Blake (Suffer Love) skillfully assembles a complex story about the wonders of first love while exploring challenges all teenagers face, such as growing up and gaining independence... a story written with realism and sensitivity. -Publishers Weekly This organic, moving romance juxtaposed with a messy, complex mother-daughter relationship is passionately told, with glimpses of optimism appearing through Grace's unshakeable bonds of loyalty. Blake clearly illustrates the impact of adult decisions that disregard the lives of teens, guaranteeing an emotional and relevant read. - Booklist Despite the heavy topics addressed, the story never feels hopeless or depressing, as the author writes with nuance and care about her cast of admirably strong, loyal, and resilient teens who face head on the challenges life throws at them. -Kirkus A solid romance within a moving portrait of a dysfunctional mother/daughter relationship. Recommended for YA contemporary fiction collections. -School Library Journal This is a gorgeous and moving novel of love, connection, romance, mother-daughter relationships, and the way pain inextricably links them all. -Dahlia Adler, BN Teens A beautiful book about two girls trying to hold on: to themselves, to each other and to the pieces of their shattered lives. Heartbreaking, hopeful and honest. Blake has written one of most wrenching portrayals of a messy, complicated mother/daughter bond I've seen in Young Adult fiction. Bravo! -Tess Sharpe, author of Far From You A beautiful story about love's paradoxical ability to be the most difficult yet most effortless thing in the world. Ashley Herring Blake breaks your heart for these girls and then stitches it back together with starlit magic. -Dahlia Adler, author of Under the Lights and Just Visiting Praise for Suffer Love: Sam and Hadley's palpable and steamy romance had my heart racing. This heartfelt, realistic story kept me up reading all night long. I loved this book. -Miranda Kenneally, bestselling author of Catching Jordan Shakespeare references, betrayal, and a teacup piglet: what more could you want in a modern love story? -Courtney C. Stevens, author of Faking Normal and The Lies About Truth An emotionally vivid, fearlessly honest portrait of two very human families, with a love story that will make you ache. Utterly beautiful. -Becky Albertalli, author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda [Blake] writes a believable, emotionally satisfying romance that relies on realistic characterizations rather than supermodel good looks, fashion, and standard plot devices. It's a refreshing change from the far more common standard romances that so often become formulaic, and the well-integrated literary references are a bonus. A smart, satisfying romance. -Kirkus Debut author Blake puts the teens in a near-impossible situation, adeptly showing how Sam and Hadley can be more adult in handling the complications of romance than all four of their parents . . . Readers will be left thinking about the ways love can both hurt and heal. -Publishers Weekly A strong choice for YA collections, especially where romance is popular. -School Library Journal Sam and Had -
