One girl. Two brothers.Crippled love blooming in the aftermath of the horrific event.
College freshman Alana Novak still lives at home with her controlling father. She has a baking blog and a habit of breaking curfew, especially since she met her first love, Dakota Bennett. But fate has other things in mind. And when unspeakable tragedy snuffs out Dakota’s life, Alana turns to the only person … Dakota’s life, Alana turns to the only person who shares her grief.
For years, guitarist Mikah Bennett’s existence has revolved around his band, Midnight Rust—he knows they’re about to break out. So when lead singer, Dakota, his younger half-brother, is killed, he’s shaken to his core.
Survivor’s guilt brings Mikah and Alana closer and as they spend more time together, they realize their connection runs deeper than just a trauma bond. The emotion simmering below the surface should feel wrong, but it doesn’t.
Sadly, the deck is stacked against Alana and Mikah. Can love win or are they destined to go their separate ways?
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Severance is a standalone new adult romance written in a dual timeline. This book covers a number of sensitive subjects including gun violence, depression, and PTSD. Please see reviews for guidance.
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WOW WOW what absolutely amazing read Severance was, loved this from start to finish! There were so many emotions with this read! Loved the then and now POV’s, one brother gone and the other still here! I really like getting each of Dakota’s & Mikah’s journey with Alana! This is a must read!
Holy smokes, this book was intense – and I enjoyed every moment of it. The emotions that came pouring out of the book – love, hate, loss, sadness, anger, happiness, forgiveness – were so deep that I felt like I was thrust right into the middle of them.
When I first started reading this book, I had to put it down for a few minutes because the opening chapter was so intense that it almost felt like I was living it. Mikah, Dakota, and Alana’s story is this complicated tragedy that has a happy ending, which I honestly wasn’t expecting. I loved how the storyline bounced back and forth between the before and after, giving readers a glimpse into life on both sides of such a tragic situation. It kept me engaged, kept me wanting more, until the very end.
This is such a deep and unique book, one that will keep you hooked from beginning to end.
This is one insanely intense book!! I was hooked the moment I started reading it. Shock and awe with this book. There are moments when your heart will be completely torn to shreds steamy moments to keep you going, and a HEA that will stick with you for awhile to come! This is definitely a book I will remember for sometime to come!
This was a great read but pulled at my heart a lot. Dakota and Mikah are brothers that make wonderful music together. Jess and Alana are best friends that meet the band members of Midnight Rust which Dakota and Mikah are part of and a few of their friends. Dakota and Alana have a connection that starts a great relationship, but for reasons doesn’t last. Dakota is gone and Alana and Mikah have to deal with the after math of the whole situation that ways heavy on their hearts and minds. Panic attacks and timid times are hard for both but when they have feelings for each other but also know it isn’t right since they know each other aren’t in a good place it’s hard to understand what is happening. Will fear take them away from each other or is it fate that brings them together.
After reading this author fabulous first book I was jonesing her second effort. She takes no shortcuts in her superb storytelling to rush out her books which I appreciate so much. I can say she really loves the rockstar bad boys and creates some spectacular specimens but that’s just a backdrop for the breathtakingly emotional storytelling that is sometimes uncomfortable but always beautifully written. I was so invested in these young people and the tragedy that occurs and changes them forever. The real issues of gun violence, its aftermath and the judicial system are in full force in this story as the survivors grappling with moving on. The brother left behind, the girlfriend so lost, friendships changed and worlds sifted forever. Some may see Alana as weak but unless you grew up in her situation you won’t realize how strong she is. The torture of loving both brothers is palpable and I was living her decisions right along with her. She so deserved a happy ending. I’m not going to talk about the brothers much…they both had their time and place in Alana’s life. The prologue says so much about Mykah and as his story unfolded toward the end I was a goner. I love a tortured artist. I’m wasn’t a big fan of the ‘Before’ and ‘After’ at the beginning of the story but about half way point it settled in with me. Ms. Britt has become one of my authors in a just two books. She has a marvelous talent for not only emotional, gut-wrenching storytelling and sexy romance but spectacular characters that tear at your heartstrings. I can’t wait for her next one! I voluntarily reviewed an ARC. 4.5 stars
Emotional and heartbreaking, Severance brings us the tragic story of a young woman who lost her first love too soon and how tragedy can bring two lost souls together.
I liked how the author gives us the past and the present between chapters, making it easier to understand some situations.
I loved how naive Alana was in the beginning. It was refreshing even! She’s so sheltered by her parents that once she seeks more liberty, she sees herself in situations that will make her open her eyes at all costs.
I believe Dakota was a great man. I wish we had more from him, but I saw love all over their relationship. He was sweet and kind.
Mikah, his older brother, is so broken and so lost. I loved his bad boy vibe. I didn’t like some situations and how they weren’t explained to us, that he made Alana go through. She didn’t deserve it. But I loved the way he saw Alana’s weirdness and how he loved it.
I felt that this book was mostly about Alana and I wished it was more about them together.
This book hit every emotion one could feel when dealing with a tragic and unnecessary loss of a loved one. The book is so beautifully written that you feel like you are on this heartbreaking and painful journey right along with the main character Alana and you won’t want to put it down until you finish the very last word. Have the tissues ready because you will definitely need them during this read.
Alana is in a club with her boyfriend, Dakota and his brother Mikah. A shooting occurs leaving Dakota and twenty-three other people dead. Alana and Mikah both have PTSD from it and are dealing with the loss of Dakota. My heart was breaking for all of them. The couple end up helping each other and developing feelings that they don’t know how to deal with for each other. This is about before tragedy and the aftermath. A heartbreaking beautiful story of loss, survival and moving on to a future.
I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Emotional. Raw. Powerful. This book tore me open and asked me some questions about life before letting me go. That sounds crazy, but I feel like I’ve just been on this insane journey with the way Britt so perfectly weaves her storytelling. There is the moment that everything changes, then an alternating timeline between Alana’s existence after and her before that builds up to the big moment. I’m not usually a fan of this kind of story Arc tactic, but because each segment lets us see into how Mikah fits into the picture: it works. I wish I knew a bit more about Alana in the beginning, like how old she was or what she looked like- maybe I missed it but I found myself asking through the entire book how old she was because her drama tendencies had me grinding my teeth. Yes, I wanted a POV from Mikah, until everything comes out and I wasn’t expecting what he shared, so I actually liked that he didn’t have one. Overall this is about loss, unexpected feelings that can lead to hope and growing up. * I do wish there was more tied up with the parents too. Oy they tested my nerves. But I loved this story. I cried and cheered at the end. Very well done
How do you move forward when your first love is cut short? How do you do it when the reason it was cut short was a horrific tragedy and entirely out of your control? Alana is a lot of things before her first love. Sheltered, curious, creative, and adventurous. One night takes all that away from her and watching her claw her way back to a new “normal” is at times gut wrenching. The journey to her healing herself leads her to the most unexpected place, Mikah. He’s everything she didn’t know she needed and their story is one that deserves to be read!
This book has my heart. It’s the type that will stay with you long after you finished with it. Alana and Mikah are absolutely fantastic. Natalia did an amazing job pulling me into Severance. Just from the beginning I was living Alana’s life. I could feel her emotions. Grief, anxiety, anger, love. I wanted to take her hand and say “Girl, you can do this! Guts over fears!”
Another time… I simply wanted to sit in silence with her…
I love stories like this. Real, painful, beautiful .
A.HUGE.BOOK.HANGOVER
P.S. Mikah is mine! Yes, that’s right. You can have Dakota but leave Mikah alone
Alana’s life is abruptly altered after the traumatic death of her boyfriend in a club shooting. She is devastated, lost and damaged from the tragedy. Mikah is also reeling with the loss of his brother( her boyfriend)
The connect over the loss but their relationship grows into so
Much more. This book makes you cry and feel. It pulls at your heart and is very well written .
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PT-BR/EN
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A narração da N.N. Britt é poderosa. Suas histórias foram feitas para serem sentidas.
Severance é escrito do ponto de vista da Alana, não do “dual pov” de sempre, muito obrigada (não que eu odeie “dual pov” – porque não odeio – eu só <3 diversidade). E isto foi feito de modo a dar uma sensação de intimidade, mas Severance também é focado no presente o que deu uma certa distância. Vocês podem discordar de mim depois de lerem, mas para mim foi mais sobre a vida da Alana depois do que qualquer outra coisa. Foi uma experiência única.
Eu queria mais Mikah, mas isto é só o meu coração romântico falando. Severance é forte e original, e eu estou curiosa para saber o que Britt trará a seguir.
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N.N. Britt’s storytelling is powerful. Her stories are made to be felt.
Severance is written from Alana’s point of view, not the usual dual pov, thank you very much (not that I hate dual pov – because I don’t – I just <3 diversity). And it was done in a way that gave a intimate feeling, but Severance was also focused on the present which gave a certain distance. You may disagree with me after reading, but to me it was more about Alana's life after than anything else. It was a unique experience.
I wanted more Mikah, but that is just my romantic heart speaking. Severance is strong and original, and I am curious to know what Britt will bring next.
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Heartbreaking
Emotional read that give you all the feels .This is a heartbreaking story where twenty four people’s lives end for no reason . Alana loses her boyfriend when he is shot down at a club playing.Dakota was the love of her live.Having nightmares and not be able to cope she reaches out to his brother Mikah.Neither one is coping well with it and then to further confuse the two they begin to develop feelings for each other.