Saving Amy by S. M. Harshell
Excerpt Follows
Amy and Jess are roommates, living in non-dorm housing while attending college somewhere in the vicinity of Pittsburgh, PA. They could have lived anywhere and other than the softball team references the girls could have been at any stage of a young life.
Brandon, Kevin and Ryan are roommates in the same college and live close to Amy and Jess.
Amy and Ryan are lifelong friends and we're given clues that they are going to reveal their love for each other by the end of the book.
And then comes CJ.
CJ becomes obsessed with Amy and quickly thinks of her as his. As someone who experienced an obsessive incident after something that was not quite a date, I can share that I felt the incident and resulting scenes were handled well. The feelings and actions of CJ are incredible, even never being privy to his point of view. But again, having experienced the madness of obsession, it is handled truthfully.
When Amy needs saving from CJ, Ryan and Brandon are there for her. Ryan also reveals his love sending Amy into a whirlwind of emotion and security.
The tension from the CJ situation had me on edge even after he was sent to jail for a number of reasons.
Jess had some personal issues that were highlighted later in the book sending her away for a bit. (see my previous comment on Harshell creating a series with the stories of the others'.) Kevin seems to be the only one of the five who had attended classes because we only see him as a tool to transfer information (via he said/she said texting) as well as to keep the exhibitionist air surrounding the characters when they get down and dirty in shared spaces.
And then a life changing event occurs for the pals. One of the characters dies in a horrific and unforeseen accident.
Those remaining go through internal struggles with their pasts and futures. They go through some together and some very alone. In every nuance of these personal moments, the one thing that remains clear is that none of these friends need to stand alone for long. And although there is little said about the resentment they must feel before coping with such heightened emotion, the alone times allows the reader to feel time alone was enough for the characters to work through their internal struggles with jealousy, disappointment, loss, anger and whatever other negativity they feel.
In every read, there is something that sticks with me. In Saving Amy, the words that stuck were, “The pain you feel today is the strength you will feel tomorrow.”
Throughout the book we experience Amy's pain from her point of view as well as those looking on to help her through the trials. In the end, I'm not sure exactly who is responsible for saving Amy. I doubt any of them could have saved her on their own. Although the epilogue gives acknowledgment to the poor bloke who was the victim of the previously mentioned horrific accident, Harshell gives us a look into all the pieces that perhaps Amy pulled from those closest in her life to save herself.
Excerpt Follows
Amy and Jess are roommates, living in non-dorm housing while attending college somewhere in the vicinity of Pittsburgh, PA. They could have lived anywhere and other than the softball team references the girls could have been at any stage of a young life.
Brandon, Kevin and Ryan are roommates in the same college and live close to Amy and Jess.
Amy and Ryan are lifelong friends and we're given clues that they are going to reveal their love for each other by the end of the book.
And then comes CJ.
CJ becomes obsessed with Amy and quickly thinks of her as his. As someone who experienced an obsessive incident after something that was not quite a date, I can share that I felt the incident and resulting scenes were handled well. The feelings and actions of CJ are incredible, even never being privy to his point of view. But again, having experienced the madness of obsession, it is handled truthfully.
When Amy needs saving from CJ, Ryan and Brandon are there for her. Ryan also reveals his love sending Amy into a whirlwind of emotion and security.
The tension from the CJ situation had me on edge even after he was sent to jail for a number of reasons.
Jess had some personal issues that were highlighted later in the book sending her away for a bit. (see my previous comment on Harshell creating a series with the stories of the others'.) Kevin seems to be the only one of the five who had attended classes because we only see him as a tool to transfer information (via he said/she said texting) as well as to keep the exhibitionist air surrounding the characters when they get down and dirty in shared spaces.
And then a life changing event occurs for the pals. One of the characters dies in a horrific and unforeseen accident.
Those remaining go through internal struggles with their pasts and futures. They go through some together and some very alone. In every nuance of these personal moments, the one thing that remains clear is that none of these friends need to stand alone for long. And although there is little said about the resentment they must feel before coping with such heightened emotion, the alone times allows the reader to feel time alone was enough for the characters to work through their internal struggles with jealousy, disappointment, loss, anger and whatever other negativity they feel.
In every read, there is something that sticks with me. In Saving Amy, the words that stuck were, “The pain you feel today is the strength you will feel tomorrow.”
Throughout the book we experience Amy's pain from her point of view as well as those looking on to help her through the trials. In the end, I'm not sure exactly who is responsible for saving Amy. I doubt any of them could have saved her on their own. Although the epilogue gives acknowledgment to the poor bloke who was the victim of the previously mentioned horrific accident, Harshell gives us a look into all the pieces that perhaps Amy pulled from those closest in her life to save herself.
Excerpt from Saving Amy by S.M. Harshell:
Walking into the dark house, I drop my keys onto the kitchen island and walk around to the fridge. After grabbing a beer, I head to my bedroom. I have had enough of this day so I am just going to call it a night. As I head down the hall, I walk past Ryan's room. Without even realizing I am doing it, I stop and look inside. I turn the light on and see his baseball trophies, his little league mitt laying on the desk, pictures of him and Amy from the summer. I walk in and sit on the corner of this bed. Putting the beer on the floor, I put my elbows on my knees and my head in my hands, and let go of the tears I've been holding in for days. I can't stop the sobs that are racking my body. I miss him so much. If he were here right now, he would be punching me in the arm and calling me either an asshole, his favorite word for me, or a pussy.
After what seems like hours and I can finally control the tears, I grab my beer and look around again. I pick up a picture of me, Kevin and Ryan at a baseball game We are all dirty from playing, but we are having the time of our lives. I sure am going to miss you, buddy. Keep an eye out for me. I sure as hell need someone watching over me. I tip my beer toward the picture and take a swig. Ugh, warm. I place the picture back on the dresser, turn off the light and close the door behind me. Then I head for my bed.
After what seems like hours and I can finally control the tears, I grab my beer and look around again. I pick up a picture of me, Kevin and Ryan at a baseball game We are all dirty from playing, but we are having the time of our lives. I sure am going to miss you, buddy. Keep an eye out for me. I sure as hell need someone watching over me. I tip my beer toward the picture and take a swig. Ugh, warm. I place the picture back on the dresser, turn off the light and close the door behind me. Then I head for my bed.