Abigail Johnson (1)

Review copy courtesy of Netgalley. There's enough emotional energy in here for a trilogy. There's pain, guilt, love, loss, and a lot more, blended into the story of two lost kids who are held hostage by the actions of others. Yes, Rebecca may have made a mistake in judgement by getting drunk, but she followed that by doing something smart and calling her parents to have someone come get her. Unfortunately, that resulted in an accident that killed her dad and left her paralyzed from the waist show more down. Everything since that night has left her feeling like a guilty hostage.
Ethan is hostage to a different set of circumstances, thanks to his addict mother. Read how the two re-collide (more than reconnect) now that they're older teens. The author took a big risk in writing this book because of her own experiences, but she's done a superb job. show less

A sweet romance built on the ashes of dual tragedies.

When Ethan met Rebecca, everything in his life was transitory but her. Every time he landed back at his grandparents while his mother tried and failed rehab, Rebecca was there. For Rebecca, Ethan was her instant best friend. Until one day, he leaves for four years.

When he returns this time, nothing is the same. Rebecca's in a wheelchair, dealing with the fallout of the accident that killed her father. She struggles to connect with her show more mother and find her place in a life that looks very different from what she imagined. Meanwhile, Ethan struggles to deal with his mother's continuous bad choices, looking for a way to save someone who doesn't want to be saved.

I fell in love with these characters immediately. Ethan's a sweetheart who only wants to protect those he loves, sometimes to his own detriment. Rebecca's strong, learning to advocate for herself and build the future she wants. Together, they sparkle with longing as they try to figure out if their first interrupted childhood kiss was the beginning of a great love story or just a fleeting moment.

This book grabs your heartstrings from the very first chapter and doesn't let go, all the way to the breathtaking last sentence.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. show less

“It was a love story. Not romantic exactly, but the kind of love that maybe lasts beyond passion and heartache. It was a story of friendship, with all its possibilities laid out in front of it.”

‘Every Other Weekend’ tackles many issues a teen from a broken home may encounter without overloading the plot. Adam and Jolene meet when they both have to spend time with their fathers living in the same apartment building.

Adam struggles with the death of an older brother, a mother who is show more overwhelmed by grief, a feeling of betrayal that his father left, and constant fights with his father and surviving brother.

Jolene, on the other hand, has a mother that doesn’t care (unless it’s to spite her ex), and a play-boy father that leaves his daughter at home with the girlfriend rather than spending time with her.

They each have different ways that they cope with their lives; Jolene completely rebels and does the opposite of what her father and his girlfriend ask, while Adam seems to just ignore his father when they are not fighting.

Again, this is a story that would have been much better off if the main characters were just friends and romance between the two never happened. While the romance did add a little more complication to the story and plot, it really wasn’t needed (or wanted). I do commend the author for making the romance more of a slow burn than insta-love, though. The romance wasn’t off-putting to the story, it just seemed that the book would have been better without it.

Overall, ‘Every Other Weekend’ is a decent and easy read that tackles many broken-home issues without feeling overbearing. The characters could have been a bit more vibrant, but you can feel a connection with them. An easy, good read (for the weekend!). show less

Even If I Fall is an incredibly raw and emotional story that will pull on your heart strings. Brooke and Heath's journey to healing and acceptance was so tentative and awkward in the best possible ways. They were stilted and unsure and realistic. It was so easy to become completely invested in their story and what they were going through - no matter how not universal their situations were.

Once I picked this up, I couldn't put it down. It reminded me that getting so completely lost in a show more story is one of the best feeling in the world. It was just a joy to read and I can't wait to read more from Abigail Johnson.

I received a copy of the book from Inkyard Press via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review show less