Cheryl Renée HerbsmanCritiques

A very good book about first love, heartache, and breathing on your own.

I have to admit I roll my eyes a little at the depictions in a lot of books and movies of two teens finding each other and acting as if they are soul-mates destined to be together forever. But there's another part of me that desperately wants to believe that it's possible. And BREATHING makes me believe. From the initial wild crush to the deepening connection, to the doubts and jealousies and abiding love, this book captured my heart and pulled me in to Savannah and Jackson's world.

And then there's the voice: I loved reading this book just to hear Savannah's sweet, wry Southern voice telling me her story with honesty and good humor.

Lastly, I loved the fact that the romance isn't all that's going on here. Savannah and Jackson both have dreams of their own, and the value and importance of those dreams is not ignored by the narrative.

I would most definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to believe that love can be true at any age, even if it is tested.

Breathing is a romance. A girl named Savannah meets this boy named Jackson on the beach near where she lives. She likes him and he likes her but at first its complicated. Her mother doesn't know about him. Savannah has really bad asthma. At a cookout type thing they went to she had one of her attacks and had to be rushed to the hospital. The thing is she had the attack because she didn't want Jackson to meet her mom and he introduced himself and she got nervous. Jackson carried her to the car and into the hospital. Her mom said he could go but he refused and he wanted to stay with her. Her mom learned to accept him even though he was 2-3 years older than Savannah. Breathing is a great book and theres soo much detail and events that aren't in this review. Some of them are sad and some are happy.

This is a great summer, southern story that had me hooked from the very first page. Now this Savannah, I not only adored but fell in love with. She reminded me of me so much. I really enjoyed reading this book. The southern boy in this book, not only said things that made me gasp, but grip my heart hard.

You got to love your southern boys. Always real and true, this boy Jack, said everything right and more. He is your type of guys who knows what he wants. And when he finds it, he will not let it go. He is reasonable and very responsible, the type every girl wants to marry. He did things all the right way in courting. He was true to everything he said.

Savannah, I loved her! She had a lot to learn but I was glad that she had a good mama, and great boyfriend, Jack to teach her to breath. Savannah would freak out over every little thing. And if I remember correctly, I was the same way. Something went wrong and Bam, I am was in a fit! I loved that while Savannah would go into a fit someone was there to hold her, to help her breath again. But more so, I am glad that Savannah was beginning to learn to breath on her own.

The plot of this book is nothing dramatic, but just wonderfully simple. It didn't need much drama or problems cause the characters were enough for the reader. The characters were a whole another story themselves. If you want a down right, good ol' southern book, read this. I can assure you, it will not only make you feel southern in your mind but in your heart!

Breathing was a tale of young love that steals your breath away. The sudden ache when you know that you are just meant to be, but the world prevents it. Or maybe just yourself? It’s the feeling that maybe you just are not good enough to be with that person that steals your breath or soul away. But, let’s aim for the positive. Breathing captured the essence of tender touches, ripping heartache, and soft caresses in one stunning novel.

Savannah was a poignant teen with an adorable sense of humor that you just couldn’t help but sympathize with. She reacts like what many teenagers do; the author captured this upcoming blossom beautifully. Child like innocence, random tempers, as well as the hidden love for her family. Her courageous stunts, her friendship, wrapped her personality with a tight red bow. But Savannah sometimes needed to grow a bit more—act more mature. She became too dependent on Jackson that she completely forgets her like pre-Jackson. Her free time circles around him even though he was not there—finding him jobs, phoning him constantly.

Jackson was a one man army. He was the perfect counterbalance to Savannah. The ever steady rock that held her to the world that kept her breathing. He was sometimes, however, eluding me when I tried to grab his essence. Jackson’s actions were somewhat predictable and often at times trying to please Savannah too hard or are selfish—never in-between.

The relationship between these two was an up and down roller coaster. He leaves, she cries, her returns, she rejoices—granted it wasn’t all that simple and whatnot. I did felt that the beginning could have been expended more. A more in-depth development—a few more words exchanged and some time between them to grow. The transition scenes were iffy and abrupt at points. And their relationship was, sad to same, was childish. Every scene was too melodramatic and I just wanted to turn the dial down a slight notch.

The Southern drawl was adorable within itself but felt a little much at times. What I greatly love the family relationship. I can relate to it wholesomely. Sure, teens may all hide it, but in the end we truly do love our parent[s:]. And the author portrayed it in a beautiful fashion by creating a scenario where one boy can bring you all closer.

Overall: A great book that missed its mark a few times, but still delivered a powerful message

Breathing is a story that can make you smile and break your heart all in the same moment. It’s a story of young love, of finding yourself, of learning how to breathe on your own. It’s a story that reminds you (or in some cases, shows you)what it’s like that first time you fall in love, that first time that someone steals your heart and steals your breath away.

Savannah isn’t you totally typical teenage girl. She splits her time between reading trashy romance novels in the summer, looking out for her little brother, working at the library, and hanging out at the beach. And this is a fine existence for her, at least until she meets Jackson.

Savannah had this adorably hilarious sense of humor about things and that made is really easy to relate to her and to be sympathetic to her. Despite that sympathy, I found her to be a bit melodramatic and immature at times, which got to be a bit much on my nerves. She was so consumed with Jackson and after a short time, it seemed like she didn’t know anything about her life before Jackson and couldn’t see anything in her future without Jackson.

Jackson was the perfect “southern gentleman” and that was something refreshing to see from a guy barely eighteen. He held Savannah together, he held her whole world together and at first it was sweet and thoughtful, but after a while it seemed like he was just trying to keep Savannah happy. I could never quite figure him out totally, and I never figured out what drew him to Savannah.

I almost wish the story had been from Jackson’s perspective, just so I could figure out what kept him so drawn to Savannah. He was far more mature than she was at any given point in the story. There was something missing from that part of the love story. She was loving and zealous, especially when it came to something she wanted or something she cared about; but what about that made him so attracted to her? It kind of felt like I was missing a piece of the puzzle, maybe not missing it completely, but missing a part of it.

The writing was pretty great, although at first definitely took some getting used to. It was different seeing an entire novel written out in a southern accent, but it fit the atmosphere of the story. I absolutely love the fact that this was a story of lasting love between teenagers and how their love was accepted by the adults in their lives, instead of the typical “you’re a teenager, you don’t know what love is” reaction that most parents have.

This was a fun story to read, with a unique writing style and emotions that run throughout the entire tale. It was the story of first love, complicated relationships with family, friends, and lovers. It was imperfect and that in and of itself made this a story worth checking out. It also shows that sometimes all you need is someone in your life to give you a little push into being able to breathe on your own.

Reviewed by Marta Morrison for TeensReadToo.com

Savannah was named after a tornado that was hitting Savannah, Georgia, when she was born. She lives with her mother and her brother, named Dog. Her father left when she was very young. Ever since the day her father left she has had severe asthma. She believes that she can't breathe without the support of her father.

Her mother is a proud yet loving mother. She keeps losing jobs because she won't tell her employer why she misses work when Savannah is in the hospital. They live in a small two-bedroom house where Savannah has to share a bedroom with twelve-year-old Dog.

It is the summer and Savannah has a feeling that life will soon be very good. Otherwise she is bored - her friends are out of town, and she spends her days working at the library and reading. Then she meets Jackson. All her breath leaves her. He is her soul mate. They become an item, and then suddenly Jackson is called back to his home to help his mother.

We spend the rest of the book holding our breaths to see if Jackson and Savannah will be able to be together.

I really enjoyed this story. It was written in a southern accent, which made it seem very authentic. Savannah is pushy but a very likable character. My favorite character was the mother, Porsha. She was a strong woman, who supported her children without any help from others, but at the end she had to let others help her out.

I highly recommend BREATHING.

Breathing is a perfect book to read in the summer. What a wonderful story. Watching Savannah come into her own over one summer, meeting the love of her life Jackson, and learning things about herself she never knew were possible.

Savannah goes through a roller coaster of emotions, up and down and up and down, because of her family, her severe asthma, and because of Jackson. I really worried for her at some points, her asthma could really put her in danger from time to time. Her trips to the hospital made it hard for her mom to keep a job because she refused to tell her bosses why she couldn't come to work, she didn't want them to pity her.

I really liked Savannah's voice and her attitude towards life. She's sort of carefree but at the same time really determined. I love the dialect that the author brings into this story. I could hear the story in my head with Savannah's accent, I think that really helped ground the story in a culture and a location. I thought the ending was spot on, I was a little worried for awhile it wouldn't end that way but it's definitely the way the ending should have been!

Overall a wonderful summer story!

Breathing was a very cute, quick and fun read. Herbsman’s writing transported me to a different place! I felt like I just came back from a southern beach side getaway.Savannah was a bit excessively melodramatic for me at times, but I guess that’s how extreme first love can be. So although it was slightly annoying at times it also helped reinforce her realism. I wish I could have learned the story from Jackson’s perspective. I didn’t fully understand why he was so drawn to Savannah, yes she is passionate about what she wants... but why was that attractive for him. I guess I didn’t feel wrapped up in their love story, because I felt like I was missing half of it.I liked how Herbsman shared a story of lasting first love, so many times teens are underestimated when it comes to knowing love. “Oh you’re only a teenager you don’t know what love is.” Don’t act like you’ve never heard it! But it happens (my in-laws for instance, who are still very almost sickening in love today!) and it was refreshing to read a non-perfect, realistic rendition.Herbsman’s notable writing skills as a debut author are sure to impress. As well as her unique characters and heartening story.½

Savannah Georgia Brown’s fifteenth summer in her sleepy North Carolina beach town proves to be a different, life-changing one when she meets Jackson. Jackson is older, with a whole lot of family problems, but what he and Savannah feel when they’re together is no joke; it just may be the real thing.

When Jackson’s family problems drag him back to his far-off hometown, Savannah thinks that she just might die. Her heavy asthma, which was always under control when Jackson was around, now comes back in full force. Everyone she knows says that she shouldn’t waste so much thought and energy on a mere summer fling, and as the weeks wear on, and Jackson’s continued existence in her life becomes more and more tentative, Savannah can’t help but wonder if everyone is right, and if she needs to learn how to breathe on her own, instead of having others do it for her.

If you want a heartening, fun tale of true love set outside of the usual fairy tale setting, BREATHING is for you. From start to finish Cheryl Renee Herbsman engages us fully with Savannah’s Southern life, most obviously with Savannah’s charming Southern dialect. I don’t believe I’ve ever read a book whose protagonist’s out-of-the-ordinary voice was so convincing as Savannah’s. It didn’t take long before I really felt like Savannah was talking to me, and that, if I really wanted to, I could easily step into her world and get along with her and her friends and family, just like that.

Since she is only 15, Savannah may act a bit childish sometimes. Her absolute devotion to Jackson sometimes makes me cringe, but in the end I’m impressed with how Cheryl handles Savannah’s maturation. You can see it in the way she interacts with her family, and in the new way in which she looks at herself as part of the blooming world.

I would have liked a little more gradual development with Savannah and Jackson’s relationship. It seriously just felt like the two got together after Savannah stalked him on the beach for a couple of days. However, the ups and downs of their long-distance relationship, plus the ever-changing fluctuations of their plans for the future, were all so realistic and endearing that I can forgive the too-hasty relationship development.

Overall, BREATHING is a charming love story with a quirky, accented, yet totally relatable protagonist. It will leave you cheering for Savannah as well as for the often understated power of love.

Savannah and Jackson's story is a new type of love story. Unlike most stories about long distance relationships, this one inspires hope.

As soon as I started reading this book, I fell in love with Savannah's character. She embodies the typical teenage girl, full of insecurities and hopes. Unlike most girls, though, Savannah has severe asthma.

Savannah was content to be by herself for the summer: working, reading romance novels, and watching out for her little brother. Then she met Jackson Channing.

Jackson isn't like the other guys around town. He's 18-years-old and staying with his cousins, the Channings. His father died recently and his mom didn't want him around because he reminded her too much of his father. Jackson didn't mind, though, because it gave him time to work on his paintings, his hidden secret. Jackson couldn't be more perfect: respectful, kind, and caring.

When Savannah collapses after an asthma attack, Jackson stays by her side the whole time she is in the hospital. And when her mom gives them a manifesto of rules they must follow, he doesn't even blink. He seems like the perfect boyfriend, and he is. That is, until he is called away to help out with his family back home. She knows that if he goes back he is going to be trapped in a life that he doesn't want, with a job all day and no more free time for his paintings. But it's not only that that has Savannah worried. Ever since Jackson arrived her breathing seems to be doing better. What happens if he leaves and she can't breathe without him?

Will Jackson and Savannah's relationship be able to survive the long distance? Will Savannah help Jackson realize that he should go after his dream, no matter what it takes? Will Savannah finally learn to breathe on her own?

Breathing is the perfect debut novel by Cheryl Renee Herbsman. Not only is it told in witty Southern dialect but it is full of lovable characters that embody the traits of the South.

Breathing will be available on April 16.