I loved that Emma was getting a small taste of freedom, spending time with Evan, going to parties with her friends - but chapter after chapter would go by with her home life being glossed over and all the focus on time spent with Evan, jealousies over other girls, and other drama that seemed petty in comparison to what Emma was dealing with at home. Emma My issue with Reason to Breathe is that often it seemed the relationship drama took center stage over the very serious abuse happening behind closed doors at home. Accepting this would be the hardest thing I'd ever had to learn, and even when I came to know it as true, it still crushed me. When something improved, something else had to crumble. My world was delicately balanced, but the scales never hung even. As the abuse at home escalated, and Emma remained resolute to keep the peace and just bide her time until she could leave, I was desperate for her situation to change by any means necessary. However, there did come a point where I wished Sara would ignore Emma's demands and just tell someone. Her friend Sara, initially the only one who knew the secret of Emma's home life and having been sworn to secrecy, was a good friend and did what she could to help Emma. Evan was a sweetheart and it felt completely realistic that Emma would be willing to risk so much for a chance at some normalcy and excitement. Emma Then the handsome and persistent Evan enters her life and suddenly Emma is willing to risk the delicate balance she maintains in order to experience the headiness of a new relationship. I survived by keeping my emotions in check - by maintaining my composure and tucking it all away. Emma refuses to report the abuse for fear that her young cousins would suffer the consequences and lose a mother who, to them, is loving and caring. Instead of a stable home life, away from the chaos of life with her alcoholic mother, she endures constant verbal and physical abuse from her aunt who resents her very presence. With her mother unable to care for her, she lives with her aunt and uncle. Sixteen year old Emma lives a life of secrets. Not a bad thing but, like I said, I was totally expecting something else and I spent the entire book trying to adjust.

However, Reason to Breathe is decidedly young adult and instead provided plenty of high school relationships and drama. So I was geared up for plenty of grown-up relationships and drama. For some reason I had been convinced for years (ever since I first bought a copy and placed it on my bookshelf where it sat for at least two years) that this was a new adult book.

And I'm sure I allowed that to somewhat color my feelings for the book.

I'll start by saying that Reason to Breathe was not what I was expecting.

Rebecca donovan reason to breathe