The Choice

By: Allison J. Kennedy

Narrated by: Teralyn Davis

Length: 7 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

How do you heal from your past when you're still trapped within it? I lost myself the night of the party. Just like that, my innocence and my sanity were torn away.

I would like to say that time heals all wounds, but it doesn't. And I would like to say that falling in love is what rescued me, but it wasn't.

Nobody told me what to expect in the coming days and weeks and months after conceiving a rapist's child. Years later, my wounds are still just as fresh as the night they were made. It would be so easy to disappear and allow the memories to consume me. But that's the choice, isn't it? To live instead.

©2014 Allison J. Kennedy (P)2018 Allison J. Kennedy

A great CHOICE for your next read/listen 😁

I’ll start by saying that I don’t typically read books like this. If I did jump into the teen fiction genre, I think this book would ruin it for me because the bar has been set so high, not only in terms of the narrative, but also in prose and style.

“My cheeks burned. I rubbed my lips together and watched the path ahead. Why did smiling feel so strange? Why did I feel like I was insane for feeling a bit of contentment? Maybe it was because I still felt so broken beneath it all, and that made me feel like a liar. I felt like I was lying no matter what I did.
“There You go again.”
I looked at him and found him grinning. I smirked. “I guess I can’t help it."

This passage in particular is a great example of the top shelf prose with its flowing narrative style and, for me anyway, spoke of how cantankerous and fleeting happiness can be, especially after a traumatic event – there’s always a looming feeling that that joy will shortly disappear. In essence, causing you to preempt your own happiness.
Anyway, very readable – kept me engaged, for an audiobook, that is saying a lot.
If this is is your genre, it’s a must read. If it’s not your usual fare, it’s worth a read anyway for the easy to follow story and engaging, genuine characters.

have your tissues ready!

This audiobook was heartbreakingly amazing. I could absolutely feel May's pain. Alex became her rock and he was the most amazing guy!!! I think they helped heal each other! I definitely recommend this audiobook!!!

An honest story about a difficult subject

Author Allison J. Kennedy does an amazing job of pulling you into the life of young May. You'll feel as though you are walking through this journey with her. Every character is thought through well and expressed magnificently.
The weight of the subject is fully felt, but with hope interwoven throughout. Allison takes you into the mind of May as well. The significance of being able to get a glimpse into the mind of someone who is going through these traumatic events is truly eye opening.
Ultimately I would lable this book as "powerful". Many people call many books powerful. But as the book ended on my truck stereo and the silence fell to a dull hum of road noise, I found myself with a new sense and understanding of areas in my life where I can choose to live. Now that's powerful!!