* * * 1/2
Benjamin Nefer seems to have it all. He’s the
most popular guy in school, the star quarterback with college scouts looking at
him, his grades are near the top of his class, he can get any girl he wants . .
. but he hides behind his dream life to mask the nightmare of his reality.
Charlie Austin is the new girl. Forced to move in with a bitter aunt, she only wants to protect her fragile mom from the world’s cruelty. When Benjamin sets his sights on Charlie, she’s armored against his charm—friends warned her about Benjamin’s game of pursuing and then dumping a long line of girls, not caring about the broken hearts he leaves behind. She doesn’t count on how single-minded he can be when she refuses him, or how charismatic, easing into her life through what he claims is just friendship.
Benjamin thought he could keep Charlie in the same place he keeps all girls—something to be used and then discarded. But Charlie has as many secrets as he does, secrets he’s determined to discover while keeping his own hidden. He realizes she’s the perfect girlfriend candidate . . . someone he can use to keep up the façade of a perfect life. Now he just has to keep his frozen heart from softening toward this unique girl, because if he doesn’t, his carefully constructed lies might just come thundering down around him, crushing him beneath the burden of feeling.
Charlie Austin is the new girl. Forced to move in with a bitter aunt, she only wants to protect her fragile mom from the world’s cruelty. When Benjamin sets his sights on Charlie, she’s armored against his charm—friends warned her about Benjamin’s game of pursuing and then dumping a long line of girls, not caring about the broken hearts he leaves behind. She doesn’t count on how single-minded he can be when she refuses him, or how charismatic, easing into her life through what he claims is just friendship.
Benjamin thought he could keep Charlie in the same place he keeps all girls—something to be used and then discarded. But Charlie has as many secrets as he does, secrets he’s determined to discover while keeping his own hidden. He realizes she’s the perfect girlfriend candidate . . . someone he can use to keep up the façade of a perfect life. Now he just has to keep his frozen heart from softening toward this unique girl, because if he doesn’t, his carefully constructed lies might just come thundering down around him, crushing him beneath the burden of feeling.
Review:
Benjamin Nefer notices Charlie
Austin her first day of school. He
wastes no time and begins pursuing her right away. He wasn’t prepared for her immediate brush
off since she had already been warned about him. But Benjamin Nefer is persistent. Except, in this case, his persistence might
backfire. Benjamin’s approach to girls
has always been to date them twice then break up with them. That is just one of many ways for him to
appear normal and privileged when his home life is anything but. He will do anything to hide where he lives
and the abuse he endures at home. Including sparring at a local boxing club to
give everyone other ideas as to wear the bruises come from. He will also do anything to avoid emotional
attachments. And in the end, being
attached to anyone in his hometown is useless as he intends on going as far
away as possible once he graduates high school.
But Charlie is different. In his
pursuit he finds himself falling for her and he doesn’t have the slightest idea
what to do about that as he forgot how to feel any emotions forever ago.
Charlie Austin just wants to
keep her mom safe. Due to complications
at birth, Cora has needed assistance all her life. Her first stay in a home for adults with
special needs resulted in her being raped and becoming pregnant. With Charlie.
Since that horrible time, Cora’s mother has taken care of both Cora and
Charlie. But when Charlie’s grandmother
passes away they are forced to move in with Cora’s sister, Naomi. Charlie doesn’t feel that Naomi wants them
there and she certainly doesn’t trust her to take care of her mother. Charlie’s days are filled with school work
and caring for Cora. Both of which she
does willingly and lovingly. Her plan
after graduation is to find a job and care for her mother without the charity
of Aunt Naomi. Needless to say she doesn’t
have time for a boyfriend. But she can certainly
do friends. So when Benjamin Nefer backs
off a little and pursues her as a friend rather than a romantic interest, she
is completely on board. But as things
sometimes work out, Charlie starts falling for Benjamin. And she finds herself wondering how on earth
they continue to be friends when he might have the unexpected power to break
her heart.
The slowly developed romance
between Benjamin and Charlie is perfectly balanced with the struggles they each
have at home. The author holds nothing
back in describing Benjamin’s home life.
It’s brutally honest, violent and painful to read. As for Charlie, my heart broke for her as
well. Her unconditional love for her
mother is absolutely beautiful. But the
responsibility she has put upon herself is overwhelming to say the least. And watching her struggle to come to terms
with her aunt’s role in her life is touching.
This a remarkable and well
written story. The characters situations
were original. The romance was steady
and believable. And in the end, it left
me both emotionally exhausted and hopeful.
I won’t lie. This is not always
an easy book to read and each MC’s personal lives might be a trigger for some
readers out there. But if you are
looking for contemporary YA with weighted issues that really make you think, I
definitely recommend The End of Feeling.
