Every parent’s worst nightmare… her struggle to keep, not only her son but eventually also her marriage and herself alive. On Irene’s journey through grief, denial, and anger, she discovers more about the events of that tragic day, the boy who shot her son and then took his own life, and the husband she thought she knew and could trust.
An emotional and heart-gripping story, Holding on to Hurt, is a novel about family, trust, grief, and a mother’s unconditional love.
“If you love emotional reads and if you dare to open up your heart, you’ve come to the right place.
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Wow. This is a powerfully gripping journey of a book. I knew from the dedication that this wasn’t going to be a rom com.
Why do things happen a certain way? Why do some live and some die? In the end, everyone suffers from tragedy.
This was a hard book to read, emotionally – not contextually. I’ve had too many friends go through similar things with their children and no matter what the outcome, those friends are never the same. It is not a matter of someone prayed harder or had more support. It’s not because of karma or not being a good person. Some live and some die and it’s heartbreaking.
Why did I give this book 5 stars? Because the author handled the situation with grace and little fanfare. It did not lean left or right and did not smother us in rhetoric. I could feel – like a punch in the gut – everyone’s feelings during this story. It was a quick and powerful story that I am thankful I was able to read in one sitting.
Thank goodness the next book on my TBR is a comedy.
I’m giving this story 5 stars out of 3 stars! If I read 100 books this year, Holding On To Hurt by Charlotte Roth will still measure up to be the best book I’ve read in a very long time! It touches on one of the hottest topics in the media right now, school shootings and gun control. I was not able to put this book down from beginning to end. I have been throwing this review around in my mind for days because I wanted to tell just what about this book is so amazing, without giving up spoilers, and that’s a hard feat, so I’ll tell you this — I found zero errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. The flow from beginning to end was flawless. There were no points in the book where I was lost or confused. I learned a great amount and gained a new perspective on gun control. There were several things in this book that blew my mind and made me say huh, and I absolutely recommend this story to all adults and young adults alike!!
5 Star
Holding on to Hurt : A Gripping story about a mother’s love by Charlotte Roth is an emotional and inspirational story about a family and never taking stuff for granted This is not my first Book by this author but I will say grab the tissues your going to need them I know I did. Get ready for a emotional rollercoaster ride. This story is about how life can change in a blink of an eye.One phone call can change everything you’ve ever known and you no longer can think.Irene thought just that and then the phone comes that change everything. She now finds herself fighting for her son and her marriage. Through this she learns things about what happened and about the people around her that she didn’t know.This story tug at my heart strings and couldn’t have come to me at a better time.I highly recommended this book.Read to find out how it all comes out.i can’t wait to read more from this author.
a great read about facing adversity. Irene Hurt lives the perfect life with a loving family. one day, her world is turned upside down when her son is critically injured in a school shooting and is in a coma. while her son struggles for his life, Irene struggles to keep her family together and with the idea that he may not make it. will she be able to keep everything together before its too late?
a great read. well developed plot with twists and turns that I just couldn’t put down well developed characters like Irene not giving up hope which was balanced well with Bruces more rational nature
I loved the sense of a big family with lots of different characters bonding over a difficult situation which was perfectly written. I also loved the visual detail throughout like the vivid colourful roses and flowers at the start or the church scene and candles of beauty in sad moments. the contrast between the lively home and blank hospital was beautifully done. the only minor issue I would raise is that there are some instances of repetition and slips of past tenses but this could be resolved with a reread to make it excellent. overall, a great read and I would give it four stars.
5 Stars
Holding on to Hurt by Charlotte Roth is a page turning drama. This emotional tear jerker was full of tragedy, anger, grief, hope, belief, unconditional love, determination, sacrifice, gripping details, unsettling revelations, strength, and hope. Again, Ms. Roth showcases what a versatile and talented author she is in this captivating read.
Irene Hurt gets the news that every parent dreads hearing, that her son has been injured and is in a coma. Her once perfect world is shattered in an instant and we follow as she and her husband both deal with their son’s situation quite differently. Right from the start, Irene remains hopeful- she stays be his side talking to him, telling stories, and hoping that on some level he is aware of what’s going on. But her husbands perspective isn’t so positive, and this puts a strain on their relationship.
Dealing with the shock, grief, anger and stress of the situation is further complicated with new discoveries and unsettling revelations. What ensues made for a very engrossing, heart wrenching, thought provoking and unforgettable read!
A word of warning though- have tissues on hand, you WILL need them!
Brilliant!
Thank you, Ms. Roth!
Holding on to Hurt: A gripping story of a mother’s love by Charlotte Roth
This story is so full of raw emotions. Be prepared with a box of tissue when you read this story. As I was reading this book I didn’t want to put it down but there were times when I had to in order to give my emotions a reprieve. The author did and awesome job making this book realistic, everyone deals with tragedy in their own way right or wrong. I think author portrayed the emotions of these characters so well I felt it in my heart and soul. I became completely enthralled in the different ways these characters dealt with their emotions and how they interacted with each other in this time of crisis. Although I did cry a lot while I was reading this book, there were also other emotions I experienced, laughter, anger, hope, and love. I think this is a must read story!
Holding On To Hurt: A Gripping Story About A Mother’s Love by Charlotte Roth is a highly emotional story from start to finish.
Irene has everything she could want – a loving husband, a perfect son. Her life is complete and she couldn’t wish for anymore. Until she gets the call that destroys her perfect world and leaves her gasping for air. Her son is in the hospital. Having been shot he is currently in a coma.
Irene is left trying to keep herself going while also trying to piece together what happened on that fateful night. And when things are revealed she begins to wonder if everything had been as perfect as she once thought.
This is an extremely emotional book. I found this book really struck a cord with me having just recently become a mother myself. I found it so easy to envision myself in Irene’s shoes while also hoping that it is something I never have to go through. It felt like I was experiencing all of her emotions. The writing gripped you right and pulled you in right alongside of her. I found myself reading faster and faster in an attempt to figure out what if happened. This is definitely a book worth reading.
Holding on to Hurt
By Charlotte Roth
5 stars
I often shy away from books that talk about loving and raising children due to personal problems however I have read a book by this author before and I was really struck by her beautiful writing so I thought I would give this one a try and I am so, so glad that I read it. It was such an emotional story but so beautifully written. Charlotte Roth clearly has an amazing talent for conveying exactly how her characters are feeling across to her readers; I was completely captivated by Irene’s story from beginning to end. My heart really did hurt so much for her and I was close to tears on more than one occasion. She went through so much grief and heartache but her strength was inspirational. She was definitely determined to hold on to her hope that everything would work out ok and I absolutely wanted that for her.
I think because the author chose to write from Irene’s POV I really felt like I could understand her character well and this enabled me to feel connected with her.
This is absolutely one of these stories that has you thinking about it long after you have finished. It was written incredibly well and readers should definitely one click it today!!
Holding on to Hurt by Charlotte Roth should be read by all women who may have this happen to their child. This is an emotional and inspirational read. Charlotte takes you from the moment of notice to having a child in the hospital in a coma. People say that there is not a manual for having a child. This story is not a manual, but it allows you to understand some emotions you are going through. Charlotte has done an amazing job and I do not want to go into detail but know that after you read this story you will be looking at what happens to you with any kind of relationship. You will definitely will feel a broad range of emotions with this story.
Holding on to Hurt: A gripping story about a mother’s love
By: Charlotte Roth
5 out of 5 stars
The story Holding on to Hurt: A gripping story about a mother’s love by Charlotte Roth is a book that is both emotional and inspirational. It is the story of Irene Hurt. She finds herself in a situation that is heartbreaking and one that no parent ever wants to face. Her son has been shot and is now in a coma. Told from Irene’s POV you read about memories that she has and holds on to. You also read on how she responds and copes to the current situation. The emotions and grief that she goes through had me in tears. Her belief and strength is amazing. Even when those around her begin to doubt she holds onto hope. You want her story to end a happy one. Besides Irene that are other characters that you read about. They include those at the hospital, her husband, and other family members. The interactions between them range from heartbreaking to times when arguments/disagreements break out. Tensions and emotions run high. Irene is trying to keep her son and her marriage alive. What will happen when she learns/uncovers facts that cause her to question/trust the actions taken by her husband? Will her son recover? This is a story that you don’t just read but you feel your way through. It is well-written and includes characters that you will not soon forget. It is a book that I thought about well after I had finished the last page.
Holding On To Hurt- Charlotte Roth
5-star review
Holding On To Hurt by Charlotte Roth is a must read! I am always a huge fan of this author’s work as I’ve never been disappointed. Her stories always pull me right in and hold me captive until the end. I knew from the beginning that this was going to be an emotional read, it pulled at my heartstrings as the storyline felt so real, I was so captivated that I read it in one sitting. I basically read this book with tears in my eyes from start to finish, so bring the kleenex.
I loved how well Charlotte was able to convey all of the emotions that the characters were feeling, it made it so much easier to connect with them. I also loved all of the detail, from the characters to their surroundings it was all there which made it easy to picture everything playing out in my mind. This is a book I would definitely recommend to others!
Holding on to Hurt: A gripping story about a mother’s love by Charlotte Roth is an emotional story about family and never taking anything for granted. This is not my first book by this author, it is my favorite. She pulled me in right from the first word and kept me engaged until the last word. She made me feel as if I was right there with the characters. Her characters are relatable and connectable. They took me on an emotional roller coaster ride of various emotions through the whole book. This is a story about how a person’s life can change faster then you can blink. Irene thought she had the perfect life until one phone call changed all that for her. This is where the story starts of how she fights for her son and her marriage. She goes through so many emotions and finds out more about what happened and the people around her. I enjoyed all the characters in this story. Irene, the mother in this story, is so strong and my favorite character. She goes through so much but the one thing that remained and unchanged is her unconditional love. She really does show you what it is like to go through all of the emotions including grief and trust. I highly recommend this book. Find out what one mother goes through as she feels her life is crumbling around her.
Holding on to Hurt
Charlotte Roth
5 Star Rating
I’m not sure how it happened but I made it to the halfway point of this novel before I started bawling. Of course that emotional release was the first of several. This is the second novel I’ve read written by Charlotte Roth and while both stories I’ve read are very different, the core similarity is that I’m left contemplating life and truly moved. Charlotte Roth’s writing, from what I’ve experienced, truly encompasses the meaning of support of family and the complexities of love. From the very first page Charlotte Roth had captured my heart, first with happiness of love and togetherness and as the pages turned the love became more complicated whether it be between a mother and her son, husband and wife or extended families.
As the synopsis indicates, Holding on to Hurt is about a Mother’s quest to hold on to her son through tragedy, willing him to wake from a coma after being shot, struggling to cope not only for herself but for her marriage. If you enjoy deep, heartfelt emotional reads, I would definitely recommend Holding on to Hurt.
Holding on to Hurt: A gripping story about a mother’s love
By Charlotte Roth
5 Stars
Whew!! WOW!! This is my second book by this author and although a quick read I was so wore out after reading it due to the strong emotions I felt while I read…I have cried during many books that I’ve read in my life, but there was only one other book I read years ago that touched me the way this one did. I was a snivelling mess throughout this whole story.
The storyline of which I will not get into because it needs to be gone into blind in my opinion was so strong that many many times I sat asking myself…what would I do? I even went as far as discussing this story with my husband.
I don’t know how to explain how well this book was written, every emotion she wrote I literally felt deep inside. I loved it and I hated it at the same time..So hard to explain what I mean by that. I can only imagine what this author went through while writing these words, because reading them about destroyed me.
I remember reading my first book by this author going through a lot of the What would I do moments. She has an amazing talent and I already have another of her books on my kindle and I can’t wait to dig into that as well as whatever else she comes up with. She is AWESOME!!
And the cover…..So beautiful!!
The first thing I must say about Holding On To Hurt by Charlotte Roth is that this book needs to come with a warning. A warning that states ‘Do not read this book unless you are armed with a huge wad of tissues’ Oh My God this book is a huge tearjerker. I read this whole book in one sitting. I was gripped so hard to this wonderful story that I could not put it down.
Irene Hurt has the perfect life. A husband, Bruce who adores her, a lovely teenage son Scottie and she runs a gift shop with her sister in law. Then one day her whole world comes crashing down around her. Her treasured son Scottie is involved in a shooting on his school bus. 3 kids and the driver are killed and Scottie is left in a coma fighting for his life.
This book has it all: heartache, despair, hope, and the overwhelming love that a mother has for her child. It shows us the different ways that people cope with tragic events in their life. Irene is optimistic and full of hope that Scottie will survive, She spends every moment with him holding his hand and talking to him. Whereas Bruce can’t bear to spend much time at the hospital and doesn’t interact with Scottie at all. He’s convinced that their son is gone. These different ways of coping put their marriage at risk. I have to admit that I really wanted to slap Bruce hard and give Irene the biggest hug ever. This all goes to show how well Charlotte Roth created and brought these characters to life.
I would thoroughly recommend this book to others – just make sure you have plenty of tissues as this book will rip you apart.
Holding On To Hurt written by Charlotte Roth
5 Stars
“The fear of something dreadful happening to our babies can make us seem crazy and irrational.”
This is my first read by Charlotte and my first thoughts are wow and grab tissues!!! Unfortunately this type of headline is more common in the generations moving up into high school years. As I was reading the last 5% of this story this actually occurred at a school within an hour of my home.
“There’s no “I” in hope—just love, unselfishness, and faith.”
This story makes you open your eyes to so much as you are experiencing a families pain, coping methods, survival, healing, breakdowns, devastation, struggles, fear…who they turn to and against. You walk through a nightmare along with the characters and get a small glimpse of what it would feel like if this horrid act happened to you or a loved one.
“Everybody hurts sometimes. Everybody cries. Everybody hurts sometimes. So, hold on.”
Oh my gosh, I just finished reading this book yesterday and I have to say that this book is such a great read! I really didn’t want to put it down! I cried quite a few times, not in a bad way. It is an emotional rollercoaster that you will want to read. It really hits your heart and is beautifully written.