This book is a YA listen which is not my usual choice. I thought I would give it a try as the book was recommended by a friend and the ratings it has recieved.
I really enjoyed this book though it was tough to read in parts due to the abuse that Emma suffered at the hands of her Aunt.

I felt that the author dealt with abuse in a fairly realistic way, though thankfully I have never suffered myself I have had friends who did.

I know some people felt that either Emma herself or one of her friends should have said something but it's not that easy.
Her aunt had her believing that she was so worthless & she also loved her cousin's & didn't want them to have to grow up without their parents as she had done.
And her best friend Sara did try to tell but Emma threatened to use info on her to stop her from doing so.

Evan was a great love interest, as he was new to the school he didn't have any experience with Emma's ways over the years. Often we have a girl who claims not to know how beautiful she is or why anyone would have any interest in her (which is very annoying IMO) but in this case because of the mental abuse she receives from her aunt it is believable. I love that he never gives up on her when trying to get to know her no matter how many times she rebuffs him.

On the downside I did find myself skimming on occasion as the author got overly descriptive in parts, it felt a bit like she was trying to fill out the book which I didn't feel was necessary.
I also never really understand why her aunt hated her soooo much & why she reacted in such a brutal way to her without any previous history of being violent, I could have done with a bit of back story on this. Also a bit more on George, did he know what was happening, if so did he not care or did he not want to believe it could happen.

If you find after you have read a few chapters that you are enjoying this book as much as I did, I would recommend you have book 2 Barely Breathing at the ready as this ends on a bitch of a cliffhanger.
Kate Rudd was outstanding in the delivery of the story.

This book is more or less a your basic "Twilight" rip-off, with an ultra-perfect teen narrator whose angst is driven by the fact that she is the chosen victim of the psychopath in whose home she lives. Think of Harry Potter's dislikable relatives, wrap them in a few extra layers of cardboard and voila! you have the narrator's aunt and uncle. There are a lot of slow-moving teen love stories out there, some of which I liked much better, including "Twilight" and "Amongst Others". While I don't wish to trivialize the the type of abuse portrayed here, I also find that I don't especially want to read about it and I sure as heck don't want a lengthy, nasty, implausible scenario to be the final pay-off. It's a bit like watching a horror movie - you know darn well that there's not a teenager in the universe who would actually go into that basement after hearing that scary sound! In that case, the slapstick violence provides a vicarious thrill because you know it's just plain silly, but here, it's all just so painfully serious and endlessly dreary. Sorry, but for me, "endlessly awful" plots are simply not my favorite form of fiction.

I got this title because I so loved Kate Rudd's narration of John Green's "The Fault in Our Stars" - She does a decent job here, but the dismal content and limited cast of characters doesn't give her much to work with. If you want a great listen, stick with Rudd and Green.

I won't be listening to the rest of the trilogy.

The first third of this book had my interest but then it just rambled into boring, irrelevant nothingness. I can't believe I wasted 14 hours of my time and an Audible credit on this worthless piece if drivel. Narration was good but that's about it.

I highly recommend passing on this title.

This book effected me. I was just so heartsick for Emma. What an ending! I can't say too much without giving away the storyline but I really hate the ending because it just can't end like that. Gah! I really felt this story to my core and it moved me. It infuriated me to no end. The beast that is Carol just can't win! All I can say is thank goodness I already know there are two more books or I'd be fit to be tied!! Well well worth the credit. Highly recommend. The bond that Emma, Sara and Evan have was amazing. Well written and the narration was good. I must go start the next book NOW!

I am so glad I kept going on this book. This is exactly why I don't DNF books. Once I got past the beginning, this book was gripping and so interesting.

Emma Thomas had lived with her Uncle George and Aunt Carol since her father died in a car accident and her mother was a raging alcoholic. Emma was the star athlete at her school, exceling in soccer, basketball and track. She had an "A" grade point average, managed the school newspaper but her new home situation was less than ideal. For some unknown reason, her aunt Carol despised her and was abusive.
So the perfect girl Emma, had a not-so-perfect secret that she had to keep everyone from finding out. So she kept everyone except best friend Sara at arms length.

Sara also excelled at explaining away her bruises...until the new kid Evan Mathews began getting past her defenses. Evan took an interest in her, but he was also very observant. Emma knew that getting close to Evan would threaten the picture perfect image she created, but she couldn't stop the persistent Evan from getting her skin. Was her secret worth giving her first love? What was she willing to risk to be normal and happy?

First of all, I will admit this book ended in a cliff hanger. So I had to buy book 2 audiobook immediately. There were a lot of questions that i didn't have answers to, but this book was such a gripping glimpse into the life of an abuse victim and the lies and fear.

While I liked Emma, I loved Sara and Evan more. they were the real heroes in this story because I don't think there would be an Emma. Her home life had turned her into a shell. I didn't understand the root of the hate, so that is something I am hoping to find out in book 2. I am rooting so hard for Emma, but the silence is so powerful and her fear of retribution was definitely warranted. Sara and Evan were great support and I hope they give Emma the strength to break her silence.

I would be willing to give them a second chance. Narration on this book was HORRIBLY OVERLY DRAMATIC and sappy. Reminded me of a BAD daytime drama.

Something from the "Best Seller" list. I find you can't go wrong with those

The narration could have been a LOT LESS dramatic. It was so dramatic, it was boring. She was trying waaaay too hard

Yes. It shines a spotlight on abuse as well as teen promiscuity and drinking

This could have been a good opener had the writer remained vigilant and focused on the tale of abuse in the home. Instead, she strayed into the ALWAYS OVERLY DRAMATIC, "LIFE SUCKS", "WOE IS ME", "MY HORMONES ARE RAGING" life of teens.

I say boring because unless you're 16 or there about it's difficult to put up with the teenage environment of this story, language, high school scenarios etc.. I also mention unbelievable because Em's reason for putting up with the abusive step Mom is highly unrealistic. This is one of the few books I'm returning for a full refund. I must also say the incredible amount of high ratings is very suspicious to say the least. Don't be fooled this is not a very good book.

I wouldn't recommend this book to teens or adults. The story was full of contradictory messages and mixed signals. In the end (which I wish I hadn't read) this book is a real downer.

Yes, because you get a real feel for the characters. When I read I imagine certain actors and actresses for each character but audio gives their roles more depth.

Sarah, she is a true friend. Whether she was giving on what to wear, on love or life she was always there...well almost always there for Emma.

Jay he was such a lovable jerk, but whenever he spoke I knew it was him

Life is for loving and living

Many serious topics were discussed. In the movie version this book would probably be rated a PG 13. Even though many of the topics are hard to discuss, they are too serious not to discuss with the youth of today. Abuse is real! Teacher, Counselors, and Doctors to name a few, are trained to observe the signs of abuse. The abusers have trained and honed the art of deception. The person being abused like Emma is often too afraid of life without the abuse.

I do love Audio books and this one was great.

Love when Evan first meet Emma. The sparks start flying.

The abuse from Carol made me so angry.