Toxic

Honestly I loved Ruin, but Toxic totally brought me to my knees! Ms VanDyken captures so many emotions and most especially so much love with this book that I couldn't put it down. I read the entire thing in two sittings and that is only because I had to get food for my kids. It's almost 1am and I would have kept going longer if necessary. I love that Gave had such a passion for life and no one really knew about it. I love that his best friend Wes helps him thru just like they did in Ruin. I love that this book made me cry happy tears as well as dad tears. Whatever else you read this year, make sure that you read Toxic. It is truly amazing!!!

Sometimes by holding onto what you love the most—you end up choking the very life from the thing you want to keep on living. It’s possible to try too hard, to love something so deeply that you lose yourself. The danger is never in loving someone—but losing your identity in the process. Because what happens when tragedy strikes? You’re left an empty shell. You’re left with nothing. It’s why I tired to end things. Why I didn’t want to go on living—because I’d been living through her, not with her, and I had forgotten how to be myself. How to be normal. The only problem was—I was okay with it.
—Gabe H


The ruin series has very special books. After finishing Toxic I wasn't the sobbing mess I was after I finished Ruin but show more I was moved. Gave carries so much guilt and I think it was misplaced Yes, he could have been more responsible but so could have been Kimmy. Both Wes and Gabe are amazing.

The hardest thing I’ve ever done is watch my family suffer through my illness, knowing there was nothing I could do to comfort them…until I saw the look on Gabe’s face when she came into the room. And then, like watching the saddest part of a movie, I saw their story unfold. And the ending? I closed my eyes. I couldn’t watch. Because I hated those types of stories—ones that gave you no hope but left you empty—and searching.
—Wes M

Wes is even more awesome that I thought. Seeing him from someone elses point of view made clear to me how much he cares for his friends. For Kiersten it was obvious, but I couldn't have guessed the way he would act when it came to Gabe. He carries a lot of wisdom.

But the book is not about Wes, is about Gabe so I will stop talking about Wes. I didn't feel as if the book was also Saylors. I feel as if the book was only for Gabe and him finding his much needed redemption. That wasn't a minus for the story. Besides it's Saylor the one who gives Gabe the ability to let go and move on. It's her who makes him whole again. And that why I am not going to complain about the book having more of Gabe's point of view than Saylors.

You know you’re in love with someone when the idea of them being in love with someone else doesn’t just wreck you, it invades every part of your being. Yet, how could I be upset that Gabe loved her? When his love for her was one of the very reasons I loved him? —Saylor show less

Note that this review discusses both Ruin and Toxic. No spoilers.

As I have stated there is something about these heartbreaking stories that has become an addiction to me. Is this book for everyone? Likely not. Is the writing perfect? No but it is beautiful. Are there slight moments where a cringe slightly with a cheesy statement... a few times, yes. But with all that said, I loved these stories and particularly the men in this series. These are heartbreaking stories of 2 men and their struggle with the life they have been handed. Whether this be physical or emotional losses, they are found in a downward free fall. One questions the need to fight to live while the other struggles with hiding behind alternate selves of his own creation, show more only to fall further and further into the darkness. It is not until they bump into or knock over the true loves of their lives that they start to question everything.

These stories are full of hope, full of emotional and full of beautiful passages and beliefs that we are all on a path and while bad things may happen to us, there is a plan and just when you think all is lost, a person can enter your life and make you want to fight the demons to live another day so that you can hold this love in your arms another minute, even if that is all the time you have left.

I love the quotes and insight at the start of each chapter...each by itself a story...

“Sometimes I wonder if we ever truly let anyone completely in. The desire for another human being to know you, all of you, all the pieces, even the ones you're ashamed of — is huge. But too often, we sit down and sort through the pieces only picking out the pretty ones, leaving the ugly ones behind, not realizing that choosing not to share with someone else is like committing a crime against our very soul — for how can we ever be free? When we purposefully place what we struggle with the most — in the dark? —Wes M.

I love how the characters in this series become intertwined and how their love grows for each other. I was thrilled to see plenty of Wes' character in Toxic. He is the heart and soul of this series. I look forward to more!

While this book does many things well, I have to say that my favorite book of this type would still be Making Faces, by Amy Harmon. Read them both with plenty of Kleenex on hand! show less

“Music is a story and you're the author”

Meh. I never connected with Saylor and I didn't much like Gabe. I don't go for the bad boy types that are rude to start - that insult and belittle the main character and yet........She finds herself drawn to him and can't stop thinking about him. *yawn* It's just not my cup of tea.

I thought it would be interesting to see Wes and Kiersten but I just.....I didn't find anything about this story new or original. It's just your typical YA story.

Fantastic! I was really looking forward to Gabe's story and Ms. Van Dyken did not disappoint. Another wonderfully written story that stays with you long after the last page. Highly recommended!

AWESOME!

AWESOME!