I truly don't know where to start with this book. From the first to the very last page this book kept me mesmerized, and had me wondering what was going to happen next. This book was an emotional roller-coaster, with something unexpected happening at every twist and turn. I honestly could probably read this book a million more times and then some. I would really encourage anyone even the slightest bit interested in this book to read it. The title of this book truly sums up the whole experience of reading this book, and honestly the book itself. This book was truly breathtaking.

“Even though they often played together after school, the daytime hours weren’t enough for these best friends—they needed the nighttime, too.”

I really, really have a soft spot for books with nothing more than the relationship between best friends or siblings, and this one hits the mark so hard!

The story follows Cara and the relationship with her best friend and next-door neighbor, Adam, from the time they’re eight years old up through college. It’s beyond satisfying to see the two interact; keeping childhood secrets, special moments, tears, smiles and promises between the two.

Character development was so important in this book, and again, the author nailed it. Cara has to go from being an innocent child to a teen with a bad home life. Adam struggles from being a kid that is bullied to figuring out who he wants to be. Both are constantly changing and growing through each chapter; sometimes together and sometimes separately, and it’s beautiful!

Love, tragedy, heartbreak, abuse and best-friends; I could not put this book down until it was finished.

4.5
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and enjoy this book.

I loved this book, I loved watching the characters grow over many years especially Adam and Clara’s friendship. I felt all the emotions reading this and love feeling them all. I devoured this story in just over a day. The writing style was easy to understand and the chapter lengths added to my enjoyment and intrigue throughout. Although I guessed some plot points the story went in directions I could not have predicted. Overall this story was a very enjoyable experience and a great debut.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3517265102

I absolutely loved this book! It’s been a while since a book had tears streaming down my face, but this one did me in!

Cara appeared to have the perfect life, but in reality it was everything but. Thankfully she had her best friend and next-door neighbor, Adam, to keep her grounded. I loved their camaraderie and some of my favorite scenes throughout this book were when she would share her stories with Adam through her bedroom window.

When tragedy struck, I was devastated, but I loved how Courtney Turcotte Bond portrayed the characters expressing their reactions and coping mechanisms in such a realistic and relatable way.

When tragedy struck again, I was again left broken-hearted, as were the characters, but I felt they had grown and matured and were more prepared to deal with loss having already gone through it themselves.

This really was a remarkable story, but I don’t want to give anything away because it was just so good. Highly recommend!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3495131169

I didn’t have any idea as to what this book was going to entail and I really do think that’s the best way. You want to experience that raw emotion that will hit you as the story unfolds.

The book is split into three parts, the first we are introduced to Cara & Adam when they are around 8 years old as we begin the story of how these two best friends meet and communicate. Part 2 takes you on their next journey through life as they start school together and Part 3 are the years after school and beyond.

I was immediately attached to Cara and Adam. I felt like I was right there beside them on every step of their journey together and I just didn’t want to leave them. I felt everything they were going through.

It deals with a variety of very important subject matters, from grief, depression to organ donation and more. Each one portrayed perfectly by the author and will have you feeling all of the emotions too.

Poetry plays a huge part in the story and some beautiful pieces are scattered throughout which just enhance the story. I’ve never been a huge fan of poetry so I was worried I wouldn’t enjoy it, but it didn’t detract from the story at all, in fact it made it even more beautiful!

There is also a pretty big jaw dropping moment which actually gave me chills and then I proceeded to cry yet again. This book just plays with your emotions from the very beginning.

Overall it will have your heart bursting with love and breaking all at the same time. But most importantly it will make you think hard about life and to appreciate every single day!

One final very important note is that this is based on a true story which makes it mean so much more and at the end of the book you are told about the actual people who the characters were based on. I can only thank the author for sharing this story!

If there’s one thing you do this year, make sure you read this!

Overall rating: ★★★★★

“We all have a story - our reason to breathe. We don't get to choose how it begins, the people who enter, or the pain that comes along the way.”

Wow. I just... wow. ALL THE STARS FOR THIS ONE! First of all, I am a sobbing mess, a puddle of emotion, an emotional wreck. This book grabbed my heart in its hand and ripped it out completely only to put it back together again. Honestly, the last time I've felt this many emotions while reading a book was with John Green's The Fault in Our Stars.

The story is told from Cara's perspective and it's her that tells you this heart-wrenching story. Her character is so realistic and has such depth, I absolutely loved her. But it's not just her, even the secondary characters are realistically written and have many layers to them. I can't believe this is only a debut novel, because it must not be easy to create characters like this.

This book deals with serious issues like alcoholism, neglect and illness in such an honest way. It is so beautifully written, thought provoking and moving. Above all else, I feel like it's a story about friendship, love, resilience and rising above everything that's trying to hold you back in life. I could write a lot more about this, but I don't wanna spoil anything for anyone so I'll just leave it at that.

I'd like to thank BooksGosocial, Netgalley and of course the wonderful writer herself, Courtney Turcotte Bond, for making this amazing book available to read early in exchange for an honest review. Also, can someone please make this book into a movie because that would just be absolutely perfect, thank you very much.

And to whoever is reading this: buy it, read it, share it. This story truly is absolutely breathtaking.

“We're all dying, Cara. Every day, it gets closer and closer. That's why we have to suck all the marrow out now before it's too late.”

The story starts out following eight year olds Cara and Adam, best friends and neighbors. Most of the book focuses on their friendship, the ups and downs, how they feel when one becomes more popular than the other, and through relationships they have with other people. A tragedy strikes Adam when they are seniors in high school, leaving Cara alone and heart broken. She finally makes her way to college and meets another student who makes her feel the same way Adam used to make her feel. Reid and Cara only agree to friendship even though they mean much more to each other than just friends. But neither of them is willing to make more of a commitment due to their pasts. When Cara finds out Reid’s secret, her world is turned upside down in the most bittersweet way. This book reminds me of A Walk to Remember.

Without giving away any spoilers, I enjoyed this book despite the sad nature of the content. I was excited to read since it’s getting a lot of attention in my hometown, where the author is from and is teaching. We don’t get a lot of fun press like this so I want to support Courtney Turcotte Bond!

My only drawback of the book is the voice and lack of character development in Cara. Cara is eight when the book begins but her voice is much younger and never matures even as Cara grows older. So even when she is in high school she still sounds like an eight year old. I also feel Cara would have matured faster for her age since she was essentially taking care of herself when she was eight.

I also wish the last part of the book wasn’t as rushed. Three fourths of the book is about Cara and Adam and their relationship. The other fourth is Cara and Reid, and then two pages to wrap everything up. As a reader, I needed more time with Cara and Reid to truly appreciate their ending and not feel like she finished the book just to finish it.

Breathtaking is a heart-wrenching coming-of-age story that left me absolutely gutted.

Cara Ecrivains and Adam Aether have been best friends nearly their whole lives. Caras family hides behind this perfect facade and the only person in the world who knows the truth and the depth of her pain is Adam. What happens when the one person who makes everything bad disapear, disapears themselves?

Breathtaking is a story of loss, death, grief, depression and finding the strength to live again. This book is bound to make you smile, laugh and cry over and over again. If you read nothing else this year, PLEASE let this be the one book you pick up.
I recieved a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I adored this book. I found it a little slow starting but from about 30% I read it in one sitting. The character relationships were beautifully developed which made the tragedies in this book truly heartbreaking. I cannot remember the last time I cried reading a book but this one definitely got me. To find at the end, it was based on a true story made this such a poignant read. Difficult topics were dealt with in a hard-hitting but sensitive manner. Would hugely recommend this book to others.
Trigger warnings: alcoholism, neglect, death, grief, illness.

I enjoyed this book so much. I’d love to read more by this author. It was written really well and completely held my attention

What a fantastic book! I was so engrossed in the story that I couldn’t stop reading! I actually cried at one point.

I loved the poetry throughout the book and it really added to the story in such a beautiful way.

I felt for Cara and all she has had to go through. Adam was her constant through the good times and the bad. The boy next door.

I loved their connection. They had such a special bond and despite ups and downs that life throws at you, they make it through together.

When tragedy strikes, Cara is lost and everything she ever dreamed of is suddenly taken away.

Her journey continues as she grows older and things happen that are unexpected.

I didn’t find out until the end of the book that it was based on a true story. Wow. This is a beautiful and tragic coming of age story.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC of Breathtaking in exchange for an honest review.

“It is the dark
and the distance
that lets us see the stars.”

Cara Ecrivains and Adam Aether have been best friends as long as anyone can remember. They find solace in one another and balance each other out.

But when Cara’s life turns upside down, Adam is no longer there for her. She sinks into deep depression and enters a time where writing, her first love, is gone.

How will Cara ever be able to move on and learn to love again, when everything she loves most is gone?

Breathtaking tells the story of Cara Ecrivains. It was full of heartbreaks, friendships, love, and possibilities. One moment I was laughing, and the next, I was crying my eyes out. Bond had an amazing concept, and she took writing to the next level with her flawless execution.

Cara was, and always will be, one of my favorite characters. Dealing with her alcoholic father, struggling to survive with Adam drifting away, and having to take care of herself, I really felt Cara’s thoughts and emotions, from her worries and sadness to her hopes and joys. She really resonated with me, and was just so dimensional that I felt like I knew her inside and out. Cara has had so many bad things happen to her, and I really felt for her and loved watching her learn and grow.

Not only did I love Cara, I also enjoyed reading about the secondary character. They felt so realistic, with complex and layered personalities, and I loved each and every one of them. I liked that they each played a role in Cara’s life, whether they broke her down or built her up.

Breathtaking held so many hidden messages within its lines. It navigates the depths of grief and the hopes of love and every little thing in between. This story teaches us to live our lives well, because it’s the only one we have, and will ever get, and that life is a gift and sharing the sorrows and joys of life is one thing that everyone should do.

This book absolutely broke me. It was everything. Breathtaking was thought-provoking, raw, and poignant. The plot was eventful and flowed along perfectly. It had an intricately woven storyline, with such dimensional characters and tremendous character growth. It’s a book I could read a million times and still not be tired of. Breathtaking truly is breathtaking.

LOVED this book! It’s a really well written YA book that tackles some intense topics- alcoholism, OCD, organ donation, death and being the ones left behind. Highly recommend it!!

I loved this book, rating it 4 stars. It had such a fascinating plot, with complex characters. See my full review on my blog!

CW: Slight homophobia, fatphobia, alcohol abuse, illness, death

4 stars

**slight spoilers**

Oh my god, I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. I was expecting another story like Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon, or Five Feet Apart by Rachel Lippincott (which are both great stories, don't get me wrong.) This book was an absolute delight to read. I found that the writing, while simple, really packed a punch. I thought the poetry throughout the book was phenomenal and really added to the story.

I know that these characters will absolutely stick with me. Adam is a great friend and is a great character to get to know from his childhood into the present day. Cara, while at first, I thought her character was a know-it-all and was an “I’m not like other girls” girl, she quickly grew on me. Her growth from her childhood to her adulthood was an amazon journey to follow. The story of her parents is one that hits hard and I feel like many people can relate to it. Reid was another character I was wary about but quickly grew to love.

The one thing that I do want to mention is the dialogue. It can sometimes sound very much like an adult writing as a teenager and doesn't feel authentically teenage at times, which is a shame. An example of this is when Cara is analyzing a poem in her highschool English class. She sounded so much like an adult that I had to check the timing of when she said it. That is not to say that teenagers cannot sound profound, but the way that she said it came off as very “I am an adult who is speaking through a teenager”

Other than the dialogue, I found this book to be very good and I loved reading it. It sheds light on some very important topics like becoming an organ donor and cystic fibrosis.

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Breathtaking is the perfect name for this book, as it truly a stunningly beautiful read which takes your breath away with it's meaningful and deep plot, which pulls you in from the first page. The characters come alive, each taking you in to the world as they see it, all helping to create a mesmerising tale of friendship,love and learning who you are. It's a story that lingers with you and that you will rave about for weeks, passing it on to friends and family.

I honestly do not know where to start.
I have felt all of the feelings while reading this book. It touched me in so many ways. I just couldn’t put it down.
I devoured the story of Kara and Adam and cried and laughed and felt everything in between.
This is one of those books that I think everyone should read. It should be thrust upon teenagers during their times in school.
Not only is the story hugely inspirational, it is also real in so many ways.
You can literally feel every emotion.
I will be sharing with everyone who will listen as they need to meet Kara and Adam too!

I struggled with this book because although I could see why so many have loved this book, I also felt like it wasn’t for me - or isn’t for me right now in my life.

This is one of those books I think could help someone a lot at certain times in their lives. For me, I think my younger self would have connected to this book a lot more.

- I truly appreciated the characters. I liked both Cara and Adam a lot and I thought they were both well developed throughout the book.
- I think this is a very realistic portrayal of many people’s lives and I liked how the author took time in fleshing this part of the plot out.
- I think the writing was okay. It wasn’t anything special and felt to me it was written for younger readers.

Overall, this book has a good message and a well thought out plot and would be good for younger teen readers.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

There is nothing else to add to the previously written comments about this novel. It is perfect. Cara and Adam have been friends forever. Her perfect facade hides an imperfect family life. Adam kindly shares his family with Cara and they coax each other through the difficulties of high school. With each encouraging the other, Cara and Adam have the ability to reach their life goals. I appreciate having the opportunity to be an early reader. All these five-star reviews encouraged me to bump Breathless to the top of my TBR pile. Add it to Goodreads, buy it, read it, share it. Breathless is a story that must be passed to others.