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There are currently 65 member reviews
for Safe with Me
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Lea Ann M. (Seattle, WA)
Safe With Me by Amy Hatvany
I began reading this book with high hopes of a tale that would hold my interest throughout and provide pleasure plus increased awareness of what it's like to give permission for a deceased child's organs to be harvested for the well-being of others. Yes, it was a "good" book, but somewhat disappointing in that it was written in a rather simple style; more simple than I found necessary. The characters were stereotyped which made the plot quite predictable. I wanted to like the story better as I liked the premise, but though I read every bit of it, I came away somewhat disappointed.
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Debra P. (Belmont, NC)
Secrets
I liked this book o.k. but felt the plot was a little too predictable. The author did a good job shining a light on spousal abuse and her characters gave us a sense of the fear associated with abuse and domestic violence. However, Olivia was pretty weak. She settled for her situation and it appeared that she did so because she had a lifestyle that was too good to give up. There are too many agencies out there and places one can go to get help these days. Olivia kept making excuses that it was her daughter's health condition, etc.. I believe she didn't want to face what her life would be without the money and status and comforts that James provided. She became a poor role model for victims of domestic abuse and violence. I guess the book will make some pretty good discussions for book groups, but in general, it is not a book I would choose.
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Lynn R. (Wautoma, WI)
Safe With Me
I felt that this book was too obvious. The characters in the book, except the abusive husband, were too sweet & nice, you almost new what they were going to say next. People just do not become life friends, inviting them into their home and sharing their whole life story. Possibly Maddie would, because she was a teenager. In my humble opinion this could have been two books. One centered on the transplant, including Hannah and Maddie & family's feelings before & after. Another book on the abusive husband which could be a book in and of itself.
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Beth B. (New Wilmington, PA)
Not a "riveting" or a "masterful narrative" as back cover states
Sadly, I cannot recommend this book. I stuck with it, knowing that a review was expected and hoping that my interest level would be heightened. The novel left me wanting more from a topic/issues that could have been more richly layered. I found it to be lacking in characterization, saccharine, and simplistic. Women weakly admitted to too many "should haves" rather than acting bravely when support was within grasp. I wanted more depth, more fleshing out of the women who connected due to commonalities. Hannah, at the book's ending, states that "people see what they want to see." I wanted them to see more and include us in their individual and joined journeys.
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Bea C. (Liberty Lake, WA)
Safe With Me
I believe that this should be categorized as Young Adult fiction. It examines both sides, the giving and receiving, of a donor liver, but it is more about a woman staying with an abusive husband for reasons an outsider wouldn't understand, like really having no place to go and no means of support, of losing custody of your children because he's too powerful and rich, like feeling that it's your own fault, that he will change. The book is told through the eyes of a teenaged organ transplant recipient and also in third person about her abused mother and the donor's mother.
This book might try to cover too much, like the teenaged liver recipient trying to fit in in high school, her feelings about her abusive father, the mother's emotions, the mother of the liver donor's emotions, but it is a good book for young adults.
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Sharalynne P. (Valparaiso, IN)
KIND OF A DOWNER
Oh my....talk about a downer! I found this book to be an easy read, liked the style of the writing. Thought the characters were well developed, I could picture them very clearly. But the subject matter...very depressing....so many sad things in one book! Death, illness, betrayal, abandonment, bullying...not for the faint of heart. If that doesn't bother you, you might like it..I don't think I'd recommend it to anyone unless I told them about it first....
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Marylou C. (Fountain Hills, AZ)
One social issue, one health issue
The authors combines the stories of a social issue, domestic abuse and a health issue, transplant is a fairly interesting, but highly unlikely scenario. But I must admit that many times I couldn't wait to get to the next page as my attention was all consumed by the writing. Hopefully there will be a sequel as the ending begs for more. Not sure I would recommend it to my book club.
