Review: Reason To Breathe

Nov •  14 •  2012

Title: Reason To Breathe

Series: Breathing # 1
Genre: Young Adult-Contemporary
Author: Rebecca Donovan
Release Date: May 10, 2011
Publisher: Self-Pub
Book: Amazon

“No one tried to get involved with me, and I kept to myself. This was the place where everything was supposed to be safe and easy. How could Evan Mathews unravel my constant universe in just one day?”
He knows there’s something more to the girl sitting in the back of the class the moment he sees her. She’s beautiful, intelligent, and athletic – but she slips quietly through the crowded halls, trying not to exist. Determined to get to know the elusive girl, Evan soon discovers…
Emma Thomas is hiding a terrible a secret.
Reason to Breathe is an electrifying page turner from start to finish, a unique tale of life-changing love, unspeakable cruelty, and one girl’s fragile grasp of hope.”

This is one of those stories that is soo good yet so hard to read. It brings strong emotions alive in the reader that you feel utterly helpless while you sit and read every single demeaning, hurtful, scaring word.
What I loved most about this book is the plot. This plot deals with both physical and verbal abuse. Let me tell that this is hard to read. Each chapter, your forced to feel and watch Emma struggle with many hard decisions that it just shatters my heart over and over again.  I know some people will say that Emma should have said something. That she should of ran away or stand up to her abuser. Let me tell you that those options are not always easy. Especially when all Emma had was herself. The plot gives a great detail of exactly what abuse it like. It’s ugly, horrible, and downright evil!
The love interest in the book didn’t really come into a love till near the end. It formed as a friendship in which Emma finally made a friend after keeping so many out. Emma walls slowly crumble when her heart begins to love again. I felt for Emma. She was so scared to love, so scared to bring anything from home down on Evan, but Emma, it’s not your fault! That’s what I am dying to tell her. It’s not your fault. Evan is a fantastic guy who really felt for Emma and gave her each part of him when he can. He didn’t push but slowly gained Emma’s trust and help her when she needed it. Lord knows Emma needed a real friend and love.
Reason To Breathe is an explicit story of abuse. It’s real, raw and so hard to read that at times I had to put it down just to gain control of myself. Its an emotional, shocking story that will bring you to your knees. Reason To Breathe resonates an strong impacting story that you will never forget.
I give it 5 BITES!
Happy Reading!

6 Comments

  1. Giselle
    Nov 14, 2012

    I love it when a friendship builds before the romance! It’s the best kind! I hadn’t heard of this one before it looks really good.

  2. Amy
    Nov 14, 2012

    I love a slow building romance!! This book sounds really great. The best books are the ones that bring out all of your emotions. I have to be in the right frame of mind for something so emotional and raw like this, but it sounds like a book I would like! Fab review hon!!

  3. Jenny
    Nov 14, 2012

    This is the type of book I have to shore up my courage to read. I love the books that challenge me, that have me wanting to get up and walk away just to take a break from all the pain, because I think the story is so much more rewarding when you have to work hard to get through it:) That being said though, I have to be in the right mood to tackle a book like this, but it’s going on my list for when that mood strikes!

  4. Alison Can Read
    Nov 14, 2012

    I worry that this book would be a downer with all the abuse. But I do love that the romance starts out as a friendship and doesn’t change until the end.

  5. This sounds like a perfect book to have in schools. One also a lot of adults should read. I don’t think I’ll read this on my ereader since I think I may have to throw it from time to time when reading about the abuse. Either that or make sure I’m in a soundproof room while I yell at the book. Yes, I do think I want to read this one. It sounds like it has an HEA and those ending are more pronounced when surrounded by that kind of darkness.

  6. kmarlein
    Nov 21, 2012

    I read this book shortly after it was released. It is the BEST book I have ever read. It is my all time favorite book. Every time I read it I’m faced with the exact same emotions as I was the first time. There is nothing that I would change. I recommend this to everyone & they’ve all agreed with me.