WINNER OF 2020’s “BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD” BY INDIES TODAY, A FINALIST IN THE 15th ANNUAL NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE AWARDS & RECIPIENT OF AN INDIE B.R.A.G. MEDALLION“One Hit Away is a gripping, startling account into addiction, compassion and ultimate salvation. It is powerful because of its honesty. Raw without being sensationalistic, this harrowing account of Jordan’s journey provides … journey provides insight and compassion into the struggle of addiction. It is an important, engrossing book that is hard to put down.”
ANNIE GRACE, AUTHOR THIS NAKED MIND: CONTROL ALCOHOL, FIND FREEDOM, DISCOVER HAPPINESS & CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
At the age of 24, Jordan Barnes woke up next to a lifeless body, rifled through his dead friend’s pockets for any remaining heroin and went right back to using.
Strung out and homeless during the supposed best years of his life, there was no clear way out of the Opioid Crisis ravaging the streets of Portland, Oregon. But though Jordan had long accepted his fate, his parents still held out hope, and would do everything in their power to get him the help he so desperately needed.
After a harrowing journey that proves the life of an addict will always get worse, never better, Jordan found himself at the gates of Sand Island, Hawaii’s most notorious two-year inpatient treatment facility. He soon discovers that though his heart was in the right place, the hardest battle of his life was yet to come.
One Hit Away is his arduous and unlikely true story of recovery, rehabilitation and redemption.
“One Hit Away takes you on a journey you won’t forget. An honest expression of such a common and hardcore reality is so necessary. This memoir is a work of art, truth and healing on a level many of us have yet to encounter.”
KAYLEON DORTCH-ELLIOTT, AUTHOR ONE DAY AT A TIME: REMAINING IN STEP
“Raw, brutal and jaw dropping. Jordan Barnes exposes his readers to the depths of hell that is heroin addiction. His transparency brings a level of understanding and empathy to anyone who has ever been touched by addiction.”
KYLIE LEBLANC, ADDICTS RIPPLE
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Indies Today
“Having suffered through too many of Portland’s sunrises in recent years, the art on the horizon has either lost its beauty or I’m too jaded to see in color anymore.” This is just one beautiful example of the eloquent and evocative prose that graces the pages of One Hit Away: A Memoir of Recovery. Jordan Barnes begins this dramatic memoir at a devastatingly low point in his life; he wakes up to discover that his companion has not survived the night. With a difficult decision to make, Jordan makes one of a series of destructive decisions that fuels his relentless heroin addiction. His story proves to be an anguished journey through the helplessness and hopelessness of addiction to a distant, almost unimaginable place where he finally finds a measure of peace. Hard-hitting and honest, Jordan Barnes gives readers a graphic glimpse into the belly of the beast. Eye-opening in the most heartrending way, Jordan is the consummate storyteller, taking readers through his thought-processes, his daily physical and emotional struggles, impossible choices, and the unexpected complexities unique to a life of addiction. The descriptions are richly vivid and incredibly poignant. Even just the simple act of an embrace from his concerned parents made me feel so much! One Hit Away: A Memoir of Recovery is a brilliant example of powerful literature that will take willing readers on a walk in a different pair of shoes. If you have a loved one wrestling with addiction, have a lingering addiction yourself, or if you simply want to become a more empathetic and enlightened human, please read this gripping true story by Jordan P. Barnes. This is a difficult yet redeeming story that will stay with you, one you’ll be talking about for years to come.
more
One of my all time favorite memoirs is Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis. But of course, that book has been written and discussed many times before because not only is Anthony a recovering addict, he’s….Anthony Kiedis.
One Hit Away by Jordan P Barnes is similar to Scar Tissue as it deals with a man struggling with addiction, except this is just a man. A man who sleeps on the streets of Portland. A man who struggled with addiction for most of his life. A man who entered into the dark world of heroin in college. A man who had a family and community praying for his recovery the entire time.
Jordan was 24 years old when he woke up next to the dead body of his drug friend Simon. Despite his own hesitation, he found himself rifling through his friends pockets for any remaining drugs. Jordan write this book with an open heart and no filter. He is honest about his inner turmoil during this period of his life – knowing that he couldn’t do this forever and knowing that there had to be a way out. The entire time Jordan was struggling, his family was looking for him, praying for him, hoping they could find him. A series of chance encounters leads to seeing his parents at a jailhouse and then later, knowing that help was just a phone call home.
The story follows Jordan through recovery at Sand Island, an inpatient treatment center in Hawaii. Yes, yes, it’s Hawaii, but this wasn’t about laying on a beach and getting a tan. Jordan discussed the pain and struggle of recovery and work that is involved. There is no sugar coating. It’s work and it’s hard.
I felt for Jordan the entire time I was reading. It pained me to see him struggle, I felt the cold ground that he slept on, I felt his heart break when he saw his parents. I cheered him on with each success.
I received a copy of this book from Jordan himself, but that in no way influenced my review. Jordan is a talented writer and I hope that his story reaches everyone. Addiction touches everyone in some way, and this is one man’s story of hope.
Thank you Jordan for writing this powerful book.
Enthralling, on my second reading,
I was lucky to receive an ARC and thoroughly enjoyed the true to life story of the authors ups and downs. Very inspirational and an absolutely amazing read. Jordan has a way with words that keeps you encased in the story, and wanting to read more.