This Raging Light

by Estelle Laure

Can you fall in love when everything is falling apart?

Estelle Laure is a major new talent to rival John Green and Rainbow Rowell. Her debut novel, This Raging Light, is a heartbreakingly beautiful book that you'll devour in one sitting, but remember forever.

How is it that you suddenly notice a person? How is it that one day Digby was my best friend's admittedly cute twin brother, and then the next he stole air, gave jitters, twisted my insides up?

Lucille has bigger problems than falling for her best friend's unavailable brother. Her mom has gone, leaving her to look after her sister, Wren. With bills mounting up and appearances to keep, Lucille is raging against her life but holding it together - just.

• ISBN10: 1408340267
• ISBN13: 9781408340264
• Publish Date: 14 January 2016 (first published 22 December 2015)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 5 March 2021
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Hachette Children's Group
• Imprint: Orchard Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 320
• Language: English

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

There was something really beautiful about this story in general. How while everything was falling apart, there were angels looking out for Lucille. How she didn't think she would be able to last another day, and then her inner warrior would emerge. I loved the relationship between Wren and Lucille. It was a lovely sisterhood that they shared, and Wren was very special in her sensitive, too old for her age way. So wise beyond her years.

I did not have a problem with the narrative. I thought it was necessary to be in Lucille's head the entire time, as this story is really about her, and they way all the events cumulated to this coming of age she was forced into. I felt, at times, that she was detached, but that is often a defense mechanism employed by those going through something traumatic.

Then there is Digby and Lucille. Sometimes, I audibly UGGGHHHHH-ed, but in the end, they grew on me. Although Lucille has, more or less, always had a thing for Digby, he never really saw her that way until Lucille's life starting falling apart. It is explained, by his twin Eden, that Digby does not like change and would rather stay the status quo, even if he is not happy. Whether one agrees with the way Digby approached the situation, at least Laure gave us an explanation, and the misdeed was also addressed several times. So, in the end, I was not all torn up about this.

What did worry me, was that there were 3 or 4 pages left in the book, and some BIG things were not resolved. I was quite thankful, and impressed, that Laure was able to give me that closure in such a subtle way. I was good at the end. A few tears escaped my eyes, and I was good.

Overall: tugged at my heart, enjoyable read.

[Kelly]

This Raging Light follows the story of Lucille, who's mother left she and younger sister Wren for an emotional reprieve and neither daughter has heard from their mother since. The bills are mounting and Lucille only being seventeen, needs to put her life on hold and become a parent at such a tender age, or risk losing the only family she now has. I felt for Lucille, shouldered with more responsibility than any child at her age should bear, their mother hadn't been the same since their father walked out after breaking down, resentful that his family relied upon him and had ruined his carefree life. Lucille knows she can't ask for help and risk intervention from the authorities, especially with Wren believing their mother will eventually return.

The only person Lucille can rely on is former next door neighbour and best friend Eden and by extension her twin, the unavailable Digby who Lucille had secretly fallen for years ago. Eden was a strange character, I liked her for the most part but through Lucille's storyline, painted her in a not so favourable light. She's a ballet dancer and in the midst of one of the most important auditions of her life but seems more focused on being a thinner version of herself, smoking rather than promoting a healthy body image. Lucille seemingly expecting her friend to answer her every beck and call. Of course Eden wants nothing more than to help her best friend in her time of need, but I feel Lucille took advantage of her generosity and when Eden was unavailable, then the duty seemed to fall to Digby.

Lucille is in love with Digby, having grown up together as children. But Digby is in a long term relationship and even with Eden warning her friend not to become involved, she ignores Eden and pursues him. Digby is nothing short of an asshole, he not only continues to encourage Lucille's feelings but also reciprocates, barely mentioning his long term girlfriend who seems to be conveniently absent while he becomes Lucille's chauffeur. Deception aside, I couldn't invest in their connection. Having known one another for years, he chooses when Lucille is at her lowest point to confess he has feelings for her? Nothing a swift kick to the testicles won't fix. If your mother walks out making you an instant parent, the last thing you'd be thinking about is wrapping yourself around anyone, never mind this asshole.

There is no doubt that Lucille is struggling with her new found parenthood, I loved her determination to take the financial reins of their situation and ensure that Wren would be able to remain in her own home with a sense of normality, even when their predicament was anything but. But I found aspects of Lucille's personality infuriating. Her deception, but also that she was incredibly irresponsible at times with leaving Wren in the middle of the night after often falling asleep distraught just to meet Eden. To talk. Honestly, I wouldn't ask this girl to take care of a house plant while I was in the next room.

Wren was absolutely gorgeous. Obsessed with the Food Network, she was such a lovely character and I would have loved to have seen the storyline as told through her thoughts.

While I did enjoy it, the storyline, was far too busy. A father that was institutionalised, a missing mother, a complicated romance, the mystery surrounding a good samaritan that was helping Lucille out in her time of need and an accident that really wasn't necessary. It was a little too much and created excess drama which I felt stunted character growth.

This Raging Light was a light and quick read, even given the seriousness of the storyline. Although I couldn't connect with Lucille or the romance between she and Digby, Wren was the shining light in an otherwise morally murky storyline. Much more suited for the younger teen audience, I did enjoy glimpses of Estelle Laure's often lyrical and fearless style of writing. Sometimes less really is more, but with an incredibly open ended final page, I am looking forward to seeing what happens to Lucille and Wren. But hopefully Digby will go missing and never to be heard of again.