C. R. Scott (2)

I want to say one thing before I even begin my review of this book: make sure you read the trigger warnings before you decide whether to read this. There are some very heavy issues and disturbing scenes in this book, it may not be for everyone. Also! It ends on a huge cliffhanger!

Now, I can't say I enjoyed this book because - wow - I think it's probably one of the heavier themed books I've read in a very long time. But, I'm glad I read it ... and I was certainly caught up in what the show more characters were going through.

Let's break it down a little. Shaun is basically an outside at the beginning of the novel. He's a hard-ass, tough, lacking in the personal hygiene department, hostile... you name it. But, as is often the case, there's a lot going on in Shaun's head. He's living with his grandparents and they don't get along. His relationship with his grandmother is hostile, even if he tolerates his Grandfather. The reader also learns very early on that Shaun cuts himself. The surprising thing about Shaun's character is that he's written in a way that made me care about him. As frustrating as he could be, as outwardly aggressive and abrasive, there is something about him that made me want to know more about him.

This is where Jesse comes in. Jesse is an almost perfect big brother. He takes care of five siblings while his mom is working, he tries to keep a positive attitude. He's one of those guys that most people at school would probably want to know.

One of the first people that Jesse meets is Shaun and he's curious right away. He actually thinks that Shaun is a pretty nice guy and is intrigued by him playing guitar in a metal band. The problem is that Shaun is so unaccustomed to people wanting to know him that he's hostile from the get-go. Fortunately, Jesse doesn't give up!

As the two young men get to know one another there are a lot of ups and downs. Shaun's emotional state makes him volatile and suspicious. He is so used to what everyone "says" and "thinks" about him that he has taken that on. What's the point in even trying when everyone thinks you're a monster? Jesse rattles his cage a big. After all, he does enjoy spending time with Jess even if he's bewildered by how it makes him feel.

Shaun's past - his childhood - was horrific. I'm not going into all the details here because I don't do big spoilers in my reviews. But there are definitely incidents in his past that may be responsible for his inability to connect with people. the problem. This book is a perfect illustration of how we can become so embedded in our inability to go forward that it's almost impossible to move. Even when someone is holding out a hand to Shaun, he's too emotionally bottled up to know what to do about it.

Please beware! there is a huge cliffhanger at the end of this book! I will be waiting on the edge of my seat for the next one! show less