Bitter End

Bitter End
Author:Jennifer Brown
pages:356
publication date: May 10 2011





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.




Review:
Bitter End is a truly remarkable story that was so emotional and raw. Abusive relationships happen all the time and I’m glad that some authors incorporate that to the YA genre.

Bitter End starts off with Alex and her two best friends, Zack and Beth. All three of them has been inseparable ever since they could remember, Ever since Alex’s mom died Alex has wanted to go to Colorado, ever since then her best friends and her have been planning the trip, every week they would come together, hang out, and talk about the trip.

Then she meets a new boy at school. Cole is everything and more, he’s cute, athletic, and sweet. Alex falls for him instantly, after a little bit Cole asks her out on a date and she has the best time of her life. After that the warning signs start coming.

Cole doesn’t like Zack or Beth, he becomes jealous and doesn’t like when Alex hangs out with them, he becomes possessive, of course at the beginning of the relationship everything is fine and she’s completely in love with him, a couple of months after he starts hurting her here and there. Soon there is physical damage to her body and she has to hide it from her friends and family.

I read a couple of books about abusive relationships and I noticed that all the abuser’s father usually abuses them. The apple never falls far from the tree. And while Alex finds more and more about Cole’s family she starts seeing the reason he acts the way he is.

I’m so glad that Alex finally told someone about Cole. I hate reading a book where the girl just stands there and gets hurt over and over again but keeps it all to herself. I realize that telling someone could danger them even more but it never hurts to tell someone.

Jennifer did an amazing job creating a story that can help multiple teens out there. She showed us how a relationship can get dangerous quick, Alex just wanted attention from someone, her mom is dead and her dad acts like an emotionless zombie.

I loved Zack’s character, he was fun, witty, crazy and totally dedicated to his two best friends. I really loved his humor in the story, although it made me mad when Alex pushed her friends away, they have been nothing but there for her.

Bitter End shows how bad abusive relationships and shows the warning signs to an abusive relationship, It’s a nice wakeup call to all teens and adults. This topic happens all over, even if you don’t notice it!

5/5 stars