The Art of Losing by Lizzy Mason

The Art of Losing

by Lizzy Mason

The Art of Losing is a compelling debut that explores issues of addiction, sisterhood, and loss.

On one terrible night, 17-year-old Harley Langston’s life changes forever. At a party she discovers her boyfriend, Mike, hooking up with her younger sister, Audrey. Furious, she abandons them both. When Mike drunkenly attempts to drive Audrey home, he crashes and Audrey ends up in a coma. Now Harley is left with guilt, grief, pain and the undeniable truth that her now ex-boyfriend has a drinking problem. So it’s a surprise that she finds herself reconnecting with Raf, a neighbor and childhood friend who’s recently out of rehab and still wrestling with his own demons. At first Harley doesn’t want to get too close to him. But as her sister slowly recovers, Harley begins to see a path forward with Raf’s help that she never would have believed possible—one guided by honesty, forgiveness, and redemption.

Reviewed by Sam@WLABB on

5 of 5 stars

Share
Harley was grappling with conflicting emotions regarding what happened that night. After excusing his many slip-ups and bad behaviors, Harley's boyfriend had finally crossed into unforgivable territory by driving drunk and putting her sister in a coma. She could never forgive her boyfriend, but would Harley be able to forgive her sister for what she had done?

• Pro: This was a very moving read, and Mason did an amazing job making me feel each and every one of Harley's emotions. I felt her anger and her sadness, her joy and her shame. Her confusion and anguish over the situation with her sister was probably the most powerful for me, though, and I couldn't even bring myself to pick a side.

• Pro: Mason deftly addressed the addiction storyline. I really thought it was fantastic the way she showed how addiction can affect so many people connected to the addict. She also gave us different portraits of addiction - those who accept and those who deny, which I felt really added to giving me a more complete picture of a very complex issue.

• Pro: Speaking of complex issues, the relationship between Harley and her sister was super sticky. There was no doubt that Harley held a deep affection for her sister, but she also felt less-than because of her. The battle she fought between her heart and her feelings of inadequacy were rather heartbreaking.

• Pro: What an emotional growth spurt Harley experienced! Her sister's accident was a rude sort of wake-up call, but a wake-up call none-the-less. It forced Harley to really examine her relationship with Mike, and to make some tough choices for herself.

• Pro: A lot of Harley's truths came to light via flashbacks, which I thought were utilized very well. We see snapshots from her past featuring her sister, Mike, and Raf, which were very telling, and sometimes, very sweet.

• Pro: I saved the best part for last - I wanted RafAndHarley to happen from that first cigarette. He was someone positive from her past, who was now becoming someone positive in her present, and then there was that amazing "gesture" towards the end, that just solidified my need to have these two together.

Overall: An honest and hopeful story about addiction, family dynamics, trust, forgiveness, and the strength it takes to change.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 4 February, 2019: Finished reading
  • 4 February, 2019: Reviewed