Genre: Young Adult
Source: Netgalley
Purchase: Amazon
I immediately got this off Netgalley in June because I had read another novella Elemental and was excited to see what Brigid would write next. Sad to say Breathless was no Elemental. It didn't give me the same drive to read right to the end and an immediate connection to the characters like Elemental did. But what it did give was a different story despite the repeated romance and special abilities element. The main character Nick seems to have a very good life. Despite the loss of his parents he has his brothers, his girlfriend and a really good head on his shoulders with a focus on higher education instead of girls and wild parties. But he has a secret, one he fears would tear his family apart faster than the air he has the ability to control. His girlfriend Quinn on the other hand is a mess. Look up disaster in the dictionary and you'll see her life as an example when explaining the definition. She thinks she's fat, unworthy and the only way to keep a boy around is to sleep with him. Nick is different but she is yet to learn just how different. Then her friend Adam comes into the picture and what was once a slow boil quickly explodes into disaster of epic proportions. Secrets are revealed, hearts are broken and friendship is tested to the limits.
What Breathless loses in maintaining my interest with a great attention grabbing story it re-energizes with a deep realistic story of a boy wanting to belong and be his true self. Nick can only see disaster if his secret is revealed but with the help of Quinn and maybe even Adam, he can learn to accept that living in truth is better than hiding behind a lie. This novella still tells a really good story and the underlying factor of sexuality is one of the big things that saves it from being a so-so story and one you'll want to read. Even if you have to do it in small doses to keep from getting bored with medium energetic storytelling. I am actually more excited for when this novella gets turned into a full length book. I can only hope Brigid will take what made Elemental great and use it to make Breathless full length novel fantastic. I recommend you read a sample first before deciding if this novella is for you but definitely recommend you get into this series. You'll be in for a terrific ride.
Rating: 3.5
See you guys on Tuesday.
It's nice when you can see the good along with the not so good in books. Nice review. Like it when authors take on difficult subjects. Writer’s Mark
ReplyDeleteYes it's important to point both what's good and not good about a book to give each reader a chance to decide for themselves if it's the one for them. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteYou write such excellent reviews. Thoughtful, intelligent, and always so fair. Great work!
ReplyDeleteThank you Elizabeth.
DeleteI haven't read any of Brigid's work but I have intended to! :)
ReplyDeleteYou should check it out. Whether by purchase or borrowing.
DeleteThanks for such a balanced review.
ReplyDeleteIt actually has a very boring cover. Plain background and the man is standing perfectly still and essentially centered with his legs spread to form a triangle (which is the most stable geometric shape). So there is no action or chaos at all. It's just really boring.
ReplyDeleteGreat cover though, that guy is super hot :)
ReplyDeleteSecrets are always intriguing. Thanks for the review, Sheena :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reviewage. :)
ReplyDeleteSorry it wasn't all you were expecting, but you did a good job of writing a great balanced review :-)
ReplyDelete