Friday, November 25, 2011

In Leah's Wake - Reviewed




Book Description:
The Tyler family had the perfect life - until sixteen-year-old Leah decided she didn't want to be perfect anymore.

While Leah's parents fight to save their daughter from destroying her brilliant future, Leah's younger sister, Justine, must cope with the damage her out-of-control sibling leaves in her wake.

Will this family survive? What happens when love just isn't enough?

My Thoughts: Will and Zoe have the "perfect" suburbia life from the outside, yet if you were to look on the inside it's falling apart. Zoe is a life coach, and a counselor, yet she can't handle her own life at home. Will has his own business and is gone all the time, leaving Zoe to handle the girls on her own. Leah is the star soccer player on her high school soccer team and things are going great until she meets Todd. She believes she has fallen in love. She's late getting home one night, she tries sneaking in, her dad catches her and all hell breaks loose. Will sees Todd and he just decides he doesn't like him. With Will's declaration that Leah is not to see Todd, Leah digs in her heels and decides to show him that she will do what she wants. She continues to see Todd, she is drinking and doing drugs, she gets kicked off the soccer team at school. When her father clamps down even harder, because the soccer is more about him then it is what Leah wants Leah runs. Leah's little sister Justine is left in the wake that Leah left. It is like she's forgotten. As a mother of daughters I can say that telling a daughter she can't see someone is the biggest mistake you can ever make! That makes him more attractive! Several times while reading this book I wanted to smack Wil and Zoe! They were so caught up in doing the "right" thing that they totally missed parenting Leah and Justine. While Todd was not the right boyfriend for Leah it would've gone a long way to try and get to know him, and spending time with Justine one on one would've made her feel not so alone!
Terri Giuliano Long has written a book that will captivate you from page one and keep you reading until the last page! Move over Jodi Picoult!

4 comments:

Terri Giuliano Long said...

Thank you so very much, Andi! I'm touched and honored by your thoughtful review! You capture my intent and the messages I hoped to get across beautifully. Knowing that you connected means the world to me!

Andi said...

Terri you are welcome! Several times while reading I wanted to smack Wil and Zoe to wake them up! Being the mother of three girls I know that the worst mistake you can make is to tell them "NO" when it comes to someone they want to date. Also, it was Wil's dream not Leah's about soccer, and I've seen that over and over and over again! It makes me sick! You did a beautiful job!

Terri Giuliano Long said...

You're so sweet, Andi! Thank you so very much for your kind words, your insight, and your support!! We have four daughters (grown now) and I absolutely agree with you!! I often felt the same way about Zoe and Will. :)

I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas and a joyful holiday season!

Andi said...

Thank you Terri! May you and your family have a wonderful Christmas season as well! I look forward to reading your future books! :)

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