Review: Must read!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 7, 2014
To fully understand Brad Johnson, you have to read Present Perfect. He's a jerk, a player and the guy that no matter what he does, you kind of can't help but have a soft spot for the guy. In Past Imperfect, Brad is all grown up and set his sights on Mabry Darnell. What was supposed to be a hook up and nothing serious, develops in to much more than either of the two bargained for.The book is told by both pov's, which I think makes this story. Both Brad and Mabry are trying to escape the past and yet the past has a stranglehold on them that just will not let go.To Brad, Mabry is perfect. To Mabry, she is damaged beyond repair, but she Brad helps soothe her. He helps keep the demons at bay. For Brad, Mabry is the one to help him atone for all his past mistakes. He cares for her and dare I ay it, he loves her. He isn't the same jerk he was in high school. Oh, the cockiness is still there, but it has matured in to a confidence that would make a nun blush.When their past collides with their future, it brings up secrets that neither ever wanted revealed. It sets Mabry in to a tailspin that she isn't sure she can recover from and brings face to face with the person he used to be, and pushe him in to the person he has become.This story is much darker than Present Perfect. It deals with subject matter that is all too real for many people. Mental Illness. It's such a taboo subject and it needs not to be. Depression, self harm, bi polar, it's nothing to be afraid of. It's a subject that needs to be brought in to the light, these people need to know that they are not alone. And we need to be more aware of their plight.See, the catalyst for Brad's sudden change was a drastic event. It was an event that made him wake up and say, "I NEED to be a better person" While he certainly wasn't at fault for what happened, the story paints a heartbreaking picture of all sides and it proves to me that people can change.There will be tears in this book, lots of them. Mabry's struggle will rip your heart right out of your chest. Even Brad's revelations will bring a tear to your eye and make you want to slap him and hug him at the same time.If you take anything away from this story, I hope that you become aware of the people in your life. Be aware of their struggles, take no one for granted, check in with them and let them know you love them. Sometimes you have to read between the lines, not everyone's pain is clearly written across their forehead. And if they do break, be there to help them pick up the pieces, be there to let them cry, let them vent, and let them talk. Just be aware.*As a mother of a daughter with mental illness, this story really hit the nail on the head of the struggles those suffering from the disease face. Sometimes those that are suffering the greatest can hide it the best. We had a good outcome, with some major struggles along the way, much like Mabry, which is why she is cemented in my heart. Beautiful story, about a very ugly illness.