Tag: Tara Hodgson

At Least I’m Trying by Tara Hodgson Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A young woman loses herself to a new life, one to discover hidden dangers in those she trusted in author Tara Hodgson’s “At Least I’m Trying.”

Advertisements

The Synopsis

When the volleyball hits the floor mere inches from Reese’s hands, her dreams of playing college ball shatter.

After consecutive failures on the court, in the classroom, and in her relationships, she’s done playing the part of perfect daughter, perfect student, and perfect athlete. It’s time for a new life.

Enter Cassie Brentwood.

Bold. Reckless. Free. Cassie is everything Reese isn’t yet longs to be. They quickly become friends and Cassie introduces her to Liam, a mysterious guy from Snapchat. Blinded by his love bombing and the desperation to shed her perfect image, Reese plunges head first into their world.

It feels instantly thrilling… until it’s not.

Girls are disappearing from nearby towns, however no one in their quiet small town seems concerned.

But when Liam’s behaviour grows darker, Reese’s new life begins to unravel. She ignores the warnings. The red flags. The little voice screaming to her that something’s not right. Until she’s far from home, trapped in a nightmare she can’t escape.

With no one left to trust, Reese has to fight to reclaim the life she was so eager to leave behind.

She wanted freedom. Now, she just wants to go home.

At least she has to try.

Told with searing honesty and lyrical depth, At Least I’m Trying is a poignant novel about mental health, girlhood, and what happens when the version of yourself you’ve worked so hard to become starts to fall apart.

The Review

This was a haunting and chilling yet poignant read. The book deals with some heavy subject matter, from mental health struggles and questions of identity, to the dangers many young women are facing in an ever increasingly dangerous world, and so much more. The author also tackles things like toxic relationships and abuse honestly without getting too graphic, and shines a light on the struggles of women in a digital world, not only with dating, but with self-image and their role in society as well.

The emotional and heartbreaking moments of this book were balanced well with moments of triumph and empowerment, honestly breaking down the haunting realities of women who are targeted and used by toxic men in the world while also showcasing the power to survive and overcome those horrifying experiences. Reese is a complex and thoughtful protagonist; her story serves as a prime example of what happens far too often when young women are pushed too hard or ignored in society and lose their identities, only to be influenced by others outside their circles of friends or family. 

Logo 480x120

The Verdict

Emotional, heartbreaking, and mesmerizing, author Tara Hodgson’s “At Least I’m Trying” is a must-read YA contemporary drama. The story is powerful and engaging, taking readers on a roller coaster of emotions as they delve into the harrowing experience the protagonist goes through. The strong pacing and essential themes are themes that need to be explored in the modern world. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Tara has called herself a teacher of teenagers for 17 years and is now thrilled to call herself a published author as well.

When she isn’t teaching or writing, she is reading. She loves all genres of books, but especially YA Contemporary, Fantasy, and Dystopian.

She spends her downtime walking, camping, boating, and at home with her family and animals.

http://www.tarahodgson.ca/

https://amzn.to/4odUW9G

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/at-least-im-trying-tara-hodgson/1148001119?ean=9781069617705

PRESS RELEASE: At Least I’m Trying: A new Young Adult thriller by the critically acclaimed author of Chasing Through Time, Tara Hodgson

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn book news, Creative Edge Publicity Press Releases, PRESS RELEASESLeave a comment

Blinded by his love bombing and the desperation to shed her perfect image, Reese plunges head first into their world.

It feels instantly thrilling… until it’s not.

Girls are disappearing from nearby towns, however no one in their quiet small town seems
concerned.  But when Liam’s behaviour grows darker, Reese’s new life begins to unravel. She ignores the warnings. The red flags. The little voice screaming to her that something’s not right. Until she’s far from home, trapped in a nightmare she can’t escape.

With no one left to trust, Reese has to fight to reclaim the life she was so eager to leave behind. She wanted freedom. Now, she just wants to go home.   At least she has to try.

Told with searing honesty and lyrical depth, At Least I’m Trying is a poignant novel about mental health, girlhood, and what happens when the version of yourself you’ve worked so hard to become starts to fall apart.

https://bit.ly/atleastimtrying

More From Tara!!!

The friendship becomes a lifeline for both girls. Their lives bear striking similarities, yet the differences are equally profound. While Sarah is spared from the perils of social media, she gains self-assurance and begins to discover herself. In contrast, Emma’s struggles intensify as she faces dire consequences for her actions online and misguided romantic entanglements.

Sarah watches helplessly as Emma’s life unravels, yearning to help but bound by the constraints of time. Emma’s perilous descent accelerates, and the danger of not receiving the help she desperately needs looms large. Sarah, trapped twenty years in the past, must find a way to intervene before it’s too late.

This gripping tale of bridging the gap between eras explores the enduring power of human connection, the complexities of teenage life, and the lengths to which a stranger will go to save a life.

https://bit.ly/chasingthroughtime

Tara Hodgson has been teaching junior high for the past sixteen years. She spends her days surrounded by teens and has witnessed the changes that technology, especially social media, has had on the teenage experience. She lives on an acreage in Sturgeon County, Alberta with her husband, two children, and a crew of cats and dogs. Information about Tara can be found at:  TARA HODGSON – Home

Chasing Through Time by Tara Hodgson Review 

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Two teenage girls separated by two decades connect, and one must find a way to help the other before it is too late in author Tara Hodgson’s “Chasing Through Time.”

Advertisements

The Synopsis

In the tumultuous world of high school, Emma grapples with a devastating breakup, a damning social media scandal that threatens her reputation, and an overwhelming sense of isolation. Her parents are distant, she has no true friends, and her despair deepens with each passing day.

One fateful night during a sudden snowstorm, Emma forges a connection with Sarah, a girl who navigates the treacherous high school terrain of 2001. In this improbable friendship, they bond through the digital ether, supporting each other’s struggles at the same school, in the same town, while separated by two decades.

The friendship becomes a lifeline for both girls. Their lives bear striking similarities, yet the differences are equally profound. While Sarah is spared from the perils of social media, she gains self-assurance and begins to discover herself. In contrast, Emma’s struggles intensify as she faces dire consequences for her actions online and misguided romantic entanglements.

Sarah watches helplessly as Emma’s life unravels, yearning to help but bound by the constraints of time. Emma’s perilous descent accelerates, and the danger of not receiving the help she desperately needs looms large. Sarah, trapped twenty years in the past, must find a way to intervene before it’s too late.

This gripping tale of bridging the gap between eras explores the enduring power of human connection, the complexities of teenage life, and the lengths to which a stranger will go to save a life.

The Review

Incredibly compelling and emotionally thought-provoking, this novel is full of heart and drives the reader to revisit one of life’s most difficult stages: the teenage years. The struggles of growing up and slowly moving from childhood to adulthood already make being a teenager difficult for many. Still, the added pressures of bullying make life so difficult for teenagers as well. The author brought this to life in visceral yet essential detail, making the use of imagery in their writing style so crucial to fully engaging in the characters’ arcs. 

This novel was very character-driven, with the author capturing both eras of the book, the early 2000s and 2020s, in vivid detail. The experiences both protagonists had in their personal lives, and the way they were able to connect through time became the emotional crux of this narrative, shining a beaming light on the dangers of online bullying and mental health struggles so many teenagers go through, and allowing readers to journey through the process of human connection and the fight against alienation and loneliness as a whole.

The Verdict

Emotionally heartfelt and thoughtful in delivery, author Tara Hodgson’s “Chasing Through Time” is a must-read YA drama meets metaphysical fiction novel. The story felt like a YA version of the film Frequency, connecting two people who desperately need each other and discovering themselves in the process. The twists and turns the narrative takes and the thought-provoking themes will keep readers engaged until the book’s final chapter. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Tara has called herself a teacher of teenagers for 17 years and is now thrilled to call herself a published author as well.

When she isn’t teaching or writing, she is reading. She loves all genres of books, but especially YA Contemporary, Fantasy, and Dystopian.

She spends her downtime walking, camping, boating, and at home with her family and animals.

http://www.tarahodgson.ca/