Preston Bensen struggles with the same social anxiety that led his father to walk away years ago. With a younger brother who has Down syndrome, Preston has made it his job to hold together what remains of their family.
A few weeks after he loses a friend in an accident, Preston’s mother announces her decision to remarry. Now Preston must deal with a prying stepdad and three emotional stepsisters. After growing up with six neighbor boys, Preston doesn’t know what to do with glitter, pet mice, drama, and nonstop chatter.
The only thing untouched by change seems to be Preston’s relationship with Morgan, a girl he met during the summer. But he fears that sharing more of his past will scare her away. Juggling everything at once, he reaches his breaking point. Is Preston going to end up like his father after all?
| Pages | 250 |
| ISBN | 9781599921785 |
Break is another great book by JoLyn Brown. I feel this author really understands teenage struggles and did an exceptional job with this book. Anxiety is a hard issue and a struggle for so many, and I feel JoLyn really new her stuff. As much as he struggled, Preston is a great character. I enjoyed seeing Morgan again and Sammy is always a sweetheart. I loved Alex and his overall presence in the book. He (whether Preston admitted it or not) was wonderful for Preston. His daughters were darling and even though they had their own struggles from a sad past, I enjoyed the way they all were working to become a family. Preston had a lot to work out in dealing with the death of a friend and I was glad he was trying to face what happened. The ending was great too. His problems were not magically solved, but Preston made some great realizations about life and himself.
5 out of 5 stars. This is the second book with these characters, but this book is about Preston and the first book was about Morgan. They can be read as a stand-alone, but there is something pretty significant that happens in Run that would be understood more if it was read. The author does do a great job of catching the reader up with the event, though.
What a great real, heartfelt book. Life throws us so many challenges, and many times people don't know the extent of what someone is really going through. I loved the family support and the reality of what happens. I was immersed in this family's story.
Break was such a fresh, uplifting read. Focused on a teenage audience, JoLyn Brown takes characters of all ages and gives perspectives on dealing with difficult situations. She takes you through depression, anxiety, death, divorce, blending stepfamilies, marriage and other difficult family situations. Though she doesn’t sugar-coat a thing, you come away filled with hope. The characters feel so real and relatable. The Book is so positive, and tends away from trends of “evil stepmother” and the teenager who no adult can understand. Instead it shows healthy interactions between children, teenagers, parents, step parents, etc. I would highly recommend this book!
I really enjoyed this book. Even without reading "Run", the author's previous book introducing the characters and setting, I was able to identify with Preston and his family. The themes of loss, new beginnings, dealing with obstacles, and finding happiness in spite of difficulty were immediately relatable. I REALLY appreciated the understanding I gained of social anxiety, and how it affects every facet of life for those struggling with it. Ms. Brown pulled me right into Preston's world where normal teenage angst is amplified by a disorder no one understands, the stress of creating an entire new family dynamic, and grief is practically a character in the story. There is a lot going on in Preston's life, maybe more than anyone would typically have to deal with, but he's a strong character who kept me interested.
This book was a well-written, emotional read. It's worth your time - you should consider it next time you're looking for something good!
This book was an emotional roller coaster. I laughed, cried, and got angry with the characters and reactions. It is a book that digs deep and takes hold of you without letting go. Preston's reactions were to real to teenagers as well as his social anxiety. It intrigued me to see how he acted with his friends and how he dealt with the challenges that come from loss, change, and social pressure. I didn't expect the depth of the story, but it dragged me in until I finished the book. Great job!!! Highly recommend, especially for any teens who are dealing with challenges in their lives!!!
I received an ARC for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book!!! It's super fun and it felt like I was in the story!! I couldn't put it down for the life of me and that says something cause I'm not usually much of a reader!!! I definitely recommend this book!!!!
