Book Review: Left Drowning by Jessica Park

*I received an Advanced Reading Copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Add to Goodreads

Left Drowning comes out July 16, 2013. Preorder it ----> Here

Blurb from Goodreads: 

What does it take to rise from life’s depths, swim against the current, and breathe? Weighted down by the loss of her parents, Blythe McGuire struggles to keep her head above water as she trudges through her last year at Matthews College. Then a chance meeting sends Blythe crashing into something she doesn’t expect—an undeniable attraction to a dark-haired senior named Chris Shepherd, whose past may be even more complicated than her own. As their relationship deepens, Chris pulls Blythe out of the stupor she’s been in since the night a fire took half her family. She begins to heal, and even, haltingly, to love this guy who helps her find new paths to pleasure and self-discovery. But as Blythe moves into calmer waters, she realizes Chris is the one still strangled by his family’s traumatic history. As dark currents threaten to pull him under, Blythe may be the only person who can keep him from drowning. *This book is intended for mature audiences due to strong language and sexual content. Note: due to mature content recommended for Ages 17+

REVIEW:

I am so impressed with this book. I liked Flat Out Love. But Left Drowning? Brilliant.

"You are the great love of my life that I'm never going to have." 

When I was reading this book I kept thing about the idea of Happenstance. One of my courses in my MPA program was about policy and my professor would always say Policy is not made....it happens and I find that I can apply this logic in different areas of life. This book was about happenstance. It was about how people are connected in ways that don't have easy explanations. It was about what family means and how it is more than just blood related. There are moments you look back at your life and you see shifts that change things. Park shows that so many times in this book. That split decisiosn will affect you for life, in good and bad times. Families are those who love you and give you strength and really the binds of our life paint a picture that tells an amazing story.

"There is no set patter to grief, despite what every stupid psych text has told me. There is no time frame that dictates when and how you'll feel what you feel. You just get to deal with hell however, and whenever, it hits you."

On that note, Jessica Park you are amazing when writing family connections and relationships. Seriously. I was so impressed with the family in this book. These siblings went through something fierce and they have their own demons to deal with. Add Blythe into this mix of siblings and you have this perfect chaotic family.

"Being with you let me feel, feel everything, and I needed that. I remembered better with you, I healed better with you, and you made....you made everything real."

I loved Blythe and Christopher  There were moments in this book where the emotion these two bring left me in a puddle of tears. I was so broken up in different parts of this book as the mystery behind everything came together, piece by piece. They drew strength from each other to keep their heads above water and together they found love, compassion, and a sense of content.

"You have been my sanctuary this year. You saved me. Do you know that? You save me. and I wish that you would let me save you." 

Overall, this book is one full of emotion and happenstance. A story of finding your way and the people who join you on this trip. It is a story of letting go of the past and moving on with your future, swimming to shore instead of being left drowning.


My song for this book: The Fire by Ben Howard 
(One of his earlier songs)