They say those who smile the brightest hide behind the darkest pasts. From USA Today Bestselling Author Shey Stahl comes a story about finding yourself through an emotionally packed coming-of-age novel of lies and betrayal. Barrette Blake has virtually no memory of the night her world changed forever. With the unwavering support of her best friend, she tries to piece together her life and her … friend, she tries to piece together her life and her foggy memories of that night. She’s focused and resilient, but on the inside, she’s losing hope she’ll ever be whole again.
Asa Lawson has it all together—on the field that is. He dominates the college football scene, but his life is messy. He’s in love with the girl who can’t love herself after everything that’s happened to her. While everything around him is spiraling out of control and threatens to come crashing down completely, the truth about the night that destroyed his childhood friend is revealed.
She’s hiding from the night she doesn’t remember.
And he’s going to show her she’s worth the risk.
She’s consumed by despair.
He won’t let her give up.
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This book was absolutely phenomenal! I could not put it down once I started it…teenage love, heartbreak, devastation, pain and LOVE. This book had all the feels and I hurt for both Barrette and Asa with what they were going through. I kind of imagined who the villain was from the beginning just because he was such a jerk.
Barrette was drugged and brutally assaulted just before both she and Asa were to go to college. While this changed them forever it also drew them closer and Asa never left her side…he was always there for her even though it wasn’t easy. It took Barrette almost 2 years to report the incident and what they had to go through to get the inadequate conviction was very trying but they stuck by each other and made it.
Shey has the ability to tell a GREAT story that contains the good, the bad and the ugly a lot of times. She makes these real life situations REAL to the readers…we feel the emotions, the sadness, happiness along with the characters. She is truly a talented writer!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, after finishing reading Saving Barrette I was left speechless and wanting more. It is a wonderful story of heartache, tragedy, love, trust, friendship and overcoming tragedy and healing. Shey has this amazing way of writing that makes you feel like the story is play out with you in it. It was just an emotional roller coaster, I cried, laughed and got angry right along with Barrette and Asa. This story is about a rape and how it effects someone long after the actual event happens and how you can overcome such a horrific event and heal. Asa and Barrett learn that these events have not broken them they make them into strong people not just as a couple but as individually. I tend to get so into a book it is hard for me to put it down and Saving Barrette was no different the night I started I was up until well after 2am saying I am going to read one more page which turned into one more chapter and so on. This is a must read.
Wow!!
This is one of those books that require a re-read at least once a year. I laughed then cried then laughed again. She’s had a unique way of making you feel like you are the character you are reading. I felt every emotion the characters went through and became invested in their happiness. I read this book in one sitting, which doesn’t happen often. I don’t know how one author continues to write such amazing stories, but I’m not going to question it. Another solid 5+ stars read for Shey Stahl!
When writing Saving Barrette, Shey does an amazing job introducing a topic that people struggle with in real life and are often too scared to talk about. She lets you in on not only how things effect the person involved but also the people who love them. With Shey’s writing, you feel you are right there experiencing those moments with the characters. This is a great read that does pull at those heart strings, so get those tissues out
This book had me crying not just what Barrette went through but also Asa. The love Asa had for Barrette took my breath away. He loved her through the good and bad times. Barrette Found the courage to get her life back even when things didn’t seem to be going her way. Shey your an amazing Author and it just blows my mind how you can come up with such amazing stories over and over again,thank you for letting me be apart of ARC group
Absolutely AMAZING!! This book evoked so many emotions in me. Reading Asa and Barrette’s story was by far one of the best stories I’ve read this year. The gift that Shey has to write in such a way that we are truly feeling what the character is feeling. For better or worse we are not just reading this story, we are feeling it and experiencing it with the characters.
The love that Asa and Barrette experience for each other, suffer for each other and ultimately triumph for each other is beyond boy meets girl and falls in love. It’s soul consuming, truly can’t live without love and Shey’s ability to tell this story with such intensity makes this a true must read.
Highly highly recommend!
Saving Barrette
Shey Stahl is courageous to have written this book. Saving Barrette is written with grace and allows people to see rape from a different perspective but more importantly the healing process. Barrette’s story is the untold side of experiencing rape and the healing process. Barrette goes through an unimaginable experience that haunts her and Asa, the boy who is her best friend, stands by her very step along the way and provides her the opportunity to heal. Their friendship is tested along with a growing love story. As a reader you fall in love with Barrette and Asa.
This amazing book is totally worth 10 stars and you will not put it down while you are reading it.
So many words…..I cant even begin to describe this book. Saving Barrette definitely pulls on the heart strings.Shey does a fantastic job at writing about a topic that is real and often people are scared to talk about even though it should not be this way. Portraying what Barrette has to go through after such a dramatic and honestly horrifying experience , Shey does such a great job. It truly did feel like you were with the characters during their rough times and had to laugh with them during the good times. This book is a definite favorite from Shey for me.
This book is so so good. I still don’t have the right words to say about how amazing this book is. Asa and Barrette’s story is one of my all time favorites! Read it. You won’t regret it.
More amazing words from Shey Stahl!
This story is raw and real, full of emotion, love and dedication. Saving Barrette is an emotional story about not just surviving but coming out the side stronger with the help of the one that loves you most. Beautifully written!
This author never disappoints! One of the best books I have read in 2019. I was glad that I waited to read this book until I knew I could read it cover to cover without interuption. I could not wait to see what happened with each new chapter. The story of Barrette and Asa was a story of hope, trust & determination as much as it was a story about love. It absolutely wrecked me at different points but had me smiling and laughing out loud at others. It was perfection.
Wowser. I need a few more stars for this story. It was so good. Incredible actually. I loved it. The storyline was emotional and could be upsetting for some people but it was written in such a good way. I found it to be well written and nothing was done in a bad way. I honestly can’t praise this story enough. Go and read you won’t be disappointed.
I adore Barrette and Asa! Saving Barrette is such a raw, emotional, real story yet at the same time it is a wonderful story about overcoming tragedies. Shey has always had the ability to write so that you feel every word you read, and somehow she outdid herself. I laughed, cried and everything in between. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book!
Asa is just a tad bit protective, “you even effing mention her name again and I will break your godda*n jaw. Ya feel me?” Sometimes a man just needs to slow his woman down, “…I sigh and pick through the last of Barrette’s Sour Patch Kids. “But I’m starving and you’ve worn me out.” It’s good to see Asa try to have some self control, “it wouldn’t be easy, and I’d probably sleep on the floor in your room every night, but I’d do it for you.” I liked this book, the first chapter was kinda rough but was needed to set the story and I loved Asa the man was big hearted
You know when you read something that your completely 100% unprepared for… you quickly realize that it’s going to be a game changer && you quite possibly won’t ever recover after you finish? Well…this is where I’m at and Saving Barrette is this book.
“I look out the window. No stars, only darkness. And though I know I can’t sleep, tonight I allow myself to dream without fear of a time when I’m no longer a shadow of my past”
This book handles the very serious subject of rape (with that subject comes some triggers for sure) BUT it’s so much more than that! …. Full of survival, friendship, an unbreakable connection, grief, taking chances & life after tragedy; Asa & Barrette’s story will get you right in all the feels as you go on this incredible journey with them. I cannot say enough how truly extraordinary Saving Barrette is; it’s definitely not a book that I’ll recover from anytime soon.
Shey again took one of the most horrifying moments for a woman and put a unique perspective on it. To do that, with a completely sweet love story, is an absolute art.
I feel like I went into this book totally unprepared for how much it was going to rock my world. Shey has always been on of my favorite authors, and this book definitely put her above all others. Ace and Barrrette went through so much and thankfully still came out on top. There are no adequate words to describe this other than everyone NEEDS to read this and fall inlove with it like I did. 5+ star read.
I just fell in love with Asa and Barrette. This book pulls on every heart string. I loved reading because you feel like you got more of their story, there was a few times I thought the book was going to end and then I kept getting more. I loved the romance in this book, it was so pure and selfless.
Hands down this is the best book Shey Stahl
has written. She sucks you in emotional physical and mentally. Be prepared to hang onto your sit cause WOW you are in for a ride!!!
Thanks again for a happily ever after
Saving Barrett is an incredible story of hope springing eternal even in the most rock bottom of life’s moments. Asa and Barrett’s story brings a realism and awareness that needs to be heard. This book moved me from beginning to end and I greatly enjoyed the bittersweet epilogue that left me with a smile.