different view points of family members, each of whom have their own struggles. I thoroughly enjoyed the advanced copy I was given for review and highly recommend Weekend Pass.

[Yvette Fliesser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of Weekend Pass. I liked the way Paul Cavanagh reveals the complexities of addiction that are often rooted in emotional trauma, unresolved loss and family secrets. The characters in this story present a realistic picture of addiction that often takes years of determination to overcome. This short read could be a useful teaching tool for students in the health and social services professions. I highly recommend this book.

[Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weekend Pass ended up being a book I couldn’t put down. When you empathize with the lead characterTasha but struggle with all the dynamics involved, I felt I was part of this novel which is high praise.
I look forward to Paul’s next novel !

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

You have heard me before talk about slow pacing books and how hard it is to stay connected with the story most of the time. However, in this case, it works with the story. The reason for this...the characters. Mr. Cavanagh wrote the characters with such good emotions and not just one dimensional.

I can't imagine or would ever wish what happened to Jake on anyone. Anyone who is a recovering addict like Tasha will probably relate to the aftermath of her decisions. Because this story is so character driven; the story and everything that all of the characters were experiencing felt "raw" with emotions. It was not just Tasha or Jake that were affected by the horrific situation but everyone else around them. Although, at times I did feel like the story was light on details but then in the next moment I was ok with what was missing. After reading this book, I would read another one by Mr. Cavanagh.

[Alison Greenhill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complicated, yet convincing, characters in a very realistic situation and setting. The dynamics of an extended famiy with addiction and alcohol issues makes this a "must-read". I received an advance review copy of this book.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure whether this novel would hold my attention given the subject matter (not my usual reading choice) but I found it challenging, interesting and ultimately satisfying. The story of Tasha, the daughter from a multi-racial family if I caught the references to Asian correctly, revolves around many complex relationships and personal failings. The infidelities of her father, the alcoholism of the mother, her own lack of commitment and ultimate drug addiction all contribute to the unintentional poisoning of her 8-year-old son. She enters rehab and the family story is revealed to the reader during her first weekend pass. All the characters, male and female, have substance and the interactions are credible (if painful). The nature of the addictions, both alcohol and drugs, is comprehensively portrayed although may be a little technical for some readers. There is no rosy ending but there is acceptance and hope. The use of an epilogue to handle this closure is very effective.
Thank you to the author for the advance review copy of this book.

[Jody Reads Smut · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weekend Pass explores the world of addiction and the impact it has on loved ones and anyone who cares about them. I enjoyed the realistic look into one family’s lives of addictions, secrets, loss, and infidelity. Weekend Pass was a fast and easy read. A must read novel for those who want to know what the tolls of addiction and it’s long term multigenerational side effects can have on any family.

I would like to thank Lauren from iRead Book Tours, and the author for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Dawne Mccurry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good book about family relationships. From personal experience I would say that all family relationships have lots of complications but they are even more exaggerated when drugs, alcohol and infidelity are thrown into the mix.

Tasha is a young woman trying to come to grips with her mother’s alcoholism, her father’s infidelities and eventually her own escalating drug use. An accidental overdose by her young son almost jeopardized his life and caused repercussions that she struggled to overcome.

The subject of accepting responsibility along with love and understanding and tolerance among the family members makes this book not only a great story but a good lesson in forgiveness and moving forward.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book!

[Fiona Senkevics · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weekend Pass centres around Tasha, a thirty-something wife and mother of an 8 year old boy whose drug addiction wreaks havoc wth her relationships with her family and all who care about her. All the main characters are forced to deal with the mistakes they have made; mistakes which cause pain, anger, remorse and guilt. As is often the case in families dealing with addiction, there is not always a sunshine and roses conclusion, but rather an acceptance of what has happened and the understanding that life will go on, if not be exactly as planned. Poignant and heart wrenching, but full of determination and hope. A great read!

[Fiona Senkevics · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weekend Pass centres around Tasha, a thirty-something wife and mother of an 8-year old boy whose drug addiction wreaks havoc with her relationships with her family and all who care about he. All the main characters are forced to deal with the mistakes they have made; mistakes which cause pain, anger, remorse and guilt. As is often the case in families dealing with addiction, there is seldom a sunshine and roses conclusion, but rather an acceptance of what has happened and the understanding that life must go on. Poignant and heart wrenching but full of determination and hope. A great read!

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A shortish and fast read which explores addiction, the reasons behind it, the effects it has on the person and the family relationships and the often unintended complications that arise from a parent having a drug addiction.

The book ultimately shows that addicts and their families can get through this harrowing experience with love, acceptance, understanding and support.

[Constance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy of “Weekend Pass” and thoroughly enjoyed reading this timely, well-written story that engaged me from start to finish. Complex family relationships, addiction, infidelity and loss are explored with sensitivity and, at the end, a sense of hope.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

WEEKEND PASS by Paul Cavanagh, is an unflinching look at the illness of addiction and its wide-ranging impact on the lives of family and friends. A must read novel for anyone wishing to gain insight into all aspects of this troubling illness

[Sharon Mytka · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very realistic extended family struggling to cope with emotional traumas. Despite their flawed approaches, on finishing the story,I liked each character and wanted them to succeed in a happy life. A quick read.

[Doreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tasha has been in a rehab facility for three weeks for drug addiction when she is given a weekend pass. The question is, as expressed by her father Milt, whether “’she’s going to survive the weekend.’” She has to come to terms with the damage done to her family by her addiction. Her marriage to Baker is in tatters because their 8-year-old son Jake accidentally ingested some of her painkillers and may have permanent brain damage as a result. Tasha’s father Milt and her aunt Charlotte try to keep tabs on Tasha but some unforeseen events threaten to derail Tasha.

The book is not a challenging read; most readers will find it very readable. My issue with it is that there is a great deal of telling and not enough showing. For instance, we are told that Charlotte “has always been one for getting disgruntled on someone else’s behalf” and is “fond of taking on other people’s burdens.” Much of the narrative consists of flashbacks with paragraphs and paragraphs of exposition. Dialogue often doesn’t appear for pages. Though Tasha is the focus, the perspectives of Milt, Charlotte and Baker are also given. Each of these characters has a backstory which is developed.

The narrative often seems scattered and disorganized. Do we need to know that one of Tasha’s favourite foods is osso bucco and Jake’s is deep-fried squid tentacles and Milt’s is Cantonese steamed dumplings? Tasha’s having to deal with her mother’s alcoholism and her father’s infidelity have affected her so they are relevant, but is it necessary to give Milt’s thoughts about his marriage and to describe his attraction to young women? For example, when Milt meets a friend of his son-in-law, he thinks, “She’s exactly the kind of young woman Milt would have had a crush on at Jake’s age. Pretty, warm-hearted, and playful. He’s observed that much in the few seconds he’s laid eyes on her. Actually, Milt is plenty attracted to her now at the age fifty-eight. . . . If he were in Baker’s place, he’d be mightily tempted that’s for sure. . . . She reminds Milt a little of Josie, the woman he brought as his date to Tasha and Baker’s wedding, who shared his bed for nearly a year-and-a-half.” All this musing serves little purpose except to portray Milt as a lecher. Likewise, is it necessary to detail Charlotte’s rivalry with her sister, Tasha’s mother?

Occasionally, the writing style jars. There are sentences with slang like “he’d been shagging” and a woman wanting to “hurl garden stones at his melon.” Contrast these to the clinical description of a woman dying of cancer: “her left eye had stopped tracking to the left, meaning that her eyes sometimes pointed in different directions, a rather chilling spectacle. It was a sign that the cancer had likely spread to her sixth cranial nerve, maybe even her brain stem.”

In terms of its portrayal of a woman dealing with recovery from drug addiction, I think this novel is very realistic. It suggests that recovery is a long, difficult journey; one addict speaks of learning “to be thankful for what she has, even as she continues to grieve what she’s lost.” An important message is that addictions affect not just the addict; at one point, Tasha realizes “it’s not just her going through a kind of recovery.”

This novel is realistic and readable, but would be better if it were more focused. Because of its extensive use of local colour, it will definitely have interest to people living in London, Ontario.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).

[Angela Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weekend Pass is a Realistic, Emotional Read. When I first sat down to read, I wasn't sure what the author could offer readers with such a short focus: a weekend in the lives of Tasha and her family. My doubts disappeared as the author took me on an emotional journey--that allowed each character time to tell more of the story and add depth and emotion to Tasha's first weekend pass from the addiction treatment center. It felt very much like reading a true story or even a memoir as the author developed his characters and Tasha's story. In a short space, the author presented realistic dialogue, various characters' points of view and experiences, and a story that stretched far beyond the weekend's events.

Weekend Pass Takes a Real Look at Addiction. As the characters face pieces of the past, the immediate challenges of the present, and the doubts and unknowns of the future, readers follow an emotional journey through the impacts and aftermath of addiction on a family. Tasha seemed to want to recover--and was facing the new realities caused by her addition. The author shows readers a realistic day by day approach to recovery as he focuses on just a couple of days from her first weekend away from the treatment facility. Trust, doubt, fear, hope, and anger move in and out of the story as the characters face the weekend. While the story's focus is short--the implications of the novel offer readers much to consider.

Would I Recommend Weekend Pass by Paul Cavanaugh? This book was an emotional journey that took me into the hearts and minds of a family facing life with (and as) a recovering addict. I love the author's realistic, emotionally charged storytelling--and I enjoyed that he gives readers a glimpse into Tasha's future with an epilogue. If you enjoy reading life stories with a conversational feel that focuses on some of the darker elements of reality while giving points to ponder--this is a great book that I would recommend.

I received a copy of this book from the author or publisher for use in a blog review. All opinions are my own.

[AJ Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book far more than I expected to. It was raw and emotional, and at times it was difficult to read, but it's definitely worth the read. The book is pretty fast-paced, but it isn't overwhelming in the least. It's a quick read, and it'll keep you invested despite the tough subject matter.

The characters were real and relatable. I found myself sympathizing with Tasha despite everything. Though I was rooting for her, especially with her son, I also understood Baker's wariness and caution, so he wasn't as frustrating as I would have expected; there were times he annoyed me, but it was never for his concern about his son. Milt, though a bit frustrating, felt genuine, so I felt for him. My favorite character, though, is Charlotte; she's such a strong woman, and I thought she was wonderfully written.

The book takes place during Tasha's first weekend away from the treatment center, but there is a short part in which we see where everyone has come out ten years later. This tied the book up perfectly and realistically, which I appreciated.

This was my first novel by Paul Cavanagh, but I'll be looking into his other works after reading this. If drug addiction, cancer, and death don't trigger you, I absolutely recommend this one. I loved his writing style and how he handled this book. I haven't read many books about addiction, but this is probably the best one I've found.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via the author and iRead Book Tours. This did not influence my opinion in any way.

[Debbie Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

"He didn't want to hear about Tasha, how sorry she was, or how her addiction was to blame." (p. 16)

Canadian author Paul Cavanagh takes the tough subject of 'addiction' and exposes the hardships and complexities associated with this human condition. In his tragic and heartbreaking novel "Weekend Pass", he introduces the reader to Tasha, a nurse whose addiction to painkillers causes her to accidentally poison her 8-year old son Jake. But there's more to the plot, and I like how the novel was told from four different points of view: Tasha (the addict who is on a weekend pass from rehab); her estranged father Mitt; her former husband Baker; and her aunt Charlotte.

What starts off as a slow unravelling of family dynamics, begins to pick up the pace after Chapter 13. It's never easy to deal with addictions and reading about it is both stressful and painful. Cavanagh takes care not to be too graphic but attempts to present a realistic view of the myriad of emotions expressed (or not expressed) by each of the characters. Sometimes it's tough (due to the needy personalities) to get too close to any of the characters.

While I loved the image on the book's cover, I wasn't sure it suited the contents or tone of the novel. Symbolically, the photo could present an initial drowning and/or rising or rebirth but other than the rain, I would have enjoyed seeing a stronger extension of the water metaphor throughout the book.

A quick and accessible read, "Weekend Pass" offers the reader some hope in an imperfect world.

[Leila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am struggling with how to rate and review this book.

It was a short read, but I found it… difficult to read at times. Not so much for the story itself, but being a Canadian based story; words were different and I felt that some words were “short hand” which I am not comfortable with in reading. (I reserve that more for text to my teenagers.) Maybe I am wrong in that aspect, but that is how I felt and did feel myself struggle every once in awhile.

The storyline was intriguing. I am very familiar with substance abuse. My father was an alcoholic; I have worked residential as well as outpatient settings for substance abuse; and my education was founded on substance abuse. I found the storyline to be interesting, not only coming from Tasha’s viewpoint, but in getting to see other’s view points as well.

Understanding addiction as well as I do, I felt there were times that had me feeling an array of emotions. I am also one that can understand another person’s addiction (one not so close to me) so much better than I can understand someone who is very close to me. It allows me to see both sides. I can understand how Baker and Tasha’s family may be feeling, but also understand the disease that is addiction.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It’s a “taboo” subject that doesn’t get a lot of attention and tends to be misunderstood.