An emotional, angsty, suspenseful, second chance romance from the USA Today bestselling author of Inseparable and When Forever Changes.Let him who is without sin cast the first stone… I’m the second-most hated person in Amber Springs.First place honors go to my twin, Ethan; however, hate isn’t a strong enough word to convey how people feel about him. Not that I blame anyone—some days, I hate him … convey how people feel about him.
Not that I blame anyone—some days, I hate him too. Mostly, I’m just lost and afraid, drowning in a sea of betrayal and guilt, wondering how this happened right under my nose.
There’s no choice but to leave. To move clear across the country in a last-ditch attempt to start over.
Transferring to a new school midway through senior year is hellish for most people. For me, it’s a welcome relief—until someone discovers our secret and now everyone knows.
The pointing, whispering, and scathing looks follow me around again, and I’m back to square one. Except, this time, I’m not alone.
Axel, Skeet, and Heath took me under their wing from the minute I arrived here. I’ve no idea why three of the hottest guys in town took any interest in me or why they continue to have my back, but I’m so grateful to have them in my corner.
Because, right now, they’re the only reason I’m not following my brother into an early grave.
This is an upper YA/NA STANDALONE #whychoose contemporary romance. Due to sensitive content and possible triggers, this book is recommended to readers aged eighteen and older. Please refer to the note at the start of the book. This is a full length novel.more
I don’t feel like I can properly express how much this book touched me. The story will rip your heart out and put it back together piece by piece similar to Blaire’s life. Her twin brother Ethan is everything to her. When he decides to do something tragic and unthinkable her and her families life will be changed forever. They move to a new town to start over but there is a lot of healing that needs to be done. Axel, Skeet and Heath become more to her than she can imagine. They are there in her corner when she is alone. This is a really good story. I couldn’t put it down. I was completely enthralled.
This was an emotional read and is a reverse harem story.
Huge huge fan of Siobhan Davis books. She’s never disappointed me with any of her books, In fact she continues to impress me with the depth and detail she provides. I cried and cried some more within this book. There are some triggers in this book which the author has advised. Not recommended for under 18yrs, mature readers only. It is written beautifully and you really feel the struggle Blaire goes through. I’m so glad she has the 3 guys to get her through her struggles. And help her heal from all the horror she has suffered. A read you won’t be disappointed in.
Blaire and her family have suffered a traumatic loss and they are all trying to deal with the emotions that it has left in its wake. The memories in their hometown were impossible to overcome so they have relocated to Maryland for a fresh start.
When Blaire starts her senior year of high school, she is having trouble making friends but meeting Axel, Heath and Skeet, who are best friends, became her salvation. They are all very different as Heath is the star football player, Skeet is suave and sophisticated while Axel is the protector. They all help her adjust to life in her new school and deal with her difficult home life as well.
This story takes us through the trials and tribulations of high school into adulthood where they have a different set of challenges they must face. This is an emotionally heartbreaking story full of drama about healing and new beginnings. Although this is a reverse harem story it is not about the physical it is about true love and romance that will stay with you long after the last page.
The only words running through my mind after I finished this novel at 2AM:
Holy shit. Holy shit. HOLY SHIT.
I seriously value my sleep. In fact, the last time I stayed up this late to finish a book was when I binged The Kennedy Boys (coincidence?! I think not).
Siobhan Davis has such a gift of reaching in, grabbing you by the aorta, and making you feel all the feelings. In Surviving Amber Springs, we meet our Heroine Blaire. She has a major secret and I couldn’t wait to figure it out. I kept thinking I knew what happened and then my sweet Siobhan would throw me a twist.
She switches schools in her senior year of high school, where she meets our three Heroes: Skeet, Alec, and Heath. These boys (soon to be men) are best friends, and while they didn’t totally set out to be part of a polyamorous relationship, they aren’t opposed to it. The first part of the book focuses on Blaire and the beginnings of their relationship. While the romance is a very big part of this story, it honestly felt like Blaire’s personal journey was the star.
And that’s where part two comes in. We get to see both Blaire and her men grow into mature and caring human beings. No details here, since I think you need to go into this read blind to get the best experience.
Overall I would say Surviving Amber Springs is an intense rollercoaster read full of emotions. Siobhan Davis has earned herself a spot on my list of “automatic buy.” Honestly I already want to reread it; it was really that fantastic.
If you read only one book this year, let it be Surviving Amber Springs by Siobhan Davis. Meet Blaire Adams, a girl who’s through hell. I’d like to say through hell and back, but she isn’t back, she’s stuck there. In a hell other people created. She’s all alone, hated by most, depressed, desperate and drowning. Till she meets the cute one, the broody sullen one and the giant ball threwer – aka Skeet, Axel and Heath.
I will not spoiler here, only so much, Surviving Amber Springs is a raw and gritty read, the story put me through a roller coaster of emotions and gave me all the feels. I was sad, angry,happy and had more than one ugly cry while reading Blaire’s story.
I read the book, cover to cover in one sitting, I couldn’t put it down. I highly, highly recommend this intense and emotional read. I wish I could give more than 5 stars.
Surviving Amber Springs is a YA/NA contemporary romance novel and deals with sensitive subjects. The story is not for the faint of heart, consider you warned.
Rating: 3.5/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: this book pulls no punches; hard-hitting, realistic situations; great character arcs, well-rounded personalities; mostly-believable (SUPER STEAMY!) romance(s); beautifully handled look into grief; complex and diverse subject matter; TRIGGER WARNING ALERT
Because thems the rules, have a few disclaimers to start with! I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. This in no way altered my read of or opinions on this title. Also, TRIGGER WARNING ALERT–if you are triggered by subjects such as bullying; suicide; attempted suicide; violence; domestic abuse; rape; self-harm; emotional/psychological abuse; depression; mental illness; etc and so on and so forth because this book basically covers it all in one fell swoop, please please please take care when picking this read up! There is quite a bit of violent darkness in these pages, Penguins–your health should always, ALWAYS, come first.
Trust me when I say this book holds NO punches. There are so many subjects handled within these pages, I’m amazed at Siobhan Davis’s ability to write about such topics with poise and sensitivity. You will be hard-pressed to find a character in this book who wasn’t touched, in some part, by one or multiple of the above topics–which mirrors real life, I suppose. I do feel as if, for one story line in this novel in particular, there wasn’t much explanation or justification. That character in question, admittedly, went through more than I could possibly imagine, but some of her decisions –even after being explained– felt a bit tacked on to propel the story forward. They didn’t seem genuine to me, and parts of her story were not adequately explained. Of course, part of this is due to the very fleeting role she played in the end. Certain details, therefore, wouldn’t be readily known to me, given my “outside looking in” point of view.
—“I used to think I was powerless. That I was weak. That I’d handed over everything to my abusers that night. But I was wrong. I alone have the power to change my life. No one else can do it for me. What happened in my past only defines me if I let it.”—
The romance(s) developed in the course of this novel were SUPER steamy and (mostly) believable, if not a little too quick to fall into place. Again, certain key elements seem to have fallen through the cracks. Sure, okay, there was chemistry between the 4 characters the relationship forms between…but there isn’t much discussion about HOW the 3 guys decide to go into polyamory together. I feel as if there may have been a whole discussion–more likely, more than just one–that took place outside of these pages PRIOR to Blaire coming onto the scene. The guys are much too laid back about sharing, in my opinion, to not have had discussions about the possibility prior. Blaire, also, seems a bit too cool and collected about the situation. So, while I could easily buy into the chemistry, I feel like certain bits of it may need more development/exploring to be FULLY believable.
While there was a fair amount more happening in this than I anticipated going in, I feel like Siobhan Davis did a beautiful job of weaving every event together seamlessly while still maintaining a sensitivity and poise that is hard to achieve. I would not recommend this title to those who are easily triggered. This was a whirlwind read from page one, and I couldn’t force myself to put it down once I started! which means I almost stayed up all night just to see what happened next. This is one reverse harem novel you won’t want to miss, Penguins (if that’s your thing, at least)! But be careful: there’s more to this than just a steamy time beneath the bed sheets.
The author has written a note to the reader that you need to pay attention to. The story is done in parts that may help you when deciding where to find a stopping point. But there are some scenes that are tough to read and get through. So if you can make it through part one then the reading will get easier.
This is tagged as an upper young adult book but a young adult read is for ages fourteen to seventeen. I would say the new adult tag is more accurate especially with some of the subject matter that is covered here. And yes, I do understand that adults also read YA but one of the subjects was even difficult for me. At times I had to put the book down and step away so that I could get the images out of my head. And if I’m not able to easily forget about the images than you know this author has created something where she has showcased her talent. She has taken on a very heart-wrenching subject matter. What impressed me was that in no way was it romanticized. She did show, however, that love could find its way through something so terrible.
Blaire Simpson has a conversation with her brother that only leaves her confused. The sadness she has only leads to questions – both for her and us. Something else this author was good at was being able to project the apprehension that Blaire felt. She then meets three young men named Skeet Taylor, Axel Thorp, and Heath Gilchrist. This is when her life changes.
Part of Blaire’s story has a ring of truth to it and that’s what grabbed my attention. The hard part was watching her try and deal with the pain. For the most part this is Blaire’s story to tell and that in and of itself must have been hard to write. The part I had trouble with was that our author puts in a twist that I found was easily accepted. Don’t get me wrong she has doubts but it just didn’t seem believable – especially when you think of her age. Something else that got me to thinking was the way Blaire and her boys seem to talk and do things that would be more college age. And she makes some very adult decisions. But then you have to remember this is a work of fiction and it’s all part of creative license – either that or I’m just not realizing how more mature high schoolers are these days.
I’m not going to lie the first part of this story broke my heart. It made it tough to read especially since we’re in the holiday season – some of it can be a real downer. If you’re someone that has been bullied, or know of someone who has, this may not be the story for you. If you’re patient, the weight of this story does get better. And who doesn’t love a happy ending.
I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
O.M.G. What a fantastically brilliant read. I just cannot believe the stories that Siobhan Davis writes. You know just how good a book is when you cannot stop thinking about it or the characters. This was definitely one of those books. Blair and three best mates. They come into her life just when she needs them. Very, Very highly recommended.
Blaire loves one person more than anyone else on earth, her other half, her twin Ethan. He’s the best man she knows until he does the unthinkable. Now she’s left alone, confused, hurting, angry, hated. Driven from their home, Blaire and her parents move across the country in search of a new start. But you can only run for so long, it’s impossible to truly escape the past. This time Blaire isn’t alone. She doesn’t have to face the judgment and condemnation on her own. Axel, Skeet, and Heath took Blaire in as one of their own from the first moment they met and they are determined to stand by her. As grateful as Blaire is to have the guys in her life, by her side, they may not be enough. This time it may just be too much.
Surviving Amber Springs is a tragic, contemporary RH. Every tragedy has multiple stories, many victims. This is a seldom explored, rarely sympathized view of one. It’s gut-wrenching, traumatic, heartbreaking. Blaire’s pain is palpable. Her loss overwhelming. Her confusion and anger understandable. The story is a compelling RH with great guys and believable relationships but it’s so much more. It’s a thought-provoking story of mistakes, misplaced judgments, second chances. There’s pain on every conceivable level. It’s a story of desperation, of giving up, of surviving.
This is not an easy story to read. It is worth the read, however. Siobhan Davis has created one of her best books yet. The subject matters in this book are ugly. It’s human nature at it’s worst and lowest. But the story is written with sensitivity and a complete lack of sensationalism. As a reader, you are immediately drawn into Blaire’s life. You will hurt, worry, get angry, cry. You will fall in love with Axel and Skeet and eventually Heath. You will root for Blaire. You will understand. You won’t agree, you won’t forgive but you will understand. At times you won’t be able to put the book down, at others you may need to put it down and walk away for a minute. In the end, you will realize that you just went through a remarkable journey with these characters. You will be able to breathe again.
Trigger warning: Gun violence, sexual violence, suicidal ideation
Sometimes the ending brings home the entire story, wrings out your heart and renews your faith in real love, no matter how unconventional!
Siobhan Davis’ latest New Adult Reverse Harem stand alone, SURVIVING AMBER SPRINGS is a whirlwind of emotional turmoil. The cause is unraveled slowly throughout and it is a gut-kicker.
The story begins in high school and being a Reverse Harem book, it may seem too much, but there is never that gushy, squishy, teen puppy pile “love” going on, although be prepared for the high school drama in spades.
That said, once again, Siobhan Davis brings it home with her unique flare and talent for creating characters that feel far too real cast in scenarios that can be heavenly or hellish. Prepare yourself for graphic scenes of humiliation, pain and torment, but remember Siobhan Davis never leaves her characters without a happy ending and best of all, love.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Siobhan Davis!