Fix Me by Lisa M Cronkhite

Title: Fix Me
Author: Lisa M Cronkhite
First Published: Sept 17
Publisher: Flux
Pages: 256
Price on Amazon: Paperback £9.27
ISBN: 1635830087

Can it be love if he's only real in my drug fuelled state?

Pen is addicted to the illegal drug called Fix. Fix changes your perception of everything and causes extremely vivid hallucinations. When Pen take Fix she sees a guy called Nate, the problem is Pen thinks she is in love with Nate but can it be love if he's only a figment of her drug fuelled imagination? Pen wants to stop taking Fix but when she tried Nate tells her he loves her too.

When a girl who also takes Fix goes missing can Pen stop taking Fix before she's the next girl who goes missing?

I got this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I didn't finish this book as it didn't grab me and make me want to read on. The book didn't hook me in and make me feel like I needed to read on know what happened next. Because of this I wouldn't read it again or recommend to anyone, therefore, I am going to give this book a single star rating.

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I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book. I also apologise if this review is all over the place! I tried to put my thoughts into words as best as I could.

The author contacted me through Twitter to tell me about her book. It's not really the kind of book I usually read, but since I want to read more different books, I thought I'd give it a shot. Fix Me is alright. It really makes you think about drugs and the consequences and while reading some parts of the book, I actually thought it would be really helpful and educational in a drugs prevention program kind of thing.

It was written well, but also a bit inconsistent. Sometimes it was really good and other times it felt a little off. It wasn't bad per se, but some scenes could've used a bit more dialogue instead of 'He told me this than that, etc...' if that makes sense. I also wasn't quite sure of the time period of story. In the beginning, there's a scene that makes you think it's winter, since 'it's cold and icy'. Later on, there's talk of Autumn leaves and colours... Obviously this wouldn't be a problem if there were time jumps, but there aren't. Another thing that I really liked, but kinda disappointed me later on, was the fact that this book takes place in 2017. Like, it's actually mentioned and that was pretty cool! But then our main character used Internet Explorer on a computer and well... Who still used that in 2017 when there's Chrome and Safari?

I totally didn't connect with the characters in this book. I don't really know why that is. Maybe it's because they are so unlike me? Although that wouldn't make a lot of sense, since I can sort of relate to assassin's? (Hehe, I swear I'm not an assassin!) Penelope/Pen really irritated me sometimes. She was in a constant cycle of "I'm going to quit taking fix." and "Let's take another pill." And I get that I mean, she's addicted and it makes perfect sense, but I felt like she didn't even really try. Her friend offers/forces her to swallow a pill and Pen would be like "Suuuure!" Also, in the end she has a depression, and I really would've liked so see more of that and dive deeper into it. I think I would've liked a little more drugs drama and a little more rehab stuff, but that's just personal taste. As for the other characters, they're not very memorable and/or special to me, which is unfortunate! I think the characters could've had a little more dept to them.

Let's talk about Fix for a minute. The pills/drugs that are so important in this book. I like the backstory and how Pen researched it. That way, it became more than just some weird, dangerous drug. Another thing I found really interesting, were these "Fix Circles" It felt a little like ghost summoning/ouija board stuff and it was brilliant.

The mystery didn't really come into play until about half way through the book, and thank goodness it did, because that's when things got interesting! There was murder, drama, plot twists and some interesting revelations!

Overal, Fix Me wasn't the best book, but it definitely wasn't the worst either. I liked reading something so different for a change, but I doubt I'll be picking it up again. If you're into mysteries, this book is definitely one for your TBR!

Fix Me
*Thank you to Netgalley for an honest review**
This book was painful to read. Not in a “the writing is terrible way”, but in an “I want to wrench these children out of the story and help them”! Living in a community, like so many others, it is difficult to read a novel about drug addiction.
Penelope craves the highly addictive drug called “Fix”. Since her sister Tabitha committed suicide it is one way that she can “cope”. Get away from the pain. Her mother, in her own pain and self-destruction does not help. When she takes the drug, she witnesses hallucinations that may help find answers to her sisters’ death. Not only is she grieving for her sister and facing drug addiction, but schoolmates are missing, girls are being murdered and life seems to become darker. Even though I kept saying “I’m not going to finish reading this”, I found I couldn’t put it down. I will read more by this author.
This book is for mature teens and up.

Thank you to Hachette and NetGalley for allowing me to read this. A real rollercoaster read...uncompromising in its depiction of addiction, but not too bleak as we never are quite sure how much is real and how much is down to Pen's addiction.

I received a copy of this book to read and review from Netgalley

The description of this book is the initial reason I picked it up. I can relate to wanting to escape from the pain of grief all too well and found myself drawn to read this novel. Fix Me makes for an interesting story about a circle of addicts and a bit of a murder mystery. Lisa Cronkhite does a good job capturing the mind of an addict in the crux of their addiction. She also does a great job capturing and conveying the emotions of the characters. The writing really made the story great.

Right away the book exposes you to the ugly side of addiction. The sickly parlor, jittery nerves and bones protruding from two addicts who can't seem to kick the habit. They're addicted to "Fix" a drug that sounds similar to acid with its hallucinogenic properties. It enhances the five senses and causes the main character to see people who aren't really there.

The relationship between addicts are often complicated and I think that this was portrayed very well. Rose, for example, was clearly lonely and wanted to have friends, but it was clear that her addiction took priority over anything else. I found Fix Me to be a relatively realistic portrayal of addiction, even though "fix" is a made-up drug.

I found the climax to kind of come out of left field and the ending was a bit to "happily ever after "for me. But the harsh reality of addiction is that getting clean is much harder for most, although some get so do get sober abruptly like this novel portrayed. I would definitely read another book by Lisa Cronkhite as she brought these characters and this story to life for me

An intense and moving story of grief, pain, and addiction.

The blurb of this novel really intrigued me. The book had a great premise as it delved into Penelope's life after she becomes hooked on Fix. I loved how the book is narrated by Penelope, leaving you to wonder how accurate her account. As she is on Fix for the majority of the book, you do wonder how true her perceptions of the world really are. I found the book completely fascinating. Sometimes confusing as her world is blurred with reality, but fascinating none the less. Pen needs to come off Fix to truly understand what is happening around her, but as with any drug, that is not as easy as it sounds.

I did find it a little hard to warm to the characters and didn't find Pen particularly likeable. I was concerned about her, and the situation she'd got herself in, but she didn't really do anything to merit these feelings of concern. However, as Pen is overcoming some very difficult times in her life, such as her sister's suicide, I had to factor these into my opinion of her actions. The book made drug additions very unappealing, which I think was the author's intention, so therefore as a YA book, it hit the mark. I certainly wouldn't try drugs after reading this as it's very graphic and off putting.

There were some issues with continuity as the book progressed, probably down to Penelope's state of mind, but I found these made the story stop and start and I kept looking back to check I'd read it correctly. It truly shows how disturbing on your health drug taking is.

This was a thought provoking read and I'll look out for this author again.

Honestly, drug addiction books have been really addictive for me lately, so I was excited to pick this one up. This novel focuses on a drug called Fix, which these high school teens use for hallucinations and to change their visions. When one of the main character's friends starts acting sketchy, and people start to go missing, she can't help but be suspicious.

Torn between drug addiction, the loss of her sister, and a murder case, the book is definitely interesting and a fun read. However, in the end, things are summed up too easily, and the ending feels very rushed. I would've preferred some elaboration and clearer details.

This book kept my entire attention, from beginning to end. It was unlike anything I have ever read before, which is really hard to find. I love how descriptive the book is without being overly descriptive. I also loved that the chapters were concise, and there wasn’t much extra to the book.
From what I’ve always heard, people do drugs to escape from something, which Pen is definitely doing, but she is also running to something (Nate). I found that very interesting. Personally I love reading books where I feel like I am jumping into the character’s life. I love when there is a back story and let me tell you this back story really was awesome.
I thought the author dud a wonderful job of writing about the tough topic of addiction with knowledge and sensitivity. Overtime I felt like I was going to predict a twist or turn, I was very wrong! I was so caught of guard by the way the story ended (in the best possible way) it cemented the fact that this book was definitely my type.

I received an ARC of the book from Flux via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Fix Me by Lisa M. Cronkhite is a young adult novel that centers around the powerful drug called Fix. A young girl named Penelope Wryter AKA Pen finds herself becoming dependant on Fix after her sister commits suicide. Not only does the drug make her feel good, it also makes her have very life-like hallucinations that seem to control her. Pen constantly sees Nate, a boy who truly cares about her and even falls in love with her- of course, only until the drug wears off. Pen understands the consequences of Fix but also knows she can’t go off it. It makes her feel alive. However, when a girl from her class goes missing after a bad Fix trip, she realizes she must wake up. To truly feel alive, she must begin to solve not only the mysterious disappearance, but the problems in her own life as well.

Fix Me is exhilarating from start to finish. I really like that this novel is overall focused on addiction- rarely do I read a young adult novel that handles teen addiction in an honorable way. Pen is an unreliable narrator due to her fascination with Fix which again, I thought was really well done. I enjoyed reading what Pen had to say and then taking the time to think about if what she said was truly real or not. The plot overall is very interesting and original and I think this book has a lot of promise.

I do like this book but I think there is lots of room for improvement. Cronkhite writes well but there are a few errors that are hard to overlook, such as continuity issues. While reading, I found myself becoming confused very quickly because at certain points I felt like I was missing parts of the story. Maybe it is supposed to feel that way due to the drug addiction but I thought it just did not fit well with this story. Along with that, most of the time the pacing feels right but there are sports that it is just completely off. I think the mysterious tone shown throughout the novel does have something to do with this. It works most of the time, but sometimes there are “big reveals” that did not shock or surprise me at all. I also did not like most of the characters. I found it hard to relate to most of them, and although I like Pen the best, I do wish there was more depth to her. Before reading this book, I was hoping it would be less predictable and a little more focused on the depression leading up to the addiction. Although I did enjoy this book start to finish and I think most people will too. I suggest this book to any teens or adults who are struggling or know someone who is struggling with addiction. This book teaches you that it is okay to acknowledge your inner demons and ask for help when you need it.

This book has potential. The writing is pretty well done for a mystery book although I wish it delve deeper into Penelope's depression.

I suspects this book is set in the future because Fix sure as hell didn't act like the drugs we currently know of. Or this book is actually paranormal because Nate is a ghost, but a rather powerful ghost I might add since he is able to send Candace and Kelly's ghost to warn Penelope

The whole mystery is just ludicrous. We know Fix can cause hallucinations. Hallucinations means that it isn't real and only a fickle of Penelope's imagination. Yet apparently Nate who only appear to Penelope when she take Fix hence we can conclude that Nate is a part of Penelope's hallucinations. But Nate, who I emphasis that its a hallucination is able to communicate with Penelope and tell her who the killer is and how strange that she believe him, a ghost and lemme emphasize again, a part of her hallucination. Why would Penelope believe a hallucination? that's strange and doesn't make any sense

Instead of using the traditional way of solving a murder mystery, the author uses Fix drug to do it, so convenient that the drug cause Nate the ghost to appear to give hints on who is the killer. And we don't know much about this Fix drug. It would at least make the story more belivable if the readers have a basic idea of how Fix works. Weirdly, dipping Fix into a cough syrup would disrupt the Fix cycle. I find this really hard to believe if u gonna call Fix a drug. We know the effects of a drug and I don't think there is any drug out there would cause a Fix cycle like Fix does. Fix isn't a drug, its more like a magic pill or something. Calling it a drug but it doesn't act like a drug just feels contradictory and ruin the story

If I had ever wanted to consider taking drugs this book would stop me from trying them. While the images of purple skies and the thought of being able to manipulate what you see and hear during hallucinations sounds intoxicating and inviting, I'd much rather use my imagination to do the same thing minus the side effects.

I found it so hard wanting to continue reading when there wasn't a single character I liked or cared about. Pen, our protagonist, is one of the most self centred characters I've ever come across. Her self esteem is in the toilet (unlike her vomit which invariably ends up wherever she is at the time) and while she gets used by almost every other person in the book it was hard to feel sorry for her as she was in turn using everyone else as well.

Overall I was disappointed by this book. What started out promising turned into a series of descriptions of people getting high and the last quarter of the book felt rushed. I rarely ever work out who the murderer is in books until the big reveal, yet I figured out not only who they were but their motive early on. Hint: it's the only person in the book with a motive.

The lack of attention to detail really annoyed me, with contradictions consistently made with what we'd already been told, sometimes even as recently as the page before. Also, why is Pen continually surprised that she is hallucinating the day after she takes Fix when it's already been established early in the book that Fix's side effects can last for a significant period of time after you stop taking it?

What I wanted to eat while reading this book:
* Absolutely nothing! Between the frequent descriptions of Pen wanting to vomit and what her vomit looked like there was no way I was going to eat while reading this book. I guess those descriptions do make a valid point about drug addiction though ... no matter how disgusting the side effects, if you're hooked on a drug they pale in comparison to the need to get high.

I was so excited about this book after reading the blurb and the first couple of chapters but if I'd borrowed it from the library I doubt I would have made it past chapter 4. However, as I'd received a free copy from NetGalley (thank you to NetGalley and Flux) in exchange for an honest review, I felt I needed to persevere.

Although it is being touted as a mystery/thriller, it's more like horror/ supernatural. Unfortunately, I had too many places where I couldn't suspend disbelief. I felt disconnected to the story in a number of places.

MANY SPOILER ALERTS:
If Pen hadn't called Jenelle, how would Jenelle have gotten into the story? Was that a supernatural occurrence or coincidence?

Even simple things interrupted my flow of the story, like some problems with the school the author created:
No punishment for cutting from school
Baloney that the librarian would let Pen off without a pass - twice

Factual applications of the use of drugs, even a made-up drug - don't match what would be expected… Drugs don't last as long as the author purports (up to 8 weeks in bloodstream). Even though this is fiction, I was distracted from the more realistic time frame of 3-6 weeks in urine and 3 days in blood.

Other drug side effects the author created weren't used consistently: for example, recurring visions of unknown people, even when a person is not currently high. But Pen has been on for a year, so wouldn't that mean that Pen would have had extra-Nate visions before now? What about the inconsistency of when Pen becomes nauseous and vomiting?

The police scenes are so unrealistic. Pen and her friends are minors taken to the police station without a guardian or a lawyer!

And why would the rehab let Pen out immediately after she just had what they think is a reaction to the meds they’ve put her on?

I don't think the story knows what it wants to be. Ghost story? Mystery? Realistic fiction with hallucinations? It wasn't the story that was a mystery; it was the editing. Ouch...sorry...

Of course, there were things that I enjoyed about the novel, for instance, the plot and the representation of how the drug affected not only her mind but her body. Only, I didn't really like the characters all too much. In the beginning, I felt that her friends were not what I would consider being friends. Her best friend encourages her to drugs and her ex-boyfriend seems to attack her verbally about her drug use rather than to be affectionate in terms of helping her steer away from the use. Even at times where he does seem to be wanting to comfort her, his attempts are initially fogged with jealousy and a longing to have her back.
Overall, I found that this book had an interesting plot but the characters were just not of my liking. Of course, there was growth later on in the novel but I feel that if I have read an entire story, I should at least like a few characters from the very beginning.

I'd probably give this book 1.5 stars.

Penelope is not an interesting character has no redeeming qualities. It's the same way with her friends. Most of this book revolves around the drug "Fix" which was supposed to be a mood-stabilizer, but causes hallucinations so it was taken off the market. Penelope and her friends take Fix to get high and have fun. Most of the book is actually just a bunch of teenagers getting high.

While Pen is high, she sees Nate. Nate is supposedly a figment of her imagination that she's also in love with. Really.

Along with the drug use, there are two other revolving storylines. One is that Penelope wants to know why her sister killed herself, and the other is that other teenage girls have gone missing.

So, the big ending comes and all the questions are answered in a weird way. There's a character that didn't show up until halfway through the book who is supposed to be the villain, the realization that Nate *was* real (he's a spirit now and that's how he communicates with Pen), and all of Pen's terrible friends aren't that terrible at all.

I'm sure, maybe, these plotlines mixed together will make sense to others. To me it lacked creativity and was too simple.