Before, Brynn had a group of best friends, a loving boyfriend, a growing talent for pottery. She had a life.
And after…she had none.
When Brynn lost the boyfriend who never loved her, the friends who feel she betrayed their trust, and the new life just beginning to grow inside her, she believes her future is as empty as her body. But then Christian, the boy next door, starts coming around. Playing his guitar and pushing her to create art once more. She meets some new friends at the local community center, plus even gets her dad to look her in the eye again…sort of.
But can Brynn open up her heart to truly find her life’s own beauty, when living for the after means letting go of the before?
This is a Young Adult title.
REVIEW
Searching for Beautiful is a heartbreaking story full of depth, and is true to the emotions of young adults. It's all about the struggle of growing up while dealing with loss. The main character, Brynn, tells her story in a series of flashbacks and present time that makes it a bit challenging to follow. There are moments of frustration when I just wanted to know what came next and not flash again. But the emotions -Bryann's feelings of sadness and guilt- are palpable. The story is painfully realistic as Brynn reflects on her youth with happiness, reminisces on her innocent childhood and then tells the tragic story of her present.
True to the intent of the young adult genre, Brynn shows growth and fresh understanding by the end of the book but this journey took up a large portion of the book. I'd nearly had enough. Here's the redeeming point... the message from the author. I believe her intention was to show that life isn't easy, and we cannot live in judgement, believing there's one true correct way to live. If teenagers read this, identify with it and learn from the theme, it's a good thing.
RATING
3 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries
This book was given to us by the author through NetGalley. Many thanks.
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