A review by kerrygetsliterary
Bring Me Back, by Kristen Granata
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Bring Me Back by Kristen Granata
πππππ
I say this all the time, but... I always find it much harder to review books that I loved. I never feel like I can find the right words to do it justice.
CW: suicide, suicide attempt, depression, addiction, death of parent
If you've ever read Kristen's work, you know there are always themes of mental health & overcoming internal struggles. Bring Me Back follows Pheonix after leaving a mental health treatment facility following her suicide attempt. Looking for a fresh start, she moves into her dad's shore house in New Jersey that has been vacant for a while. Next door is James, a broody & sexy cop who just can't seem to stay away. The book starts off with a bang, with a funny as hell meeting between the two, & takes off from there.
While I have dealt with bouts of depression at the lowest points of my anxiety & panic disorder, I have not been clinically depressed. Still, I appreciated the representation of depression & how it was written & handled in this book. It was out in the open, never shied away from, & never something to be ashamed of, which I absolutely loved. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experience mental illness every year, & 1 in 20 experience serious mental illness each year. It's much more common than we think, & I love that Kristen normalizes the struggles, because there are far too many who are afraid to or cannot seek help or speak up.
There are heavy themes in this book. But there are also lighter moments. I'm obsessed with how Nix & James met. I laughed out loud several times. I goofy smiled like an idiot at the heartwarming moments between Nix & James, but also between Nix & James' brother Leo, & with their dad as well. And the steam... π₯ handcuffs & baton... need I say more? π₯΅
The character development was phenomenal. I loved them all, but Leo holds a special place in my heart, & I can't wait to read more of his story. π₯Ί
And there's something about the ending that I also loved & appreciated, but don't worry, I won't say what it is. I never post spoilers!
Oh, and just look at that cover! π absolutely gorgeous! (The discreet one, but the main one is so nice too)
Go read it!
πππππ
I say this all the time, but... I always find it much harder to review books that I loved. I never feel like I can find the right words to do it justice.
CW: suicide, suicide attempt, depression, addiction, death of parent
If you've ever read Kristen's work, you know there are always themes of mental health & overcoming internal struggles. Bring Me Back follows Pheonix after leaving a mental health treatment facility following her suicide attempt. Looking for a fresh start, she moves into her dad's shore house in New Jersey that has been vacant for a while. Next door is James, a broody & sexy cop who just can't seem to stay away. The book starts off with a bang, with a funny as hell meeting between the two, & takes off from there.
While I have dealt with bouts of depression at the lowest points of my anxiety & panic disorder, I have not been clinically depressed. Still, I appreciated the representation of depression & how it was written & handled in this book. It was out in the open, never shied away from, & never something to be ashamed of, which I absolutely loved. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experience mental illness every year, & 1 in 20 experience serious mental illness each year. It's much more common than we think, & I love that Kristen normalizes the struggles, because there are far too many who are afraid to or cannot seek help or speak up.
There are heavy themes in this book. But there are also lighter moments. I'm obsessed with how Nix & James met. I laughed out loud several times. I goofy smiled like an idiot at the heartwarming moments between Nix & James, but also between Nix & James' brother Leo, & with their dad as well. And the steam... π₯ handcuffs & baton... need I say more? π₯΅
The character development was phenomenal. I loved them all, but Leo holds a special place in my heart, & I can't wait to read more of his story. π₯Ί
And there's something about the ending that I also loved & appreciated, but don't worry, I won't say what it is. I never post spoilers!
Oh, and just look at that cover! π absolutely gorgeous! (The discreet one, but the main one is so nice too)
Go read it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Grief, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Self harm, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Abandonment, Blood, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Drug use, and Death