Thrive (Addicted Series)

“But we’re in Earth-616, love. We’re going to have our happy ending. It just may take us awhile to get there.”

The story in Thrive takes off from the point where the story in Addicted for Now finished. If you followed the authors’ recommended reading order, and have already read Kiss the Sky and Hothouse Flower – the stories in Calloway sisters series, of the secondary characters from the Addicted series , then it’s safe to say this is a retelling of those stories, only from Lo and Lily’s POVs. These series are interconnected, and it’s been a unique experience reading them in the suggested order. At first I decided to classify this as ‘retelling’ of the stories, and more often than not, I find myself not to be a fan of that type of stories. However, Krista and Becca Ritchie managed to make me feel like I’m reading a completely new story, as this book focuses much more on Lo and Lily than any other characters.

The majority of things that happens in Kiss the Sky and Hothouse Flower impacted Lily and Lo directly, and until I started this book, I haven’t realized how important it was to experience the story from their perspective, and how much I’ve missed them. These two characters are deeply troubled, warring with their demons, trying to fight their addictions – for each other and themselves. They are two characters greatly misunderstood by the world, condemned by those who don’t know them, used as figures on the pillar of the shame for the public and media. It was devastating to see the feel lonely yet again. They, it seems, finally accept – and make their loved ones accept, too – that they can never be magically ‘cured’. They will always be labeled as addicts, but it’s their choice if they’d let addiction rule their lives, or fight it with love and strong desire to live the life breathing deeply. It is obvious how the authors are one hundred percent invested in these characters, how clearly they understand them, and give us a story that is heartbreaking, painful, funny and heartwarming, all at the same time.

Although the occurring events are expected, as they follow the story of the first two books in the Calloway sisters series, a spin-off, they felt refreshingly new told from Lily and Lo’s POVs. Deeply troubled, darkly funny, incredibly witty, and filled with pop-culture references. Lovingly weird, just like Lily and Lo, the OTP. It was a necessary introduction to the final installment of their story – Addicted After All. I can’t praise Krista and Becca Ritchie’s work more! This was yet another majestically written story. Once more I must praise the amazing world building in this series, in which the readers are fully invested, living in and experiencing the stories around and with their favorite characters. It is something I recommend wholeheartedly! The Addicted series, along with Calloway sisters series, definitely needs to be everyone’s MUST-READ series!