An emotional and uplifting story about two teens finding strength and hope in the face of their personal struggles. The story follows Cason, a talented dancer battling cancer, and Davis, a recovering addict. Their paths cross at a rehab center, and what unfolds is a heartfelt tale of healing, resilience, and the power of human connection.

What I loved most about this book is how authentically it portrays the challenges of illness and addiction. The characters feel real, flawed, and relatable, and their journeys of self-acceptance are inspiring without being overly sentimental. Cason and Davis’s relationship is a beautiful slow build, rooted in empathy and understanding, which makes their connection feel genuine.

The pacing is smooth, and the writing has a raw honesty that pulls you in. Kati Gardner doesn't shy away from tough topics, but she handles them with care and sensitivity.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

I really enjoyed this read. There were twists and turns and I was thoroughly entertained. I highly recommend… if you like that sort of thing. ;)

I am attempting to go back and read some of these older books to bring up my ratio, but unfortunately I can't find a copy of this in my library system! I will not be reviewing it apologies :(

Representation in books matter.

I know that sounds trite but it does. Brave Enough is the story of Cason Martin, a talented dancer destined to be a prima ballerina until tragedy strikes and she is diagnosed with cancer.

We follow Cason as she comes to terms with her life-changing diagnosis and how she adapts to the people and things around her.

There was a time when "illness" became a trope in novels and for dramatic effect it usually ended up in tragedy or love cut short. What Gardner has done is go against the grain with Brave Enough and celebrated living as a person with or who previously has had cancer. She celebrates life. It was absolutely joyous.

Brave Enough was such an easy read even with such a difficult topic at the heart of the story.

Brave Enough by Kati Gardner is available now.

For more information regarding North Star Editions (@NSEditions) please visit www.northstareditions.com.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher’s for giving me the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Wasn't for me but appreciated nonetheless.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book. Unfortunately it’s not for me. Did not finish @ 10%.

What initially drew me to this novel was the cover. It is absolutely stunning! The premise seemed lovely and heartbreaking.

Cason’s story is tough and unfortunately not unique in this world. But one can draw hope and strength from her journey.

My issue is not with the premise per-say, but there was insta love between the two MCs that I just couldn’t fully get behind.

Cason’s mother was horrible, but eventually had some redeeming qualities - but I feel maybe her character wasn’t fully flushed out?

I do hope this author continues to write, as their concept was good, just the execution that a needed a little extra work.

**Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review**

This was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it. thanks for letting me have an advance copy. I'm new to this author.

I received this book because I requested Finding Balance and hadn’t read the first book. Though Finding Balance could be its own story, it is best enjoyed after reading this book.

That being said I liked that I took a chance going book 2 then 1. They both established real life struggles people endure. The character’s emotions were raw and very believable.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Brave Enough by Kati Gardner.

Ah, the same YA trope of two beautiful broken teens, finding each other as well as healing.

Cason is a dancer with cancer in her leg, Davis is also a cancer survivor with a drug addiction. Davis is also totally perfect, volunteering at the hospital and chemo camp, and super handsome. So unsurprisingly, Cason is totally feeling it, and since Cason is a beautiful dancer, so is Davis. But Davis has a secret...

I mean, it's fine. I would have liked it when I was young. AND, I won't take away from the fact that it could really help someone with these types of illness or addictions. It's just been done, a lot.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read and review your titles.
I do appreciate it and continue to review books that I get the chance to read.
Thanks again!

Purchased for middle school library. Quick read that allows you to dive deep in a hospital plot line between teens that have cancer.

The Good:

This book was a wonderful #OwnVoices Disability and Cancer Survivorship story. We don't get many of these, as the author mentions in her acknowledgements. As someone with a disability, I am always on the lookout for new #OwnVoices stories, and this did not disappoint. The author, Kati Gardner, did not shy away from addiction when crafting Davis' storyline, which was equal parts refreshing and heartbreaking. So many stories revolve around sick kids being faultless or flawless humans, but in reality, we come in all shapes, sizes and personalities.

I also enjoyed Cason's storyline and character development, especially regarding her process of accepting her diagnosis and amputation. It didn't happen suddenly and she wasn't magically just 100% sunshine and smiles during her treatment or sudden surgeries. It's devastating to be an athlete and have it taken away from you in a matter of seconds. At that age, its a huge part of your identity and the loss is huge. Gardner didn't shy away from these negative emotions that occur while processing. She kept it real and honest, something her personal experiences helped guide. </p>

Camp Chemo was a great addition, because these types of camps do have the impact described in the book in real life. Many people think a camp like that would be a sad thing, as Cason does initially, but they are life changing for the kids and teens who attend. As someone who has been a volunteer at a camp like this one for over a decade, I've seen this impact and finding a book that represents it and tells a "camp story" is a rare gem.

The Bad:
I have nothing bad to say about this book. I only kept it at 4 stars because contemporary YA is not genre I'm strongly familiar with, so I found the story dragging a tad in the middle. However, I seem to find this true in a lot of contemporary/literary stories I read, so it's really not a fault of the book itself.

The Bottom Line:
A solid, well-written, accurate #OwnVoices story about disability, cancer, friendship and the impact of a single summer camp.

I couldn’t get into this book. I tried multiple times and it just didn’t grab my attention. I skimmed through hoping something would grab me but nothing ever did.

This was a fantastic story about love, cancer, and drug addition. I found myself thinking about it long after I had put it down. Don’t let the pretty cover fool you — this book is emotional and will captivate you.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

I don't usually read theses type of contemporary novels because I read to escape reality, not to be reminded of these type of realistic problems. And this book was a bit too realistic in its harshness.

As someone who (very luckily) didn't have to go through the things the people in the book did, I enjoyed my read and was a fulfilling and manful experience to see through their heads and understand their problems from their perspectives. What adds further to the characters' credibility is the fact that he author herself is also a person with disabilities. This is why I took this book so seriously.

Nothing stood out with me regarding this book, it wasn't the best book I have ever read but I enjoyed my time reading it. Do I regret it? Absolutely not. But I would recommend it to anyone? I would...but only if you are comfortable with the harshness of this book and if you are looking for a casual read and not your next favorite novel.

This book provides us with a rich web of characters and places. It's a refreshing perspective, with the potential of reach YA readers everywhere.

I received a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Brave Enough
By: Kati Gardner

REVIEW ☆☆☆☆

Brave Enough is a young adult story of the deeper and more meaningful variety. The author, a cancer survivor, addresses the issues of this horrible illness in every aspect. A ballerina who, recently diagnosed, realizes she can't dance anymore. A young man with depression and mental health issues because of a previous cancer battle. The better part of the story is an emotionally compelling read. There are a few things that seemed out of place, such as the insta love romance and too much talk about not being able to do something. Otherwise, the story is solid and interesting, and I would recommend it for young adults.

This was so full of raw, poignant, tender emotion, and I cried... look away. The heavy topics introduced in this novel are handled with care and dealt with realistically. Another factor that really worked for me was the writing, it was, in short, amazing. Brave Enough is a dimensional, powerful YA debut that I loved immensely.