Book Review: So Much It Hurts by Melanie Dawn

So Much It Hurts by Melanie Dawn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

** I was provided a copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review. **

This book gave me a book hangover; which in the case of this book is a good and bad thing. I loved the story, all of it, up until the end. The end left me completely heartbroken.

Kaitlyn Thomas was on a weekend getaway with the girls when she runs into a face from the past, Chris King. Her friends instantly noticed there was a connection and questioned Kaitlyn about it. The book then went to the past to show how Kaitlyn and Chris knew one another.

Kaitlyn was a smart cheerleader who happened to catch the eye of one of the school’s trifecta athletes (athlete who played football, basketball, and baseball), Trevor Kent. Their relationship started off normal. Then slowly, Trevor began to physically and emotionally abuse Kaitlyn. Being from a small town, Kaitlyn knew it would destroy her socially if she spoke out against Trevor or even broke up with him. Add that to the fact that Trevor was a true abuser and threatened to kill her if she did either. Kaitlyn continued to forgive Trevor.

One afternoon, Kaitlyn meets the new kid in school, Chris King. Chris had recently enrolled after being released from juvie. The two strike up a friendship and he becomes her savior. However, her mother’s small town mind and attitude keep the two apart. Kaitlyn once again forgives Trevor and agrees to a hiking trip with him and two other friends. On the trip, Trevor takes his abusive ways a step further and Kaitlyn once again calls Chris to save her. Chris, fed up with the abuse, attacks Trevor in school and is sent to juvie again. Kaitlyn moves on with her life including marrying another schoolmate, Michael and having a child.

The book then jumps back to the present where Kaitlyn must choose between the vows she took on her wedding day or the feelings she has always had for Chris.

This book touches on many taboo subjects: abuse, rape, unfaithfulness, paternity. Many of these subjects are “no-deal” topics for readers so if any of them offend you, please do not read this book. I related to Kaitlyn. On a personal level, I was able to feel her emotions through each trial and tribulation. I gave a little piece of my heart to Chris King (and I hope I don’t regret it in the follow up book). I didn’t always agree with Kaitlyn’s decisions but was able to see why she made the choices she did. The ending left me heartbroken; in my heart, Kaitlyn made the absolute wrong decision.

This is a good book and being a debut novel, I believe we will be seeing great more things from Melanie Dawn!


View all my reviews