Wow. This book is fast paced, important and necessary. As someone who has experienced rehab (mine was different though), I appreciated the ups and downs Bella has, both in treatment and in the beginning of her recovery. There are many books about "kids with problems" but they don't always show the rehab experience PLUS the struggle at the beginning (when you are first released). I do wish this book was longer; I would've loved to experience more of Bella's life outside of the rehab center.

Teens and adult readers who enjoy Kathleen Glasgow's other books will, without a doubt, gravitate toward this one.

Trigger warnings: alcoholism, death, overdoses, self harm, rehab centers, smoking (vaping, cigarettes), mentions of disordered eating, mental illness, grandparent death, divorce

This novel is unflinchingly real. It is not sugar-coated. It is a hard look into the lives of teens with addictions. It will make you angry and sad. It will make you think. And for some, it will make you take a hard look at your own life. Kathleen Glasgow has written another meaningful novel with a flawed protagonist. I will certainly share it with others. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to be an early reader in exchange for my review.

“I believe if you can walk into the darkness, then you have the strength to walk back out.”
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Bella is drowning. Her mom needs her to be her support since the divorce. Her dad needs help taking care of her little sister. Her boyfriend broke up with her because she was “too much”. And the one person in her life, her grandmother, passed away so Bella has no one. The only thing that helps dull the pain is alcohol. What started as an escape has now turned into a serious issue when she ends up face down in front of her mom’s house the day after Thanksgiving and a video of her has gone viral. Now Bella is headed to rehab at fifteen years old and her road to recovery has just begun.
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I read this in one sitting because…it was so dang good. I’m still thinking about it hours later, which doesn’t usually happen for me. @misskathleenglasgow is known for her ability not to shy away from the hard topics in her YA books and this was no exception. What an honest portrayal of alcoholism in teens. Everything felt so authentic and powerful, especially for those who work with teens and might not see the obvious signs. Make sure you read the Author’s Note at the end when this novel releases November 12. Thanks to the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

CW: alcohol, alcoholism, vomit, detox, cutting/self-harm, alcohol poisoning, hospitalization, suicide attempt, death, emotional abuse, drug use, overdose