A review by rhreviewer91
Unbreak Me by Reese Rivers

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Avery never really had a chance to grow up. Orphaned at eighteen, a man came into her life and swooped her off her feet, and she was married within months. Then, she became a mother. It was shortly after this time that she realized what a monster she had tied herself to. She had no freedom, no access to money, no friends or family... just her daughter and her own determination. Particularly after seeing her daughter with a broken arm due to his abuse. 

It was one cold night with her living in her car with her little one when she saw another car lose control and slide into the ditch. Worried that the owner would call for help and draw attention to her own car parked in an empty lot, she helps him out. The next day, when he sees her car still there, he realizes a bit of their predicament and offers her a job. This forever changes her life. 

Poor Avery had become a shell of who she was. She flinched at fast movements, hadn't experienced many things in a long time (or some things at all), and had had so many restrictions on her life that she didn't realize what she was missing out on. It took Cass (Easton), Zack, and Ryker a while for her to open up to them, but they were all smitten with her and her daughter, Chloe, almost right off the bat. They each made each other's lives better, and they made the perfect family. 

Not that it matters much, but I wish the resolution with her husband was explained a bit more. We get an ending, but not exactly a "how" or "what" went down to cause the end result. I'm just a curious type, though. 

In the end, I like how the author really doesn't focus much on him. He's never named in the book. It's always HIM or HE. He even gets a single chapter from his POV, and it simply says "HIM" for the name. Abusers shouldn't get recognition. They aren't worth it. Unless it's to spread the word to warn others, they can simply fade away in the past while we focus on the victims, the survivors, and help them thrive. It's actually a brilliant way of writing this.

Great book! (Just be careful to read the trigger warnings if you have any!)

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