Josephine Clark is trapped. A harrowing past haunts her every time she looks in the mirror, and she can’t escape the violence of her everyday life. More and more, her thoughts turn to Evan Salinger, the boy she knew in high school. The boy they called a mental case. A loner. A freak. The boy who seemed to know things no one could know. For a few short weeks, Jo had found perfect solace in Evan’s … Evan’s company, sneaking every night to meet him at the local pool. In the cool of the water and the warmth of Evan’s arms around her, Jo had tasted something close to happiness.
Cruel circumstances tore them apart, and four years later, the sweet memory of their time together is dissolving under the punishing reality of Jo’s life now. Evan seems like a fading dream…until he reappears at the moment she needs him most. Guided by Evan’s strange intuition, they flee her small Louisiana town, on the run from the police, and Jo begins to suspect there is something more to his sudden return than he admits.
Over twelve days across America’s heartland, deep secrets come to light, buried pasts are unearthed, and the line between dreams and reality is blurred as Evan and Jo fight to hold on to their soul-deep love, and discover that there is more than one way to save a life.
How to Save a Life is a complete second-chance STANDALONE novel with shades of the paranormal. It carries the characters from high school through to their early twenties. It is not YA; mature subject matter and sexual situations. TRIGGER WARNING: some domestic violence (on the page) and mentions of sexual abuse (off the page) For readers 18 years and up.
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I wasn’t too sure what I’d make of this book after reading the blurb, PNR not my thing but I just love this author’s words so I thought I’d take the chance… OMG! I’m so glad that I did. The PNR thing as it turned out wasn’t what I was expecting it to be.
Jo was such a resilient character, strong. She needed to be for what she endured throughout her years. Evan was full of enigma and power to be able to stand up for himself against his brothers and bullies at school, the guy was tortured for just being. These pair of misfits worked so well together. They found a conncetion, a love for each other. The writing and the story was just beautiful. I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I fell into Jo and Evans world
This author writes great 3D characters that feel realistic, their situations mirror everyday life. Combined with a progressive plot and you have yourself book that is empowering. I am in awe. I listen to this on audio too and I want to add that the narrator was top class! The range of voices, depth and emotion given tothis story was perfect. What a great choice!
Emma Scott delivers a riveting story that my friends and I simply could not put down. There is tragedy, mystery, suspense and a love story unlike any other I have ever read. This is definitely in my top 5 books of the year.
As always, Emma Scott brings us something different, painful and so beautiful. Jo and Evan are both so broken but their connection brings them peace. She is scarred and he is “different” and the ability for each to see beyond the other’s differences brings them together. The world, however, has a different plan and both will have to fight for what they want even when they are unsure what that might be.
Just because your different doesn’t make you weird or unlovable. Evan Salinger and Jo Clark haven’t had the easiest of lives growing up. They hide behind a created persona to avoid contact and attachment. But they are inexplicably drawn to one another. It’s felt immediately in the pages. A sense of belonging they have never had before. It’s heartbreaking the torment they are suffering but in each other they find strength, an undeniable connection. The build of their relationship flies across the pages smoothly yet cautiously neither sure of themselves or each other. Tragic events are inevitable but it only adds to the amazing story of love and acceptance above and beyond any doubt. Their journey has twists and turns but it’s a beautiful love story worth following.
Precognition, the ability to see things before they happen. Whether Evan wanted this gift or not,he had it. Jo wanted to not remember all the bad that had happened to her every time she looked in the mirror.
Both found each other and realized together they could over come anything. Emma wrote another book that makes you feel everything.
Emma Scott can do no wrong! Once again her words have left me a bawling mess. It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of hers and HTSAL only confirms that. Wow, what an emotional and powerful story this was. I really liked and enjoyed the paranormal aspect to the story because it made the story, its characters Jo and Evan and their connection more compelling. I’m not going to do a recap because this story is too damn extraordinary to be spoiled. It has to be enjoyed and treasured.
I’m astonished by Emma Scott’s prose and her power to evoke such strong emotions within me. I had tears in my eyes from rage and powerlessness. I sympathized with Jo and Evan. I wanted justice for them and a happy ending. This was an emotional dark story and it moved me deeply. From Jo and Evan’s abuse to their strong and all consuming connection they shared with one another. I loved both characters so much. So broken but they brought out the best from one another. Accepted each other and only saw beauty.
I had no idea how the story would end. Sometimes I have an inkling but here nothing. All was possible and I liked that. Of course I was blown away because the ending was so well thought out and constructed, that I can only bow down to Emma Scott for her brilliant mind.
I can’t rave enough about Scott’s prose. It’s poignant and insanely intoxicating. Every word of hers crawls under my skin and doesn’t let go. I’m hypnotized. Jo writes poetry and that’s exactly what Scott’s prose is.
HTSAL was truly a mesmerizing experience. Another classic from Emma Scott that must be read.
5 BadAssDirtySleepWalkerStars
This book was everything! It was like Jo and Evan against the world from the very beginning. The amount of crap these two went through was insanity, but it also made them so perfect for each other. They really needed to find each other to make their way through life. And the extent that they did this was pretty darn amazing.
From the scar, to the moving, to the rumors, Jo was so resilient. As was Evan, the torture the kids at that school put him through was enough for someone to throw themselves over a cliff. But not Evan, was determined! Between his determination and Jo’s resilience they made the perfect couple. Almost like a modern day Bonnie and Clyde, without the criminal side. The way they kept their faith in each other was mesmerizing. You couldn’t stop thinking about it and hoping for them. It was truly special.
Emma Scott has such a way with words and just writes so well. I CANNOT Wait to read more of her work <3
Incredible
As with all Emma Scott’s writing I loved this book, it was very fast paced, two damaged souls brought together accepting of each others differences, and then ripped apart by tragic events just when they had finally found their happiness.
Jo is a tortured soul, her childhood experiences have left her traumatised and lacking in self worth, she seeks control in her own ways as she bounces from town to town with her guardian.
Evan is singled out as a freak because of his abilities, which some people find difficult to understand, he is tormented by his brothers on a daily basis and distances himself from people. The paranormal element is not overwhelming, but is important to the plot of the story.
There was a lot of holding my breath along with the characters in the second half of the story as they raced across country away from horrible situations toward freedom, without knowing if they could possibly find it under the circumstances.
Heart pounding read with a happy ending
Do you know how hard it is to brush your teeth while you’re crying? It’s hard, pretty.damn.hard. I know this because I just tried to brush mine after finishing this book. This beautiful, gripping, captivating, enthralling, entrancing book. This book that has left me speechless at the moment. This book that has woven itself into my heart.
How to Save a Life is the story of Josephine (Jo) and Evan…both lost and broken by circumstances beyond their control, circumstances life has cruelly dealt them. Both just existing in their own way, the best they can, until one day the two meet and their lives are irrevocably changed.
A private communion between two lost souls. Two ghosts who thought they were too broken to be of worth to anybody, now reborn. Alive and at peace as the sun sank behind the trees, rimming them in fire.
Oh how I love these 2 lost souls, Jo and Evan. They broke my heart with their pain and put it back together with their love. Their story is as beautiful as it is heartwrenching, as special as it is painful, and I’m completely overwhelmed with how breathtaking it was. I don’t want to let them go, I didn’t want their story to end.
How to Save a Life is so inspiring, thought-provoking, and moving. It’s emotional and touching, it’s passionate and all-consuming.