Barely Breathing - Review

Barely Breathing (Breathing #2)

By: Rebecca Donovan

Published: June 18, 2013 by Skyscape

512 pages

Source: Borrowed for free from Amazon Prime

(Goodreads / Amazon)

Summary:

Emma’s struggle with an abusive home life came to a heart pounding conclusion in the final chapters of Reason to Breathe. Now everyone in Weslyn knows Emma’s secret, but Carol can’t hurt Emma anymore. Some are still haunted by the horror of that night, and some must face the repercussions of their choices. Fans of Rebecca Donovan’s debut novel will discover there’s still much to learn about Emma’s life.

MY REVIEW:
In book one, Reason to Breathe, we saw the destruction of Emma's life as she suffers the abuse of her aunt. In book two we see Emma trying to move past that, though still plagued with nightmares. She also tries to make a mends with her mother. A mother that abandoned her and chose alcohol and men over being a mom. What she quickly realizes is that her mother Rachel is still dependent on alcohol to numb her feelings and emotions. She still turns to men and drugs to escape reality and her own demons that involved an unwanted pregnancy.

Poor Emma can't catch a break! Her decisions don't exactly aid in her situation either. She and Evan drift apart because she chooses to confide in someone else and not be open and honest about even her darkest parts of herself and the reality of her relationship with her Mom. This is where Jonathan comes in. Her mother's boyfriend. A boyfriend who is closer in age to Emma than he is to Rachel. He too has a dark past and secrets and nightmares and demons and through the pain and ugliness of their past they find a common bond in one another. A friendship that Emma grows to depend on. Confiding in someone that is not the person you claim to love is a sure way to drive a wedge between you.

I don't believe in "soul mates". I believe that we are compatible with many people and we are attracted to many people. When you find someone that fits both criteria, and that person makes you a better person by bringing out your strengths and helping you through your weaknesses then that's someone you could build a life with, make a life long commitment to. In this story in book one, hands down Evan is that person for Emma. Even though she has a bond with Jonathan, her feelings for him are no where near the same caliber they are for Evan. I think in another time, another place, Jonathan and Emma could've been good together, potentially. The way things are now though, I don't see there being room for Jonathan with how Emma feels about Evan. Team Evan!

Favorite Quotes:
The vulnerability of letting someone, anyone, into the darkness I couldn't face myself was unfathomable.

"We can contemplate the meaning of your life all you want, but know that you're my meaning...the reason behind just about everything I do - and I would never want to change that."

That was absolutely not how I wanted to remember our first time. It was a bad movie in the making.

My words wielded as much destruction... I tore people apart with my lies and secrets, unleashing a verbal wrath that could alter a person's conviction.

Final Rating - 4 stars