A Very Compelling Read

Kathleen Glasgow is an "auto-buy" for me, and I had been waiting for this book all summer. I was not disappointed. The author knows how to deep-dive into sensitive issues with intelligence and compassion, and there is never a preachy or biased slant to her novels. She tells it like it is. Her characters are nuanced, flawed, relatable, and real.

In this novel, we get to know Bella, who, at fifteen, has come to rely on alcohol to get her through her difficult life. A sensitive person, Bella is the one "who does everything." She looks after her complicated little sister, Ricci. She is the mediator for her divorced parents, and she is the friend who steps up. Every time. But when her beloved grandmother passes away and her boyfriend breaks up with her for being "too much," Bella's already unhealthy relationship gains traction. And like every runaway train, there comes a point where it runs off the tracks. That moment comes for Bella, leaving her publicly humiliated, injured, and ostracized from her friend group. An intervention follows, and Bella finds herself in a facility with many other teens--a place that will supposedly rehabilitate her.

What follows is a roller coaster of ups and downs, as Bella learns to put herself first for the first time ever.

I listened to this book on audio, and the narrator, Gail Shalan, was absolutely incredible. She gave me chills, tears, and goosebumps throughout the entire performance. She was perfect for Bella's voice.

And now I must wait for Kathleen Glasgow to write her next masterpiece.

Five HUGE stars.

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