Suffer Love – Ashley Herring Blake – HMH Books for Young Readers – Published 3 May 2016
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Synopsis
Hadley St. Clair’s life changed the day she came home to a front door covered in slips of paper, each of them revealing the ugly truth about her father. Now as her family falls apart in the wake of his year-long affair, Hadley wants everyone-her dad most of all-to leave her alone.
Then she meets Sam Bennett, a cute new boy who inexplicably “feels like home” to Hadley. Hadley and Sam’s connection is undeniable, but Sam has a secret about his family that could ruin everything.
My thoughts
When I saw that this book was recommended by both Miranda Kenneally and Courtney C. Stevens, two of my favourite authors, I knew I had to read it.
Unfortunately, I have to admit to being disappointed with this book. Initially, it wasn’t what I was expecting and the girl hooking up with random guys didn’t seem like the Hadley from the summary. It quickly descended into stereotypes, the hurting girl using intimacy to distance herself from her life, the sort-of supportive best friend and the resident nasty girls. But, trying not to be too judgemental, I continued with an open(ish) mind, hoping these character castings would develop into something deeper, more three-dimensional.
Fortunately the next chapter switches to Sam’s perspective and he offers a far more complicated and intriguing scenario: difficult relationship with his mother for some as-yet-unknown reason, sister with emotional needs for some possibly traumatic reason, absent father, and moving into a new home but returning to an old neighbourhood. Continue reading
