Review: 10 stars all the way ... This book will TWIST your emotions. <3
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 24, 2013
Written by: Nichole Greenereviewed by: Amanda PeakeTwisted TrailerI'm sitting here looking at this blank space wondering how to put into words the emotions I have about this book. This is a story to remind us abuse doesn't just come from parents, family, or a significant other. It can come from the people we trust and value the most.Natalie (Nat)- starts her story off mad at her best friend. She quickly jumps into a story that spans years. She's merely ten when she meets her best friend. Things start changing slowly and then more rapidly as age does. Natalie is smart, beautiful, sweet, caring, scared, loyal to a fault, blind and shy. She only sees the best in her best friend. As the story goes on it becomes increasingly more apparent that this friendship is anything but healthy. Natalie's parents are caring and kind. They just don't see the truth of this relationship. Nat learns that boys aren't to be trusted, The only friend she really has is Mel, and that she is ugly. She learns these at the hand of her best friend.Mel- she meets Nat in middle school and becomes very interested in what interest Nat. She finds ways to cut her best friend down at every turn joking that she is a slut, fat, stupid and even pointless. Mel to her credit doesn't have the best life either. She has parents that are more interested in themselves and their desires than her or her brother. Mel fast learns the ways out of the world by using drugs, drinking, and partying. She isn't afraid to push her agenda on to Natalie. Or her body onto Nat's boyfriends. She always has a way to convince her best friend that she wasn't in the wrong.Ashley (Ash)- She's a year older than Mel and Nat. She meets Mel after she moves in across the street. She's a convince friend rather than a true one. Her motives are boys, beer and fun. Ashley fully sees what Mel is doing to Nat and tries to speak up. Not that it does much good.There are a lot of boys in this book and most of them are just helpless to do anything about what they see Natalie dealing with. The ones that do speak up she shuts down not quite believing that her best friend is anything like she is being told.There are two Champion type guys at the end of the book and one who has been there all along and Natalie failed to appreciate.I know Nichole wrote this to be an NA book due to the content. However I would encourage this book for anyone to give or share if they are noticing someone going through a controlling friendship. They may not listen to your words but, they might read a book.This book is wonderful and will be getting a 10 star rating.