Good read but boring ( )

Moving. Powerful. Devastating. Honest. Real. ( )

“You'd Be Home Now” was one of my favorite books that I have ever read! This novel keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. Between a terrible car crash that leaves a small-town family in pieces, the hot neighbor next door, and a seventeen-year-old boy’s severe drug addiction, reading about their dramatic lives will keep you wanting more.

In this book, Emory Ward is the daughter of one of the richest families in Mill Haven. Emory’s family is different from the rest of Mill Haven. When Emory and her brother Jeffrey get into a car accident killing one of their high school peers, Candy Montclair, everything changes. Emory now has to take care of her heroin-addict brother while still trying to find her way through high school. This book might be too much if someone younger than high school is reading it. Along this journey, many people influence Emory’s choices like who she's friends with and who she can trust to talk to. As Emory goes through this struggle she finds people to help her realize what life is about. I really enjoyed reading this book because you see it through the eyes of a girl in high school struggling and that intrigues me to want to read.

I recommend this novel because it gives a good message that even though you may struggle and feel your life isn’t always in your control, you need to be your own person and persevere. I would only recommend this novel to high school students because that is the age of the characters and high schoolers would enjoy it more than anyone older or younger. Any high school student looking for an exciting and emotional book should read “You’d Be Home Now.” ( )

A story of a family coming to terms, in each their own way, with a son’s addiction, told from the POV of Emory, the younger sister dealing with her own “invisibility”, trying to be the perfect daughter to make up for the brother’s troubles, while also feeling responsible for tasking care of him. It shows the power of love and what someone will do to save the one who is drowning in their addiction. It also touched on the power of social media and how one small thing can blow up. This was a very powerful story, one that is reflective of what is happening in today’s society. The secondary characters were wonderfully written, showing how friends/teachers can a help even when others may not want their help. TW: drug abuse, sexting, trauma ( )

When I was first recommended this book, I wasn’t sure about it. I got it from my local library and on a whim started reading it. It immediately captured my attention and I was intrigued by Emory’s story. She and her brother are in a car that kills a fellow student the summer before her junior year. Her brother is sent to rehab for an addiction to heroin while she’s left picking up the pieces. Her story was one I haven’t read before but I connected with her as the story continued. It was a journey of learning to love people are they are, not what you want them to be. I couldn’t put this book down and I highly recommend it! ( )