Find my reviews on Blogger ~ Literary Meanderings 
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 Flawed is the story of James and Sarah O'Brien. Their father, "Knockout Jimmy," is an ex-boxer. His career was brought to a halt by James and Sarah's mother. Deciding she wanted to attach herself to him, she poked holes in a condom before having sex with him, and thus James was born. Sarah came shortly after. 
 "Two babies in little more than a year and a half. Knockout Jimmy was forced to give up boxing and take a job in the paper mill. 
 It broke him, and in turn, he broke us all." 
 Their father takes his anger out on his children for years. Sarah and James both bear the scars that attest to his rage and blame. Their mother, a drug addict and alcoholic, does nothing to help them. Sarah can't even remember the last time her mother came out of her bedroom. The two siblings are left to fend for themselves. 
 Until James starts to fight back. 
 "The stinging slap of leather against skin reverberated off the dingy walls. Once, twice, three times. I bit my lip and tried not to cry out because crying only ever made things worse. 
 A door clicked shut. My mother's door. 
 The pound-pound-pound of my brother barreling into the room filled the void she left behind. From where I lay curled on the floor, my brother looked like an angel. 
 'Don't touch her!' 
 This is my first real memory of James. 
 Our father sneered at him. 'Do you think I'm scared of you, boy?' 
 James lifted his chin. 'You should be.'" 
 That day, James and Sarah made a pact. 
 "'I'm never gonna let anything happen to you, Sarah.' 
 He smiled, all dimples and sparkling blue eyes. 'Just don't leave me, okay? Not ever. Promise?' 
 'I promise.'" 
 From that moment on, James has been there to protect his sister whether it be by taking the blows himself, or fighting back against his father. But as the siblings become older, the dynamic between them begins to change; begins to take a darker turn--until James finally crosses a line that Sarah cannot bring herself to follow. 
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 This book left my heart in pieces on the floor. It's probably the most heartbreaking book I've ever read. 
 The characters practically jump right off the page. From the monstrosity that is Knockout Jimmy, to the protective, broken James, to the ever-hopeful Sarah. Then there is Sam. Sam is James' best friend; a friend who has finally decided to act on his long-hidden feelings for Sarah. When this happens, James shows his darker side. James is damaged. His life of abuse has turned him into a drug addict with a temper to rival his father's. He isn't just protective of Sarah, but possessive as well. When Sam shows interest in her romantically, James literally goes insane. It was painful to watch this downward spiral. James with his anger and hatred. Sam with his determination and love. Sarah torn between the two of them and doing what's right for herself. It's all very dramatic and enthralling to watch. 
 The writing is extremely impressive. Kate Avelynn revealed James and Sarah's past in perfect increments. Bits and hints at their terrible experiences were spread out evenly until the very last page. Just when you think you couldn't be any more horrified, she throws out something more sinister than you could imagine. This life twisted James into something sick. He's a victim of circumstance. Had his life not been so awful, he wouldn't have grown into the man we see in this novel. He's bitter, angry, violent, and very misguided. He is the type of character you could easily hate. I, however, could not bring myself to do so. Although misguided, he loves his sister. He protected her for years. He may be the source of her pain in the end, but up to that point, he was her savior. He was everything to Sarah. It probably says something less than savory about me, but I can't deny the fact that I sort of hoped James and Sarah would run off together and be together. Something about the two of them worked for me. Call me crazy, but I was a tad bit disappointed that the story didn't end that way. Don't get me wrong, Sam is an amazing love interest. He is full of passion, strength, determination, and sweetness. He is definitely a savior to Sarah in his own right. I definitely enjoyed his character. 
 Let's talk about the ending. Holy mother of GOD. This ending surprised me, although it probably shouldn't have. I won't give you details, because the ending is what truly makes this book. If you want a pretty little happily-ever-after then you should look elsewhere. Avelynn took the road less traveled. She gave us a raw, realistic ending. After thinking on it for a bit, I realized that this book really couldn't have ended any other way. I feel that it fit the story perfectly. It's got the WOW factor and had a major impact on me as a reader. For me, it was perfection. I appreciated that this author had the insight to know that this ending had to be the way it was. Love love loved it. Stellar, just freaking stellar. 
 "'You'd give up everything for me?' 
 'When are you going to get that you are everything?'" 
 All in all, Flawed amazed me. I was emotionally invested from the very first page and a blubbering mess by the last. The characters are very real and the storyline is very raw. It's dark, it's devastating, it's compelling, it's beautiful. Avelynn knows how to hold her reader's attention and how to take hold of their emotions. She handled tough subjects such as domestic abuse, rape, teenage sex, incest, and drug abuse with respect and grace. That being said, this book is not for younger readers. It definitely falls into the New Adult category. 
 This is a book I recommend to anyone who enjoys a dark story; a story that'll wreak havoc on your emotional state and leave you breathless; a story that will make you take a look at your own life and maybe feel a bit more grateful for the things and people within it. The story of James and Sarah is a truly profound and moving one. This will undoubtedly be in my top ten reads for this year. Automatic favorite! 
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 Book source: NetGalley 
 Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC