Reason to Breathe Review

Reason to Breathe (Barely Breathing #1) by Rebecca Donovan
★★★★★
Release Date: June 2012
Age: Mature YA
Genre: Drama, Contemporary Romance, Abuse, Family, Friendship,
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

"No one tried to get involved with me, and I kept to myself. This was the place where everything 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 a 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.

I am still in awe with this story. I love everything about it. I think about it constantly and am slightly obsessed with the relationships in the book.

Reason to Breathe follows Emma through a traumatic and life changing junior year of High School. Suffering from an unimaginably brutal home life she keeps to herself wanting no attention because once people notice her they may notice the secrets she has hidden. She's smart yet quiet and best friends with one of the most popular girls at school who is one of the best friends a girl could have. When Emma opens her heart to the idea of being close with people she lets in a lot more than a normal high school life. Shaken and stirred Emma's invisible existence is turned upside when she's thrown into the spotlight at school which leaves her in the storm at home.

I was an emotional wreck throughout this book. Emma has got to be one of the strongest characters, I'd put her up there with Nastya from Katja Millay's Sea of Tranquility. She endures a lot and slowly begins to let people into her life.

Book 3 will be out in July, I'm almost done with book 2 and cannot wait until I get the chance to read the next book. I'm telling you now that if you read this book have the next book ready to read immediately after because you won't want to waste anytime. The cliffhanger is epic.

I love this book, Rebecca's writing and story is AMAZING. This breathtaking read will touch your heart and settle in deep. I highly recommend it to those looking for a drama filled contemporary romance set in a high school about a girl who is needing to be saved and a boy who is willing to only be her friend even when he wants so much more. I will definitely be checking out future Rebecca Donovan reads!