Breaking Beautiful

By: Jennifer Shaw Wolf

Narrated by: Simone Tetrault

Length: 10 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's Summary

Allie lost everything the night her boyfriend, Trip, died in a horrible car accident - including her memory of the event. As their small town mourns his death, Allie is afraid to remember because doing so means delving into what she’s kept hidden for so long: the horrible reality of their abusive relationship.

When the police reopen the investigation, it casts suspicion on Allie and her best friend, Blake, especially as their budding romance raises eyebrows around town. Allie knows she must tell the truth. Can she reach deep enough to remember that night so she can finally break free? Debut writer Jennifer Shaw Wolf takes readers on an emotional ride through the murky waters of love, shame, and, ultimately, forgiveness.

©2012 Jennifer Shaw Wolf (P)2013 Audible Inc.

Fantastic

I couldn't stop listening. So many twists! I am a writer myself and it drives me crazy when I figure out the ending or solve the mystery mid- story. I didn't solve this one. This book kept its suspense all the way through. It was my daughter's favorite book and I am so glad I read it.

Listen to a sample to see if you like the narrator

What would have made Breaking Beautiful better?

The protagonist was so whiny, secretive, and selfish that it was tough to be sympathetic.

What do you think your next listen will be?

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

How did the narrator detract from the book?

She has a nice voice, but she pauses every two or three words, and sometimes her mouth is so dry that there's a distracting clicking sound.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Frustration!

Any additional comments?

Not finishing books is something I try to avoid, but this one was very tough to slog through. I had to increase the reading speed by at least 2x to be able to tolerate the narrator, and the frustration at the protagonist just made it worse.

Audio--good, story--meh

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

This was a DNF for me. I just didn't care about the characters enough to finish. I was able to figure out what had happened without needing to hear the full story.