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readwithmaleah's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
3.75
holmstead's review against another edition
4.0
I was very impressed with this author. I really felt for Cadence. All the emotions: the sadness, happiness, awareness, ups/downs of everything she lost and was trying to gain back was thoroughly expressed. Although I do not have the same problems she went through, I did understand how she felt with her ex, her secret, and her surroundings. It was easy to empathize with her. When reading the book, I began to have the same feelings as she when she describes the love and devotion of her child, or her frustration and animosity toward her ex-husband, or even the fear and uncertainty of her life and the people she meets along the way back to being "normal" again.
The end was decent and accepting. I'm glad the author chose that way to bring it to a close. At the end of the book, the author makes her acknowledgements known, as well as the fact that this book delved into the experience Hatvany faced in her own life. I give her much kudos!
The end was decent and accepting. I'm glad the author chose that way to bring it to a close. At the end of the book, the author makes her acknowledgements known, as well as the fact that this book delved into the experience Hatvany faced in her own life. I give her much kudos!
dacy's review against another edition
4.0
It doesn't suprise me that this is based on the author's life as it seems very realistic and personal. The q&a with the author in the reader's guide bumped this up from 3 stars for me.
oreo143z's review against another edition
5.0
This novel is amazing.I will be thinking about Cadence and Charlie for along time to come .They pulled at my heart strings.I'm still working on how I feel about Martin and his mother Alice.
judithdcollins's review against another edition
5.0
Recently, I read Amy’s latest book, “Heart Like Mine” and loved it, so working my way back as want to read all her books, as she has been added to my favorite author list. I love her writing style and her subject matter --the way her characters come alive. I did not want to put this book down (it was amazing)! I had a lot of work and appointments this week, so anxiously awaited my quiet reading time to find out what obstacle Cadence was to overcome next.
Hats off to the author for putting herself out there to help other women with this inspiring and poignant story of the everyday and realistic struggles of alcoholism and motherhood.
Every woman, whether old or young, mother, single, aunt, sister – needs to read this book. There are so many addictions out there today which are as bad as alcoholism; unfortunately, they do not have the stigma attached (shopping, pill popping, workaholics, eating disorders, and many compulsive disorders which wreak havoc on lives of women daily which are sometimes hidden) as they try and keep up to be the “perfect” woman.
There are many takeaways from this book and a lesson for us all in some way or another. We all have problems and sometimes we cannot turn around our life until we help someone less fortunate. In doing so, we help them as much as ourselves by opening our hearts to accept new things, as we broaden and enrich our lives.
On a personal note: I have a beautiful, driven, and successful girlfriend (single), who has been through some rough times and has turned to alcohol and Xanax to cope for years. Her mother was an alcoholic and died years ago. Unfortunately, my friend has not faced her problem yet. She gets angry when drinking and drives away everyone close to her. She believes every day is happy hour at 5 pm and this is the norm. Her life is spiraling downhill and she has turned away so many friends who have tried to help. This book helped me to realize these friends need our love, support, compassion, and no judgments. I look forward to sharing this book.
I loved Jess (the sister), her humor and personality and the way she supported her sister. Even her mother came through for her in the end. Oh, Charlie —I just wanted to reach out and hug him as he was adorable.
Again, thank you, Amy, for your candidness in writing such a powerful book which I cannot wait to pass along to my friends. I highly recommend as this is a 5 Star+++.
Hats off to the author for putting herself out there to help other women with this inspiring and poignant story of the everyday and realistic struggles of alcoholism and motherhood.
Every woman, whether old or young, mother, single, aunt, sister – needs to read this book. There are so many addictions out there today which are as bad as alcoholism; unfortunately, they do not have the stigma attached (shopping, pill popping, workaholics, eating disorders, and many compulsive disorders which wreak havoc on lives of women daily which are sometimes hidden) as they try and keep up to be the “perfect” woman.
There are many takeaways from this book and a lesson for us all in some way or another. We all have problems and sometimes we cannot turn around our life until we help someone less fortunate. In doing so, we help them as much as ourselves by opening our hearts to accept new things, as we broaden and enrich our lives.
On a personal note: I have a beautiful, driven, and successful girlfriend (single), who has been through some rough times and has turned to alcohol and Xanax to cope for years. Her mother was an alcoholic and died years ago. Unfortunately, my friend has not faced her problem yet. She gets angry when drinking and drives away everyone close to her. She believes every day is happy hour at 5 pm and this is the norm. Her life is spiraling downhill and she has turned away so many friends who have tried to help. This book helped me to realize these friends need our love, support, compassion, and no judgments. I look forward to sharing this book.
I loved Jess (the sister), her humor and personality and the way she supported her sister. Even her mother came through for her in the end. Oh, Charlie —I just wanted to reach out and hug him as he was adorable.
Again, thank you, Amy, for your candidness in writing such a powerful book which I cannot wait to pass along to my friends. I highly recommend as this is a 5 Star+++.
imworthyandenough's review against another edition
3.0
An quick read..but just meh. I wish I didn’t have so many of her books on my shelf. They’re not amazing.
jlasch's review against another edition
4.0
This book explores the difficult subject of alcoholism and severe depression when a mother, Cadence, loses her young son, Charlie, when she is no longer able to care for him because of her addiction. What I most liked about this story was the portrayal of the gradual descent into alcoholism - what started as a glass or wine each night turned into bottles of wine every day. It was so very easy to picture. The other thing that resonated with me was Cadence's overwhelming shame about how she treated her son. She couldn't speak of it in group sessions or AA meetings because of the "incomprehensible demoralization" which I totally related to, as I never understood how anyone would want to be on a reality show for millions of strangers to watch their secrets and flaws! What bothered me about the book was that Cadence's only reason for becoming sober was for her son and not for herself. She even broke off her friendship with Laura, who she met at group counseling, when Laura relapsed back into her heroin addiction because "no one can do this for Laura....If she wants it she'll have to do it for herself." Perhaps at the end of the story Cadence realized that no matter how much she loved Charlie her sobriety was ultimately for herself, but I still wonder.
sjj169's review against another edition
4.0
Cadence didn't set out to become an alcoholic. She had recently divorced Martin (a mommy's boy) and was having trouble sleeping, dealing with a young child, and struggling financially. She would just have a glass of wine at night to help her sleep. A glass of wine turned to 2 bottles of wine per night before long. She didn't see that she had a problem. One night she was out of wine and left her young son at home by himself to run and grab a bottle (I didn't like her much then) The author did not pretty up Cadence's character. She made her real. She could be you or I.
Eventually Cadence does lose control and her ex husband takes her child. She ends up in rehab and begins seeking help. The author of this book does an amazing job of taking you through the process of alcoholism's recovery. You cheer for this character and you cry with her.
If you have known someone that struggles with alcohol's grip or have been there yourself this book is amazing. Aww heck it's amazing anyways.
Eventually Cadence does lose control and her ex husband takes her child. She ends up in rehab and begins seeking help. The author of this book does an amazing job of taking you through the process of alcoholism's recovery. You cheer for this character and you cry with her.
If you have known someone that struggles with alcohol's grip or have been there yourself this book is amazing. Aww heck it's amazing anyways.
laurashavers's review against another edition
5.0
This book was so good. Read it in 1 night.
It made me really think- why are mothers penalized with CPS for a diagnosable illness instead of offered treatment as a first resort ?
It made me really think- why are mothers penalized with CPS for a diagnosable illness instead of offered treatment as a first resort ?