Goodreads
Fame, fortune and a future paved with rock 'n roll gold - Blaise Nolan has it all. With his brooding good looks, haunting voice and troubled lyrics of a soul gone lost, it's no wonder his band Finding Nolan has been climbing the music charts with back to back hits. Only Blaise didn't wind up brooding, haunted and lost by accident... Avalon Jennison has been the girl next door since she was five. The best friend since she was eight. The band manager since she was sixteen, and the keeper of his secrets always. Ava's been there every step of the way, helping Blaise live his dreams and keep his nightmares at bay. But the years of putting Blaise's needs above her own are about to be over. However, Blaise has one secret even Ava doesn't know..and it could be the thing that breaks her heart completely, or finally puts it back together. **CONTENT WARNING ~ ADULT LANGUAGE**
CONTENT WARNING: This book contains themes that might be difficult for some readers (drug abuse, alcoholism, codependency, mental health issues)
This quote sums up why I loved this book (because in the beginning I didn’t love it, but I will get into that in a moment!):
[pullquote width=”450″ float=”left”]It’s obvious, isn’t it? Its easier for you to love me enough to change. You’re trying to present it like its this grand noble gesture, like your love for me is so intense it gives you the strength to move mountains…and overcome addictions. Well, its bullshit, Blaise. It has nothing to do with how much you love me. Its about how much you hate yourself. [/pullquote]
This quote really sums up addiction and recovery. This was kind of the turning point in the book. Also, there is a crazy plot twist at the end that I totally did NOT see coming (it has nothing to do with addiction). By the end of the book, the characters are likable which is a tough sell considering how they started off!! This book really makes you think about addiction issues and codependency. You see addiction from multiple angles-the addict, the loved one, the family. Its all a very honest and real look into the many layers of addiction.
I almost quit this book early on.I have seen mental health issues, drug abuse, and alcoholism first hand. Ava’s behavior is that of an enabler and it really ticked me off. She lied for Blaise, cleaned up after him, and kept his life going just as he liked it because she was ‘helping him’. Their relationship is so codependent its dangerous for both of them. I was NOT rooting for them to get together because the first thing you learn in recovery is that people like this are bad for your sobriety.
[…] Lost Avalon, by KS […]