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yvo_about_books's review against another edition
4.25
Finished reading: December 16th 2023
"We're always one breath away from something, living or dying, sometimes it just can't be helped."
I've been meaning to read more of Heather Gudenkauf's work after an excellent first experience back in 2020, so I was excited when I discovered One Breath Away was set in one of my final missing states for the 50 US states Bookish Travel challenge. Books about school shootings can go both ways for me, but I personally thought it was very well developed in this story. It can take a little while to get used to the short chapters and multiple POV structure, but I think this was the perfect way to show us what is happening at all sides in a linear way. There is no doubt that One Breath Away is a very well written book, and there was just something about the prose and pace that made me literally fly though it. There is of course an urgency about the whole situation, and I kept my fingers and toes crossed hoping for a positive ending... Although you already know something will happen after that opening chapter. There are multiple suspects that might fit the identity of the shooter, and while I kind of guessed where it was going, I still had a great time considering the other suspects along the way. One Breath Away is about family and second chances as much as it is about the school shooting itself, and there are also other heavier topics incorporated. This is by no means an easy read, but if you like well written, dark and gritty thrillers with a touch of drama, One Breath Away is a great choice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Cancer, Car accident, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Murder, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Medical content, Rape, Alcoholism, and Bullying
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