Holding On and Letting Go Tour: Review + Giveaway

Holding On and Letting Go by Lucy A Kelly

Is there a way to describe the ties that bind us together? What

happens when one of those ties is unexpectedly severed? Caneverything else remain the same? Will the other ties hold strong?

Two years after her little brother's death, sixteen year old Emerson Caulfield returns to a home that she spent the last two years missing. In theory, everything should be the same. Her best friend, Matt,still lives next door. Her house is in the exact same condition asthey left it. The scenery and hallways haven't changed, yet forEmerson, everything is completely different. The place may be the same, but Emerson is most certainly not.

 She returns home hurt,angry, and miles away from the girl she once was.The 60,000 word novel alternates between the perspectives of Emerson,who is struggling to keep breathing on a daily basis, and Matt, whowants to have his old best friend back so badly that he is willing to overlook the fact that she has completely changed.

 Though their friendship and relationship is a major part of the story, it takes backseat to the unique bonds between siblings, what happens when your worst enemy is in fact yourself, and the hardships that come with growing up and changing.

 I am so glad I got the chance to read Holding On and Letting Go. I would recommend this to fans of short and sweet contemporary novels. The title fits the book perfectly, so fans of the title should check this out too!

This was very heartfelt and I found myself either smiling or close to tears at some points. There are so many issues going on that had my heart breaking for the characters. Emerson is feeling a lot of guilt and Matt has a sister who refuses to eat and he is trying to grasp what happened to Emerson after her brother died. Plus, there are parent problems with Emerson. They are not there for her, and just don't understand her. They are rarely brought up but when they are they create a whole new plot to the story.

I felt close to all the characters. The author creates them on such a level that I felt connected, even though I related to none of them. This was pretty cool. The chapters were kind of short, which I thought added to the books charm. This, to me, also made the book more addicting. Just one more chapter... I can finish it quick....

 I especially loved the alternating points of view. I must admit in the beginning I wasn't fond of Matt. He was in his own little world most of the time, and definitely has his faults although I am pretty sure this is how the author meant for him to be portrayed. He doesn't quite understand Emerson. As I delved into the book I began to be fond of Matt's realistic traits and admire the author for creating his character.

 Emerson is also a character I could barely grasp, but I loved her narrations. She seems so real and broken, although we get to see her heal. The points of view got the story across so much better than it would have if there had been only one narrator.

Overall, Holding On and Letting Go is a fast read that toys with your emotion in a good way. Plus, the last couple chapters are amazingly sad and hopeful at the same time.

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