I have to start with the cover. I am not a huge animal person, but that puppy on the front cover is adorable and pulled me right in. The white picket fence symbolizes the American family to me. I was intrigued before I even started the book, while hoping that this was not just a cute dog story. House Broken is a family story. The Novak family has been torn apart by secrets and is working at getting back together.

Geneva, the main character, has secrets that she doesn’t even know about. When her life comes crashing down, starting with her husband and continuing with her kids, mother, and siblings, Geneva knows that she has to toughen up and work through it. I feel like her mother is the worst of the problems. She is an adult and should know better, yet with every decision she makes Geneva’s life harder and harder. I wanted someone to tell her to grow up and fend for herself. At no point did I feel like Helen took anyone into consideration other than herself. Yet, Geneva managed to work through all of her family’s problems and become a strong, healthier, and more understanding mother, wife, and overall person.

This is the first book of Sonja Young’s I have read. I love that she pulls the reader in from the very first page and keeps the reader engaged until the story is entirely told. Sometimes I had to put the book down and just think about what had just happen or been said. I believe this is a story that will stay with me for a while. It will definitely make me appreciate how drama free my family is (at least most of the time).