We're celebrating the release of The Other Side by Kim Holden! One-Click your copy today!
Title: The Other Side
Author: Kim Holden
Release Date: Coming Soon!
Genre: Young Adult, Coming of Age
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2MAkXDg
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2KxtTXt
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2Kxm3gz
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/31fRdyD
Synopsis:
Denver, Colorado
1987
There are two sides to every story.
The surface reality that’s presented to the world.
And then there’s the other side.
The real one.
The one that matters.
Seventeen-year-old, self-proclaimed asshole, Toby Page, is alone.
No friends.
No family.
He trades maintenance work in exchange for room and board.
Every day he fights demons no one else can see.
Every day he wants to give up.
But he can’t.
Not yet.
When Alice Eliot moves in downstairs, she offers Toby some light in his dark world.
At a crossroads and barely hanging on, it’s hard to have perspective.
It’s difficult to see your own worth when you’re the villain in your story.
Luckily for Toby, Alice brings things out in him that no one else ever has.
As the two sides of Toby’s story are revealed, and the full reality comes into view, truth is gained.
Improbable alliances prove that kindness is fundamentally human.
Unlikely heroes emerge.
The question is, Will it all be enough to save him?
“People aren’t perfect. It’s not about loving them when it’s easy and convenient; it’s about loving them even more when it’s hard.”
I've read every book of Kim Holden's and what I love about her stories is they're always different and special. Her writing is truly a gift and the way she can tell a story is like no other. The Other Side is an important read. It's heart-wrenching, focuses on difficult topics, and is a book that needs to be read.
This book focuses on 17 year old Toby. It's written in the present day, but we also get a lot of scenes from 2 years back when Toby's life changed drastically. Toby's pain was real and raw and I felt it deep down. I ached for this boy. I don't want to go too far into his story because I think it will be much more impactful if you read it without knowing much.
I feel like this book tackled the deep depression/mental health topic very well. It's a hard thing to read about and I'm certain it's hard to write about, but it's something that needs to be talked about more and you could tell Kim knew how this felt and conveyed it in Toby's words and feelings.
Sadness is melancholy. Depression is a black hole of despair. I always imagine it’s like drowning. There are short bursts of fresh air, like Alice, but the past, the hopelessness, the guilt, and self-loathing is a pair of lead shoes that always pull me back under.
I loved seeing the other side of Toby. I wasn't sure what direction that was going in, but it was so well done. My heart was so happy and I shed a few happy tears. Honestly, that last 25% was just a sob fest for me. Some tears were happy, some were sad, but it felt cathartic.
This story is profound. It's emotional, heavy, and breathtaking. It's not an easy read, but I hope people pick it up and get something out of it like I did. I loved the connections the characters had, the way they held each other up and the love that was there. Thank you Kim Holden for this book, and for sharing this story with the world. You are loved and you are important. Hugs.
About the Author:
Some of my favorite things: reading, writing, the two coolest guys on the planet (my husband and son), my bicycle (my husband built it for me), Facebook (I'm fairly certain it's an addiction at this point), iced coffee (hazelnut), and music (LOVE Sunset Sons, the 1975, Dredg, the xx, Balance and Composure, Teenage Bottlerocket, and 30 Seconds to Mars). I also love dreaming, which brings me to my next point. I have one bit of advice for anyone reading this ... follow your dreams. It's never too late. Get started today ... heck get started RIGHT NOW! I wanted to write a book 20 years ago. Instead I waited. And waited. I should've been writing. But I didn't. I don't do regrets, because the past is just that, the past. But let me tell you there's nothing in the world like achieving something you've dreamt about for years and years. So, get started. Make your dreams reality.
I love to hear from other readers. Send me a message or find me on Facebook (https://facebook.com/kimholdenauthor) and tell me what's up in your reading world.
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