Welcome to Unabridged Bookshelf's stop on the How We Lived Blog Tour! Today I have a review of How We Lived, and there is a tour-wide giveaway!
About the Book
Title: How We Lived
Author: Erin Butler
Publisher: Entangled Embrace
Publisher: Entangled Embrace
Publication Date: April 28, 2014
Genres: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Nineteen-year-old Kelsey Larkin’s parents uninvited her to her brother’s funeral. She just wanted to wear jeans and a T-shirt—the clothes Kyle would’ve wanted her in—not wrap herself up in death. So she watched the funeral from afar, like an outsider. Which is just how she feels. Chase came, though, just like she knew he would. Until a few months ago, the three of them had been best friends, and then Chase made a mistake that shattered both families. But when Kelsey looks at him, she doesn’t see her brother’s killer. She sees the boy next door who’s always taken care of her. She sees home.
When Chase tells her his feelings run deeper than friendship, she can’t help but get lost in him. In Chase, she finally has the closure she’s been unable to find anywhere else. But the boy she’s falling in love with is still hiding secrets about the night Kyle died. Secrets that could destroy everything they have...again.
About the Author
Erin Butler is lucky enough to have two jobs she truly loves. As a librarian, she gets to work with books all day long, and as an author, Erin uses her active imagination to write the kinds of books she loves to read. Young Adult and New Adult books are her favorites, but she especially fangirls over a sigh-worthy romance.
She lives in Central New York with her very understanding husband, a stepson, and doggie BFF, Maxie. Preferring to spend her time indoors reading or writing, she’ll only willingly go outside for chocolate and sunshine—in that order.
My Review of How We Lived
How We Lived is a powerful, realistic tale of life changing loss and finding the way back. As someone who has experienced a loss similar to the devastating loss Kelsey faces in this book, How We Lived really hit home with me. Everyone reacts differently to the loss of Kyle, which is so true to human nature and the way everyone experiences grief and loss differently. Kelsey has been living in the shadows since her brother died, and the only one who may be able to cast the light back into her life is the one that caused her grief in the first place.
Kelsey and Chase’s story is not an easy one, not when everyone around them blames Chase for that night, that one mistake. The power behind this story is forgiveness, and choosing to move on. Trust me when I say to make sure to keep the tissues ready, because the way Erin Butler writes Kelsey’s and Chase’s journey though grief is going to make even the driest eyes tear up. Grief is dark, gritty, and can swallow a person whole, and Erin Butler portrays that and she does it with grace, beauty, and true understanding.
I have to say that How We Lived is going to stick with me for a while, and it will defiantly be something I could see myself re-reading even though I do not re-read that often. While Kyle’s death is a main plot point in the story, the beauty comes from watch how Chase and Kelsey deal with their grief and the friendship and love that starts to blossoms out of the aftermath.
How We Lived is a realistic romance that deals with some of the toughest emotions, and I think any fan of a good dramatic romance is going to love How We Lived. For anyone who has loss a sibling or close family member especially at a young age, this book is not going to be an easy read, but it is completely worth giving it a chance.
**Unabridged Bookshelf received this book, in exchange for an honest review**
