bookhoarder321's review
5.0
What can you learn by reliving the same day, what do you need to learn to Break Free. A thought provoking story that explores mental health in a realistic and understanding manner.
tifany's review
5.0
Break Free is a novella set in a “Groundhog Day”-type of reality where the main characters are living the same day over and over again; however, only one character realizes the day is on repeat.
At its core, this is a powerful and thought-provoking story about mental health, and the silence that can accompany the struggle. It brings to light how isolating it can be and what it takes to move forward.
I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to understand a little more about those struggling with their mental health and to anyone who feels they might be living in a “Groundhog Day” of their own.
I received an ARC of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
At its core, this is a powerful and thought-provoking story about mental health, and the silence that can accompany the struggle. It brings to light how isolating it can be and what it takes to move forward.
I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to understand a little more about those struggling with their mental health and to anyone who feels they might be living in a “Groundhog Day” of their own.
I received an ARC of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
jadeholmes101's review
5.0
I had the honor of receiving an arc of this wonderful book!!
Break Free was an asking story that captures mental illness in a way I haven’t seen before!
This story is about two friends Leida and Ozzie. They both made their own senior skip day and decided to spend the day together at the amusement park! After a great day together, Ozzie finds it a great time to end his suffering, leaving great memories for his best friend.
But all does go as planned, Leida wakes up the next day headed to Ozzie’s house all ready for their own little senior skip day at the amusement park. Then again the next day, and the next, then again.
Driving Ozzie crazy because he knows he’s living in a loop and can’t figure out a way out of this endless cycle. This story follows along Leida’s point of view of reliving the same day over and over again but without knowing.
I 1000% recommended reading to find out how it all ends!!
I definitely love how this story is told in Leida’s point of view instead of Ozzie’s. We get to see how she’s seeing Ozzie’s confusion and everything. Also get to see a different view on having a character suffering with mental illness, we get to view it as her discovering her best friends hiding it from her.
It’s a truly beautiful, slightly heartbreaking, story!
Break Free was an asking story that captures mental illness in a way I haven’t seen before!
This story is about two friends Leida and Ozzie. They both made their own senior skip day and decided to spend the day together at the amusement park! After a great day together, Ozzie finds it a great time to end his suffering, leaving great memories for his best friend.
But all does go as planned, Leida wakes up the next day headed to Ozzie’s house all ready for their own little senior skip day at the amusement park. Then again the next day, and the next, then again.
Driving Ozzie crazy because he knows he’s living in a loop and can’t figure out a way out of this endless cycle. This story follows along Leida’s point of view of reliving the same day over and over again but without knowing.
I 1000% recommended reading to find out how it all ends!!
I definitely love how this story is told in Leida’s point of view instead of Ozzie’s. We get to see how she’s seeing Ozzie’s confusion and everything. Also get to see a different view on having a character suffering with mental illness, we get to view it as her discovering her best friends hiding it from her.
It’s a truly beautiful, slightly heartbreaking, story!
cnmccabeauthor's review
5.0
I would like to thank R.A. Desilets for asking me to ARC read this gem of a short story.
Break Free is an absolutely heart-wrenching and feel provoking story that captures mental illness in a sensitive way and thoughtful way.
I loved how the story wasn't told from the POV of the person stuck in a time loop but from their friend, Leida, who has no memory of the repeating days. The growing confusion and anger radiating from Ozzie was compelling and progressed so well that I felt all his emotions right there with him even though I was not, as a reader, inside his head.
This story is a perfect capture of how mental illness is a silent battle, and that you never know someone else is going through it until they let you in.
I loved the bonus chapter from Ozzie's perspective. His feelings felt so real and true and they showed how destructive these thoughts can be. I would have loved to see his POV from the beginning of the story of how brutal and overwhelming they were and how they progressed over time.
I would highly recommend this story to anyone going through a hardship they feel like they cannot reach out to anyone about. There is always someone to listen. Please seek help if you need it.
Break Free is an absolutely heart-wrenching and feel provoking story that captures mental illness in a sensitive way and thoughtful way.
I loved how the story wasn't told from the POV of the person stuck in a time loop but from their friend, Leida, who has no memory of the repeating days. The growing confusion and anger radiating from Ozzie was compelling and progressed so well that I felt all his emotions right there with him even though I was not, as a reader, inside his head.
This story is a perfect capture of how mental illness is a silent battle, and that you never know someone else is going through it until they let you in.
I loved the bonus chapter from Ozzie's perspective. His feelings felt so real and true and they showed how destructive these thoughts can be. I would have loved to see his POV from the beginning of the story of how brutal and overwhelming they were and how they progressed over time.
I would highly recommend this story to anyone going through a hardship they feel like they cannot reach out to anyone about. There is always someone to listen. Please seek help if you need it.
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