When sixteen year old Jace Witherspoon unexpectedly shows up on Christian's doorstep one day, Christian's past comes rushing back to him. They haven't seen each other in years. Not since Christian escaped their abusive father years before. Determined to make a new life for himself and escape his father, Jace stays with Christian. But he can't forget his mother, who still suffers as a victim of his father's abuse, and his ex-girlfriend, who he acted violently against. Can he move on and live a normal life?
This was a VERY raw and honest portrayal of domestic abuse. I finished the entire book in a couple of hours because I was so captivated by the harsh story. It perfectly captured both the physical and psychological aspects of living in an abusive situation. I definitely recommend it, but only to mature readers. It can be incredibly intense and stomach-turning, but it's also a very real and important subject. This was one of the best novels I've read in a while, and I'm eagerly awaiting more from this author.
- Date of Review: 6/21/2010
- Publisher: Knopf
- Publication Date: March 9, 2010
