Happy release day to Amy Matayo! The End of the World greets readers today! I'm so excited to hear what other's have to say about this book!
Description:
A desperate boy. A damaged girl. And a dark house filled with secrets.
For Cameron Tate, being shuffled from foster home to foster home is just a normal way of life. Until the year he turns fourteen. That’s when he’s sent to the home of seventeen-year-old Shaye McCormick—a fellow foster kid counting the days until she’s released from the system.
For good reason. It doesn’t take long for Cameron to learn that Shaye is shackled to the worst kind of pain...living in a home where nothing seems right. And now he’s joined her with no way out. Their only refuge is a lake, a quiet spot at the edge of the property where they can sit together for a few moments at the end of each day. Alone with their thoughts. Away from prying eyes.
At the lake they become friends. At the lake they begin to talk. At the lake Cameron vows that no matter how deep their secrets are buried, he’ll make it his mission to heal Shaye from a past that makes living in the present nearly impossible. Even if it takes until the end of time to do it.
About the Author:
Amy Matayo is an award winning author of The Wedding Game, Love Gone Wild, Sway, In Tune With Love, A Painted Summer, and The End of the World. She graduated with barely passing grades from John Brown University with a degree in Journalism. But don't feel sorry for her--she's super proud of that degree and all the ways she hasn't put it to good use. She laughs often, cries easily, feels deeply, and loves hard. She lives in Arkansas with her husband and four kids and is working on her next novel.
www.amymatayo.com
My Review: 5 stars
I’m going to be blunt: I was so excited for the opportunity to review this book, without realizing that it isn’t Christian based. There is a bit of mild cursing, the characters don’t believe in God and live their lives as such, though there are no graphic details. This being the case, the rating and my review reflect my opinions of this book, with the focus on the author’s talent and the book’s merits, rather than the fact that its characters don’t share my personal beliefs.
I’ve read a couple of Ms. Matayo’s books and finished both of them with the assurance of what a fantastic writer she is and as this book ended, I’ve not been more sure of that. I honestly have no idea how Amy ever finished writing this book. Her writing is as beautiful as the tale this book tells is dark and painful. She drew me in from the very first page and I literally read almost all day, immersed in this story of brokenness and pain, but also light and hope. Both Shaye and Cameron have horrifying stories to tell. But even in the midst of their pain, there is hope in unexpected places.
The story follows Shaye and Cameron as they work to survive abuse and neglect as teenagers, then as they try to pick up the broken pieces as young adults. Amy’s writing is so bold and straightforward. She pulls few punches with this book, but rather lets them fly right at your heart. Mine broke more than once as I read and just kept reading, hoping for the characters to find healing and peace, amidst all of the heartbreak. Amy’s unique writing style allowed me to connect with both and Shaye and Cameron, which I loved, but also hated just a bit. Because I felt their pain, too. I hurt when they hurt and this book brought me close to tears more than once. I felt as though I knew both of them almost inside and out. Their story came to life in vivid color and I oftentimes felt as though I was right there with them, living through the worst life has to offer. Despite their heartache and the darkness we are shown, at it’s heart, this is a story of redemption and healing. There is the reminder that even the midst of shattered lives and hearts, there is light and hope. That’s why I continued reading and kept cheering the characters on. Because of that little light of hope that never went out, even when all seemed lost.
I would not recommend this book to someone who is looking for a light read to pass the time. This book shines a light on very difficult topics and your heart will probably break for the characters, but regardless I don’t regret reading it and I imagine it’ll be sticking in my mind for quite a while. The best books do.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and read my review! I hope you enjoyed it!
As today is release day, there are probably some pretty cool things going on over on Amy's Facebook page, so you might want to pop over there and see what's happening. Also, as always, if you'd like to look into the book further, links are below.
Thanks again! Have a delightful day!
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
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