Kat Spears

From Kat Spears, author of Sway, comes a new novel that asks the question: when a group of four best friends begin to drift apart, what will it take to bring them back together?

A Novel

Breakaway

Lisa ✩ @lifeinlit

I knew going into this story that it was going to be quite different from what I normally read. Kat Spears writes depressing, difficult-to-read stories that are extremely realistic, yet tough to read at times. I had attempted to read Sway last year after falling in love with the cover and unique synopsis, but I had such a difficult time with the MC and all of the drug use that I ended up putting it down. I’m honestly not too sure why, but I have a difficult time reading books with a lot of drug use and abuse. I knew this book would have some, but I was happy to see it wasn’t the major focus of the story and I was still able to enjoy it regardless of the topics that I don’t enjoy.

A male protagonist – the main reason why I wanted to read this book. It’s a new-found love of mine. I really enjoyed seeing the story through the eyes of Jason. He was such a unique MC, one that I honestly didn’t care for at first. I can’t say I ever actually liked him, but more pitied him and felt sorry for him. He was suffering a lot… he just lost his sister, his mother was basically non-existent and lost in her own misery, and his friends (Mario, Jordie and Chick) were slowly fading away. Jason wasn’t quiet about his feelings towards things, no matter who he hurts in the process of venting. He WAS, however, kind to one person in particular… his friend, Chick, who was special. Chick had a lot of health problems, was extremely emotional, and was absent from school for long periods of time. Jason almost felt like his bodyguard and guardian at times, which he took very seriously.

Jason meets Raine while double-dating with his friend, Jordie, as a favor, and he finds himself strangely drawn to her unique personality and even more unique appearance. Raine doesn’t shy away from telling him how it is… that he’s a huge jerk and treats girls like crap. Jason needs to hear these things though, someone to be blunt with him and not tiptoe around his emotions. With Jordie lost in his new girlfriend’s shadow, Mario hanging around with a “tougher” crowd and getting into drugs, and Chick absent from school again, Jason finds himself spending more and more time with Raine.

I don’t have much to say about this one, honestly. It was sad, it was emotional, and it broke my heart. It’s unlike my usual type of reads, but that’s why I felt the need to read it. It was harsh and depressing, but carried with it strong messages. I can’t say it’s the most memorable of books, and I honestly don’t think I’ll remember a lot about it in a month or two, but while reading I was fully invested in the story and it punched me right in the feels many, many times. An emotional roller-coaster of a story about love, loss, friendships, and finding yourself. Life isn’t always happy and filled with rainbows and sunshine, and Kat Spears has us experience that firsthand.

(Thanks to St. Martins Griffin for the review copy!)

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Breakaway A Novel

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