received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The first time I read Brittany C Cherry’s work, I fell in love with her writing style. Every book of hers I have read since has proven to be a delightful treat. That being said, you can imagine my delight when I got offered the opportunity to review her latest release, The Wreckage of Us. This book delivered all I had expected.
The story which was set in the Town of Eres featured outstanding, likeable, unlikeable and relatable characters. Hidden between the pages of the book was a beautifully written story about enemies who became friends, then lovers. It follows the lives of eighteen-year-old Hazel Stone and twenty-two-year-old Ian Parker.
Hazel and Ian may have differed in their social standing, but the more time they spent together they would discover they had a common ground. Both children of drug-addicted parents who lacked the wherewithal to care for them, they struggled with fears of loss and abandonment. Ian had loving grandparents who stepped in raise him, but Hazel had only herself. Their interactions prior to their becoming friends was riddled with hostility, sarcastic and snarky remarks. Despite, the initial animosity, I enjoyed all their interactions because they had me smiling for most of it. These two together were downright hilarious.
I understood the reason for Ian’s hostility towards Hazel even though it was unfair as she had no control of the events that had affected his life. After a while he did recognise his error and tried to make amends.
My heart broke for them both, but Hazel’s experiences gutted me more. There was a particular scene that made me want to hug her after the hurtful words her mother threw at her. She had a rough childhood, because of her mother’s poor choices. Despite this, she proved to be a fighter. I admired her determination and her selflessness.
Ian had built walls around his heart and only his music could soothe his soul. However, Hazel with her wit and positive outlook and selfless attitude tore down his walls brick by brick. I had a great time watching them transition from enemies to friends to falling in love. Wow! What a journey. Slow burn, passionate and sweet.
Any story is worth its salt will feature secondary characters who help to enhance the reading experience. Well, the Wreckage of Us secondary characters made my experience delightful and fun. My favourite of them being Big Paw, Ian’s grumpy but loving grandfather.
Narration
Rock Engle and Stella Bloom narrated this wonderful story, and I thought they did a superb job in bringing each of the characters to life. They were both new to me, but I would listen to them again.
Conclusion/Recommendation
The Wreckage of Us delivered an emotional, powerful and gripping tale that had me reading in the wee hours.
This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading