Say My Name

loved this book

This book had an all too rare quality for a book in this genre: a fresh, unique plot told in a well thought, out, well paced and well executed way. It dealt with some difficult subjects in a realistic but engrossing way. And I thank the author for writing outside the box.
The story addresses a type of addiction I don't know too much about, so I trust the author has done her research, and that the details she presents about the struggles of the main character are accurate. This tale is populated with characters that are both realistic and interesting, which is apparently a difficult task since doesn't happen frequently. I was especially moved by the nuanced relationship between Emerson and her older sister.
There were a few things that seemed a little off. The book featured one of my pet peeves - the villainous parents, All the parents in this book were fairly one dimensional. Though their roles were not large they were pivotal to the story. Honestly, I'm sure there are parents in the world who are totally uninterested in their children's happiness, but in reading NA or YA books they all seem to be either saints or sinners, and mostly the latter. Especially if they are rich. If they are rich or successful they are almost always self-centered, morally depraved, and often just nasty. While this makes a useful plot device, the stories would be richer, I think, if they could be drawn a little more realistically.
My only other issue was the ages of the characters. Maybe it's because I'm not a NA/YA and haven't been for a while. I don't doubt that issues like these happen to people of this tender age, I just had trouble envisioning it based on the people in this age group I'm around, I appreciated the story more by making them a little older in my head.
This is s book worth reading, especially if you are looking for a well written book in this genre that has a little more meat to it than the usual angsty drama or cutesy Cinderella stories. Yes, it has a happy ending, but also a lot of unexpected turns and difficult dips in getting there.

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

Taylor goes to stay with and work for her sister, Kimi over the summer, after splitting up from her cheating boyfriend.

She meets Isaiah, who works at Kimi’s local shop.

Taylor and Isaiah have an instant attraction but will they end up together.

Taylor has to work through several things concerning her family and childhood, then there's the ex boyfriend as well but Isaiah has his own issues and past to work out too.

I was drawn to this book by both the description and the cover. I found Say my name, Tricia’s debut novel, very well written. The author helped to set the scene well but she wasn't overly descriptive, which is good, as I don't get along with unnecessary description.

I felt that I got to know Taylor quite well, quite early on in the book but Isaiah was a bit mysterious. This added to the build of the story.

I found the characters very likable, especially Taylor, a young women trying to work out, where her life should lead her, and to follow her heart and dreams, and not be lead by her father.

The story was full of twists and turns. I was unsure as to how the book would end, and as to how I wanted the book to end.

This is a very good debut. I shall look out for more by Tricia Best in the future.

Wow. This is a tough one. If it were not for the excellent writing, I may not have made it through the entire book. However, because it is so well written, I was pretty much glued to it.

Please, future possible reader, be aware that there are some awful things in this book that happen to good people. The story is full of possible triggers for sensitive readers. To say this is a story that is an emotional rollercoaster is putting it mildly.

I wasn't even sure some of the time if I liked either Taylor or Isaiah, the two leading characters, By the end, I was rooting for them 100% though.

This is a story that literally smacks you in the face with some harsh realities. Bad things happen. People can be creeps. Parents can be awful The list goes on. However, the story also points out the healing power of love and understanding, and it illustrates that people can change when they try hard enough for the right reasons. Goals can be altered without the world spinning off its axis too.

My recommendation is to square your shoulders and read this book if you want to learn some things you've never probably considered, and keep an open mind throughout it.

Kudos to the author for taking a giant leap into unknown waters.

Say My Name is a difficult story to read. Taylor is a shallow 18 year old who has just dumped her cheating boyfriend and is spending the summer working for her older sister. She meets Isaiah and is immediately flustered by him. They strike up a friendship of sorts, but it's not easy going for them. He has a huge secret that he isn't sharing, and Taylor is just trying to figure where she fits into life, and what she wants to do with her life. Her parents are difficult at best, and Taylor just doesn't know what to do with herself sometimes.

I love Isaiah, he is a fighter and admirably had pulled himself out of a really horrible addiction. Taylor was a little harder to connect to at first, but as she matured as the story progressed, I started to see in her what Isaiah saw, a good person with a beautiful soul. Say My Name has much more depth than most NA fiction I have read, and for that I give Tricia Best a lot of credit. I can't say I love Say My Name, but I really like that it tackled a difficult subject with grace. I am looking forward to more from Tricia.

Say My Name by Tricia Best is a love story in which two people are deeply flawed and together they find healing and a future. Taylor Jenson is reeling from her breakup with her boyfriend, Ryan. He cheated on her with numerous women including her best friend. She is also conflicted about her choice of career. She chooses business to please her father but her real passion is music. She spends the summer before university with her half-sister, Kimi where she heals from her heartbreak and tries to find the motivation for her chosen career. There she meets Isaiah Butler, who works at the local market. Instantly there is a connection with the two but there is also a barrier. As Taylor tries to understand and come to terms with why her boyfriend would cheat, Isaiah can’t seem to stay away from Taylor despite not telling her his deepest, darkest secret. When he finally reveals his secret, Taylor runs and attends university having no contact with Isaiah for months. When they see each other again, will the connection still be there? Will they be able to understand the past pain in each other which effects their present? Will they be able to help each deal with their personal demons?
The book opens with this dedication “To those who had their sexuality hijacked and are fighting to get it back.” When I read the description of this book and this dedication, I wasn’t sure what kind of story it would be. The story was not what I expected in a good way. By the story’s end, I understood Ms. Best meant and applaud her for a great story. Say My Name is filled with drama and emotional, heart wrenching scenes. The sex scenes with instantly beautiful and, to me, can only be between two truly in love. I loved the flaws of Taylor and Isaiah. They were real and dealt with realistically. I love how Ms. Best presents their demons as never really going away, we just learn how to deal with them when they chose to rear their ugly heads. I highly recommend Say My Name!

Say My Name
is available on Amazon on the Kindle

You can say my name! Loved this book. 5 Stars! Now I have to read more by Tricia Best.

Tricia Best tackled some taboo topics in this story and did a fabulous job. Addictions of any kind are tough to discuss as it can reach different people in different ways and I feel that Best did a tremendous job with this book!