isabelle_rosewrites's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
A Breath Too Late by Rocky Callen is a heartrending young adult novel that is quite poignant.
Seventeen year old Ellie Walker wakes to a very different world and cannot understand what is happening to her. She eventually discovers she is a ghost following her death by suicide the day before. Her memories of recent days are hazy while her long ago memories are intact. It is only as she begins to understand the previously unseen little things that occurred during her life that Ellie begins to truly regret her decision.
Each chapter is a letter addressed to the person that Ellie is viewing through her now ghostly lens. She goes back to her earliest and happiest memories of life with her mom, Regina. It is not until the sudden appearance of her father, Abel, that their life enters increasingly downward spiral as his amicable veneer is slowly stripped away as his true nature is revealed.
The only bright spot in Ellie's life is her beautifully uncomplicated friendship with August Matthews. However, in junior high, Ellie cuts her best friend out of her life and her home life becomes increasingly volatile. Reuniting as seniors in high school, Ellie veers between rejoicing in her plans for the future and the dark grip of depression and despair as her father's grip tightens on her. With her friendship with August taking an unexpected turn, Ellie descends into a pit of hopelessness that she cannot escape.
As she tries to understand why she took her own life, Ellie sees little glimpses of hope that she missed at various times during her all too short life. Angry at momma for staying with her abusive husband, Ellie feels trapped and desperate to escape. Although she positively adores August, Ellie's cannot share what is happening at home nor can she trust her own judgment. As she revisits the past, will Ellie discover what lead her to such a desperate act?
A Breath Too Late is an enthralling young adult novel that is impossible to put down. The characters are vibrantly developed and the storyline is thought-provoking. Rocky Callen deftly incorporates sensitive topics such as suicide, depression and abuse into the storyline in a forthright and realistic manner. Despite the serious subject matter, the novel concludes with a ray of hope that shows positive things can occur even in the darkest moments. I highly recommend this young adult story to older teen and adult readers.
A Breath Too Late by Rocky Callen is a heartrending young adult novel that is quite poignant.
Seventeen year old Ellie Walker wakes to a very different world and cannot understand what is happening to her. She eventually discovers she is a ghost following her death by suicide the day before. Her memories of recent days are hazy while her long ago memories are intact. It is only as she begins to understand the previously unseen little things that occurred during her life that Ellie begins to truly regret her decision.
Each chapter is a letter addressed to the person that Ellie is viewing through her now ghostly lens. She goes back to her earliest and happiest memories of life with her mom, Regina. It is not until the sudden appearance of her father, Abel, that their life enters increasingly downward spiral as his amicable veneer is slowly stripped away as his true nature is revealed.
The only bright spot in Ellie's life is her beautifully uncomplicated friendship with August Matthews. However, in junior high, Ellie cuts her best friend out of her life and her home life becomes increasingly volatile. Reuniting as seniors in high school, Ellie veers between rejoicing in her plans for the future and the dark grip of depression and despair as her father's grip tightens on her. With her friendship with August taking an unexpected turn, Ellie descends into a pit of hopelessness that she cannot escape.
As she tries to understand why she took her own life, Ellie sees little glimpses of hope that she missed at various times during her all too short life. Angry at momma for staying with her abusive husband, Ellie feels trapped and desperate to escape. Although she positively adores August, Ellie's cannot share what is happening at home nor can she trust her own judgment. As she revisits the past, will Ellie discover what lead her to such a desperate act?
A Breath Too Late is an enthralling young adult novel that is impossible to put down. The characters are vibrantly developed and the storyline is thought-provoking. Rocky Callen deftly incorporates sensitive topics such as suicide, depression and abuse into the storyline in a forthright and realistic manner. Despite the serious subject matter, the novel concludes with a ray of hope that shows positive things can occur even in the darkest moments. I highly recommend this young adult story to older teen and adult readers.
lindakay99's review against another edition
5.0
This is probably one of the most heartbreaking books I've ever read. So incredibly tragic that it brought me to tears. It's also an important book that sheds light on the toll that mental and physical abuse can have on a family. I hope that teens in Ellie's shoes chose to fight. I wish so much that her story could have ended differently.
joyfullyjacquie's review against another edition
5.0
Having had a suicide in our family I wasn’t sure how I would feel while reading this book, but upon finishing it I am thankful for it. I love how the author handles the topic and lays out the story.
Suicide is very real and depression is very real. The author’s words are raw and in your face, but so incredibly honest. This book is full of hope and shows that help us out there. It’s about breaking the stigma around being silent if you are struggling with these things. Though hard to read, this is now a book thay is very dear to my heart.
Side note, not necessarily about the book itself, if you like the writing style of Tahereh Mafi you will enjoy the writing style of this book as well.
Suicide is very real and depression is very real. The author’s words are raw and in your face, but so incredibly honest. This book is full of hope and shows that help us out there. It’s about breaking the stigma around being silent if you are struggling with these things. Though hard to read, this is now a book thay is very dear to my heart.
Side note, not necessarily about the book itself, if you like the writing style of Tahereh Mafi you will enjoy the writing style of this book as well.
narratedbyrein's review against another edition
3.0
i freaking loved this. read it super quick. we shared tears, laughs and everything in between.
read for dewey's 24 hour readathon
read for dewey's 24 hour readathon
cemsreadingcorner's review against another edition
3.0
Had to give this novel three stars. It was a good book, but what was frustrating about it was that the mother did nothing about the abuse that her and her daughter were receiving throughout the story. They would be beaten by the father and the mother didn’t try anything. She stayed and did nothing about the situation. It got to the point where the daughter, Ellie, committed suicide. Ellie killed herself before her mother called the police on the dad and left. It’s ridiculous. I felt bad for Ellie and her mom. And to see them just take the hits and do nothing was just aggravating. I wish the mom took the daughter and left sooner. Other than that, the book was good. We got to learn a little more about Ellie’s relationship with August, which was nice. And we learned about domestic abuse and depression. Even though I am frustrated with the book, I would still recommend others to read it. It’s about something important that real people go through on a daily basis. Books about mental health are important. Stories about domestic abuse matters. It’s all vital stuff that we need to reading about in books and seeing on television. We need to talk about this stuff more often because it’s essential. So please read this book when you get a chance. Happy Reading! And take care of yourselves, please! ❤️
inked_orca's review against another edition
5.0
Seventeen year old Ellie had no hope left.
This book will leave you heartbroken, but it’s worth it. The story holds power to be someone’s hope. Ellie had her gold ink, her pen was “magic pinched between fingertips”, this book is your magic. A Breath Too Late is a message to people who are suffering that there’s still hope, there still light at the end of the tunnel. Don’t lose sight of your dreams and be brave to fly.
Ellie’s story will forever be in my mind.
This book will leave you heartbroken, but it’s worth it. The story holds power to be someone’s hope. Ellie had her gold ink, her pen was “magic pinched between fingertips”, this book is your magic. A Breath Too Late is a message to people who are suffering that there’s still hope, there still light at the end of the tunnel. Don’t lose sight of your dreams and be brave to fly.
Ellie’s story will forever be in my mind.
pixteas's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
well I am completely broken. This is one of those books that has changed my life. I read it in just a few hours but the impact that this book has is beyond anything. First of, the authors note at the start of the book was shattering and I really appreciated it going into the book, I thought that it was so meaningful and added so much more realness to the story. This book does a good job at balancing the healing but also understanding and pushing how heart breaking depression and suicide can be. I really loved seeing each of the characters trying to cope with Ellie's suicide through Ellie's eyes as slowly you see her regret her decision to the people she cares about, especially her mum - I loved slowly understanding the mums situation and realising how much she loved Ellie, how much she would have done for Ellie but she just ran out of time. It does so well at addressing her flaws and her strengths as a mother figure which reminded me of It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover. This book is so beautifully written, some of the phrases that Ellie says or lines that are written were so beautiful and emotional like how August is described as a painter and a sunshine in Ellie's life. This book needs all the credit of it's writing because it's... wow so good. I am utterly in awe of this book and now I'm going to cry in the corner about it again.
dipali17's review against another edition
4.0
** A copy of A Breath Too Late was provided by the publisher and Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review **
First things first - just look at this stunning cover! If you're judging a book by its cover, you'd be right too. The story is beautiful is as beautiful as the cover. It is equal parts heartbreaking and ultimately healing. It's a quick but heavy read. I finished this thinking I wish I could hug Evie, August and Momma.
First things first - just look at this stunning cover! If you're judging a book by its cover, you'd be right too. The story is beautiful is as beautiful as the cover. It is equal parts heartbreaking and ultimately healing. It's a quick but heavy read. I finished this thinking I wish I could hug Evie, August and Momma.
whatever1441's review against another edition
4.0
This was was pain. For the most part, it was good. It showed a girl watching her friends and family deal with her suicide and it didn't have a cop out for the ending. I almost cried a few times but the ended was good and pulled it together.