stairclimber's review against another edition
5.0
I thought I read every book by Kelly Rimmer, one of my favorite authors. I didn't realize I missed this one until a Goodreads friend recently reviewed it. Thank you Lindsay!
I could not put this book down. Rimmer writes a story about addiction through a lens I have not read before. Annie had lived a life of loss and abuse that led her to heroin addiction. She gets pregnant in Alabama, a State that makes substance abuse in pregnancy a criminal offense. This made it impossible for her to seek medical help without losing guardianship of her unborn child and facing prosecution for endangering the fetus's life. Alexis, Annie's sister helps Annie and the baby in every possible way. This story is moving, agonizing and heart-wrenching.
Rimmer writes: "I hope that her story reminds you that a person with an addiction is not a label or a problem to be solved: the individual is someone's sibling, someone's child, someone's beloved uncle. Addiction is ugly, but its victims each have a story and a life that matters." - Amen!
I could not put this book down. Rimmer writes a story about addiction through a lens I have not read before. Annie had lived a life of loss and abuse that led her to heroin addiction. She gets pregnant in Alabama, a State that makes substance abuse in pregnancy a criminal offense. This made it impossible for her to seek medical help without losing guardianship of her unborn child and facing prosecution for endangering the fetus's life. Alexis, Annie's sister helps Annie and the baby in every possible way. This story is moving, agonizing and heart-wrenching.
Rimmer writes: "I hope that her story reminds you that a person with an addiction is not a label or a problem to be solved: the individual is someone's sibling, someone's child, someone's beloved uncle. Addiction is ugly, but its victims each have a story and a life that matters." - Amen!
jfeutz's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book! It was a bit hard to get into, kind of slow moving at first. Then again in the middle, a couple chapters were challenging. But the ending!! I was sobbing so much. I didn’t realize how much of an emotional connection I had to these sisters. I thought they were written very well as characters. Both so stubborn, you can tell they are sisters.
kgjelinek's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars
I wanted to connect with the characters more than I did, as this storyline isn’t often found in literature. Worthwhile summer read.
I wanted to connect with the characters more than I did, as this storyline isn’t often found in literature. Worthwhile summer read.
rubycubes's review against another edition
5.0
This was amazing and will definitely stay with me for awhile. I love Lexie and Annie's relationship from the beginning and as a big sister myself, I can relate to Lexie in so many different ways. Another 5 star read from Kelly Rimmer.
abeth_parker's review against another edition
2.0
DNF at about 50%. I have to say that I did learn a lot about the legal ramifications of an addicted mother testing be positive for drug use during pregnancy. I found myself thinking about that scenario more objectively. I've always had little sympathy for someone in that situation.
Having said that, I just couldn't get in to the story, and didn't connect with the characters. Lexie is a doctor, so she knows what drug use could mean for her pregnant sister and unborn child. They had a tragic and complicated childhood, so there are several factors going in to their situation.
I liked Annie's chapters, which are her writings during rehab. You get a good look at her life, and ho cage could have gone off the beaten path.
I found it hard to read the Lexie chapters. She is overbearing to the other doctors and the legal professionals who are involved in Annie's case. She vacillates between wanting to fix everything for her sister, and being condescending. I stopped reading when she berated Annie over the name she chose for her baby. Annie was exhausted from the delivery, under the influence of pain killers, and facing losing custody of her child. A little compassion and understanding would have been the best choice right then. Instead, Lexie gets angry at her, and forces her towards another name. That did it for me. I was done.
Having said that, I just couldn't get in to the story, and didn't connect with the characters. Lexie is a doctor, so she knows what drug use could mean for her pregnant sister and unborn child. They had a tragic and complicated childhood, so there are several factors going in to their situation.
I liked Annie's chapters, which are her writings during rehab. You get a good look at her life, and ho cage could have gone off the beaten path.
I found it hard to read the Lexie chapters. She is overbearing to the other doctors and the legal professionals who are involved in Annie's case. She vacillates between wanting to fix everything for her sister, and being condescending. I stopped reading when she berated Annie over the name she chose for her baby. Annie was exhausted from the delivery, under the influence of pain killers, and facing losing custody of her child. A little compassion and understanding would have been the best choice right then. Instead, Lexie gets angry at her, and forces her towards another name. That did it for me. I was done.
redforcelist's review against another edition
This book is ending on my DNF list. The ending is predictable from the start, but I just can’t finish it, if I keep cry at every chapter.
I’ll come back to this book one day. But until then it’s staying unrated.
I’ll come back to this book one day. But until then it’s staying unrated.
mrspenningalovesbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Stars above- this book will haunt me for a long time. What a great read about sisterhood, broken families, redemption, and addiction’s awful destruction of the human spirit. Lexie, Annie, Sam, & Daisy truly captured my heart in this fictional tale about a real epidemic in America right now. “People who have never had cause to hate do not understand how it stains you. And if it has long enough to fester, hate stops feeling like Anger or rage and it feels only like pain.” 😢
“We want our mommas to be perfect, and when they stumble and fall, we punish them instead of offer a helping hand...”
Read this! It was an excellent read.
“We want our mommas to be perfect, and when they stumble and fall, we punish them instead of offer a helping hand...”
Read this! It was an excellent read.
readwith_em's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“It’s remarkable how one person’s presence can disrupt every little thing that is ordinarily secure.”
A phone call at 2am is all it takes to turn Lexie’s life upside down once again in order to help her sister who is battling addiction.
Annie is pregnant and needs immediate medical care, but is terrified to go because she knows she won’t pass a drug test. In Alabama mothers can be prosecuted, and face prison time for chemical endangerment to her unborn baby.
Once again, Lexie’s role is to be stable and responsible and try to fix things for Annie. However this time Annie’s disruptions will have an impact on Sam, Lexie’s fiancé. There are parts of her childhood that she and Annie faced, that she has yet to share with him. However, Sam remains steadfast and supportive despite the upturn of their life.
When Daisy is born, Annie only has a short period of time to spend with her before attending court mandated rehab, if she doesn’t complete it, she will face prison time for chemical endangerment charges.
Naturally, Annie has asked Lexie to take care of Daisy while she’s away and Lexie agrees.
Lexie finally begins to believe that Annie can get sober because of Daisy. Except Annie is having a hard time sharing and reconciling with her past with her therapist… even things Lexie was unaware of. The only thing that seems to be working is a journal that was gifted to her by her late father.
Annie’s defiance when it comes to authority will soon cause her more trouble when she leaves the rehab before completion…
Lexie has been instructed to turn Annie in if she shows up at their house, or she could be facing charges for helping a fugitive. There’s been no sign of Annie for several days after she left rehab, but then she makes a phone call to Lexie. Annie sounds desperate to see Daisy, but Lexie turns her down and urges her to turn herself in and hangs up.
By chance, Lexie visits the trailer where Annie was living to convince her to turn herself in, but what Lexie finds breaks her heart..
A phone call at 2am is all it takes to turn Lexie’s life upside down once again in order to help her sister who is battling addiction.
Annie is pregnant and needs immediate medical care, but is terrified to go because she knows she won’t pass a drug test. In Alabama mothers can be prosecuted, and face prison time for chemical endangerment to her unborn baby.
Once again, Lexie’s role is to be stable and responsible and try to fix things for Annie. However this time Annie’s disruptions will have an impact on Sam, Lexie’s fiancé. There are parts of her childhood that she and Annie faced, that she has yet to share with him. However, Sam remains steadfast and supportive despite the upturn of their life.
When Daisy is born, Annie only has a short period of time to spend with her before attending court mandated rehab, if she doesn’t complete it, she will face prison time for chemical endangerment charges.
Naturally, Annie has asked Lexie to take care of Daisy while she’s away and Lexie agrees.
Lexie finally begins to believe that Annie can get sober because of Daisy. Except Annie is having a hard time sharing and reconciling with her past with her therapist… even things Lexie was unaware of. The only thing that seems to be working is a journal that was gifted to her by her late father.
Annie’s defiance when it comes to authority will soon cause her more trouble when she leaves the rehab before completion…
Lexie has been instructed to turn Annie in if she shows up at their house, or she could be facing charges for helping a fugitive. There’s been no sign of Annie for several days after she left rehab, but then she makes a phone call to Lexie. Annie sounds desperate to see Daisy, but Lexie turns her down and urges her to turn herself in and hangs up.
By chance, Lexie visits the trailer where Annie was living to convince her to turn herself in, but what Lexie finds breaks her heart..
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Rape, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Child abuse, and Drug use
diamondc's review against another edition
3.0
This book was a slow read at times. I didn’t expect the ending.