Breathe by Abbi GlinesReviewed by: Baby Sister Brittany
The Sisters say: Fun and Flirty
Sadie White's summer job isn't going to be on the beach life-guarding or working at rental booths like most kids her age. With her single mother's increasing pregnancy and refusal to work, Sadie has to take over her mother's job as a domestic servant for one of the wealthy summer families on a nearby island.
When the family arrives at their summer getaway, Sadie is surprised to learn that the owner of the house is Jax Stone, one of the hottest teen rockers in the world. If Sadie hadn't spent her life raising her mother and taking care of the house she might have been normal enough to be excited about working for a rock star.
Even though Sadie isn't impressed by Jax's fame, he is drawn to her. Everything about Sadie fascinates Jax but he fights his attraction. Relationship's never work in his world and as badly as he wants Sadie, he believes she deserves more. By the end of the summer, Jax discovers he can't breathe without Sadie.
But can their love overcome the disparity in their lifestyles? Or will they have to learn how to without each other breathe again?
Before I start this review, I must sing the praises of its author, Abbi Glines. She is an unbelievably awesome person who went above and beyond to make sure we got to read her book! I would have gladly taken the time to read any book (even if it was awful) if the author was a nice as Abbi. BUT… as it so happens, this book was awesome! So it was a double win for us!
This is our first contemporary book here on YA Sisterhood, and I, for one, enjoyed the break from all things paranormal and supernatural. Normally, I throw a contemporary book in my reading list every once and while to break things up, though it usually ends up being something sad and heartbreaking a la The Book Thief or Revolution. I dove into this book looking for a fun summer escape read, but I found that and so much more!
This book is over 400 pages, and I devoured it all in one night (and well, early morning)! It was a fun read that took me back to high school, only throw in a cool rockstar. It makes for the perfect sizzling summer read.
HOWEVER…
It also has a lot of depth that I wasn’t expecting. Sadie has a rough home life with an irresponsible mother that makes Sadie take care of everything. And Sadie does it all—she cooks, cleans, makes the money, even takes care of her mother’s new born baby—without ever complaining. She’s got a strong soul, and it really makes you champion her story. You want her to have every happiness because she hasn’t had a whole lot up until now.
As a teacher, I have a couple students who are in similar situations—students who are infinitely more mature at 16 than I ever was. In real life, I offer these students what I can—advice, hope, friendship—but it gets disheartening when I can do little more than encourage these students to survive. Perhaps that’s why I had such a strong emotional connection with this book. Sadie is a survivor, and her actions and emotions were so realistic and true to life that I saw my students in her. And I wanted her to succeed, to do more than survive. I wanted her to live.
I loved this story! And I look forward to seeing what Abbi Glines writes next!
P.S. Guess what? The Nook and/or Kindle Editions of BREATHE are only $5.99!!!
