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Addiction - Margaret McHeyzer

7/24/2018

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I received an ARC of this book from the author and I voluntarily reviewed it. Thank you Margaret McHeyzer!

Margaret McHeyzer is brave. She is courageous and she is a warrior. She tackles the subjects authors are scared about attacking. She tackles the subjects readers aren’t sure they want to read about, but SHOULD read about. What people NEED to read about.

This book was about drug addiction. More specifically, meth addiction. The modern day crisis. This book was both so relevant, yet felt surreal as you read it. It will give you chills and make your jaw drop. McHeyzer is extremely talented, and was able to capture the loss of self of an addict. How a regular, smart girl, got pulled into the black hole.

This book is heavy. I thought I was good with heavy books, but this one really did make me uncomfortable. I had to take a break half way through. I had the luxury of stepping out of the world, and it really put in perspective that people in Hannah’s shoes don’t have that luxury. My heart was racing for the entire book. At some points I was physically shaking, not wanting to know the rest, because I didn’t want it to get worse, but, I owed it to Hannah to hear her out. To hear her full story. To show her that I had faith in her.

McHeyzer also put forth the prejudices towards drug addicts in this book. The people who only see a dumb person seeking the next high. She also shows us the compassionate side of people. The people who want to help. The people who persistently push to get these people out of their dark hole. The people who believe these people CAN get better.

I love where Margaret McHeyzer took it at the end. I found that it was elegant, and the right ending for this story. I think McHeyzer’s books should be read by everyone around the world. Why? They are universal. They talk about important hush-hush subjects. The things you want to sweep under the rug; abuse, rape, self-harm, and now drug addiction. I just want to applaud McHeyzer in her efforts to make a difference. Even just by opening people’s eyes to the truth. To the reality of the world we live in. These can things affect anyone - no exception. 

My final words are : You are not alone out there.
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Drowning - Margaret McHeyzer

3/16/2018

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I received an ARC of this book from the author and I voluntarily reviewed it. Thank you Margaret McHeyzer!

Wow wow wow. This book is... I can’t find the right word so I’m going to say “everything”. Oh man, the highs, the lows, and the rock bottoms will pull at your heart strings. Sometimes, McHeyzer’s writing pulled at them so hard, my heart broke. 

I rarely cry when I read books, and by rarely, I mean three books in the over 500 I’ve read. Now it’s four books. I’m not surprised though, because one of the initial three was Dying Wish by Margaret McHeyzer. I had to stop reading and compose myself before I kept going. This book has the power to destroy you, but also shows you that there is light at the end of the tunnel - for everyone. 

This book deals with so many important themes, and when I start listing them, you’ll wonder how McHeyzer was able to fit those all into a singular book while doing justice to each one; self-harm, homosexuality and homophobia, suicide, mental health, abuse, and a few more I will not mention for spoiler purposes. Honestly, there are very few authors who can pull off a book like this, and McHeyzer is one of them. 

I truly think this is a book that should be read by everyone. It’s not just a YA book. It’s much bigger than that. It’s a book about acceptance, a book than can teach everyone how to be more open minded. It’s about removing the stigma around the words “mental health” and disassociating them from the terrible word “crazy”. 

Thank you, Margaret McHeyzer, for writing this masterpiece. 
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Dying Wish - Margaret McHeyzer

1/9/2017

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I received an ARC if this book from Give Me Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Give Me Books!

This book will take you on an emotional roller coaster ride - straight up. It is a story about losing the love if your life and learning to love again; dealing with the pain, the guilt, and every other emotion telling you you don't deserve to experience love again.

There were so many beautiful aspects to this book, but my favourite has to be the heart and key. To not spoil anything, I will not say more, but when you have read the book you will know. 

In addition, Alice's selflessness and foresight is incredible. She is the most beautiful character, inside and out. She made me cry three times in the span of two chapters (thank God I was home alone). If this book doesn't touch you, you are made of stone. Seriously. I got chills and tears all wrapped up in one beautiful stack of (e-)pages. 

Lastly, as you may know from previous reviews, I love songs/poems within books, and this one had some! They were lovely and emotional, and completely integral to the story, in my opinion.

Margaret McHeyzer has come to be one if my favourite/go-to authors.
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mistrust - margaret mcHeyzer

7/29/2016

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I received an ARC of this book from Give Me Books in exchange for an honest review. Thanks Give Me Books!

I quite liked this book. I didn't love it like Ugly by McHeyzer, but I still thoroughly enjoyed reading it. This novel is a great story inside a rape victims life after the assault; how one does and does not cope with the trauma and the slow process of healing.

One thing that struck me in this book, was the incredible bond and support the main characters had for each other. Sam, Reece and Sophie all have a part to play in the healing of the main character Dakota. In a terrible way, I liked how Sophie was also a rape victim, and how they instantly connected, even without fully knowing they were both victims, yet it is saddening to see how common sexual assault is.

Sam had to be my favourite character. She is Dakota's sister, and is the most mature fourteen-year-old ever. She is a strong pillar for her sister, and stands by her during her whole journey. Dakota and Sam have this unbelievable sisterly bond, which if I were honest, I wish I had, but hey, being an only child has its perks.

Last, but not least, Reece. Can I steel him from Dakota? He has such a beautiful heart, and soul, and truly loves Dakota. He is constantly there for her even when she doesn't always want him to be, and he never leaves her side. He always protects, her without hesitation, even without knowing her story, and that is gold.

In brief, this is a good book by Margaret McHeyzer about the importance of friends and family in the healing process of a trauma. I found it to be a little long at times, but overall, well executed.
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Ugly - Margaret McHeyzer

1/31/2016

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​​I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review. Thank you NetGalley!

Would I recommend this book? Absolutely. Without question. If I could give this book more than five stars, I undoubtedly would.

First, let me just say that Margaret McHeyzer is an exquisite writer. She masters the English language to make its readers feel intensely and fully a complete spectrum of emotions. Throughout this book, I was chilled to the bone, and warmed to the heart. I had both goosebumps and hair at the back of my neck stand up. For the first part of the book, I literally shook because of the horrors I was reading about. I am usually a stoic kind of reader. A million emotions will run through me, but never manifest themselves into physical reactions. However, with this book, it couldn't be helped.

Second, the author is brave enough to write about such a sensitive subject. Domestic abuse is something that victims keep to themselves, as demonstrated by Lily in the book. I am glad that this book will be able to raise awareness to these victims and hopefully make them realise that they ARE worth it.

Third, Lily's character development is impeccable. There is a true grasp by the author of the stages of acceptance a victim goes through. This gives the book its much needed reality. The realness of it all is what makes us interact and react to this book in such a profound way. 

Fourth, the plot is captivating and interesting. I would turn page after page utterly engrossed in the book, only to realize I had missed my bus stop. To top it all off, the ending is perfect. I finished the book feeling a sense closure and at ease with my  thoughts. It was like the calm after the storm. 

Lastly, I would like to mention yet again how brilliant Margaret McHeyzer truly is. She moved me like no other author before her, and I am thankful to have read this book. This book is a definite MUST read for everyone.
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