Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Book Review: Suffer Love by Ashley Herring Blake


Pages: 352
Genre: YA Realistic Fiction
Pub. Date: May 3, 2016
Publisher: HMH Books
Source: Publisher for review
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars



Goodreads says, "“Just let it go.” That’s what everyone keeps telling Hadley St. Clair after she learns that her father cheated on her mother. But Hadley doesn’t want to let it go. She wants to be angry and she wants everyone in her life—her dad most of all—to leave her alone. Sam Bennett and his family have had their share of drama too. Still reeling from a move to a new town and his parents’ recent divorce, Sam is hoping that he can coast through senior year and then move on to hassle-free, parent-free life in college. He isn’t looking for a relationship…that is, until he sees Hadley for the first time. Hadley and Sam’s connection is undeniable, but Sam has a secret that could ruin everything. Should he follow his heart or tell the truth?"




Hadley's home life has been less than ideal. Her father had an affair for a year with another woman.  Obviously this has impacted her world tremendously.  Then there's Sam who also had a rocky home life; his father moved out due to his mother's affair.  To make matters worse, Hadley's family moved to Nashville and she is starting over in a sense.  But she is also off to a tumultuous start when she makes out with a boy who has a girlfriend. Cue all the drama.  Things change when she meets Sam who seems like the perfect guy for her.  However, Sam realizes that his mother had an affair with Hadley's father.  Whoa.  Hadley isn't privy to this information, so should Sam tell her? How will this impact their relationship? Will he lose her forever? Ashley Herring Blake's debut, Suffer Love, is a emotional story about families, secrets, and a complicated love.

What I like most about Suffer Love is its complicated romance. Both Sam and Hadley are dealing with the consequences of their parents' decisions and it isn't easy.  There were many sweet moments in Suffer Love as well as moments that will tug on your heartstrings. I found it to be emotional at times as the fall-out of their parents' affair is a sticky mess.  Things are even more complex when you throw Sam's sweet sister, Olivia, into the mix. She has befriended Hadley and this obviously adds an extra difficult layer to the situation. 


My only gripe with Suffer Love was my feeling of disconnect with regards to the characters. Although I was invested in Hadley and Sam's dilemma, I never felt overly connected to either of them.


On the other hand, Blake is a debut author and Suffer Love is well written.  The story felt unique and I appreciated that aspect of the novel. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for her future work.


So, if you are looking for an emotional summertime read filled with a complex romance, check out Suffer Love.  It's a smart beach read for sure. 




4 comments:

  1. This sounds pretty good. I think that would be a very difficult situation to be in for both Hadley and Sam.

    I may have to check it out from the library this summer. Thanks for your review!

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    1. Definitely a difficult situation! I hope you get to read it this summer. Thanks for visiting, Christina!

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  2. I think my enjoyment would suffer too due to a disconnection with the characters. While I'm curious about the premise, the family dynamics sounds like it would drive me nuts. All that cheating going around can't be good for anybody. Great review, Christina!

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    1. Yeah, it was rough in that aspect, but made for an entertaining read. Thanks for visiting, Joy!

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