This is actually a reread for me. I purchased this book when it first came out. A friend at school told me about it because the author was a friend and she knew I reviewed books. I absolutely loved it. However, I somehow forgot to write my review. To do it justice I reread the book. It was just as painful the second time around.
Cassie doesn't trust anyone to love her. Her mother is abusive both physically and mentally. She finally has Cassie put in a mental institute until she is eighteen. Cassie leaves there and heads off to college where she tries to rebuild relationships and make new ones. Sometimes the past just won't let go and like powerful waves will continue to drag you under.
Unlike many books that start out like this, Cassies gives us hope things can change for the better. She gives us hope that relationships can be renewed. You can never go back and undo the damage that has been done. You can choose to move forward and forge new relationships, even with those who broke up that relationship. Cassie is a courageous character. What you read is raw and make you evaluate the realtionships in your own life. This should be a must read for teens everywhere. ( )

Very disturbing but hard to stop reading. ( )

Teeters on a 3.5 star. This is a good book. Really well written and just a story you wish wasn’t something that could really happen but is very real. You really get to sit with the main character in her experience and you do get to feel some of the confusion and push/pull she goes through which is really gripping and painful. Finished in a day, so it’ll definitely keep you wanting to know what happens next. I think i might’ve wanted some of the things to be fleshed out for the character a little more to get to the ending but it was also already heavy enough that maybe if that was the case, I would hate it. ( )

Starts really interesting. But slows down. Will go back and finish later, maybe.

Story of dysfunctional family, mother daughter relationship, mental illness/abuse. ( )