Left Drowning --- Jessica Park

Left Drowning

Jessica Park

*Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchanged for honest review*

What does it take to rise from life’s depths, swim against the current, and breathe?

Weighted down by the loss of her parents, Blythe McGuire struggles to keep her head above water as she trudges through her last year at Matthews College. Then a chance meeting sends Blythe crashing into something she doesn’t expect—an undeniable attraction to a dark-haired senior named Chris Shepherd, whose past may be even more complicated than her own. As their relationship deepens, Chris pulls Blythe out of the stupor she’s been in since the night a fire took half her family. She begins to heal, and even, haltingly, to love this guy who helps her find new paths to pleasure and self-discovery. But as Blythe moves into calmer waters, she realizes Chris is the one still strangled by his family’s traumatic history. As dark currents threaten to pull him under, Blythe may be the only person who can keep him from drowning.

My thoughts and ponderations---

Not every book is meant for every person. 

We are all walking on different roads and sometimes a book that may just have been “meh” to one person is another’s kick in the ass.

Left Drowning is one of my 2013 favorites.

This books deals with death, love, insecurities, masks, and finally trust.

What I loved…

First of all this book is not YA --- The adult content is heavy, however, I never felt uncomfortable or as if the author was distasteful.

This book does not begin as most, where the main character is suffering through their darkest moments, instead, this novel opens on the journey to saving ones self.

Immediately we are introduced to Blythe, who has spent the better part of 4 years in a fog. She lost her parents in a fire, and in return lost everything and everyone else in her life.

She wakes up one morning and begins pondering a few changes that need to be made in her life. Firstly, she needs to stop getting drunk every other night, maybe start running... But mainly, Blythe needs to find a way to rekindle her relationship with her younger brother James.

Within the first pages of this book we are introduced to my favorite character. The one who absolutely stole my heart – Sabin…

Is Sabin Blythe’s love interest? No, but is Sabin mine --- DARN STRAIGHT! SO, thank you Blythe, for leaving me with my Sabin.

Sabin is a theatrical junior at Matthew’s college where Blythe attends. Their interactions over a cup of coffee immediately throw Blythe into a flurry of events that open the floodgates for pain but also healing in her life.

Chirs… Oh don’t worry, I need not tell you anything about Chris… He should remain a delicious secret… Yummmmm Tastic ;)

This novel is more than Blythe’s story… It’s everyone who she comes into contact with and the new family she builds in a group of misfits and broken hearts.

In the novel, you begin to realize one person cannot save their entire family from heartbreak. Sometimes, you just need to be there to pull then out, incase they are drowning.   

What needs to happen next… Sabin… my big loveable Sabin… You need to find love… Soooo… Jessica Park???? What will it be? J