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There are currently 65 member reviews
for Safe with Me
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Anna R. (Oak Ridge, TN)
Excellent read.
From the first sentence to the last sentence, this story grabs you and doesn't let go. The reader feels Hannah's anguish over the lose of her daughter and Oliva's joy when her daughter Maddie, receives a new liver. The way the author brings the characters together is very believable.
The story gives a good look at abuse and why it is so hard for the victim to leave. The abuser has so much power and control.
Safe With Me will be on my book club's reading list for 2014.
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Trezeline B. (Columbia, MD)
Safe With Me
A very good read. At times I could not turn the pages fast enough. The book had several important and timely themes, and they were discussed very well. The book gave information and handled some very emotional topics. I highly recommend this book.
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Virginia M. (San Antonio, TX)
I liked it!
I really enjoyed this book, which is a contemporary novel, even though my favorite type of book is historical fiction. The story moved with an appropriate speed, I felt as though the characters were very life-like and believable, the story line grabbed my heart without being maudlin, and the ending gave me a sense of satisfaction. The setting is Seattle WA and it involves Hannah, the mother of a pre-teen who is fatally injured in an accident. After being told that her child is brain-dead, she is forced to decide whether to donate her daughter's organs. While this would be a noble action, it also requires quick action and means saying a quick goodbye to her daughter. A year later and quite by chance, Maddie who is one of the organ recipients (another teenager) and Olivia her mother who now also live in Seattle come in to the beauty salon owned by Hannah. Maddie and Olivia have no idea who Hannah is but Hannah figures it out. It eventually is revealed that the father of that teenager is a dominating abuser who has forbid the family from attempting to contact the organ donator. The dynamics of the story involves the decisions that must be made if the secrets each of the three are to be revealed.
Narration of the novel is shared by the three and so the reader is able to understand each individual's point of view. While switching back and forth between narrators could have presented a difficult and disjointed situation, the author's writing style makes it very easy for the reader to accommodate and benefit from getting into the brain of all three characters.
I would recommend this book to everyone.
I received this book through the First Impression program of Book Browse. That fact did not impact my review in any way.
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Daryl B. (Poolesville, MD)
Heroic Women in Safe With Me
As I received this book as an advance copy and the publication date is till 2014, I was sad to be unable to use it as my current book club choice. I loved it and think the other ladies would too! It was a quick read, but partly because I didn't want to put it down. It touches on several sensitive issues-spousal abuse, organ donation and death of a child among others. The central characters are all dealing with major life challenges - Hannah with the death of her daughter, Olivia with an abusive husband and sick daughter, and Maddie, not only dealing with the physical trauma of being sick for so long, but having a violent, controlling father.
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Carol N. (San Jose, CA)
Safe With Me
Having just read "Safe With Me," I am having very mixed emotions about its content.
I was prepared to read about a mother's devastation on the loss of her daughter and her decision to donate the child's organs. I was not prepared to have the domestic violence – the voice of Olivia as she struggles with her abusive relationship with her affluent dark sided husband.
Having raised two daughters and now enjoying a delightful 16 year old granddaughter to love and cherish, it made the subject matter very real at times and I discovered it was difficult for me to absorb. Several times I put the book down and didn't return to it for several days. I believe the author made a statement on her acknowledgement page that she had tackled this subject once before unsuccessfully and was ready this time to really write it... and she did. I am not sure I liked the ending. Could there have been other options? This novel tugs at your heart way after having read the last page.
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Bettye (Phoenix, AZ)
Sequel please!
I Really liked this book. The female characters are well drawn and very sympathetic. The "bad guy" is great to despise. There are very insightful and poignant passages regarding the loss of a child. When I looked up and saw that there were only a few pages remaining, my heart sank; I was NOT ready to say goodbye to these three interesting women. I'm actually hoping for a sequel.
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Carol E. (Stone Mountain, GA)
Safe With Me
Amy Hatvany's "Safe With Me" was an enjoyable read. I was captivated from the beginning, and the storyline held my interest throughout. This book touched on several human and social issues: the unfortunate loss of a child, organ donation, domestic abuse, and bullying. Although I think Ms. Hatvany could have delved a bit deeper into the subject matters, her writing style was thoughtful and emotionally provocative. Her treatment of the love, pain, understanding, and sacrifices associated with mother/daughter relationships was realistic and heartfelt. I liked this book and would definitely recommend it to my book club. . Young adults could also benefit from reading "Safe With Me."
