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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Severance is the first book I have read by N. N. Britt, but I will definitely be reading more. This book covers so many topics and feelings, angst, love, laughter, grief, sadness, fighting back, growing up. Alana, aka cupcake queen aka church girl, is a freshman in college and has been raised by religious, conservative and overprotective parents. She goes to a concert with her friend Jess and meets members of an up and coming rock band. She and Dakota the lead singer of this band are attracted to each other at first look. A few months into the relationship, she is at a venue watching Dakota and the band, when a gunman shoots down 24 people, one of the casualties is Dakota. Mikah who is Dakota’s older brother, and is suffering from his own grief, makes sure Alana knows about the funeral. Mikah is the only person that Alana feels comfortable reaching out to when she can’t sleep, and they forget somewhat of a friendship. The story is written in before the shooting and after. You learn so much about all of the characters by doing it this way. I’m not sure if this is a love triangle, since one of them is dead, but it is about Alana, Dakota and Mikah. Mikah’s life and how he always felt like he was second best was heartbreaking to me. I loved the ending and how Mikah and Alana were both there for the other one at very pivotal times. I was enamored of the characters from start to finish, and this book will be staying with me for a while, and then I will read it again. You really need to pick it up and check it out.
Alana and Mikah are dealing with grief when they connect. I liked this story. It made me feel grief, hope, pain and love. Really good book.
Timely, emotional and bittersweet.
An interesting take on the second chance at love storyline. This story is the understatement of “emotional”. Different than the normal story of loss and love found, you won’t regret reading this but have your tissues handy.
I have to say my emotions were all over the place with this one. This author has incredible talent of making you feel the pain, the excitement and ugly cry like it’s on one’s business. She’s a very new author to me but I can already tell she will have great things to come!
Each character gutted me throughout this book. The pain you could feel, the torment they were going through in the silence of their own heads. I don’t know if I can talk about each character because honestly this book is so much more than each character, it’s them as a whole. The struggles of PTSD, the struggles of being a survivor, the why this would happen, how to deal with your anger…. I may not know exactly how they feel but I felt every moment, every second of scared-anxiety riddled pain crawling up their arms. Most of the world has seen this type of utter horrific tragedy happen in their town but it seems like everyone focuses on the gunman instead of the survivors or even the victims; with this book I felt each aspect (except what the gunman thought) of what went on that night and then afterwards.
I know my rating is a 4 and it’s too low for me but I got quite upset with these characters. Not for the pain but for the stupidity of them at times. I get the feeling alone part but at times the desperation showed and made me want to slap someone. I have no issues with the storyline or the fact of who loves who but with the characters. Vulnerability is something that is seen throughout this book but I couldn’t help but to be pissed off at the way each came off. We all push people away during horrible times but some of the things done were just mean. The chapter before the epilogue was one that will epically been imprinted in my brain forever!
This was one emotional read. The shooting and the aftermath just gutted me. My first read from this author but it won’t be my last.
3.5 Cupcake Queen Stars
Life changes in an instant. Sometimes it takes something unspeakable to change your perspective or to begin experiencing life on your own terms instead of living up to someone else’s expectations. People come and go in in our lives – sometimes for reasons we can’t explain.
Alana Novak is not someone I can completely connect with but she is a well written character. I understood her and felt terribly for what she has experienced. She’s a young woman on the verge of adulthood thrust into a terrifying, life-changing event.
Dakota and Mikah Bennett are both attractive in their own way. They both have lovable qualities and characteristics. I loved them both for different reasons and the impact they had on Alana’s life and she on their’s.
I struggled a little in the beginning. The pace of the story was a little slow and only in one voice. I know this is Alana’s story and I liked the Before and After to get a better understanding of her and the Bennett brothers but I really think it would have been an even more enjoyable read (for me at least) if I had gotten their sides too.
Severance is the first book by N.N Britt that I have read, and I absolutely loved it. A club shooting leaves 24 people dead. Unfortunately Alana’s boyfriend is one of those. Severance is her story. The author writes in a way that pulls you in and makes you feel all of the emotions that Alana is feeling The book makes you think , could i survive something like this. I absolutely recommend this book , just bring your popcorn a glass of wine and a box of Tissues.
Severence is a story of love, loss, healing and discovery all wrapped in a rockstar book. Dakota was the lead singer of an up and coming band when he was killed during a performance and Alana is his girlfriend left to figure out how to get on with her life. The book is told from in two times – past and present. Before and after Dakota’s death. While heartbreaking, the author focuses on healing, growing na moving forward. The story is beautifully written and definitely had me reaching for a tissue or two. This book is by all means not an easy read, but definitely worth the emotional toll it takes on you. The story is just so beautiful.
Such a great book absolutely loved it couldn’t put it down
Make sure you have a tissue handy. This story is emotional and intense in spots. This story takes you on heartache of loss of a loved one and the healing after. I really liked this story. It had me hooked from the first chapter. A must read.
4.5 stars
Heartbreaking and full of emotions, this book brings together two souls that are way too young for the pain, grief and all the emotions that they have to go through after the shooting and death of her boyfriend/his younger brother .
The writing was very good and it’s my first book by the author so it was a pleasant surprise as it kept me reading it in one sitting.
The characters are very well written, with flaws and reliable and the story overall is bringing more awareness for PTSD and how everyone copes with grief in their own way.
Will definitely read more by the author and recommend this book to my friends.
Get ready to the Emotional roller coaster while reading Severance.
This was my first read by N.N. Britt and I was not disappointed.
This story will take you on a journey of tragic loss, heartbreak, self-healing and love for two troubled souls.
Alana is a young college student who is dating an up and coming rock star Dakota who is killed in tragic shooting at a show, Mikah is the brother of Dakota. Together Alana and Mikah battle their demons and find strength in one another while they heal and move on in life.
The author did a remarkable job in making you feel the emotions, you could taste the angst at times.
I will definitely read more of her work.
This book will break your heart over and over again. My heart broke for Mikah and Alana, Jess and Luke and the rest of the families who lost loved ones. It was especially hard on Mikah. He didn’t have his mother’s respect or love. Dakota always came first despite the times that Mikah found it first. He lived in the shadows of his older brother his whole life. Dakota even got the girl first which broke Mikah even more. Alana came into their lives and never left. She came from a very strict, church upbringing with a over controlling dad. She has a curfew and isn’t allowed to do much. Having Jess in her life brought her Dakota and Mikah. This is when things get interesting.. Alana isn’t handling life at the moment. She’s still having nightmares and panic attacks. Jess tries to help as does her parents. Mikah has his own issues and is focused on his music. He is kinda there for Alana but he’s also fighting his feelings for her at the same time. This is his chance to break out. He misses his brother fiercely but he’s ready to move on. I’m telling you this book will pull at your heartstrings and suck you in. You won’t want to put down the kindle. You’ll need to how they will put this behind them and move on. You’ll want to see what happens between her and Mikah. She has supportive friends that stands by her side and wants her to move on with her life. They want to see her succeed in life. A part of her will always love Dakota but she needs weird in her life. These two are explosive but there’s love there. I absouletely loved this book!!
Holy wow! This is an absolutely amazing book! I loved it from the start to and didn’t want it to end! I felt so many different emotions!
Severance was an emotionally breath-taking, intense story, that will grab your attention from the first chapter and hold you captive until the very end. This was my first NN Britt novel and I was blown away, as it was absolutely amazing. I don’t have adequate word to describe how much I loved it.
This story was a complex mix of love, romance, terror, grief and anger. It a love triangle, and what a triangle, between a sheltered church girl and two brothers – one dead and one alive. The story deals with the aftermath of a mass shooting and the impact it has on the lives of the survivors. It deals with PTSD and grief and the different ways people deal with it.
This novel was told in a single POV – that of Alana but is given to us in both past and present – both before and after the incident.
The way this author was able to separate the before and after timelines will have you falling in love with all these characters and you will not be able to choose sides in this love-triangle.
The level of emotion throughout this story will touch your heart in many ways and you will feel it all. Expect to be taken on an emotional roller-coaster ride.
Severance was well-written and layered. It was heart-wrenching yet beautiful. This page-turner was a phenomenal read and I would highly recommend it to all lovers of New Adult romance.
Got me from the begining. This one is so moving. The story between them is so commanding.
This book is so heartbreaking from the very beginning. It touches in a sensitive subject that it only too real now a days. I was so emotional reading it. Their bond over it and their relationship is built over something tragic but it’s so beautiful. Well written and keeps you Engaged the whole time
Rating /5 (These are not normal stars,they are EXTRA SPARKLING SHINY STARS)
I don’t know where to begin….
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!
I was 101% sure that I would love this book, no matter what because “Rapture” By Natalia Britt was WOAH for me and I don’t expect anything less than wonder from her. The blurb of the intrud me and even if I didn’t knew what the blurb would be or what’s the book is about, I would still go for it blindly because she’s the one I could trust. She’s a phenomenal author.
Now coming to the book once again. Oh man, what a book. It has just the right amount of emotion, love and rock. When I started reading, I was glad that the Dakota is dead already on the first chapter and I don’t have to feel the pain of his death and all because I won’t know his character at the first hand but man oh man.
The writing style was awesome and it had before scenes as well as after. So I knew Dakota and I cried along whenever I knew small small details about him and how unconditional his love was.
The girl aka church girl aka cupcake queen aka moonchild aka Alana was a kindred soul, you would feel for her, you would feel her anguish and emotions. She was a broken but beautiful soul. Micah man was different and brooding but I liked his character the most, he was broken the max but kept it all in, I felt for him. Every character was so beautiful portrayed with everyone dealing with the grief on their own way.
I was so excited to begin this book and my excitement was intact during the whole book. I couldn’t stop reading. It gripped me to go on and on. And after it got over, I felt like wtf just happened? How could it got finished so early. It was so phenomenal. I would recommend every freaking one to read the one, you won’t ever regret. It’s super block buster.
Happy reading y’all.
At one point in the book, author NN Britt uses the description “desperately exhilarating and painfully beautiful.”
This is exactly how I would describe Severance.
I love everything about this book.
I love the grit. I love the angst. I love the raw emotion. I love the slow burn of the attraction and romance, and the devastating ache of guilt and grief. I love the creative writing and the way the story is mapped out.
I love Alana. I love Dakota. I love Mikah.
I love this book.
Severance is written as a series of flashbacks interspersed among present-day narration, with each chapter identified as either “before” or “after” the nightclub shooting.
This, in my opinion, was absolutely perfect. The alternating settings allows the reader to see first hand the impact the shooting has on everyone involved. It affects everything- personalities, relationships, lifestyles, beliefs, goals-, and the different ways the characters respond to that trauma are shockingly realistic. Alana, the main character and narrator, is gripped by fear and anxiety, struggles to let go of the past and essentially shuts herself down as a coping mechanism. Jess, her best friend, is angered and galvanized, focusing her energy toward organizing support groups and attending heated protests. Mikah, the main male character, relies on denial and avoidance while battling extreme guilt and regret. All reactions are believable responses to trauma and grief, making this novel extremely relatable.
The book’s structure also allows the reader to witness two love stories unfold, and it’s almost like you get two romance novels in one. Alana and Dakota, and Alana and Mikah. One love story is sweet, romantic, and heartwarming. The other is desperate, passionate, and raw. They are very different in design, but both are consuming and emotional. It’s fascinating to see the ways in which the two relationships unfold, and they are written in a way that leaves you enamored and wrecked. I felt so strongly for Alana, and I fell in love with Dakota and Mikah. For the entirety of the book, the characters owned me. I was hooked, and I’ll still likely be thinking about this book days later.
Easily, Severance is one of the best rock star romances I’ve ever read, and definitely my favorite of 2019. The way the author approaches the characters’ varied responses to trauma is brilliant. The way she illustrates the different ways love can manifest is equal parts heartwarming and tragic. Her main characters are hauntingly authentic, and the descriptions of PTSD and anxiety gave me chills on more than one occasion. Severance is poignant and real and beautifully crafted. It is a true testament to how a single event can cause irrevocable change, but that beauty can still form in the wake of tragedy. If you like beautiful angsty tragedies infused with love, healing, and hope, you need to read this book. It’s so good.