Reason to Breathe Review

Title: Reason to Breathe
Author: Rebecca Donovan
Publication date: May 10, 2011
Publisher: Self-published
Pages: 374
ASIN: B00505AZRS

"No one tried to get involved with me, and I kept to myself. This was the place where every thing was supposed to be safe and easy. How could Evan Mathews unravel my constant universe in just one day?"He knows there’s something more to the girl sitting in the back of the class the moment he sees her. She’s beautiful, intelligent, and athletic – but she slips quietly through the crowded halls, trying not to exist. Determined to get to know the elusive girl, Evan soon discovers…Emma Thomas is hiding a terrible secret. Reason to Breathe is an electrifying page turner from start to finish, a unique tale of life-changing love, unspeakable cruelty, and one girl’s fragile grasp of hope.

In this book we are introduced to Emma (Emily) Thomas, her life seems perfectly normal from the outside, she is a straight A student at Weslyn High, editor for the school newspaper, soccer and basketball player but what happens when she arrives home is something she is not willing to admit, not even to herself.

Her aunt Carol hates her just because but she stays strong throughout the book. There are some intense scenes that will have your heart pounding.

Emma is going through more struggles than the physical and emotional abuse, she is also making choices for the first time trying to find meaning to her life. I didn't agree with her decisions and at times was hoping for Emma to raise her voice.

Sara is her one and only true friend sometimes was a little cliché but she gave the book the spice you need to be able to breathe at times. Evan Mathews the love interest is totally swoon worthy, and I enjoyed the tension between them.

I found myself frustrated with some situations in the book, it was difficult to conceive the reasons behind them, as I kept reading it was easier to try and understand the mindset, sometimes it's difficult to see a way out when you are so deep into your troubles but yes, from an outsider point of view you want to scream at them.

Rebecca Donovan made a wonderful job portraying all the conflict on Emma's feelings, creating and emotional roller coaster. I kept putting this book aside for months and I'm really glad that I finally had the chance to read it. Make sure you have Barely breathing ( The breathing series #2) because it ends with a mayor cliffhanger. I can't go deep into the story but overall I loved this book.