Review: Bitter End

Bitter End by Jennifer Brown

Summary: When Alex falls for the charming new boy at school, Cole, a handsome, funny, sports star who adores her, she can’t believe she’s finally found her soul mate-someone who truly understands her and loves her for who she really is.

At first, Alex is blissfully happy. Sure, Cole seems a little jealous of her relationship with her best friends, Zack and Bethany, but what guy would want his girlfriend spending all of her time with another boy? But as the months pass, Alex can no longer ignore Cole’s small put-downs, pinches, or increasingly violent threats. As Alex struggles to come to terms with the sweet boyfriend she fell in love with and the boyfriend whose “love” she no longer recognizes, she is forced to choose – between her “true love” and herself.

My Thoughts: This is a very tough one for me to write about. It is a difficult subject, but handled very well. One thing I love about it is that it’s a first-person narrative from the view of the abused. I’m not sure I’ve read such a subject in such a way before. It’s frustrating and compelling and saddening.

Poor Alex is emotionally starving. Ever since her mother’s death, she’s felt basically abandoned and unloved by her family – especially her father. With all of the background, it’s clear to see how vulnerable she is. When Cole romances her, he’s very romantic, and seems to really understand her in a way no one else does – not even her best friends, Bethany and Zack. And, yeah, it’s normal for those experiencing new love to want to spend time with their significant other, rather than their “old” friends. But, when he starts pushing her away from her friends, it’s clear he’s isolating her. That’s one thing an abuser almost always does.

Early in their relationship, he does some things that might be construed as mean, but it also could just be him teasing her. It’s not until he gets overly jealous and possessive, followed by his true mean streak beginning to show, that we see that he’s nothing but trouble.

The whole time I’m reading their relationship, I’m apprehensive. Waiting for the abuse to start. Almost holding my breath. With the synopsis of the book, you know it’s coming. It’s just waiting for it to start that is kinda hard. The scenes aren’t fun to read, but the anticipation is almost worse.

One thing I like about the book is it really shows her side of things in a very sympathetic way. While occasionally my thoughts were, “Get away from him, stupid girl! Don’t let him do that!” I often stopped those thoughts before they really got going because of her way of talking about it. She explains how she feels and why she feels the way she does. Why she sticks with him and doesn’t get out of the relationship. And, there’s an understanding. By the time she’s fully aware of how bad the relationship is, she feels trapped. (I can only imagine how much worse it is when children are involved!) She feels alienated from her best friends, her family isn’t there for her, and she feels like Cole is the only one who gets her. Plus, when she does consider speaking up and getting help, she’s unwilling because she doesn’t want people looking down on her. She doesn’t want to be seen as one of those girls. She doesn’t want to be a poster child for domestic violence. (How many people go through such feelings? There’s shame involved, even though it’s not the abused’s fault.)

One thing I did wonder – and do about this subject in general – was whether Cole knew what he was doing before the abuse started. Is it one of those things where he just acts like an ass (pardon the word) without really knowing why, then sometime snaps and hits her? Or does he consciously decide to separate her from her friends, make her just his, and make it so she feels trapped? (I’m having a hard time verbalizing my thoughts here, but I hope I am making some sense.) Basically, does he even know what he’s doing BEFORE it becomes the hideously abusive situation it becomes?

Why not five stars? Well, it’s quite predictable. I think, though, that’s largely because of my age, my education, my life experiences, and my literary experiences. I think a teenager might not see things coming the way I did. (I knew WHO would be her “savior.” I recognized his isolating tactics, the slow descent from a wonderful relationship into an all-out abusive one. And more.)

This book has given me a new empathy for those in such a situation. Instead of judging and thinking about how I’d never allow myself to be treated that way, I’ll try to be more compassionate. This book has opened my eyes to the inner struggles that those in a situation where there’s domestic violence just might be facing.

My Rating: 4 stars

Source: Received through Around The World Tours for review.

Read It: Get your own copy HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

Challenges: Counts for the 100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge.

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FTC Disclosure: All items reviewed were either obtained by me for my own enjoyment or sent (from the author, publisher, publicist, via tour sites, etc.) in exchange for an honest review. I receive no monetary compensation for my posts. All opinions expressed are my own.

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